Open Access
Solving the solute transport equation using breakthrough curve modeling
(MDPI, 2024-11-22) Panahi Sofla, Amir; Ghameshlou, Arezoo N.; Liaghat, Abdolmajid; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Seyedzadeh, Amin; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The movement of solutes in soil is crucial due to their potential to cause soil and groundwater pollution. In this study, a mathematical model based on the Advection Dispersion Equation (ADE) was developed to evaluate solutions for solute transport. This equation enabled us to attain a relationship for concentrations at different locations and times, also known as the breakthrough curve. Five columns (5 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height) of soil types were prepared to check the validity of the results. An evaluation of the calculated relations showed high accuracy in estimating the breakthrough curve and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil.
Open Access
EUSEDcollab: a network of data from European catchments to monitor net soil erosion by water
(Nature Research, 2023-08-04) Matthews, Francis; Verstraeten, Gert; Borrelli, Pasquale; Vanmaercke, Matthias; Poesen, J.; Steegen, An; Degré, Aurore; Cárceles Rodríguez, Belén; Bielders, Charles; Franke, Christine; Alary, Claire; Zumr, David; Patault, Edouard; Nadal-Romero, Estela; Smolska, Ewa; Licciardello, Feliciana; Swerts, Gilles; Thodsen, Hans; Casalí Sarasíbar, Javier; Eslava, Javier; Richet, Jean-Baptiste; Ouvry, Jean-François; Farguell, Joaquim; Święchowicz, Jolanta; Nunes, João Pedro; Pak, Lai Ting; Liakos, Leonidas ; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Żelazny, Mirosław; Delaporte, Morgan; Pineux, Nathalie; Henin, Nathan; Bezak, Nejc; Lana Renault, Noemí ; Tzoraki, Ourania; Giménez Díaz, Rafael; Li, Tailin; Durán Zuazo, Víctor Hugo; Bagarello, Vincenzo; Pampalone, Vincenzo; Ferro, Vito; Úbeda, Xavier; Panagos, Panos; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
As a network of researchers we release an open-access database (EUSEDcollab) of water discharge and suspended sediment yield time series records collected in small to medium sized catchments in Europe. EUSEDcollab is compiled to overcome the scarcity of openaccess data at relevant spatial scales for studies on runoff, soil loss by water erosion and sediment delivery. Multi-source measurement data from numerous researchers and institutions were harmonised into a common time series and metadata structure. Data reuse is facilitated through accompanying metadata descriptors providing background technical information for each monitoring station setup. Across ten European countries, EUSEDcollab covers over 1600 catchment years of data from 245 catchments at event (11 catchments), daily (22 catchments) and monthly (212 catchments) temporal resolution, and is unique in its focus on small to medium catchment drainage areas (median = 43 km2, min = 0.04 km2, max = 817 km2) with applicability for soil erosion research. We release this database with the aim of uniting people, knowledge and data through the European Union Soil Observatory (EUSO).
Open Access
Crop classification based on temporal signatures of Sentinel-1 observations over Navarre province, Spain
(MDPI, 2020) Arias Cuenca, María; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Álvarez-Mozos, Jesús; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
Crop classification provides relevant information for crop management, food security assurance and agricultural policy design. The availability of Sentinel-1 image time series, with a very short revisit time and high spatial resolution, has great potential for crop classification in regions with pervasive cloud cover. Dense image time series enable the implementation of supervised crop classification schemes based on the comparison of the time series of the element to classify with the temporal signatures of the considered crops. The main objective of this study is to investigate the performance of a supervised crop classification approach based on crop temporal signatures obtained from Sentinel-1 time series in a challenging case study with a large number of crops and a high heterogeneity in terms of agro-climatic conditions and field sizes. The case study considered a large dataset on the Spanish province of Navarre in the framework of the verification of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies. Navarre presents a large agro-climatic diversity with persistent cloud cover areas, and therefore, the technique was implemented both at the provincial and regional scale. In total, 14 crop classes were considered, including different winter crops, summer crops, permanent crops and fallow. Classification results varied depending on the set of input features considered, obtaining Overall Accuracies higher than 70% when the three (VH, VV and VH/VV) channels were used as the input. Crops exhibiting singularities in their temporal signatures were more easily identified, with barley, rice, corn and wheat achieving F1-scores above 75%. The size of fields severely affected classification performance, with ~14% better classification performance for larger fields (>1 ha) in comparison to smaller fields (<0.5 ha). Results improved when agro-climatic diversity was taken into account through regional stratification. It was observed that regions with a higher diversity of crop types, management techniques and a larger proportion of fallow fields obtained lower accuracies. The approach is simple and can be easily implemented operationally to aid CAP inspection procedures or for other purposes. © 2020 by the authors.
