Splash erosion in recently-burnt terraced eucalypt plantations in north-central Portugal

This paper describes the procedures used to measure splash erosion in three lots subjected to terracing, one under pre-fire conditions and the other two under post-fire conditions in Soutelo, north-central Portugal, during a 8-month monitoring period.Assessment of the impact of the treatment in such lots was carried out by the installation of two different splash erosion quantitative systems: cups and funnels. An analysis of splash data obtained in 17 sampling periods and meteorological data collected during each one of those periods was then performed. The results indicate that the post-fire treatment with terracing leads to a smaller stability of surface soil aggregates, causing higher splash erosion rates. Sampling using the funnel system collects triple the amount of splashed soil than that collected by the cup system, although both systems correlate appropriately with the meteorological parameters.