Decreasing magnitude of soil erosion along vegetation succession on sloping farmland in the Loess Plateau of China:5 years field monitoring evidence

The impacts of vegetation restoration on the soil erosion have been widely elucidated in the semi-arid regions.However,the magnitude of soil erosion on abandoned sloping farmland still remained unclear and their responses to vegetation succession were rarely addressed.The main objective of this study is to determine the magnitude of soil erosion along vegetation succession and explore the impact of vegetation succession on soil erosion from abandoned sloping farmland.Field observations were employed to monitor the rainfall,runoff,and soil erosion of seven sloping farmland plots with different abandoned ages and bare land from 2015 to 2019.The results indicated that the annual runoff depth and soil erosion modulus of vegetation types were in the range of 0.46 to 5.49 mm·a^(-1)and 1.3 to 24.5 t·km^(-2)·a^(-1),respectively.The vegetation effectively reduced the annual surface runoff and soil erosion with reduction of 73.8% to 97.8%and 98.0% to 99.9% as opposed to bare land.However,there were no significant differences in runoff and soil erosion for different vegetation types along succession.The largest event of vegetation types contributed to 38.7%-44.1% of the annual runoff and 42.5%-66.3% of the annual soil erosion,respectively.Vegetation restoration considerably alleviated the contribution of largest erosive event to annual soil erosion.The relationships between soil erosion,runoff and rainfall factors could be fitted well by linear functions,and the performances of regression models in predicting runoff were more satisfactory compared to predicting soil erosion.The Artemisia gmelinii(Agm)+Stipa bungeana(Sb)optimized the trade-off between sediment reduction and runoff maintenance,which should be selected as the suitable vegetation types to achieve the sustainability of socio-ecological systems.

Relationship between soil surface roughness and hydraulic roughness coefficient on sloping farmland

The soil surface roughness and hydraulic roughness coefficient are important hydraulic resistance characteristic parameters. Precisely estimating the hydraulic roughness coefficient is important to understanding mechanisms of overland flow. Four tillage practices, including cropland raking, artificial hoeing, artificial digging, and straight slopes, were considered based on the local agricultural conditions to simulate different values of soil surface roughness in the Loess Plateau. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the soil surface roughness and hydraulic roughness coefficient on sloping farmland using artificial rainfall simulation. On a slope with a gradient of 10°, a significant logarithmic function was developed between the soil surface roughness and Manning＇s roughness coefficient, and an exponential function was derived to describe the relationship between the soil surface roughness and Reynolds number. On the slope with a gradient of 15°, a significant power function was developed to reflect the relationship between the soil surface roughness and Manning＇s roughness coefficient, and a linear function was derived to relate the soil surface roughness to the Reynolds number. These findings can provide alternative ways to estimate the hydraulic roughness coefficient for different types of soil surface roughness.

Impact of Different Contour Hedgerows on Runoff,Nutrient and Soil on Sloping Farmland in Danjiangkou Reservoir Region of China

Soil and water loss has been a major environmental problem in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region.A study of 14°sloping farmland was performed on impact of different contour hedgerows on runoff,losses of soil and nutrients during 2008 and 2011,with five treatments and three replications.The winter wheat and summer maize were used as the test crops.Treatments consisted of four hedgerows:Amorpha(Amorpha fruticosa L.),Honeysuckle(Lonicera japonica Thunb.),Day-lily flower(Hemerocallis citrina Baroni.),and Sabaigrass(Eulaliopsis binata),and a control without hedgerow.Result showed that the runoff under the control treatment was much higher than that of hedgerows.Amorpha could reduce the runoff by 35.2%compared with the control.Soil losses in four hedgerows showed significant reduction in four years(e.g.,Amorpha:78.3%;Honeysuckle:77.1%).Nutrient losses in winter were much higher than that in summer,especially total nitrogen,total phosphorus and total potassium,even though there was an abundant precipitation in summer.Hedgerows greatly affected the soil and nutrient losses on slopping farmland compared with the control treatment,especially Amorpha treatment.The present study found that the Amorpha could be used as the hedgerow species for reducing soil and water loss in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region.

