Spatial and short-term temporal variations in runoff, soil aggregation andother soil properties along a Mediterranean climatological gradient (vol 33, pg 123, 1998)

Physical and chemical soil properties were measured along a mountainous cli matological gradient in the province of Alicante (Spain), The objective was to evaluate how the climate affects certain soil properties at different t emporal and spatial scales. These properties include infiltration, runoff a nd sediment concentrations resulting from rainfall simulation experiments p erformed in winter and in summer. Chemical soil properties like carbonate c ontent, organic matter content and CEC were analysed in reference soil prof iles along the gradient. Physical soil properties like soil moisture conten t, macroaggregation and waterstable microaggregation were measured at month ly intervals during a year, The comparison of the results was done at diffe rent spatial (site, slope and patch) and temporal (monthly and seasonal) sc ales by means of some statistical tests, It can be concluded that there are some soil properties positively related to the gradient, like organic matt er, clay content and CEC which increase with the annual rainfall. However, runoff coefficients and erosion are higher when the climatic conditions bec ome more arid, Aggregation and infiltration capacity are higher on north-fa cing slopes and in vegetated patches than in south-facing slopes and in bar e patches. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.