Analysis of the impact of fruit growing development on the intensity of soil erosion and runoff: Case study of krusevo, bijelo polje, Montenegro

Abstract

The research has been conducted to analyse the effects of land use change of the impact of fruit growing development on the intensity of soil erosion and runoff in the Study area of Krusevo, Bijelo Polje, Montenegro by using the Intensity of Erosion and Outflow – IntErO model of Spalevic. The required spatial maps, land use, soil and geology were prepared and analysed in GIS environment. The climatic data such as the volume of the torrential rain, average annual air temperature and average annual precipitation were calculated based on meteorological data received from the State Hydrological Institute for the region of Bijelo Polje (Montenegro). The results of land use change between these two periods (2011-2020) shown that the forest increased in the studied region by 1.57%. Specifically, degraded forests increased by 1.02%; Well-constituted forests increased by 0.55%. For the studied area we calculated forested area on 57.26% (2011), and 58.83% (2020). The values for Meadows in the studied area decreased from 2011 to 2020 for 1.67%; and for Pastures for 1.40%. Plough-lands decreased for the observed period for 1.59%. On the other hand, the surface under the Orchards increased by 3.09%, and that represented the shift from the Meadows to the Orchards; the shift from the Pastures to the Forests. This denser vegetation at the studied region for the observed period (increase of the forests and orchards) has led to higher water infiltration rate into the soil and at the same time to decrease of the sediment yield. The value of Z coefficient of 0.462 (2011); 0.461 (2020) indicates slight decrease of erosion processes because of the fruit growing development with shifting the meadows to orchards categorising the processes to the 3rd destruction category. The strength of the erosion process is medium, and according to the erosion type, it is surface erosion. Production of erosion material in the river basin, W year, is calculated on 11327 m3year-1 for 2011; and 11278 m3 year-1 for 2020, what shown the decrease of erosion processes because of the subject fruit growing development. Coefficient of the deposit retention (sediment delivery ratio) is calculated as 0.299 what means that 30% of the total eroded material reaches to the outlet point. Real soil losses, G year, are calculated on 3392 m3 year-1 (2011), and 3377 (2020); Real soil losses per km2, G year km-2, are 262 m3 km-2 year-1 (2011), and 261 m3km-2 year-1 (2020), with the same conclusion in relation to the fruit growing initiatives and the values indicates that the river basin belongs to 5th destruction category; it is a region of very weak erosion. The results showed that the appropriate land management and planning with implementing fruit growing in this area decreases maximum flow rate and also sediment yield. The application of the IntErO model may also be further used to understand the effect of land use change with new establishing of the fruit growing in the river basins on hydrological behaviour, soil erosion and sediment yield process and can be used as a useful tool in similar for fruit growing and soil conservation research.