Vegetation cover and geomorphodynamics on abandoned fields in the Central Ebro Basin (Spain)

A dense vegetation cover is the key to soil erosion control on abandoned fields in semi-arid environments. In the study area María de Huerva in the semi-arid central Ebro Basin (Spain) investigations were carried out on two abandoned fields of different ages (5 and approx. 75 years, “young fallow land”, “abandoned field”). For a period of 5 years (1994-1998) the vegetation cover and the intensity of geomorphodynamics were recorded on two 24 × 36 m unbounded test plots for 8 (5) specific dates. Based on the states of vegetation cover and geomorphodynamics at two points change maps were developed. These change maps were combined to change relation maps. It can be seen that an increase in vegetation cover does not generally lead to a stabilisation in the geomorphodynamic process activity.