Spatial heterogeneity of surface roughness on tilled loess slopes in erosion stages

The main soil erosion areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau are tilled slopes. The knowledge of their spatial heterogeneity will contribute to the understanding of erosion mechanisms on a microtopographic scale. In this study, the spatial heterogeneity of four conventionally tilled slopes was examined under simulated rainfall conditions using a semivariogram-based methodological framework. Results show that all tilled slopes have a relatively stable spatial structure and the erosion stages of all tilled slopes have a similar spatial variability. The rainfall in the splash, sheet, and rill erosion stages has a degree of relief effect, strengthening effect, and relief effect on the surface roughness, respectively. However, the effects of tillage practices and slope gradient on the spatial heterogeneity are much larger than those of the rainfall. The spatial heterogeneity decreases with increasing slope gradient. The general autocorrelation scale of the tilled slopes is 3.15 m and their fractal dimension ranges from 1.59 to 1.85. The tilled slopes have certain anisotropy with respect to the slope direction from 10° to 22.5° while they show isotropy or weaker anisotropy in other directions. In this work, a semivariogram-based methodological framework was established for the spatial heterogeneity of microtopographic-scale slopes. The results also provide a theoretical foundation for future tillage measures on sloping fields of the Loess Plateau.

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Effects of vegetation cover and slope on soil erosion in the Eastern Chinese Loess Plateau under different rainfall regimes

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11226 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11226

Author(s):

Congjian Sun ◽

Huixin Hou ◽

Wei Chen

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Chinese Loess Plateau ◽

Slope Gradient ◽

Chinese Loess ◽

Sediment Yields ◽

Erosion Processes

Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem of the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The effects of vegetation cover on soil erosion reduction under different rainfall types are not well understood especially in the eastern Chinese Loess Plateau (ECLP). In this study, we monitored runoff and sediment yield at the Fengjiagou water and soil conservation station with five types of vegetation cover (arbor trees (ARC), shrubs (SHC), arable (ABC), natural vegetation (NVC), and artificial grass (APC)) and three slope gradients (10°, 15°, and 20°) in the ECLP. Based on long-term monitoring data, five rainfall types were classified by the maximum 30 min rainfall intensity (I30). We also quantitatively revealed the interactive effects of different types precipitation, vegetation cover and slope gradients on regional soil erosion. The results showed that (1) The RII (13 times) and RIII (eight times) type are the most threatening erosive rainfall in this region. (2) The ARC and SHC type were most beneficial for soil and water conservation in the ECLP; The APC and ABC are not conductive to the prevention of regional soil erosion. (3) Runoff and sediment yields increased with the slope gradient. The farmland is vulnerable to soil erosion when the slope gradient exceeds 10°. The results of this study can improve the understanding of regional soil erosion processes on the ECLP and provide useful information for managing regional water and land resources.

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Development of rill erosion and its simulation with cellular automata-rill model in Chinese Loess Plateau

Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science ◽

10.1080/03650340.2020.1856819 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Liquan Sun ◽

Shufang Wu ◽

Binbin Zhang ◽

Qi Lei

Keyword(s):

Cellular Automata ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Chinese Loess Plateau ◽

Rill Erosion ◽

Chinese Loess

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SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN THE AMERICAN MIDWEST, EUROPE, AND THE CHINESE LOESS PLATEAU USING CLUMPED ISOTOPE THERMOMETRY

10.1130/abs/2017am-308017 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Hayley Bricker ◽

◽

Jace Bricker ◽

Bryce A. Mitsunaga ◽

John Mering ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Analysis ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Chinese Loess Plateau ◽

Chinese Loess ◽

American Midwest ◽

Temperature And Precipitation ◽

Clumped Isotope ◽

The Chinese Loess Plateau

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Changes in soil water holding capacity and water availability following vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88914-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yong-wang Zhang ◽

Kai-bo Wang ◽

Jun Wang ◽

Changhai Liu ◽

Zhou-ping Shangguan

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Water ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Chinese Loess Plateau ◽

Land Use Type ◽

Chinese Loess ◽

Water Holding ◽

The Chinese Loess Plateau

AbstractChanges in land use type can lead to variations in soil water characteristics. The objective of this study was to identify the responses of soil water holding capacity (SWHC) and soil water availability (SWA) to land use type (grassland, shrubland and forestland). The soil water characteristic curve describes the relationship between gravimetric water content and soil suction. We measured the soil water characteristic parameters representing SWHC and SWA, which we derived from soil water characteristic curves, in the 0–50 cm soil layer at sites representing three land use types in the Ziwuling forest region, located in the central part of the Loess Plateau, China. Our results showed that the SWHC was higher at the woodland site than the grassland and shrubland, and there was no significant difference between the latter two sites, the trend of SWA was similar to the SWHC. From grassland to woodland, the soil physical properties in the 0–50 cm soil layer partially improved, BD was significantly higher at the grassland site than at the shrubland and woodland sites, the clay and silt contents decreased significantly from grassland to shrubland to woodland and sand content showed the opposite pattern, the soil porosity was higher in the shrubland and woodland than that in the grassland, the soil physical properties across the 0–50 cm soil layer improved. Soil texture, porosity and bulk density were the key factors affecting SWHC and SWA. The results of this study provide insight into the effects of vegetation restoration on local hydrological resources and can inform soil water management and land use planning on the Chinese Loess Plateau.

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