Land degradation processes in the upper catchment of Crasna River

Authors

  • Petronela Darie (căs. Chelaru) Department of Geography,Faculty of Geography and Geology,“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania
  • Ion Ionita Department of Geography,Faculty of Geography and Geology,“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania

Keywords:

landslides, soil erosion, gullying, sedimentation

Abstract

The paper proposes the study of land degradation processes in the upper catchment of Crasna River and also the controlling factors, the differentiation of the main degradation processes, their distribution and intensity, the evaluation of the impact over the environment and eventually, it establishes some soil conservation practices. The cumulated action of natural factors, especially the coupling of Chersonian sandy-clayey facies-hilly fragmentation and of the anthropogenic ones favoured for triggering degradation processes. Among these, the most common include soil erosion, gullying, landslides and sedimentation of floodplains. Soil erosion occurs with different intensities on the lands with slopes over 5% and represents the process with the highest extension. Landslides are the most representative geomorphologic processes in the study area. They have a weight of 28.6% of the total area, affecting particularly very steep slopes, usually with a role of cuesta front, but most of them are old landslides. The recent period of maximum rainfall in the Moldavian Plateau, 1968-1973, caused significant reactivation of landslides. Gradually, since 1982, in the context of long-term climate, increased aridity indicates the prevalence of stabilized landslides. Locally, numerous valley-bottom gullies and valley-side gullies (some with an impressive growth) occur in bedrocks with loose, sandy and sandy-loamy layers. Through soil erosion, gullying and landslides, significant quantities of solid material are being carried to the base of slopes although the average rate of sedimentation in reservoirs remains low.

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Published

2013-10-31

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Section

Articles