Effects of soil crust on the collapsing erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residual soil

Collapsing erosion is a unique phenomenon commonly observed on the granite residue hillslopes in the tropical and subtropical regions of southern China,characterized by its abrupt occurrence and significant erosion volumes.However,the impacts of soil crust conditions on the erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residual soils have only been studied to a limited extent.To address this issue,this study investigates the impacts of three soil crust conditions(i.e.,without crust,10-minute crust,and 20-minute crust)on gully morphology,rainfall infiltration,and runoff and sediment yield during slope erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residues(classified as Acrisols)in Yudu County,Ganzhou City,Jiangxi Province,China,using simulated rainfall tests and photographic methods.The results showed that as the strength of the soil crust increased,the capacity of moisture infiltration and the width and depth of the gully as well as the sediment concentration and yield ratio decreased;at the same time,the runoff ratio increased.The sediment yield in the without-crust test was found to be 1.24 and 1.43 times higher than that observed in the 10-minute crust and 20-minute crust tests,respectively.These results indicate that soil crusts can effectively prevent slope erosion and moisture infiltration,while providing valuable insights for the management of soil erosion in natural environments.

Assessment of soil erosion in the Irga watershed on the eastern edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau,India

Human activities to improve the quality of life have accelerated the natural rate of soil erosion.In turn,these natural disasters have taken a great impact on humans.Human activities,particularly the conversion of vegetated land into agricultural land and built-up area,stand out as primary contributors to soil erosion.The present study investigated the risk of soil erosion in the Irga watershed located on the eastern fringe of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand,India,which is dominated by sandy loam and sandy clay loam soil with low soil organic carbon(SOC)content.The study used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE)and Geographical Information System(GIS)technique to determine the rate of soil erosion.The five parameters(rainfall-runoff erosivity(R)factor,soil erodibility(K)factor,slope length and steepness(LS)factor,cover-management(C)factor,and support practice(P)factor)of the RUSLE were applied to present a more accurate distribution characteristic of soil erosion in the Irga watershed.The result shows that the R factor is positively correlated with rainfall and follows the same distribution pattern as the rainfall.The K factor values in the northern part of the study area are relatively low,while they are relatively high in the southern part.The mean value of the LS factor is 2.74,which is low due to the flat terrain of the Irga watershed.There is a negative linear correlation between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)and the C factor,and the high values of the C factor are observed in places with low NDVI.The mean value of the P factor is 0.210,with a range from 0.000 to 1.000.After calculating all parameters,we obtained the average soil erosion rate of 1.43 t/(hm^(2)•a),with the highest rate reaching as high as 32.71 t/(hm^(2)•a).Therefore,the study area faces a low risk of soil erosion.However,preventative measures are essential to avoid future damage to productive and constructive activities caused by soil erosion.This study also identifies the spatial distribution of soil erosion rate,which will help policy-makers to implement targeted soil erosion control measures.

Study of Spatial and Temporal Processes of Soil Erosion on Sloping Land Using Rare Earth Elements As Tracers

Rare earth elements (REE) were used to study the temporal and spatial processes of soil erosion from different depths and sections of a slope. Two simulated rainfall events were applied to a prepared plot with a slope of 22°. The total runoff and sediment yield were collected every minute during the rainfall events. During the first twenty minutes of the first rainfall event, the average rate of rill erosion and the accumulated sediment yield due to rill erosion was 0.5 and 0.3 times higher than for sheet erosion. During this time, most of the erosion occurred on the lower one third of the plot. After 20 min, rill erosion became the dominant process on the slope. The average acceleration in the rate of rill erosion, the rate of rill erosion and the accumulated sediment yield due to rill erosion were 42, 6 and 4 times higher than that of sheet erosion, respectively. During the first 35 minutes of the second rainfall event, the average acceleration in the rate of rill erosion was 6～9 times higher than that of sheet erosion. Afterwards, the slope became nearly stable with little change in either rill or sheet erosion rates. Initially, most of the rill erosion occurred in the lower third of the slope but later the preexisting rillhead in the middle section of the slope became reactivated and erosion in this section of the slope increased rapidly. These results indicate that REE tracer technology is a valuable tool for quantifying spatial and temporal changes in erosion from a soil slope.

