Antecedent Precipitation Index to Estimate Soil Moisture and Correlate as a Triggering Process in the Occurrence of Landslides

Landslides are highly dangerous phenomena that occur in different parts of the world and pose significant threats to human populations. Intense rainfall events are the main triggering process for landslides in urbanized slope regions, especially those considered high-risk areas. Various other factors contribute to the process;thus, it is essential to analyze the causes of such incidents in all possible ways. Soil moisture plays a critical role in the Earth’s surface-atmosphere interaction systems;hence, measurements and their estimations are crucial for understanding all processes involved in the water balance, especially those related to landslides. Soil moisture can be estimated from in-situ measurements using different sensors and techniques, satellite remote sensing, hydrological modeling, and indicators to index moisture conditions. Antecedent soil moisture can significantly impact runoff for the same rainfall event in a watershed. The Antecedent Precipitation Index (API) or “retained rainfall,” along with the antecedent moisture condition from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, is generally applied to estimate runoff in watersheds where data is limited or unavailable. This work aims to explore API in estimating soil moisture and establish thresholds based on landslide occurrences. The estimated soil moisture will be compared and calibrated using measurements obtained through multisensor capacitance probes installed in a high-risk area located in the mountainous region of Campos do Jordão municipality, São Paulo, Brazil. The API used in the calculation has been modified, where the recession coefficient depends on air temperature variability as well as the climatological mean temperature, which can be considered as losses in the water balance due to evapotranspiration. Once the API is calibrated, it will be used to extrapolate to the entire watershed and consequently estimate soil moisture. By utilizing recorded mass movements and comparing them with API and soil moisture, it will be possible to determine thresholds, thus enabling anticipation of landslide occurrences.

Influence law of modified glutinous rice-based materials on gravel soil reinforcement and water erosion process

A large number of loose piles formed by mountain hazards are highly susceptible to hydraulic erosion under rainfall conditions.The use of ecological substrate materials for erosion control and ecological restoration of gravel soil slopes has become a current research hotspot and the study difficulty.The post-earthquake slump accumulation gravel soil in Jiuzhaigou was selected as the research object,and the self-developed modified glutinous rice-based material was used to reinforce the gravel soil.The variable slope flume erosion test and rainfall simulation test were carried out to study the water erosion resistance of the material reconstructed soil under the influence of runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion.The results show that:As the material content reached 12.5%,the reconstructed soil did not disintegrate after 24 hours of immersion,the internal friction angle was increased by 42.26%,and the cohesion was increased by 235.5%,which played a significant reinforcement effect.In the process of slope erosion,the soil rill erodibility parameter Kr was only 3‰ of the gravel soil control group,the critical shear force τ increased by 272%,and the soil erosion resistance was significantly improved.In the process of rainfall and rainfall on the slope,the runoff intensity of the reconstructed soil was stable,and the ability to resist runoff erosion and raindrop splash erosion was enhanced.The maximum value of soil loss rate on different slope slopes is 0.02-0.10 g·m^(-2)s^(-1),which is significantly lower than that of the control group and has better erosion reduction effect.

Driving forces and their interactions of soil erosion in soil and water conservation regionalization at the county scale with a high cultivation rate

Soil erosion control based on county scale Soil and Water Conservation Regionalization(SWCR)is an essential component of China's ecological civilization construction.In SWCR,the quantitative analysis of the spatial heterogeneity and driving factors of soil erosion among different regions is still lacking.It is of great significance for soil erosion control to deeply examine the factors contributing to soil erosion(natural,land use,and socioeconomic factors)and their interaction at the county and regional levels.This study focused on a highly cultivated area,Hechuan District of Chongqing in the Sichuan Basin.The district(with 30 townships)was divided into four soil and water conservation regions(Ⅰ-Ⅳ)using principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis.The driving factors of soil erosion were identified using the geographical detector model.The results showed thatⅰ)the high cultivation rate was a prominent factor of soil erosion,and the sloping farmland accounted for 78.4%of the soil erosion in the study area;ⅱ)land use factors demonstrated the highest explanatory power in soil erosion,and the average interaction of land use factors explained 60.1%of soil erosion in the study area;ⅲ)the interaction between natural factors,socioeconomic factors,and land use factors greatly contributes to regional soil erosion through nonlinear-enhancement of double-factor enhancement.This study highlights the importance of giving special attention to the effects of land use factors on soil erosion at the county scale,particularly in mountainous and hilly areas with extensive sloping farmland and a high cultivation rate.

