Modeling of Hillslope Runoff and Soil Erosion at Rainfall Events Using Cellular Automata Approach

A novel quantitative cellular automata (CA) model that simulates and predicts hillslope runoff and soil erosion caused by rainfall events was developed by integrating the local interaction rules and the hillslope surface hydraulic processes. In this CA model, the hillslope surface was subdivided into a series of discrete spatial cells with the same geometric features. At each time step, water and sediment were transported between two adjacent spatial cells. The flow direction was determined by a combination of water surface slope and stochastic assignment. The amounts of interchanged water and sediment were computed using the Chezy-Manning formula and the empirical sediment transport equation. The water and sediment discharged from the open boundary cells were considered as the runoff and the sediment yields over the entire hillslope surface. Two hillslope soil erosion experiments under simulated rainfall events were carried out. Cumulative runoff and sediment yields were measured, respectively. Then, the CA model was applied to simulate the water and soil erosion for these two experiments. Analysis of simulation results indicated that the size of the spatial cell, hydraulic parameters, and the setting of time step and iteration times had a large impact on the model accuracy. The comparison of the simulated and measured data suggested that the CA model was an applicable alternate for simulating the hillslope water flow and soil erosion.

The characteristics of rill development and their effects on runoff and sediment yield under different slope gradients

Rill formation is the predominant erosion process in slope land in the Loess Plateau, China. This study was conducted to investigate rill erosion characteristics and their effects on runoff and sediment yielding processes under different slope gradients at a rate of 10°, 15°, 20° and 25° with rainfall intensity of 1.5 mm min-1 in a laboratory setting. Results revealed that mean rill depth and rill density has a positive interrelation to the slope gradient. To the contrary, width-depth ratio and distance of the longest rill to the top of the slope negatively related to slope gradient. All these suggested that increasing slope steepness could enhance rill headward erosion, vertical erosion and the fragmentation of the slope surface. Furthermore,total erosion tended to approach a stable maximum value with increasing slope, which implied that there is probably a threshold slope gradient where soil erosion begins to weaken. At the same time, the correlation analysis showed that there was a close connection between slope gradient and the variousindices of soil erosion: the correlation coefficients of slope gradient with maximal rill depth, number of rills and the distance of the longest rill from the top of the slope were 0.98, 0.97 and-0.98, respectively,indicating that slope gradient is the major factor of affecting the development of rills. Furthermore,runoff was not sensitive to slope gradient and rill formation in this study. Sediment concentration,however, is positively related to slope gradient and rill formation, the sediment concentrations increased rapidly after rill initiation, especially. These results may be essential for soil loss prediction.

Wind Tunnel Study of Multiple Factors Affecting Wind Erosion from Cropland in Agro-pastoral Area of Inner Mongolia,China

In this paper,the process of wind erosion on two kinds of soil from the agro-pastoral area of Inner Mongolia are studied using wind tunnel experiments,considering the wind speed,blown angle of wind and soil moisture content.The results showed that the modulus of soil wind erosion increases with an increase of wind speed.When the wind speed exceeds a critical value,the soil wind erosion suddenly increases.The critical speed for both kinds of soil is within the range of 7-8m·s-1.For a constant wind speed,the rate of soil wind erosion changes from increasing to falling at a critical soil slope.The critical slope of loam soil and sandy loam soil is 20° and 10°,respectively.Soil moisture content has a significant effect on wind erosion.Soil wind erosion of both soils decreases with an increase of the soil water content in two treatments,however,for treatment two,the increasing trends of wind erosion for two soils with the falling of soil water content are no significant,especially for the loam soil,and in the same soil water content,the wind erosion of two soils in treatment one is significantly higher than treatment two,this indicates reducing the disturbance of soil surface can evidently control the soil wind erosion.

土壤质地对坡面细沟发育过程影响的研究进展

细沟是水力侵蚀重要的产沙源和侵蚀物质的输送通道,不同土壤质地坡面细沟产生的难易程度不同,进而造成细沟发育过程和形态特征的显著差异。影响细沟产生的土壤质地因素主要体现在土壤粒径分布对径流的调控、土壤可分离和可搬运性及表土结皮发育快慢和稳定性的影响。影响细沟发育和形态特征的土壤质地因素主要体现为土壤粒径分布对溯源侵蚀、沟壁坍塌和沟床下切等侵蚀方式响应的差异。影响细沟联通性的土壤质地因素则主要体现为不同质地细沟侵蚀方式差异引起的细沟联通性不同对细沟进一步发育的反馈作用。探讨了目前研究中存在的问题以及今后有待进一步研究的方向。

Integrated Prevention and Control System for Soil Erosion in Typical Black Soil Region of Northeast China

The black soil region of Northeast China is one of the most important food production bases and commodity grain bases in China. However, the continual loss and degradation of precious black soil resources has led to direct threats to national food security and regional sustainable development. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize integrated prevention and control experience of small watersheds in black soil region of Northeast China. Tongshuang small watershed, a typical watershed in rolling hills of typical black soil areas in Northeast China, is selected as the study area. Based on nearly 50 years' experience in prevention and control of soil and water loss, the structures and overall benefits of an integrated prevention and control system for soil and water loss are investigated. Then, the 'three defense lines' tri-dimensional protection system with reasonable allocation of different types of soil and water control measures from the hill top to gully is systematically analyzed. The first line on the top hill can weaken and block uphill runoff and sediment, hold water resources and improve soil property. The second line on the hill can truncate slope length, slow down the runoff velocity and reduce erosion energy. The third line in the gully is mainly composed of waterfall engineering, which can inhibit soil erosion and restore land resources. The 'three defense lines' system is feasible for soil and water loss control of small watersheds in the typical black soil region of Northeast China. Through the application of the in Tongshuang small watershed, There are effective improvements in ecological conditions in Tongshuang small watershed after the application of 'three defense lines' soil and water control system. Moreover, the integrated treatment paradigm for soil and water loss in typical black soil region is compared with that in loess region. The results of this study could offer references and experiences for other small watersheds in typical black soil region of Northeast China.