INFLUENCES OF SLOPE GRADIENT ON SOIL EROSION

The main factors influencing soil erosion include the net rain excess, the water depth, the velocity, the shear stress of overland flows, and the erosion-resisting capacity of soil. The laws of these factors varying with the slope gradient were investigated by using the kinematic wave theory. Furthermore, the critical slope gradient of erosion was driven. The analysis shows that the critical slope gradient of soil erosion is dependent on grain size, soil bulk density, surface roughness, runoff length, net rain excess, and the friction coefficient of soil, etc. The critical slope gradient has been estimated theoretically with its range between 41.5 degrees similar to 50 degrees.

Rainfall and inflow effects on soil erosion for hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion or rill erosion in the Chinese Mollisol region

Erosion agents and patterns profoundly affect hillslope soil loss characteristics. However, few attempts have been made to analyze the effects of rainfall and inflow on soil erosion for hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion or rill erosion in the Chinese Mollisol region. The objective of this study was to discuss the erosive agent(rainfall or inflow), hillslope erosion pattern(sheet erosion or rill erosion) and slope gradient effects on runoff and soil losses. Two soil pans(2.0 m long, 0.5 m wide and 0.5 m deep) with 5° and 10° slopes were subjected to rainfall(0 and 70 mm h–1) and inflow(0 and 70 mm h–1) experiments. Three experimental combinations of rainfall intensity(RI) and inflow rate(IR) were tested using the same water supply of 70 mm by controllingthe run time. A flat soil surface and a soil bed with a straight initial rill were prepared manually, and represented hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion and rill erosion, respectively. The results showed that soil losses had greater differences among treatments than total runoff. Soil losses decreased in the order of RI70+IR70 > RI70+IR0 > RI0+IR70. Additionally, soil losses for hillslopes dominated by rill erosion were 1.7-2.2 times greater at 5° and 2.5-6.9 times greater at 10° than those for hillslopes dominated by sheet erosion. The loss of <0.25 mm soil particles and aggregates varying from 47.72%-99.60% of the total soil loss played a dominant role in the sediment. Compared with sheet erosion hillslopes, rill erosion hillslopes selectively transported more microaggregates under a relatively stable rill development stage, but rills transported increasinglymore macroaggregates under an active rill development stage. In conclusion, eliminating raindrop impact on relatively gentle hillslopes and preventing rill development on relatively steep hillslopes would be useful measures to decrease soil erosion and soil degradation in the Mollisol region of northeastern China.

Soil Erosion Control Degree of the Project of Converting Farmland to Forest in Mountainous Areas at China's Southwest Border:A Case Study in Mangshi,Yunnan Province

There have been few in-depth quantitative studies on soil erosion control and the ecological effects of land use changes.Soil erosion is the first eco-environmental problem particularly in mountainous areas.A major problem in the conversion of farmland to forest is to control soil erosion and improve ecological environment and thus to improve land use sustainability.We report results of calculation and analysis on soil erosion from converted farmland parcels in city of Mangshi (near the SW frontier of China) and the surrounding areas before and after the nine-year (2000-2009) project of converting farmland to forest.There was increased water conservation effect,as a result of decreased soil erosion.The average erosion modulus of the farmland returning to eco-friendly uses decreased by 5,535.59 t/km2?a and the control degree of soil erosion modulus reached 71.00%.The increased soil erosion after the returning in the typical sample area "did not drop,but increased" as the terraced fields decreased but sloping farmland increased and yet woodland decreased.

Comparison of Slope Length Factor Extraction in Hillslope Soil Erosion Model with Different DEM Resolutions

In this study, non-cumulative slope length(NCSL) calculation method and spatial analytical calculation(SAC) method were respectively applied to extract slope length and slope length factor from 10 sample areas, which are located in Ansai County, north Shaanxi Province. The comparison of computation precision between variable DEM resolutions showed that NCSL was superior to SAC entirely. And the results were best when the DEM resolutions were 5 and 10 m. Besides, the results of slope length factor were nearly the same under the two conditions. So DEM of 10 m resolution can be used to extract slope length.

