Soil and water losses under Quercus coccifera cover at the Sierra de Enguera, Valencia

Abstract

The scrubland (matorral) is a key factor to control the accelerated soil erosion rates on Mediterranean mountains, and is relevant the research on its impact on water resources on semiarid ecosystems. An experiment carried out on the El Teularet-Sierra de Enguera experimental station in 2004 shows that erosion rates on a Quercus coccifera vegetation cover were negligible under natural and simulated rainfall. These measurements confirm that the kermes oak is an efficient vegetation cover protection to control the soil losses on Mediterranean ecosystems.