A regional-scale study of multi-decennial erosion of vineyard fields using vine-stock unearthing–burying measurements

Erosion and deposition rates were quantified in a vineyard context (Languedoc, France) using a method based on vine-stock bio-markers. The within-field spatial structure of erosion (Field Erosive State) was described based on maps of “unearthing” height of vine-stock.The factors affecting variability of soil erosion (slope gradient, slope length, soil type, and field boundaries characteristics) were analysed in relation to quantitative and spatial erosion data. When this method was applied to a sample of 49 fields, the intensity of erosion in the study area (mean erosion rate = 10.5 t ha−1 year−1) showed a high variability between fields. The Field Erosive States (FES) were classified into five categories based on the intensity and spatial structure of the erosion, such as uniform erosion of the field, transfer of sediments from upslope to downslope regions and concentrated erosion on rills. This study highlights the influence of the connectivity between fields on erosion intensity and variability.