Spatial and temporal variation of the rainfall erosivity factor in Polissya and Forest-Steppe of Ukraine
Spatial and temporal variation of the rainfall erosivity factor in Polissya and Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: The Polissya and the Forest-Steppe constitute a substantial portion of Ukraine's territory, exhibiting considerable potential for the advancement of agricultural and forestry activities. It is of the utmost importance that the economic utilisation of the territory is conducted in a manner that ensures the sustainability of ecological systems and the fulfilment of ecosystem functions. The question of how the dynamics of the erosion potential of precipitation affect crop yields at the regional level remains unanswered. This study identifies patterns of spatial and temporal variability in the erosion potential of precipitation and determines the impact of anthropogenic landscape modification due to agricultural production on soil erosion risks. The coefficient of atmospheric erosion exhibited a range of 179.9 ± 114.7 (in 2015) to 616.0 ± 468.9 (in 1974) MJ mm/ha h per year. The temporal dynamics of this indicator within each administrative district exhibited a positive or negative trend of change over time. The overall level of erosion from precipitation exhibited an upward trend in the western and northwestern regions of the study area. In the central and eastern regions of the study area, there is evidence of a decline in erosion over time. The spatially weighted principal components analysis postulates that the covariance structure varies in a spatial manner, thereby enabling the identification of areas with smaller spatial coverage where the structure is constant. The identified principal components indicate the presence of oscillating time trends, characterised by different frequency characteristics. The spatial characteristics of the principal components of higher-order numbers can be attributed to the influence of the geographical continentality factor. Polissya is distinguished by soils with a relatively high sand content, which frequently renders them unsuitable for agricultural use. Consequently, these regions exhibit a relatively high level of forest cover. The southern and eastern regions are distinguished by soil types with granulometric compositions that are conducive to agricultural productivity. This frequently coincides with the process of deforestation. The variations in precipitation that generate the patterns identified by principal components 3–5 can be attributed to the influence of different land cover types. This provides an explanation for the formation of patterns of variability in the rainfall erosion coefficient, which is consistent with the level of forest cover. The influence of coniferous vegetation gives rise to the emergence of factor 4, whereas factor 5 is induced by the influence of herbaceous vegetation. It is also crucial to consider the substantial impact of agricultural land on the formation of spatial patterns of erosion coefficient variability. This influence may be the result of a formal correlation between the variability of agricultural land in different biogeographic zones.

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