The Use of Various Rainfall Simulators in the Determination of the Driving Forces of Changes in Sediment Concentration and Clay Enrichment

Soil erosion is a complex, destructive process that endangers food security in many parts of the world; thus, its investigation is a key issue. While the measurement of interrill erosion is a necessity, the methods used to carry it out vary greatly, and the comparison of the results is often difficult. The present study aimed to examine the results of two rainfall simulators, testing their sensitivity to different environmental conditions. Plot-scale nozzle type rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on the same regosol under both field and laboratory conditions to compare the dominant driving factors of runoff and soil loss. In the course of the experiments, high-intensity rainfall, various slope gradients, and different soil surface states (moisture content, roughness, and crust state) were chosen as the response parameters, and their driving factors were sought. In terms of the overall erosion process, the runoff, and soil loss properties, we found an agreement between the simulators. However, in the field (a 6 m2 plot), the sediment concentration was related to the soil conditions and therefore its hydrological properties, whereas in the laboratory (a 0.5 m2 plot), slope steepness and rainfall intensity were the main driving factors. This, in turn, indicates that the design of a rainfall simulator may affect the results of the research it is intended for, even if the differences occasioned by various designs may be of a low order.

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The effects of Rubus hyrcanus L. and Philonotis marchica (Hedw.) Brid. on soil loss prevention from cutslopes of a forest road

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/9/2012-jfs ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 58 (No. 8) ◽

pp. 337-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Parsakhoo ◽

M. Lotfalian ◽

A. Kavian ◽

S.A. Hosseini ◽

M. Demir

Keyword(s):

Soil Loss ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Rainfall Simulation ◽

Runoff Generation ◽

Forest Roads ◽

Northern Forest ◽

Forest Road ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss ◽

The City ◽

Runoff And Sedimentation

The effects of Rubus hyrcanus L. and Philonotis marchica (Hedw.) Bridon on runoff generation and soil loss from cutslopes of forest roads were investigated. The study was conducted at the northern forest of Iran, about 30 km south of the city of Sari. Runoff and sedimentation after each rainfall simulation and chemical and physical soil properties were measured in 14 plots with an area of 0.48 m2. The obtained results indicate that the vegetation dominated by Philonotis marchica exhibited the higher runoff coefficient and soil loss, with averages of 27.25% and 92.40 g·m–2·h–1(gram per square meter per hour), respectively, in comparison to Rubus hyrcanus. For Philonotis marchica (Hedw.) Brid. the sediment concentration increased quickly at the beginning of rainfall simulations and after 10–12 min there was a fast decrease in sediment concentration. The peak of sediment concentration was for the Rubus hyrcanus L. in the 13th–15th min In conclusion, Rubus hyrcanus L. prevented or decreased the risk of runoff and soil loss from cutslopes of forest roads in our study area.

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The impact of standard preparation practice on the runoff and soil erosion rates under laboratory conditions

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-7-1293-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 1293-1302 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Abdulvahed Khaledi Darvishan ◽

Vafa Homayounfar ◽

Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Rainfall Simulation ◽

Natural Soil ◽

Northern Iran ◽

Soil Preparation ◽

Loam Soil ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The use of laboratory methods in soil erosion studies, rainfall simulation experiments, Gerlach troughs, and other measurements such as ring infiltrometer has been recently considered more and more because of many advantages in controlling rainfall properties and high accuracy of sampling and measurements. However, different stages of soil removal, transfer, preparation and placement in laboratory plots cause significant changes in soil structure and, subsequently, the results of runoff, sediment concentration and soil loss. Knowing the rate of changes in sediment concentration and soil loss variables with respect to the soil preparation for laboratory studies is therefore inevitable to generalize the laboratory results to field conditions. However, there has been little attention given to evaluate the effects of soil preparation on sediment variables. The present study was therefore conducted to compare sediment concentration and soil loss in natural and prepared soil. To achieve the study purposes, 18 field 1 ×  1 m plots were adopted in an 18 % gradient slope with sandy–clay–loam soil in the Kojour watershed, northern Iran. A portable rainfall simulator was then used to simulate rainfall events using one or two nozzles of BEX: 3/8 S24W for various rainfall intensities with a constant height of 3 m above the soil surface. Three rainfall intensities of 40, 60 and 80 mm h−1 were simulated on both prepared and natural soil treatments with three replications. The sediment concentration and soil loss at five 3 min intervals after time to runoff were then measured. The results showed the significant increasing effects of soil preparation (p ≤ 0.01) on the average sediment concentration and soil loss. The increasing rates of runoff coefficient, sediment concentration and soil loss due to the study soil preparation method for laboratory soil erosion plots were 179, 183 and 1050 % (2.79, 2.83 and 11.50 times), respectively.

