Land Use and Topographical Factors Controlling Collapsed Pipes and Piping‐Related Features Development in the Landscapes of Thick Loess Covers From Eastern Poland

Piping is subsurface water erosion that resulted in the formation of collapsed pipes and piping‐related features in the landscape. Although it is an important and globally widespread land degradation process it is still poorly understood and data is scarce. Loess landscapes with varied topography and long‐term agricultural use of silty soils are particularly susceptible to water surface and subsurface (piping) erosion, resulting in gully network development. The aim of the study is to better understand the importance of topographical factors and land use controlling collapsed pipes and piping‐related features development in the landscape of thick loess cover strongly dissected by gully networks in eastern Poland. In the studied loess catchment LIDAR scanning to produce a high‐resolution digital terrain model was performed. Detailed field inventory and mapping of collapsed pipes and piping‐related features, as well as land use and management structure and practices were carried out. High‐quality GIS analysis of the spatial distribution of collapsed pipes and piping‐related features in relation to topographic factors as well as land use and management structure was performed. Standard statistical methods were used for calculation and presentation of the relationships between topographic parameters, land use and the distribution of collapsed pipes and piping‐related features. The numerous morphologically diverse collapsed pipes and piping‐related features located in specific landscape positions were inventoried and classified. Periphery sinkholes are the initial elements of the collapsed pipes system. Profile curvature, slope length, crop type, tillage direction, parcel boundaries, and the size of the contributing area have a crucial impact on their formation and drive the development of the entire system of related collapsed pipes. The erosional landscapes of eastern Poland with a thick loess cover and mosaic land use, are highly susceptible to piping, resulting in piping badlands formation and playing a critical role in gully development.