Determination of a Mathematical Model of Erosion Taking into Account the Intensity of Rainfall and Soil Slopes from the Global MNT Model

Our study is being carried out in the Wouri Estuary more precisely in the Nylon area, Douala. This area is influenced by abundant rainfall which promotes the phenomenon of rain erosion. This erosion contributes to the degradation of structures and soils. To better understand and predict this phenomenon of rainfall erosion, we set out to establish a mathematical model that takes into account precipitation and topography. To this end, the data collected in the field and in the laboratory made it possible. First, we graphically modeled the variation of the potential as a function of the intensity of rainfall and the slope of the ground. Next, we identified a mathematical model from cubic spline surface interpolation. Finally, we obtained the mathematical model which makes it possible to evaluate and predict the erosion potential. The results obtained allowed to have an erosion potential of 153.67 t/ha/year with field data and 153.94 t/ha/year with laboratory data. We compared the results obtained with those existing in the literature on the same study site. This comparison made it possible to validate the established mathematical model. This mathematical model is a decision support tool and can predict problems related to water, erosion and the environment.

Effects of collapsing gully erosion on soil qualities of farm fields in the hilly granitic region of South China

Collapsing gully erosion is a specific form of soil erosion types in the hilly granitic region of tropical and subtropical South China, and can result in extremely rapid water and soil loss. Knowledge of the soil physical and chemical properties of farmland influenced by collapsing gully erosion is important in understanding the development of soil quality. This study was conducted at the Wuli Watershed of the Tongcheng County, south of Hubei Province, China. The aim is to investigate soil physical and chemical properties of three soil layers （0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm） for two farmland types （paddy field and upland field） in three regions influenced by collapsing gully erosion. The three regions are described as follows： strongly influenced region （SIR）, weakly influenced region （WIR） and non-influenced region （NIR）. The results show that collapsing gully erosion significantly increased the soil gravel and sand content in paddy and upland fields, especially the surface soil in the SIR and WIR. In the 0-20 cm layer of the paddy field, the highest gravel content （250.94 g kg-1） was in the SIR and the lowest （78.67 g kg-1） was in the NIR, but in the upland filed, the surface soil （0-20 cm） of the SIR and the 40-60 cm soil layer for the NIR had the highest （177.13 g kg-1） and the lowest （59.96 g kg-1） values of gravel content, respectively. The distribution of gravel and sand decreased with depth in the three influenced regions, but silt and clay showed the inverse change. In the paddy field, the average of sand content decreased from 58.6 （in the SIR） to 49.0% （in the NIR）, but the silt content was in a reverse order, increasing from 27.9 to 36.9%, and the average of the clay content of three regions showed no significant variation （P〈0.05）. But in the upland filed, the sand, silt and clay fluctuated in the NIR and the WIR. Soils in the paddy and upland field were highly acidic （pH〈5.2） in the SIR and WIR; moreover lower nutrient contents （soil organic matter （SOM）, total N and available N, P, K） existed in the SIR. In the 0-20 cm soil layer of the paddy field, compared with the NIR and the WIR, collapsing gully erosion caused a very sharp decrease in the SOM and total N of the SIR （5.23 and 0.56 g kg-1, respectively）. But in the surface soil （0-20 cm） of the upland field, the highest SOM, total N, available N, available P and available K occurred in the NIR, and the lowest ones were in the SIR. Compared with the NIR, the cation exchange capacity （CEC） in the SIR and WIR was found to be relatively lower. These results suggest that collapsing gully erosion seriously affect the soil physical and chemical properties of farmland, lead to coarse particles accumulation in the field and decrease pH and nutrient levels.

Novel protection systems for the improvement in soil and water stability of expansive soil slopes

