EGU25-20861, updated on 29 May 2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20861
EGU General Assembly 2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Identification of critical source areas for sediment erosion (and phosphorus loss) in a small agricultural catchment
Christopher Thoma2, Elmar Schmaltz3, Borbala Szeles1,2, Miriam Bertola1,2, Carmen Krammer3, Peter Strauss3, and Günter Blöschl1,2
Christopher Thoma et al.
  • 1Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria (thoma@hydro.tuwien.ac.at)
  • 2Centre for Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
  • 3Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Federal Agency for Water Management, Petzenkirchen, Austria

This study focuses on addressing soil erosion and phosphorus (P) runoff, critical issues for agricultural sustainability and water quality. Conducted in the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory (HOAL) in Petzenkirchen, Austria, the research aims to identify fields prone to erosion and predict future sediment and P loss under different scenarios. The 60-hectare HOAL catchment, typical of Austria’s Alpine foothills, offers diverse land use and extensive historical data, making it ideal for such investigations.Using data from 2010 to 2020, the study examines factors like soil management, fertilizer use, and erosive rainfall events. Advanced geospatial and statistical techniques, including GIS tools and regression models, will help map erosion-prone areas and identify key drivers of sediment and P loss.

The research aims to produce risk maps that inform land management decisions, helping to reduce sediment and P loss from high-risk fields. These findings will support sustainable agricultural practices and be useful for policymakers, farmers, and environmental scientists working to balance productivity with environmental protection.


Keywords: Soil Erosion, P loss, Water Quality, Sustainable Agriculture, Erosion Susceptibility

How to cite: Thoma, C., Schmaltz, E., Szeles, B., Bertola, M., Krammer, C., Strauss, P., and Blöschl, G.: Identification of critical source areas for sediment erosion (and phosphorus loss) in a small agricultural catchment, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20861, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20861, 2025.