Traffic and tillage effects on runoff and soil loss on the Loess Plateau of northern China

This paper reports the outcome of 5 years of field plot runoff monitoring, 2 years of water erosion measurement, and a rainfall simulation experiment on moderately sloping farmland on the loess plateau of north-west China. The objective was to test different conservation tillage systems compared with the control treatment, conventional mouldboard plough practice (CK). Tillage, residue cover, and compaction effects were assessed in terms of runoff and soil erosion. Results from the runoff plots showed that conservation tillage, with more residue cover, less compaction, and less soil disturbance, could substantially reduce runoff and soil erosion compared with the control. No tillage with residue cover and no compaction produced the least runoff and soil erosion. Compared with the control, it reduced runoff and soil erosion by about 40% and 80%, respectively. At the start of the experiment, residue cover appeared to be the most important factor affecting soil and water conservation, particularly when antecedent soil moisture was limited. With the accumulation of tractor wheeling effects over the course of the experiment, soil compaction appeared to become a more important factor affecting runoff. Rainfall simulation was then used to assess the effect of non-inverting surface tillage and different levels of residue cover and wheel compaction on infiltration and runoff. This confirmed that wheel compaction effects could be greater than those of tillage and residue cover, at least under the 82.5 mm/h rainfall rate produced by the simulator. The wheeling effect was particularly large when the treatment was applied to wet soil, and severe even after wheeling by small tractors.

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Effects of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Erosion on the Loess Plateau: A Case Study in the Ansai Watershed

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126266 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6266

Author(s):

Hui Wei ◽

Wenwu Zhao ◽

Han Wang

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Large Scale ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Vegetation Restoration ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Local Soil ◽

Erosion Environment

Large-scale vegetation restoration greatly changed the soil erosion environment in the Loess Plateau since the implementation of the “Grain for Green Project” (GGP) in 1999. Evaluating the effects of vegetation restoration on soil erosion is significant to local soil and water conservation and vegetation construction. Taking the Ansai Watershed as the case area, this study calculated the soil erosion modulus from 2000 to 2015 under the initial and current scenarios of vegetation restoration, using the Chinese Soil Loess Equation (CSLE), based on rainfall and soil data, remote sensing images and socio-economic data. The effect of vegetation restoration on soil erosion was evaluated by comparing the average annual soil erosion modulus under two scenarios among 16 years. The results showed: (1) vegetation restoration significantly changed the local land use, characterized by the conversion of farmland to grassland, arboreal land, and shrub land. From 2000 to 2015, the area of arboreal land, shrub land, and grassland increased from 19.46 km2, 19.43 km2, and 719.49 km2 to 99.26 km2, 75.97 km2, and 1084.24 km2; while the farmland area decreased from 547.90 km2 to 34.35 km2; (2) the average annual soil erosion modulus from 2000 to 2015 under the initial and current scenarios of vegetation restoration was 114.44 t/(hm²·a) and 78.42 t/(hm²·a), respectively, with an average annual reduction of 4.81 × 106 t of soil erosion amount thanks to the vegetation restoration; (3) the dominant soil erosion intensity changed from “severe and light erosion” to “moderate and light erosion”, vegetation restoration greatly improved the soil erosion environment in the study area; (4) areas with increased erosion and decreased erosion were alternately distributed, accounting for 48% and 52% of the total land area, and mainly distributed in the northwest and southeast of the watershed, respectively. Irrational land use changes in local areas (such as the conversion of farmland and grassland into construction land, etc.) and the ineffective implementation of vegetation restoration are the main reasons leading to the existence of areas with increased erosion.

