Remote sensing vs. field-based monitoring of agricultural terrace degradation

Abstract The degradation of agricultural terraces is considered a major challenge to soil and water conservation in steep-slope viticulture. Although terracing widespread practice, its sustainability threatened by adverse climatic man-made conditions. Previous studies have shown the impact terrace designs on formation runoff pathways, causing processes platforms (e.g. sheet erosion) walls piping, landslides, collapse). This study evaluates remote sensing versus field-based approach monitor hydrological responsible for degradation, as tested north-Italian vineyard. was based spatially measured Soil Moisture Content (SMC) using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) instrument, which clearly revealed saturation hotspots around two damaged area. Moreover, these zones showed particular cross-sectional SMC profile, with highest close platform edges. aerial imagery acquired an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric reconstruction vineyard geomorphology, allowing terrain-based analysis physical erosion modelling. In this approach, simulations indicated that damages could be partly explained preferential pathways caused design. parallel methodology allowed comparison merits limitations either done light published work. occurrence at edges (and their non-typical profiles) better understood from simulated surface flow paths. While causal relationship between heterogeneous instability has been previously reported literature, novelty presented use topsoil indicator potential damages, favouring scalability compared fixed, local often intrusive sub-surface experiments. Remote approaches, however, tend offer most time-efficient solution larger scales, acquisition distribution thus potentially powerful integrated methodology.