Review and prospect of soil compound erosion

Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental issues constraining the sustainable development of human society and economies.Soil compound erosion is the result of the alternation or interaction between two or more erosion forces.In recent years,fluctuations and extreme changes in climatic factors(air temperature,precipitation,wind speed,etc.)have led to an increase in the intensity and extent of compound erosion,which is increasingly considered in soil erosion research.First,depending on the involvement of gravity,compound erosion process can be divided into compound erosion with and without gravity.We systematically summarized the research on the mechanisms and processes of alternating or interacting soil erosion forces(wind,water,and freeze-thaw)considering different combinations,combed the characteristics of compound erosion in three typical regions,namely,high-elevation areas,high-latitude areas,and dry and wet transition regions,and reviewed soil compound erosion research methods,such as station observations,simulation experiments,prediction models,and artificial neural networks.The soil erosion model of wind,water,and freeze-thaw interaction is the most significant method for quantifying and predicting compound erosion.Furthermore,it is proposed that there are several issues such as unclear internal mechanisms,lack of comprehensive prediction models,and insufficient scale conversion methods in soil compound erosion research.It is also suggested that future soil compound erosion mechanism research should prioritize the coupling of compound erosion forces and climate change.

Assessment of Soil Water Content in Field with Antecedent Precipitation Index and Groundwater Depth in the Yangtze River Estuary

To better understand soil moisture dynamics in the Yangtze River Estuary （YRE） and predict its variation in a simple way, a field monitoring experiment was carried out along the north branch of the Yangtze River, where seawater intrusion was strong and salt-water variation is one of the limiting factors of local agriculture. In present paper, relation between antecedent precipitation index （API） and soil water content is studied, and effects of groundwater depth on soil water content was analyzed. A relatively accurate prediction result of soil water content was reached using a neural network model. The impact analysis result showed that the variation of the API was consistent with soil water content and it displayed significant correlations with soil water content in both 20 and 50 cm soil layer, and higher correlation was observed in the layer of 20 cm. Groundwater impact analysis suggested that soil moisture was affected by the depth of groundwater, and was affected more greatly by groundwater at depth of 50 cm than that at 20 cm layer. By introducing API, groundwater depth and temperature together, a BP artificial network model was established to predict soil water content and an acceptable agreement was achieved. The model can be used for supplementing monitoring data of soil water content and predicting soil water content in shallow groundwater areas, and can provide favorable support for the research of water and salt transport in estuary area.

Soil erosion calculation in the hydro-fluctuation belt by adding water erosivity factor in the USLE model

Soils in the hydro-fluctuation belts of the reservoirs are most highly influenced by the special hydro-conditions and reservoir operation,leading to unique soil erosion process and largely accelerate soil erosion intensity.The present study aimed to estimate soil erosion rate in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the Pubugou Reservoir,Southwest China,based on the framework of Universal Soil Loss Equation(USLE).An attempt has been made to modify the original USLE by including the reservoir water erosivity(W),a new factor into the model.Soil erosion rate from different land use types were quantitatively estimated,using the USLE and the modified USLE respectively.Field observation showed that soil erosion rate in dry farmland,bare land and grassland was 4700,44600 and 5050 t/km2,respectively.The erosion rate assessed by the modified USLE was closely related to that recorded from the field monitoring data.The findings of this study clearly highlight the importance of inclusion of the W factor to the original USLE model while assessing soil erosion in the reservoir hydro-fluctuation belt.