Open Access
The role of ethnic characteristics in the effect of income shocks on African conflict
(Elsevier, 2021) Manotas Hidalgo, Beatriz; Pérez Sebastián, Fidel; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Ekonomia; Ingeniaritza; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Economía; Ingeniería
This paper disentangles the ethnic drivers of the effect of food-related income shocks on African conflict employing geo-localized information. We consider diversity and political ethnic variables and several conflict definitions. We find that differentiating between organized armed-force and non-organized conflict can be more informative than between factor and output conflict. We show evidence that conflict is driven by the opportunity cost and state capacity mechanisms. Furthermore, ethnic cleavages have a large role in the transmission process of income shocks on organized armed-force conflict; whereas their role in non-organized violence is more limited. The sensitivity to ethnic heterogeneity for producer-price and droughts shocks is much larger than for consumer-price changes.
Open Access
Evaluation of nitrate soil probes for a more sustainable agriculture
(MDPI, 2022) Bellosta Diest, Amelia; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Zapatería Miranda, Jesús; Casalí Sarasíbar, Javier; Arregui Odériz, Luis Miguel; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers and their increased production and utilization have played a great role in increasing crop yield and in meeting the food demands resulting from population growth. Nitrate (NO3−) is the common form of nitrogen absorbed by plants. It has high water solubility and low retention by soil particles, making it prone to leaching and mobilization by surface water, which can seriously contaminate biological environments and affect human health. Few methods exist to measure nitrate in the soil. The development of ion selective sensors provides knowledge about the dynamics of nitrate in the soil in real time, which can be very useful for nitrate management. The objective of this study is to analyze the performance of three commercial probes (Nutrisens, RIKA and JXCT) under the same conditions. The performance was analyzed with respect to electrical conductivity (EC) (0–50 mS/cm) and nitrate concentration in aqueous solution and in sand (0–180 ppm NO3−) at 35% volumetric soil moisture. Differences were shown among probes when studying their response to variations of the EC and, notably, only the Nutrisens probe provided coherent accurate measurements. In the evaluation of nitrate concentration in liquid solution, all probes proved to be highly sensitive. Finally, in the evaluation of all probes’ response to modifications in nitrate concentration in sand, the sensitivity decreased for all probes, with the Nutrisens probe the most sensitive and the other two probes almost insensitive.
Embargo
Introducing QAnnAGNPS - A QGIS plugin to facilitate the use of AnnAGNPS (Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint source model)
(Elsevier, 2024) Barberena Ruiz, Íñigo; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Casalí Sarasíbar, Javier; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
AnnAGNPS is a watershed-scale hydrological model designed to analyze the impact of nonpoint source pollution in agricultural environments. Its unique capabilities have defined it as an essential model that is used globally to evaluate agricultural management scenarios. However, it does not currently have a user-friendly graphical interface that provides a simple way for users to perform simulations. This article presents QAnnAGNPS, a plugin developed in QGIS to facilitate access to the simulation capabilities of AnnAGNPS through a user-friendly interface and the addition of extra features, including data visualization. QAnnAGNPS, in addition to fulfilling this valuable task, opens the door to the incorporation of additional functions already included in other similar hydrological models. The plugin has been tested in the Latxaga cereal basin in Navarra, Spain, and has demonstrated that it provides a simpler way to perform simulations and visualize results compared to AnnAGNPS.