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Soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau in China: review and perspective

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/0309133307081290 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 389-403 ◽

Cited By ~ 236

Author(s):

Liding Chen ◽

Wei Wei ◽

Bojie Fu ◽

Yihe Lü

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Vegetation Restoration ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

The Past ◽

Soil And Water ◽

Made In

The Loess Plateau, China, has long been suffering from serious soil erosion. About 2000 years ago, larger areas were used for grain production and soil erosion was thus becoming severe with increase in human activity. Severe soil and water loss led to widespread land degradation. During the past decades, great efforts were made in vegetation restoration to reduce soil erosion. However, the efficiency of vegetation restoration was not as satisfactory as expected due to water shortage. China initiated another state-funded scheme, the `Grain-for-Green' project in 1999, on the Loess Plateau to reduce soil erosion and improve land quality. However, the control of soil erosion effectively by land-use modification raised problems. In this paper, the lessons and experiences regarding soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau in the past decades are analysed first. Urgent problems are then elaborated, such as the contradiction between land resource and human population, shortage of water both in amount and tempospatial distribution for vegetation growth, weak awareness of the problems of soil conservation by local officials, and poor public participation in soil and water conservation. Finally, suggestions regarding soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau are given. In order to control soil erosion and improve vegetation, a scientific and detailed land-use plan for the Loess Plateau has to be made, in the first instance, and then planning for wise use of water resources should be undertaken to control mass movement effectively and to improve land productivity. Methods of improving public awareness of environmental conservation and public involvement in vegetation rehabilitation are also important.

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Sediment Yield in Dam-Controlled Watersheds in the Pisha Sandstone Region on the Northern Loess Plateau, China

Land ◽

10.3390/land10111264 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1264

Author(s):

Fabing Xie ◽

Guangju Zhao ◽

Xingmin Mu ◽

Peng Tian ◽

Peng Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Sediment Yield ◽

Water Conservation ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Sediment Yields ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

Soil Erosion Rate ◽

Check Dams ◽

Loss Control

Soil erosion has become the dominant environmental issue endangering sustainable development in agriculture and the ecosystem on the Loess Plateau. Determination of watershed soil erosion rates and sediment yields is essential for reasonable utilization of water resources and soil loss control. In this study, we employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry to determine the sediment yields in 24 dam-controlled watersheds in the Pisha sandstone region of the northern Loess Plateau. High differences in total sediment were trapped before the check dams due to their running periods and sediment yields. The estimated specific sediment yield ranged from 34.32 t/(ha∙a) to 123.80 t/(ha∙a) with an average of 63.55 t/(ha∙a), which indicated that the Pisha sandstone region had an intense soil erosion rate. Furthermore, the modified Sediment Distributed Delivery (SEDD) model was applied to identify the erosion-prone areas in the watersheds, and the sediment retained in the check dams were used for model calibration. The performance of the model was acceptable, and the modeling results indicated that the steep Pisha sandstone was the major sediment source for the watersheds, accounting for approximately 87.37% of the sediment yield. Catchment area, erosive precipitation, and badland proportion were the key factors for sediment yield in the dam-controlled watersheds of the Pisha sandstone region, according to multiple regression analyses. These findings indicated that the modified SEDD model is very efficient in identifying spatial heterogeneities of sediment yield in the watershed but requires comprehensive calibration and validation with long-term observations. The Pisha sandstone region is still the key area of soil erosion control in the Loess Plateau, which needs more attention for soil and water conservation due to high sediment yield.

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The response of extreme rainstorm to global climate pattern changes in the loess plateau

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-16507 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

shaobo long

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Global Climate ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Sst Anomaly ◽

