Research on Pisha-sandstone's anti-erodibility based on grey multi-level comprehensive evaluation method

After a comprehensive analysis for the influential factors like anti-erodibility chemical constitutes, mineral components and micro-structure characteristics of the Pisha-sandstone, and by combining AHP and grey correlation analysis, the anti-erodibility quantitative comparison for 5 types of Pisha-sandstones in Ordos is made on the basis of the grey multi-layer comprehensive assessment mode. The result shows that, from the anti-erodibility point of view, the order of those types is: Pink sandstone, celadon sandstone, purple sandstone, grey sandstone and commixed sandstone. For the evaluation process adopts a simple method, a direct, reasonable and practical result is given, which is also identical to the result of the field survey on soil and rock erosion problems. Consequently, the research on the Pisha-sandstone's anti-erodibility issue is turned from the qualitative description process to the quantitative evaluation stage.

Fractal features of soil profiles under different land use patterns on the Loess Plateau, China

Fractal theory is becoming an increasingly useful tool to describe soil structure dynamics for a better understanding of the performance of soil systems. Changes in land use patterns significantly affect soil physical, chemical and biological properties. However, limited information is available on the fractal characteristics of deep soil layers under different land use patterns. In this study, the fractal dimensions of particle size distribution（PSD） and micro-aggregates in the 0–500 cm soil profile and soil anti-erodibility in the 0–10 cm soil profile for 10 typical land use patterns were investigated in the Zhifanggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. The 10 typical land use patterns were： slope cropland, two terraced croplands, check-dam cropland, woodland, two shrublands, orchard, artificial and natural grasslands. The results showed that the fractal dimensions of PSD and micro-aggregates were all significantly influenced by soil depths, land use patterns and their interaction. The plantations of shrubland, woodland and natural grassland increased the amount of larger micro-aggregates, and decreased the fractal dimensions of micro-aggregates in the 0–40 cm soil profile. And they also improved the aggregate state and aggregate degree and decreased dispersion rate in the 0–10 cm soil profile. The results indicated that fractal theory can be used to characterize soil structure under different land use patterns and fractal dimensions of micro-aggregates were more effective in this regard. The natural grassland may be the best choice for improving soil structure in the study area.

Theoretical expressions for soil particle detachment rate due to saltation bombardment in wind erosion

Saltation bombardment is a dominate dust emission mechanism in wind erosion.For loose surfaces,splash entrainment has been well understood theoretically.However,the mass loss predictions of cohesive soils are generally empirical in most wind erosion models.In this study,the soil particle detachment of a bare,smooth,dry,and uncrusted soil surface caused by saltation bombardment is modeled by means of classical mechanics.It is shown that detachment rate can be analytically expressed in terms of the kinetic energy or mass flux of saltating grains and several common mechanical parameters of soils,including Poisson's ratio,Young's modulus,cohesion and friction angle.The novel expressions can describe dust emission rate from cohesive surfaces and are helpful to quantify the anti-erodibility of soil.It is proposed that the mechanical properties of soils should be appropriately included in physically-based wind erosion models.