A GIS-based Modeling Approach for Fast Assessment of Soil Erosion by Water at Regional Scale, Loess Plateau of China

The objective of this study is to develop a unique modeling approach for fast assessment of massive soil erosion by water at a regional scale in the Loess Plateau, China. This approach relies on an understanding of both regional patterns of soil loss and its impact factors in the plateau area. Based on the regional characteristics of pre- cipitation, vegetation and land form, and with the use of Landsat TM and ground investigation data, the entire Loess Plateau was first divided into 3 380 Fundamental Assessment Units (FAUs) to adapt to this regional modeling and fast assessment. A set of easily available parameters reflecting relevant water erosion factors at a regional scale was then developed, in which dynamic and static factors were discriminated. ArcInfo GIS was used to integrate all es- sential data into a central database. A resulting mathematical model was established to link the sediment yields and the selected variables on the basis of FAUs through overlay in GIS and multiple regression analyses. The sensitivity analyses and validation results show that this approach works effectively in assessing large area soil erosion, and also helps to understand the regional associations of erosion and its impact factors, and thus might significantly contribute to planning and policymaking for a large area erosion control in the Loess Plateau.

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].

SOIL EROSION AND THE WATER & SOIL CONSERVATION IN THE LOESSIAL HILLY AREA OF SOUTHERN NINGXIA

1. General Situation of Soil Erosion The loessial hilly area of southern Ningxia, Situated at the south of Ningxia Hui Au-tonomous Region, middle-upper reaches of the Yellow River, part of Chinese Loess Pla-teau, covers an area of 1500 square kilometers with an annual mean temperature of 5-8℃,a precipitation of 300-500mm of which 70% taking place concentratively during the peri-od between June and September in form of rainstorm, The annual evaporation

Evaluating soil erosion by water in a small alpine catchment in Northern Italy: comparison of empirical models

To quantify water erosion rates and annual soil loss in mountainous areas,two different empirical models were used to estimate the effects of soil erosion in a small mountain basin,the Guerna Creek watershed,located in the Central Southern Alps(Northern Italy).These two models,Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE) and Erosion Potential Model(EPM),were implemented in a Geographical Information System,accounting for the geographical,geomorphological,and weather-climate parameters,which are fundamental to evaluating the intensity and variability of the erosive processes.Soil characterization was supported by laboratory analysis.The results(computed soil loss of 87 t/ha/year and 11.1 m^(3)/ha/year,using RUSLE equation and EPM method,respectively,and sediment yield of 7.5 m^(3)/ha/year using EPM method) were compared to other studies reported in the literature for different case studies with similar topographic and climatic features,as well as to those provided by the European Soil Data Centre(ESDAC).In both cases,the agreement was satisfactory,showing consistency of the adopted procedures to the parametrization of the physical processes.

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.

Soil surface roughness change and its effect on runoff and erosion on the Loess Plateau of China

As an important parameter in the soil erosion model, soil surface roughness（SSR） is used to quantitatively describe the micro-relief on agricultural land. SSR has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically; however, no studies have focused on understanding SSR on the Loess Plateau of China. This study investigated changes in SSR for three different tillage practices on the Loess Plateau of China and the effects of SSR on runoff and erosion yield during simulated rainfall. The tillage practices used were zero tillage（ZT）, shallow hoeing（SH） and contour ploughing（CP）. Two rainfall intensities were applied, and three stages of water erosion processes（splash erosion（I）, sheet erosion（II） and rill erosion（III）） were analyzed for each rainfall intensity. The chain method was used to measure changes in SSR both initially and after each stage of rainfall. A splash board was used to measure the splash erosion at stage I. Runoff and sediment data were collected continuously at 2-min intervals during rainfall erosion stages II and III. We found that SSR of the tilled surfaces ranged from 1.0% to 21.9% under the three tillage practices, and the order of the initial SSR for the three treatments was ZT〈SH〈CP. For the ZT treatment, SSR increased slightly from stage I to III, whereas for the SH and CP treatments, SSR decreased by 44.5% and 61.5% after the three water erosion stages, respectively, and the greatest reduction in SSR occurred in stage I. Regression analysis showed that the changes in SSR with increasing cumulative rainfall could be described by a power function（R2〉0.49） for the ZT, SH and CP treatments. The runoff initiation time was longer in the SH and CP treatments than in the ZT treatment. There were no significant differences in the total runoff yields among the ZT, SH and CP treatments. Sediment loss was significantly smaller（P〈0.05） in the SH and CP treatments than in the ZT treatment.

