Ecohydrology of reclaimed-quarry landscapes under Mediterranean climate in Spain

Ing. Ruby Stefany Garcia Moreno

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Soil moisture dynamics were analyzed in conventional and geomorphic treatments in two restored quarries in Spain. The Aurora quarry has a coastal Mediterranean climate and is located in Campredó, Catalonia and The Fortuna quarry has a continental Mediterranean climate and is located in Ademuz, Valencia. The measurements were made using the Time Domain Reflectometry technique (TDR) and sampling points were distributed throughout the landforms and from the upper toward the bottom part of the micro basins, including areas restored with different types of substrate and by both approaches. We tested soil moisture content (SMC) changes concerning factors as treatment, substrate, aspect, landform and transect; using a mixed linear model of repeated measures and a non-parametric test (Friedman test). The areas with the geomorphic approach had higher SMC values than the areas with the conventional one. Restored areas covered by Colluvium had higher SMC than those covered by overburden. On the other hand, it was confirmed that the shadow aspect (north) had higher values than sunny (south) orientations in both quarries. The spatial distribution of soil moisture in both geomorphic restorations in quarries imitated the water flow of an undisturbed watershed. Likewise, the conventional restoration had a flow pattern of moisture that increased towards the bottom part, however, in the Aurora quarry due to the entry of runoff from the upper berm the spatial distribution of SMC in the slope was inverted; moreover rills formed in the slope has higher SMC than in the inter-rills. Taking into account the SMC is the most limiting factor for plants development, certainly, these findings might contribute to future revegetation plan designs in the Mediterranean restored quarries.

Keywords

Soil moisture content, geomorphic restoration, conventional restoration

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 11. 3. 2021

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Markéta Hendrychová, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Master programme / field:
Landscape Engineering / Landscape Planning