Academy Of Sciences ◽

Soil And Water

The response of extreme rainstorm to global climate pattern changes in the loess plateauShaobo Long1,3&#12289;Jianen Gao1,2,3*&#12289;Huijuan Li5&#12289;Zhe Gao4&#12289;minmin Qiang1,3&#12289;Sixuan Liu1,3<ol><li>Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.</li> <li>Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.</li> <li>Research Center on Soil and Water Conservation, Ministry of Water Resources, 712100, Yangling, Shannxi, China.</li> <li>College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.</li> <li>Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Research, CAS, 100101, Beijing, China.</li> </ol>Abstract: The loess plateau is the region with the most serious soil and water problems in the world, the soil erosion mainly occurs in the season of rainfall, especially the extreme rainstorm has great influence on soil erosion. In recent years, under the background of global climate change, extreme rainstorm occurs frequently in the loess plateau, causes a series of soil damage, was difficult to predict. Therefore, it is a great significance to study the rule of extreme rainstorm for the soil erosion in the loess plateau. Based on the daily rainfall data of 56 meteorological stations and global sea surface temperatures (SST) data in the last 60 years, the effects of El Ni&#241;o on extreme rainstorm were studied by using empirical orthogonal function (EOF), wavelet transform, and other statistical methods. The results show:<ul><li>(1) The extreme rainstorm has obvious spatial distribution characteristics, which decreases gradually from the south to the north of the loess plateau; Temporal variation of extreme rainstorm has obvious decadal oscillation, showing a decreasing trend from 1982 to 2012 and an increasing trend after 2012.</li> <li>(2) There was a significant positive correlation between the time coefficient of EOF1 for SST and the extreme rainstorm (P < 0.05). Wavelet analysis shows that Both extreme rainstorm and SST anomaly have a 30-year cycle, with the time change becoming more dramatic after 2012.</li> <li>(3) El Ni&#241;o has obvious influence on the extreme rainstorm in the loess plateau region. Extreme rainstorm can be predicted about 1 year in advance by the change of SST anomaly. This is of great significance to the study of extreme rainfall erosion in the loess plateau.</li> </ul>Keywords: The loess plateau; Extreme rainstorm; El Ni&#241;oFunding:<ol><li>The National key Research and Development Program of China (No.2017YFC0504703).</li> <li>National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41877078, 41371276).</li> <li>Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.A315021615).</li> </ol>

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Vulnerability Assessment of Soil and Water Loss in Loess Plateau and Its Impact on Farmers’ Soil and Water Conservation Adaptive Behavior

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su10124773 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 4773 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Xiaohui Huang ◽

Lili Wang ◽

Qian Lu

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Loss ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Soil And Water Conservation ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Soil And Water Loss ◽

Conservation Technology ◽

Soil And Water

Analyzing vulnerability and adaptation to soil and water loss is an important part of the study on the human–environment relationship in the Loess Plateau. It has also provided a new perspective for studying the farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology in the soil erosion area of the Loess Plateau. Based on the Turner vulnerability framework, this paper constructs a household-scale index system of soil and water loss vulnerability in the Loess Plateau and evaluates the soil and water loss vulnerability in the Loess Plateau using the field survey data of the Loess Plateau applied entropy method. Finally, we use the binary logistic model to estimate the impact mechanism of farmers’ soil erosion vulnerability on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) In the total sample, susceptibility > exposure > adaptability, whereas in the Shaanxi and Gansu subsample, susceptibility > adaptability > exposure. The Ningxia subsample was similar to the total sample. For each index, Ningxia > Gansu > Shaanxi; (2) The exposure and susceptibility of soil and water loss have a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology, and natural capital has a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. Physical capital has a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of biological measures. Financial capital has a negative impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of biological measures and farming measures. Social capital has a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of engineering measures and biological measures; (3) Overall, the marginal effect of the adoption behavior of farmers’ soil and water conservation techniques, adaptability > susceptibility > exposure. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of soil and water loss, encourage the government and farmers to respond in time, and reduce the losses caused by soil erosion. Enriching the capital endowment of farmers, breaking through the endowment restriction of farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation technology.

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The Roles of Check Dams and Dam-Trapped Farmlands in the Hilly and Ravine Region of the Loess Plateau: Soil Erosion Control, Grain Production and Food Security

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-6838 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Baiqun Wang ◽

Weiqin Dang ◽

Tianmin Dang

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Check Dam ◽

Grain Production ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Soil And Water