Open Access
Evaluation of R tools for downloading MODIS images and their use in urban growth analysis of the city of Tarija (Bolivia)
(MDPI, 2022) Campero Taboada, Milton J.; Luquin Oroz, Eduardo Adrián; Montesino San Martín, Manuel; González de Audícana Amenábar, María; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Estadística, Informática y Matemáticas; Estatistika, Informatika eta Matematika; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
The aim of this study was to compare the available tools in R for downloading and processing Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, specifically the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) product. The R tools evaluated were the MODIS package, RGISTools, MODISTools, R Google Earth Engine (RGEE) package, MODIStsp, and the Application for Extracting and Exploring Analysis Ready Samples (AppEEARS) application. Each tool was used to download the same product (EVI) corresponding to the same day (3 December 2015), and downloaded data were used to analyze the urban growth of Tarija (Bolivia) as an interesting application. The following features were analyzed: download time and memory used during the download, additional postprocessing time, local memory occupied on the computer, and downloaded file formats. Results showed that the most efficient R tools were those that work directly in the “cloud” or use text queries (RGEE and AppEEARS, respectively) and provide, as a final product, a cropped.tif image according to the area of interest.
Open Access
Relationship of weather types on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield in the western Mediterranean basin
(MDPI, 2020) Peña-Angulo, Dahis; Nadal-Romero, Estela; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Casalí Sarasíbar, Javier; Giménez Díaz, Rafael; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ingeniería
Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations.
Open Access
On the influence of acquisition geometry in backscatter time series over wheat
(Elsevier, 2022) Arias Cuenca, María; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Álvarez-Mozos, Jesús; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ingeniería; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Dense time series of Sentinel-1 imagery are an invaluable information source for agricultural applications. Multiple orbits can observe a specific area and their combination could improve the temporal resolution of the time series. However, the orbits have different acquisition geometries regarding incidence and azimuth angles that need to be considered. Furthermore, crops are dynamic canopies and the influence of incidence and azimuth angles might change during the agricultural season due to different phenological stages. The main objective of this letter is to evaluate the influence of different acquisition geometries in Sentinel-1 backscatter time series over wheat canopies, and to propose a strategy for their correction. A large dataset of wheat parcels (∼40,000) was used and 344 Sentinel-1 images from three relative orbits were processed during two agricultural seasons. The first analysis was a monthly evaluation of the influence of incidence angle on backscatter (σ0) and terrain flattened backscatter (γ0). It showed that terrain flattening significantly reduced the backscatter dependence on incidence angle, being negligible in VH polarization but not completely in VV polarization. Incidence angle influence in VV backscatter changed in time due to wheat growth dynamics. To further reduce it, an incidence angle normalization technique followed by an azimuthal anisotropy correction were applied. In conclusion, γ0 enabled a reasonable combination of different relative orbits, that may be sufficient for many applications. However, for detailed analyses, the correction techniques might be implemented to further reduce orbit differences, especially in bare soil periods or winter months.
Open Access
Extended assessment of sprinkler irrigation uniformity in greenhouses using GIS and hydraulic modeling
(MDPI, 2022) Barberena Ruiz, Íñigo; Campo-Bescós, Miguel; Casalí Sarasíbar, Javier; Ingeniaritza; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD; Ingeniería; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Traditionally, distribution uniformity has been obtained by using rain gauges, which makes it a very expensive process. This paper sought to create a simulation strategy using QGIS and EPANET, both free software, that allowed the simulation of the water application results of all the emitters of an irrigation installation. In this way, it was possible to obtain the geospatial representation of the applied water and finally to know the distribution uniformity in the whole installation. The simulation finally fulfilled its objective and was compared with a study of distribution uniformity with rain gauges. The biggest difference between the measured and simulated data was a difference of 5.76% among the sectors. The simulated uniformity was very similar to the measured uniformity, which allowed us to affirm that the proposed simulation methodology was adequate. We believe that the methodology proposed in this article could be very useful in improving the management of sprinkler irrigation systems, particularly those in which distribution uniformity is of special importance. These improvements in management can also result in savings in water and other inputs, which are becoming increasingly important in the current context of climate change and the reduction in the impact of agriculture on the environment. Finally, similar studies could be carried out with the same tools for other pressurized irrigation systems, such as sprinkler irrigation outside greenhouses and drip irrigation.