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The effect of furrow length on rain and irrigation-induced erosion on a vertisol in Australia

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr9950833 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 833 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

C Carroll ◽

M Halpin ◽

K Bell ◽

J Mollison

Keyword(s):

Soil Erosion ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Canopy Closure ◽

Surface Cover ◽

Soil Movement ◽

Runoff Rate ◽

Peak Runoff ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss

Runoff and sediment movement were measured from irrigated furrows of different lengths on a Vertisol in central Queensland. Two farm properties (Denaro's and Roberts') were used to compare a short furrow length (SFL) and a long furrow length (LFL). At Denaro's farm, furrows were 241 and 482 m long, and at Roberts' farm they were 151 and 298 m long, with gradients of 1.0% and 1.3% respectively. Runoff and soil loss were measured from six furrows. At Denaro's farm, soil movement off the farm was measured at a taildrain outlet. Sediment concentration from both rainfall and irrigation declined when cultivation had ceased, soil in the furrows had consolidated and when the cotton canopy provided surface cover. Total soil loss from rainfall and irrigation was approximately 4-5 t ha-1. Rainstorms caused most of the seasonal soil loss, typically 3-4 t ha-1. The critical soil erosion period was between pre-plant irrigation and canopy closure. Soil surface cover, peak runoff rate and furrow length explained 97% of variance in soil loss caused by rainfall. Furrow length was not significant in the soil loss model for irrigation (r2 0.59).

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The influence of aspect and vegetation on seasonal changes in erosion under rainfall simulation on a clay soil in Spain

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s97-060 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 78 (2) ◽

pp. 321-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 128

Author(s):

A. Cerdà

Keyword(s):

Soil Loss ◽

Sediment Concentration ◽

Rainfall Simulation ◽

Vegetation Growth ◽

Erosion Rates ◽

The North ◽

Runoff Sediment ◽

High Runoff ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss ◽

Over Time

The seasonal and spatial variability of soil erosion under contrasting slope aspects in southeastern Spain was studied by performing and interpreting 84 rainfall simulation experiments conducted at an intensity of 55 mm h−1 during 1 h. The vegetated soils on the north-facing slope and the upper afforested parts had negligible sediment yield, runoff and erosion, while the bare soils on the south-facing slope had very high runoff rates. Runoff sediment concentration decreased over time during simulated rainfall events on the vegetated areas while it increased on the bare ones. Solute release decreased over time on both surface types. Seasonally, runoff sediment concentration was highest in autumn, decreasing in winter and spring, due to the exhaustion of erodible soil and the vegetation growth. Sediment concentrations increased slightly in summer when runoff and erosion rates where very low. Increasing seasonal variability corresponded with increasing runoff and soil loss rates. Key words: Runoff, soil loss, Mediterranean, erodibility

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Effets du travail du sol et de la gestion des résidus sur les propriétés du sol et sur l’érosion hydrique d'un Vertisol Méditerranéen

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss10096 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 91 (4) ◽

pp. 627-635 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Rachid Moussadek ◽

Rachid Mrabet ◽

Patrick Zante ◽

Jean Marie Lamachère ◽

Yannick Pépin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Loss ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Water Erosion ◽

