Simulating the effects of adaptation practices on soil water content

IUNG uses SWAT model simulation in the Bystra river catchment

Climate change adaptation in agriculture is associated with a number of preventive measures (adapting crops to changing thermal and water conditions). These include changes in adaptation practices and the introduction of new varieties of crops. Protecting the soil and its water resources is also extremely important.

IUNG, The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute, has published a scientific paper that describes a simulation of the soil water content in the Bystra river catchment area in Poland from 2041-2050 under various climate change scenarios and adaptation practices.

This study differs from the other ones in that, for small catchments, there are only a few studies that have explored similar parameters, such as soil water content and actual evapotranspiration, with one example being a publication about the Barycz and Upper Narwia catchments in Poland.

The paper analyses five adaptation scenarios involving changes in land use and protective measures compared to a zero scenario. The results show that four of the adaptation scenarios do not increase soil water content but can reduce sediment yield, total runoff, and change actual evapotranspiration. One adaptation scenario, which assumes a reduction in ploughling on arable land, shows a slight increase in soil water content and total runoff but a decrease in sediment yield. The no-till adaptation practice has the most positive effect on the water balance at the catchment scale.

Read the whole paper at this link.

Background:

Drawing on the urgent need for sustainability within the agriculture sector, B-FERST is a project to create new circular and bio-based chains starting from bio-waste.

B-FERST has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under Grant Agreement N° 837583. The JU's receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the bio Based Industries Consortium.

Photo on Unsplash by Sergio Camalich

Contacts:

Project coordinator:

Mr. Javier Brañas Lasala—Fertiberia, Spain
coordinator@bferst.eu

Communication Manager:
Veornica Meneghello, ICONS
info@bferst.eu

Project website: https://bferst.eu/
Twitter: @BFERSTproject

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/b-ferst-project/

YouTube: @b-ferstproject3592

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