Hydro-mechanical response of slopes intensively cultivated with apple orchards

The rising demand for food is significantly driving intensive farming with high yield production and large water consumption. In this scenario, soil shear strength reductions may be observed as a consequence of soil suction reductions, depending on soil hydro-mechanical properties, seasonal weather variations and irrigation methodologies. Consequently, when sloping areas are cultivated and irrigation practices are not appropriately managed, landslide phenomena may be triggered, potentially causing human and financial losses. Within this context, the paper investigates the effects of replacing grassland with apple orchards on slope stability, focusing on the Val di Non area (Trentino, Italy), where intensive apple cultivation is widespread. The impact of replacing grassland with apple orchards on slope stability is assessed by performing soil-vegetationatmosphere interaction finite element seepage analyses. The analyses consider infiltration due to precipitation and irrigation, runoff losses, as well as soil evaporation and plant transpiration. The pore-water pressure distributions obtained through the seepage analyses are finally used for limit equilibrium analyses aimed at assessing the impact of apple orchard intense cultivation on slope stability.