Browsing by Author "Vitali, Giuliano"
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- Modelação da topografia do terreno e simulação da erosão hídrica numa pequena bacia hidrográfica com uso agro-florestalPublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoNa simulação dos impactes das atividades agrícolas na poluição difusa à escala da bacia hidrográfica, é importante uma adequada configuração topográfica do terreno e a compreensão do seu comportamento hidrológico. Neste estudo foi utilizado o módulo FlowNet Generator, componente do modelo AnnAGNPS (Annualized Agriculture Nonpoint Source), para avaliação da influência da resolução vertical do Modelo Digital do Terreno (MDT) na configuração topográfica e hidrológica, e no processo de erosão hídrica do solo, de uma pequena bacia agro-florestal (190 ha) localizada no concelho de Idanha-a-Nova. Foi realizado um levantamento georeferenciado da rede de drenagem superficial da bacia, que foi depois comparada com os resultados das redes simuladas pelo módulo FlowNet Generator para dois MDT com resoluções verticais de 1m e 5m. Verificou-se que o MDT com resolução vertical de 5m não conduziu a resultados satisfatórios, dado que a rede de drenagem natural simulada se afastava significativamente da observada no campo. Por outro lado, a rede de drenagem natural gerada com o MDT de resolução de 1m foi bastante próxima da rede observada. A influência da diferente configuração topográfica da bacia hidrográfica na simulação do processo de erosão hídrica do solo, com o modelo RUSLE, traduziu-se numa diferença significativa considerando os valores de 5.85 e 4.17 ton/ha.ano, respectivamente para o MDT com 1m e 5m de resolução vertical.
- Sustainable water management in horticulture: Problems, premises, and promisesPublication . Ferreira, Carla; Soares, Pedro R.; Guilherme, Rosa; Vitali, Giuliano; Boulet, Anne; Harrison, Matthew Tom; Malamiri, Hamid; Duarte, A.C.; Kalantari, Zahra; Ferreira, António DinisWater is crucial for enduring horticultural productivity, but high water-use requirements and declining water supplies with the changing climate challenge economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social justice. While the scholarly literature pertaining to water management in horticulture abounds, knowledge of practices and technologies that optimize water use is scarce. Here, we review the scientific literature relating to water requirements for horticulture crops, impacts on water resources, and opportunities for improving water- and transpiration-use efficiency. We find that water requirements of horticultural crops vary widely, depending on crop type, development stage, and agroecological region, but investigations hitherto have primarily been superficial. Expansion of the horticulture sector has depleted and polluted water resources via overextraction and agrochemical contamination, but the extent and significance of such issues are not well quantified. We contend that innovative management practices and irrigation technologies can improve tactical water management and mitigate environmental impacts. Nature-based solutions in horticulture—mulching, organic amendments, hydrogels, and the like—alleviate irrigation needs, but information relating to their effectiveness across production systems and agroecological regions is limited. Novel and recycled water sources (e.g., treated wastewater, desalination) would seem promising avenues for reducing dependence on natural water resources, but such sources have detrimental environmental and human health trade-offs if not well managed. Irrigation practices including partial root-zone drying and regulated deficit irrigation evoke remarkable improvements in water use efficiency, but require significant experience for efficient implementation. More advanced applications, including IoT and AI (e.g., sensors, big data, data analytics, digital twins), have demonstrable potential in supporting smart irrigation (focused on scheduling) and precision irrigation (improving spatial distribution). While adoption of technologies and practices that improve sustainability is increasing, their application within the horticultural industry as a whole remains in its infancy. Further research, development, and extension is called for to enable successful adaptation to climate change, sustainably intensify food security, and align with other Sustainable Development Goals.
- Topography and hydrology modeling and influence on soil erosion simulation, at small basin scalePublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoDiffuse pollution from agricultural activities is a major environmental problem. The extent of the impacts is driven, e.g., by local topography due to the influence on hydrological processes. This study aims to investigate the use of different scale topographic data in assessing runoff-erosion processes. The TopAGNPS module, a component of the AnnAGNPS model (Annualized Agriculture Nonpoint Source), was used to assess the impact of the vertical resolution of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) on the topographic and hydrological configuration of a basin, and on the simulation of soil erosion. The study focuses on a small agro-forestry basin (190 ha) located in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal. A georeferenced survey of the basin's surface drainage network was carried out and then compared with the results of the simulated drainage networks generated by the TopAGNPS module using two DEMs with vertical resolutions of 1m and 5m. The results show that the DEM with a vertical resolution of 5m did not generate a reliable drainage network, given the relevant differences between the modelled network and the field observations. On the other hand, the drainage network generated with the DEM of 1m resolution was very similar to the observed drainage network. The use of distinct topographic configurations modelled based on different vertical resolution DEMs on the estimation of soil erosion by water using the RUSLE model (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation), resulted in significant differences considering the values of 5.85 and 4.17 ton/ha.year for the DEM with 1m and 5m vertical resolution, respectively. Considering that soil erosion by water and other processes, such as the transport of pollutants, are distributed processes, it is of great relevance to consider good topographic and hydrologic configurations to achieve more reliable simulations and better support decision-making.
- Use of simulation models to aid soil and water conservation actions for sustainable agro-forested systemsPublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoAdequate planning of soil and water conservation requires understanding and prediction of the interactions between soil, climate and management scenarios. These interactions have been investigated over the last decades by means of modelling tools. Some of the most widely used models, namely KINEROS, WEPP, SWAT, and AnnAGNPS have been compared in terms of interfaces, processes, data and parameter requirements, to describe their application domain. Some applicative cases are also added to evidence the importance of rainfall regimes, processes scale, land typologies and management for soil and water conservation modelling, to support the needs of farmers, researchers, extension services and land planners. In general, there is evidence of a large number of parameters to satisfy common users' perception of reliability on simulation results, while they are all good teaching and research tools.