Residue Management ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Water Runoff ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss

Moussadek, R., Mrabet, R., Zante, P., Lamachère, J. M., Pépin, Y., Le Bissonnais, Y., Ye, L., Verdoodt, A. and Van Ranst, E. 2011. Impact of tillage and residue management on the soil properties and water erosion of a Mediterranean Vertisol. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 627–635. Soil erosion research on Mediterranean Vertisols under no tillage systems (NT) is still scarce. A rainfall simulator was used on Vertisols to compare water runoff and soil loss in a conventional tillage system (CT), NT system with crop residues removed (NT0), and NT with 50% of crop residues returned to the soil surface (NT50). Runoff and soil loss rates were more than 50% lower under NT50 compared with NT0 and CT. Wet aggregate stability (MWD), soil organic matter (SOM) and soil bulk density (Da) were significantly higher under NT than under CT. A multiple regression analysis showed that when the soil was dry, Da explained 84 and 96% of the variation in water runoff and soil loss, respectively. Under wet soil conditions, MWD explained 47 and 69% of variation in water runoff and soil loss, respectively. Consequently, although NT systems improved soil quality (MWD, SOM) compared with the CT system, returning 50% of crop residues at the soil surface was mandatory under NT to protect these Vertisols against water erosion.

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A rainfall simulation study of erosion of some calcareous soils

Global NEST Journal ◽

10.30955/gnj.000216 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 179-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Calcium Carbonate ◽

Cation Exchange Capacity ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Clay Fraction ◽

Calcareous Soils ◽

Exchange Capacity ◽

Rainfall Simulation ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss ◽

Raindrop Impact ◽

Rain Simulator

In order to study the erodibility characteristics of some calcareous soils from Central Greece, the instability of aggregates of 2.0-4.7 mm in water was studied. Soil loss experiments were also conducted in the laboratory using a rain simulator where soil loss was measured and the soils attitude was studied under the conditions of simulated rainfall. It was found that the instability of aggregates is negatively correlated with cation exchange capacity and the total specific surface of soils. Also the calcium carbonate content affects positively the aggregates instability. The process which seems to control dominantly the time that runoff occurs and the runoff and soil loss quantity, is the creation of surface seals with raindrop impact due to large calcium carbonate quantities that are met in the clay fraction.

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Modelling the Event-Based Hydrological Response of Mediterranean Forests to Prescribed Fire and Soil Mulching with Fern Using the Curve Number, Horton and USLE-Family (Universal Soil Loss Equation) Models

Land ◽

10.3390/land10111166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1166

Author(s):

Bruno Gianmarco Carra ◽

Giuseppe Bombino ◽

Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja ◽

Pietro Denisi ◽

Pedro Antonio Plaza-Álvarez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prescribed Fire ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Overland Flow ◽

Curve Number ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Mediterranean Forests ◽

Hydrological Response ◽

Infiltration Excess ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss ◽

Scs Cn

The SCS-CN, Horton, and USLE-family models are widely used to predict and control runoff and erosion in forest ecosystems. However, in the literature there is no evidence of their use in Mediterranean forests subjected to prescribed fire and soil mulching. To fill this gap, this study evaluates the prediction capability for runoff and soil loss of the SCS-CN, Horton, MUSLE, and USLE-M models in three forests (pine, chestnut, and oak) in Southern Italy. The investigation was carried out at plot and event scales throughout one year, after a prescribed fire and post-fire soil mulching with fern. The SCS-CN and USLE-M models were accurate in predicting runoff volume and soil loss, respectively. In contrast, poor predictions of the modelled hydrological variables were provided by the models in unburned plots, and by the Horton and MUSLE models for all soil conditions. This inaccuracy may have been due to the fact that the runoff and erosion generation mechanisms were saturation-excess and rainsplash, while the Horton and MUSLE models better simulate infiltration-excess and overland flow processes, respectively. For the SCS-CN and USLE-M models, calibration was needed to obtain accurate predictions of surface runoff and soil loss; furthermore, different CNs and C factors must be input throughout the year to simulate the variability of the hydrological response of soil after fire. After calibration, two sets of CNs and C-factor values were suggested for applications of the SCS-CN and USLE-M models, after prescribed fire and fern mulching in Mediterranean forests. Once validated in a wider range of environmental contexts, these models may support land managers in controlling the hydrology of Mediterranean forests that are prone to wildfire risks.