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.

Gully Erosion Regionalization of Black Soil Area in Northeastern China

Gully erosion is the frequent and main form of soil erosion in the black soil area of the northeastern China, which is one of the most important commodity grain production bases in China. It is encroaching upon the fertile farmland there. Regionalization of gully erosion can reveal the spatial distribution and regularity of the development of gully erosion. Based on the eco-geographical regional background features of the black soil area, this study combined the regionalization with influencing factors of the development of gully erosion. GIS spatial analysis, geostatistical analysis, spatial statistics, reclassification, debris polygon processing and map algebra methods were employed. As a result, the black soil area was divided into 12 subregions. The field survey data on type, length, volume and other characteristics indicators of gully erosion were used to calibrate the results. Then the features of every subregion, such as where the gully erosion is, how serious it is, and why it happens and develops, were expounded. The result is not only an essential prerequisite for gully erosion surveys and monitoring, but also an important basis for gully erosion prevention.

Farmers’ Perception of Soil Erosion and Adoption of Soil Conservation Technologies at Geshy Sub-Catchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to investigate farmers’ perception of soil erosion, participation and adoption of soil conservation technologies (SWC) in Geshy sub-catchment of Gojeb river catchment, Omo-Gibe basin, Ethiopia during 2016. The study is based on a detailed survey of 77 households using structured interviews, field observation and focus group discussion. Descriptive and chi-square statistics were applied to analyze factors that affected farmers’ perceived soil erosion severity, participation and adoption options. The results revealed that about 79% of farmers perceived soil erosion problem and its consequences and 97.4% of them believed that it can be controlled. Almost all (97.4%) farmers acknowledged the presence of SWC technologies and about 92.2% of them were participated in conservation activities voluntarily. Thus, 93.5% of them realized decreasing rate of soil erosion and 79.9% of them observed an increasing trend in soil fertility status. Consequently, 94.8% of them confirmed the potential of SWC technologies to halt land degradation and improve land productivity. Furthermore, 98.7% of them were willing to adopt with very good adoption judgment and 94.8% of them were willing to continue maintaining constructed technologies in the future. Principally, farmers’ perception of soil erosion, their genuine participation derived from their conviction, and adoption of induced SWC technologies are the decisive elements for the success of watershed management interventions.

Assessment of agri-spillways as a soil erosion protection measure in Mediterranean sloping vineyards

Suitable vineyard soils enhance soil stability and biodiversity which in turn protects roots against erosion and nutrient losses. There is a lack of information related to inexpensive and suitable methods and tools to protect the soil in Mediterranean sloping vineyards(>25° of slope inclination). In the vineyards of the Montes de Málaga(southern Spain), a sustainable land management practice that controls soil erosion is actually achieved by tilling rills in the down-slope direction to canalize water and sediments. Because of their design and use, we call them agri-spillways. In this research, we assessed two agri-spillways(between 10 m and 15 m length, and slopes between 25.8° and 35°) by performing runoff experiments under extreme conditions(a motor driven pump that discharged water flows up to 1.33 l s^(-1) for 12 to 15 minutes: ≈1000 l). The final results showed: i) a great capacity by these rills to canalize large amounts of water and sediments; and, ii) higher water flow speeds(between 0.16 m s-1 and 0.28 m s^(-1)) and sediment concentrationrates(up to 1538.6 g l^(-1)) than typically found in other Mediterranean areas and land uses(such as badlands, rangelands or extensive crops of olives and almonds). The speed of water flow and the sediment concentration were much higher in the shorter and steeper rill. We concluded that agri-spillways, given correct planning and maintenance, can be a potential solution as an inexpensive method to protect the soil in sloping Mediterranean vineyards.