The soils are susceptible to water erosion in the hilly and ravine region of the Loess Plateau due to the readily erodible attribute of soils, erosive geomorphology, land use and land cover, and erosive rainfall. The soil and water losses induced by water erosion have the significant on-site impacts on crop growths and yields in this region because of soil nutrient depletion and adverse soil moisture condition. In addition, the crops grown in different land types frequently suffer from the seasonal draught due to climate change, which leads to the decline or failure of crop yield. Therefore, the crop yields and grain production are susceptibly stressed by soil erosion and drought in this region. Soil erosion and draught are the essential issues faced by agriculture production and eco-environment. Alternatively, effective measures of soil and water conservation can incredibly control soil and water losses induced by water erosion, alleviate the influences of draught on crop yields, and sustain grain production in this region. The check dam is one of the widely adopted engineering measures of soil and water conservation in the valleys of the hilly and ravine region on the Loess Plateau. Check dam can play multiple roles in mitigating soil erosion, trapping eroded sediments, regulating runoff and creating the lands in the valleys in the context of water erosion. The check dam can control the soil erosion to some extent because it can raise the basis level of erosion in the valley. The lost sediment and runoff can be trapped by the check dam in a watershed, which can reduce resultant loss rate of soil and water in the outlet of the watershed and mitigate sediment loads in the rive connecting to the watershed. Moreover, the check dam can make sediments or eroded soils deposit so as to develop the relatively flat lands called as the dam-trapped farmland in the valleys. The dam-trapped farmlands along with the terrace lands are regarded as the crucial farmlands due to their excellent farming conditions in this region. Some grain crops, such corn, sorghum, millet or potato, are always grown in the dam-trapped farmlands, among which corn is frequently planted in this kind of farmland. The crop yields of the dam-trapped farmlands have been increasing over the last 60 years. It is evidenced that the yield of corn increased from 2250-3000 kg/ha in 1960s to 12000-15000 kg/ha at present. The corn yield of the dam-trapped farmland is 1.5-2.0 folds of that of the terrace land. The nutrient use efficiency and water use efficiency of corn in the dam-trapped farmland are much higher than those of terrace land. It can be seen that check dam have the powerful function mitigating the losses runoff and sediment, and dam-trapped land can play the critical parts in sustaining grain production and insuring food security in the hilly and ravine region of the Loess Plateau.&#160;Keywords: soil erosion; check dam; dam-trapped farmland; grain production; food security; hilly and ravine region; Loess Plateau

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Research Progress on Soil Erosion Process of Slope-Gully System on the Loess Plateau of China

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.726-731.3747 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 726-731 ◽

pp. 3747-3750 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pei Qing Xiao ◽

Er Yang ◽

Li Li

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Scientific Basis ◽

Research Progress ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Erosion Process ◽

Research Issues ◽

Water Transportation

The Loess Plateau has the highest erosion rates in the world. Studying soil erosion process on the Loess Plateau has received more attention in recent years. Vertical erosion distribution zone is an important feature on the loess plateau. Infiltration, sediment concentration, erosion pattern and characteristic of sediment and water transportation have a clear distribution too. Research on soil erosion process can provide basis for constructing physical process based soil erosion mode and can provide scientific basis for laying out soil and water conservation measures effectively. So, spatial variability of slope erosion pattern, sheet, rill, shallow gully and permanent gully erosion process dominated at different erosion zone as well as slope-gully coupling system were discussed in this paper. And then, further research issues have been presented in the future.

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Evaluation of Three Different Machine Learning Methods for Object-Based Artificial Terrace Mapping—A Case Study of the Loess Plateau, China

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13051021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1021

Author(s):

Hu Ding ◽

Jiaming Na ◽

Shangjing Jiang ◽

Jie Zhu ◽

Kai Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Random Forest ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Nearest Neighbor ◽

Gradient Boosting ◽

K Nearest Neighbor ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Object Based ◽

Extreme Gradient Boosting

Artificial terraces are of great importance for agricultural production and soil and water conservation. Automatic high-accuracy mapping of artificial terraces is the basis of monitoring and related studies. Previous research achieved artificial terrace mapping based on high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) or imagery. As a result of the importance of the contextual information for terrace mapping, object-based image analysis (OBIA) combined with machine learning (ML) technologies are widely used. However, the selection of an appropriate classifier is of great importance for the terrace mapping task. In this study, the performance of an integrated framework using OBIA and ML for terrace mapping was tested. A catchment, Zhifanggou, in the Loess Plateau, China, was used as the study area. First, optimized image segmentation was conducted. Then, features from the DEMs and imagery were extracted, and the correlations between the features were analyzed and ranked for classification. Finally, three different commonly-used ML classifiers, namely, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN), were used for terrace mapping. The comparison with the ground truth, as delineated by field survey, indicated that random forest performed best, with a 95.60% overall accuracy (followed by 94.16% and 92.33% for XGBoost and KNN, respectively). The influence of class imbalance and feature selection is discussed. This work provides a credible framework for mapping artificial terraces.

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