黄土丘陵沟壑区黄土坡面侵蚀过程及其影响因素

降雨强度、坡长、坡度是影响坡面产流产沙的重要因素。为定量分析降雨强度、坡长、坡度对黄土丘陵沟壑区安塞黄土坡面侵蚀过程的影响,本研究基于室内人工模拟降雨试验,分析2个坡长(5、10 m)、3个坡度(5°、10°、15°)、2个降雨强度(60、90 mm·h^(-1))下安塞黄土坡面产流产沙规律。结果表明:初始产流时间随坡长增加呈减小趋势,但总体变化不大;初始产流时间随降雨强度增加而减小,与60 mm·h^(-1)相比,90 mm·h^(-1)下缩短5.7~18 min;10°坡度上的径流起始时间最快。随降雨历时延长,产流率先快速增加,最终逐渐稳定在某一产流率值上下波动;产沙率在产流初期短时间内突然升高,达到最大值后减小,再逐渐达到稳定。产流率和产沙率随坡长和降雨强度的增加而增加,但随坡度变化规律不明显。随着降雨强度、坡长和坡度的增加,总产沙量相应增加。在降雨强度90 mm·h^(-1)时,坡长和坡度分别为10 m和15°的坡面产生了细沟,导致总侵蚀量最大(11885.66 g)。降雨强度为60 mm·h^(-1)时,随着坡长增加单位面积侵蚀量减小,在5~10 m坡段存在临界侵蚀坡长。坡长、坡度和降雨强度对坡面径流过程均有促进作用,降雨强度、坡长和两者之间交互作用对产流率和总侵蚀量的贡献率较大,其中,对产流率贡献最大的影响因素是降雨强度,贡献率为49.8%;坡长对总侵蚀的贡献率最大,为37.8%。

Process and Mechanism for the Development of Physical Crusts in Three Typical Chinese Soils

To compare the development of physical crusts in three typical cultivated soils of China, a black soil (Luvic Phaeozem), a loess soil (Haplic Luvisol), and a purple soil (Calcaric Regosol) were packed in splash plates with covered and uncovered treatments, and exposed to simulated rainfall. Meshes covered above the surfaces of half of soil samples to simulate the effects of crop residue on crusting. The results indicated a progressive breakdown of aggregates on the soil surface as rainfall continued. The bulk density and shear strength on the surface of the three soil types increased logarithmically as rainfall duration increased. During the first 30 min of simulated rainfall, the purple soil developed a 7-8 mm thick crust and the loess soil developed a 3-4 mm thick crust. The black soil developed a distinguishable, but still unstable, crust after 80 min of simulated rainfall. Soil organic matter (SOM) content, the mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates, and soil clay content were negatively correlated with the rate of crust formation, whereas the percentage of aggregate dispersion (PAD), the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and the silt and sand contents were positively correlated with crusting. Mechanical breakdown caused by raindrop impact was the primary mechanism of crust formation in the black soil with more stable aggregates (MWD 25.0 mm, PAD 3.1%) and higher SOM content (42.6 g kg^(-1)). Slaking and mechanical eluviation were the primary mechanisms of crust formation in the purple soil with low clay content (103 g kg^(-1)), cation exchange capacity (CEC, 228 mmol kg^(-1)), ESP (0.60%), and SOM (17.2 g kg^(-1)). Mechanical breakdown and slaking were the most important in the loess soil with low CEC (80.6 mmol kg^(-1)), ESP (1.29%), SOM (9.82 g kg^(-1)), and high PAD (71.7%) and MWD (4.6 mm). Simulated residue cover reduced crust formation in black and loess soils, but increased crust formation in purple soil.

Development of Soil Crusts Under Simulated Rainfall and Crust Formation on a Loess Soil as Influenced by Polyacrylamide

This study evaluated the morphological characteristics and dynamic variation in characteristics of soil crust and iden-tified the relationships between soil crust and splash erosion under simulated rainfall.The effect of polyacrylamide (PAM) on soil aggregate stabilization and crust formation was also investigated.A laboratory rainfall simulation experiment was carried out using soil sample slices.The slices were examined under a polarized light microscopy and a scanning electron microscope (SEM).The results revealed that the soil crusts were thin and were characterized by a greater density,higher shear strength,finer porosity,and lower saturated hydraulic conductivity than the underlying soil.Two types of crusts,i.e.,structural and depositional crusts,were observed.Soil texture was determined to be the most important soil variable influ-encing surface crust formation;depositional crust formation was primarily related to the skeleton characteristics of the soil and happened when the soil contained a high level of medium and large aggregates.The crust formation processes observed were as follows:1) The fine particles on the soil surface became spattered,leached,and then rough in response to raindrop impact and 2) the fine particles were washed into the subsoil pores while a compact dense layer concurrently formed at soil surface due to the continual compaction by the raindrops.Therefore,the factors that influenced structural crust formation were a large amount of fine particles in the soil surface,continual impact of raindrops,dispersion of aggregates into fine particles,and the formation of a compact dense layer concurrently at the soil surface.It was concluded that the most important factor in the formation of soil crusts was raindrop impact.When polyacrylamide (PAM) was applied,it restored the soil structure and greatly increased soil aggregate stabilization.This effectively prevented crust formation.However,this function of PAM was not continuously effective and the crust reformed with long-term rainfall.In conclusion,this study showed that soil micromorphological studies were a useful method for evaluating soil crust formation.