Evaluating mixing modelling for soil erosion hot spot identification through the use of artificial soil mixtures

Abstract

Soil erosion and associated sediment redistribution are key environmental problems in Central Argentina. Several land uses and managementpractices, such as intensive grazing and crop cultivation, are considered to drive and increase significantly these processes. To prove this above hypothesis, a mixing modelling approach (CSSIAR v1.00),usingEnergy Dispersive X Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) data as fingerprint of sediment sources and sinks,is aimed to identify critical hot spots of erosion in a typical Argentinian agro-ecosystem. The study site is an Estancia Grande subcatchmentwith an area of 1235 hectares, located 23 km north east of San Luis (in the center of Argentina) and which is characterized by highly erodible Haplic Kastanozemsoils.