An experimental study on the influences of water erosion on wind erosion in arid and semi-arid regions

Complex erosion by wind and water causes serious harm in arid and semi-arid regions. The interaction mechanisms between water erosion and wind erosion is the key to further our understanding of the complex erosion. Therefore, in-depth understandings of the influences of water erosion on wind erosion is needed. This research used a wind tunnel and two rainfall simulators to investigate the influences of water erosion on succeeding wind erosion. The wind erosion measurements before and after water erosion were run on semi-fixed aeolian sandy soil configured with three slopes(5°, 10° and 15°), six wind speeds(0, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 20 m/s), and five rainfall intensities(0, 30, 45, 60 and 75 mm/h). Results showed that water erosion generally restrained the succeeding wind erosion. At a same slope, the restraining effects decreased as rainfall intensity increased, which decreased from 70.63% to 50.20% with rainfall intensity increased from 30 to 75 mm/h. Rills shaped by water erosion could weaken the restraining effects at wind speed exceeding 15 m/s mainly by cutting through the fine grain layer, exposing the sand layer prone to wind erosion to airflow. In addition, the restraining effects varied greatly among different soil types. The restraining effects of rainfall on the succeeding wind erosion depend on the formation of a coarsening layer with a crust and a compact fine grain layer after rainfall. The findings can deepen the understanding of the complex erosion and provide scientific basis for regional soil and water conservation in arid and semi-arid regions.

Dynamic Study on Water Stability of Soil Structure and Soil Characteristics of Several Types of Soils in Southwest China

Three suborder soils in southwest China were adopted, namely Ustic Vertisol, Stagnic Anthrosol and Ustic Ferrosol, so as to carry out the basic physical and chemical analysis respectively, to design a dynamic measuring method for water stability of soil structure and conduct the comparative study on the quality of the soil structure. The results indicated that （1） The water stability dynamic characteristic of the soil structure could well reflect the maintaining capability of the soil structure as time goes on. （2） The quality of several soil structures in southwest China was sequenced as follows： Stagnic Anthrosols 〉 Ustic Vertisols 〉 Ustic Ferrosols. （3） The water stability of soil structure is very positively correlated with the capillary porosity and the clay particle （D 〈 0.002 mm） content （Co）, but is very negatively correlated with the silt （D is 0.05-0.002 ram） content （Csc）, and （4） The dynamic functional equation of the water stability of soil structure in southwest China was established, so that the water stability characteristics of various soil structures could be quantitatively expressed and the quality of different soil structures can be quantitatively compared from each other.

Effects of level soil bunds and stone bunds on soil properties and its implications for crop production: the case of Bokole watershed, Dawuro zone, Southern Ethiopia

Level soil bunds (LSB) and stone bunds (SB) have been widely implemented in the Bokole watershed since 2000 through support of the World Food Program (WFP). However, the performance of them against the target of the structure has not been studied. This study analyzed the effect of LSB and SB on selected soil properties, when compared with nonterraced cropland. The Bokole watershed was divided into two units. From upper watershed, three croplands with LSB (aged 4, 6, and 9 years) and three nonterraced croplands each adjacent to one of the LSB were selected. Similarly, in lower watershed, SB aged 4, 6, and 8 years and three nonterraced croplands each adjacent to one of the SB were selected. From each cropland with LSB and SB, three composite soil samples (rep licates) were collected systematically in X designed rectangular plot. From each nonterraced cropland, three composite soil samples (replicates) were collected in X designed square plot. A total of 36 soil samples were analyzed for Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Available Phosphorus (AP), Available Potassium (AK), pH, and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) following standard laboratory procedures. Most soil parameters were not significantly different in cropland with LSB and SB compared to nonterraced. However, in LSB aged 4 years and SB aged 6 years AP and pH were significantly less than their adjacent-nonterraced cropland. In SB aged 8 years, SOC, AP, AK, and pH were also significantly less than adjacent-nonterraced cropland. Past erosion, and past land uses are likely factors contributed to the observed result. It was inferred that the mean con tribution of LSB and SB alone for crop production with regard to analyzed soil parameters was not significant in the considered sites. Additional soil fertility management practices should be incorporated for better effect.

Soil and water loss in the Lancang River-Mekong River watershed (in Yunnan section, China) and its control measures

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