To improve the soil and water stability of expansive soil slopes and reduce the probability of slope failure,novel protection systems based on polymer waterproof coatings(PWC)were used in this study.Herein,three groups of expansive soil slope model tests were designed to investigate the effects of polyester nonwovens and PWC(P-PWC)composite protection system,three-dimensional vegetation network and PWC(T-PWC)composite protection system,and nonprotection on the soil and water behavior in the slopes under precipitation–evaporation cycles.The results showed that the moisture change of P-PWC and T-PWC composite protected slopes was significantly smaller than that of bare slope,which reduced the sensitivity of slope moisture to environmental changes and improved its stability.The soil temperature of the slope protected by the P-PWC and T-PWC systems at a depth of 70 cm increased by 5.6℃ and 2.7℃,respectively.Using PWC composite protection systems exhibited better thermal storage performance,which could increase the utilization of shallow geothermal resources.Moreover,the maximum average crack widths of the bare slopes were 7.89 and 3.17 times those of the P-PWC and TPWC protected slopes,respectively,and the maximum average crack depths were 6.87 and 3 times those of the P-PWC and T-PWC protected slopes,separately.The PPWC protection system weakened the influence of hydro–thermal coupling on the slopes,inhibited the development of cracks on the slopes,and reduced the soil erosion.The maximum soil erosion of slopes protected by P-PWC and T-PWC systems was 332 and 164 times lower than that of bare slope,respectively.The P-PWC and T-PWC protection systems achieved excellent"anti-seepage and moisture retention"and anti-erosion effects,thus improving the soil and water stability of slopes.These findings can provide important guiding reference for controlling rainwater infiltration and soil erosion in expansive soil slope projects.

Influence of Straw Incorporation on Maize Yield,N Accumulation and Remobilization on Slope Farmland in Northeast China

Slope farmland is a main type of agricultural land throughout northeast China.Long-term high intensity utilization and unreasonable farming have caused the deterioration of soil resources and a decrease in crop production.Here,it was hypothesized that crop straw incorporation might help to reduce nutrient losses and increase maize yields across time and space.A field experiment for testing straw management practices on maize across three slope positions(top,back and bottom slopes)was conducted in Northeast China in 2018 and 2019.In this study,the dry matter accumulation(DMA),N accumulation(NA),N remobilization,postsilking N uptake and grain yield were measured under SI(straw incorporation)and NSI(no straw incorporation)across three slope positions of 100-m-long consecutive black soil slope farmland during the maize(Zea mays L.)growth stages.Compared with NSI,SI significantly increased DMA and NA at the silking and maturity stages.SI typically increased the N remobilization in all slope positions,and significantly increased N remobilization efficiency and contribution of N remobilization to grain on the back and bottom slopes.However,post-silking N uptake was only increased by SI on the top slope.SI generally increased the crop yield in three slope positions.In the SI treatments,the bottom slope was the highest yield position,followed by the top,and then the back slopes,suggesting that the bottom slope position of regularly incorporated straw might have increased the potential for boosting maize yield.Overall,the study demonstrated the outsized potential of straw incorporation to enhance maize NA and then increase the grain yield in black soil slope farmland.

Soil Erosion and Its Relationship to the Spatial Distribution of Land Use Patterns in the Lancang River Watershed, Yunnan Province, China

The Lancang River Watershed is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The river flows through Yunnan Province, China, which suffered serious deforestation since the 1980s;this in turn led to increased soil erosion in the region. To investigate the influence of the spatial distribution of land use and slope on soil erosion in the Lancang River Watershed, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to establish hydrological models using two-phase land use maps (1975 and 1985), a soil map, and meteorological data from 11 gauging stations. The satisfactory values of Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency Ens and correlation coefficient R2 during the calibration and validation period indicated that SWAT can be used in this area to simulate the average annual soil erosion under different land use scenarios change. By comparing soil erosion rate under different land use scenarios change, forests and grasslands had similar effects on preventing soil erosion. A parameter, soil erosion increment (Ei), was used to assess the effects of slope on soil erosion. The results revealed that variation in sediment yield was more sensitive to land use change for slopes exceeded 25° than for slopes being 0° - 15°. The spatial distribution of land use also had a relationship to soil erosion. Compared with the soil erosion rate in each sub-watershed using two-phase land use maps, the soil erosion rate increased when the percent cover of natural vegetation decreased. The results of this study provide baseline data for soil conservation and protection of the environment and ecology of the Lancang River Watershed in Yunnan Province.

