Geostatistical Analysis for Characterization of Gully Topographic Features in Olive Tree Areas

Abstract

The formation and development of gullies by surface runoff is a process affecting South of Spain. This undesirable effect specially occurs in areas where vegetation and crops (mainly olive and other fruit trees cropping) are sparsely distributed. In these conditions canopy can not protect soils when high torrential rainfalls occur and land degradation processes by hydric erosion will take place. In order to characterise factors controlling gully development and erosion a monitoring technique has been approached. This implies soil relief measurement, Digital Elevation Model’s generation by geostatistical techniques and, hydrodynamic classification.