A Simple Device to Evaluate the Influence Parameters of the Water Erosion of Bare Sandy-Clay Soils of the City of Douala

We explore the parameters that influence the dynamics of water erosion. The method used is an experimental laboratory simulation, which consists of the quantitative evaluation of eroded masses as a function of slope, soil cohesion and rainfall intensity. A simulator was designed to have the ability to vary the slope of the terrain, as well as the rainfall intensity. The variation of the soil cohesion is obtained by compacting the soil under different pressures using a hydraulic press associated with the whole experimental device. The results obtained show that the device is a good tool to simulate in the laboratory the behavior of different soil under the action of rain;because these results are in agreement with existing models USLE, MUSLE and RUSLE [1] [2] [3] [4].

Large-area Analysis of Soil Erosion and Landslides Induced by Rainfall: A Case of Unsaturated Shallow Deposits

Unsaturated shallow soil deposits may be affected by either superficial soil erosion or shallow landslides in adjacent or overlapping source areas and in different seasons when a different soil suction exists.The triggering analysis of both these processes is a relevant issue for the hazard analysis while the literature mostly provides specific approaches for erosion or for landslides.The paper proposes a largearea analysis for a case study of Southern Italy,consisting of unsaturated shallow deposits of loose pyroclastic(air-fall) volcanic soils that have been repeatedly affected by erosion and landslides in special seasons.For a past catastrophic event, the simulated source areas of shallow landslides are smaller than those observed in the field while the simulated eroded areas with thickness greater than 5cm are comparable with the in-situ evidences, if the analysis takes into account high rainfall intensity and a spatially variable soil cover use.More in general, the results of the paper are consistent with the previous literature and also provide a methodological contribution about the application of distinct tools over large area.The added value is that the paper shows how the combination of distinct large-area analyses may help with understanding the dominant slope instability mechanisms.Only once this goal is fully achieved, can specific physically-based analyses be confidently performed at detailed scales and for smaller specific areas.

Characteristics of Soil Respiration of Terraces and Slope Farmland in Loess Hilly and Gully Regions

Soil CO_2 emissions of terraces and slope farmland in loess hilly and gully regions were measured by using Infra Red Gas Analysis(IRGA),and the diurnal variation characteristics of soil respiration rate in different slope positions of terraces and slope farmland were analyzed.The results show that the diurnal variation curves of soil respiration rate of terraces and slope farmland in loess hilly and gully regions had a single peak.The soil respiration rate of terraces reached the peak during 13:00-15:00,while the soil respiration rate of slope farmland reached the peak from 11:00 to13:00,and it was the lowest at next 07:00.The daily average of soil respiration rate in slope farmland was 0.86μmol/(m^2·s),accounting for 93.48% of that of terraces.The daily average of soil respiration rate in different slope positions of terraces and slope farmland is shown as follows:the bottom of the slope>the middle of the slope>the top of the slope.At the top of the slope,the daily averages of soil respiration rate in terraces and slope farmland were the same;at the middle and bottom of the slope,the daily average of soil respiration rate in terraces was larger than that of slope farmland.

Soil Erodibility of Slope Farmland in Guizhou Mountain Areas

This paper studied soil erodibility of slope farmland in Guizhou mountain areas by the plot runoff method,analysis and test. Results show that the variation coefficient of erodibility K value calculated according to formula introduced by Sharply is low and relatively stable and accurate,so it is a suitable method for calculating erodibility K value of slope farmland in Guizhou mountain areas. K value of layer A slope farmland decreases with increase of years. The erodibility of entire soil layer is high,and the erosion resistance is weak. From the influence of different planting system and use types in 4 years,K values of different soil layers decrease,average reduction of A,B and C layers reaches 3. 17%- 11. 64%( 1. 26%- 12. 34% for layer A,1. 29%- 13. 80% for layer B,and 1. 26%- 10. 80% for layer C). Except engineering terraced treatment,the decline of K value of grassland,zoning crop rotation,economic fruit forest,grain and grass intercropping,plant hedge, and mixed forest treatment is higher than farmers' treatment,and the decline level is grassland > zoning crop rotation > economic fruit forest > grain and grass intercropping > plant hedge > and mixed forest treatment. Planting grass and trees is favorable for lowering erodibility of slope farmland and improving farmland quality. Interplanting of corns with other plants can increase plant coverage and species,so it is favorable for improving erodibility of slope farmland.