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Hay mulching to reduce runoff and soil loss under intensive potato production in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s01-055 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 249-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

H W Rees ◽

T L Chow ◽

P J Loro ◽

J. Lavoie ◽

J O Monteith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Brunswick ◽

Soil Loss ◽

Potato Production ◽

Potato Yield ◽

Available P ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Nutrient Losses ◽

Application Rates ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss ◽

The Impact

Soil erosion by water associated with potato production in northwestern New Brunswick has been identified as one of the most severe soil degradation problems affecting soil quality in Canada. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of applying various rates of hay mulch following potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) harvest in reducing runoff and soil loss rates under northwestern New Brunswick climatic and soil conditions and to determine the impact of the various hay mulch application rates on potato yield. Wischmeier-like runoff-erosion plots (10 m wide by 30 m long) on a Holmesville gravelly loam soil were used. Annual hay mulch application rates of 0.00, 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 wet mass were evaluated under continuous up-and-down-slope potato production on 8 and 11% slopes between October 1995 and October 1999. During the study period, annual precipitation was lower than normal. Calculated rainfall erosivities were 102, 66, 73 and 133% of the value typically used for conservation planning in this region (1276 MJ mm ha-1h-1). Seventy-three percent of the average annual erosivity for the 4-yr period was associated with storms occurring in June, July, August and September. Hay mulching at rates of 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 conserved on average 13, 18 and 28 mm of June to September precipitation, respectively. Mean annual soil losses were reduced to 14, 7 and 2% of the control (5.6 t ha-1) by the 2.25, 4.50 and 9.00 t ha-1 treatments, respectively, on the 11% slope and to 43 and 24% of the control (2.0 t ha-1) on the 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 treatments, respectively, on the 8% slope. Eroded sediment silt, clay and organic matter (OM) contents were 1.6, 1.9 and 2.3 times the content of the surface soil at the experimental site. Mulching at rates as low as 2.25 t ha-1 reduced nutrient losses of NO3-N and available P, K, Ca and Mg to 26, 18, 28, 20 and 24% of control, respectively, on the 11% slope, and to 81, 50, 82, 66 and 77% of control, respectively, on the 8% slope. However, levels of nutrient losses from the controls were low to begin with (2.0, 0.4, 2.8, 10.9 and 1.6 kg ha-1 of NO3-N, and available P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively). Both total and marketable potato crop yields from all 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 treatments were in excess of 5% greater than their controls; however, only the increases in total yields from the 2.25 and 4.50 t ha-1 treatments and marketable yield from the 4.50 t ha-1 treatment on the 8% slope were significantly greater at P< 0.05. Yield of potato on the 9.00 t ha-1 treatment showed a consistent increase in total yield over the 4-yr period, going from 80% of control in 1996 to 127% of control in 1999, indicating a possible improvement in soil productivity. Hay mulching at rates up to 9.00 t ha-1 did not increase the incidence of disease or other defects. Hay mulching was found to be an effective tool for reducing soil loss while maintaining, and in some cases enhancing, potato yield. Key words: Hay mulching, soil loss, water erosion, organic residues, sediment composition, nutrient loss, erosivity

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Factors in conservation farming that reduce erosion

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9950969 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 35 (7) ◽

pp. 969 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

DK Malinda

Keyword(s):

Soil Loss ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Grain Legumes ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Nutrient Loss ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Infiltration Capacity ◽

Stubble Retention ◽

Conservation Farming ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss

A medium-term (10 years) stubble x tillage field experiment was established in 1984 on a red-brown earth at Tarlee, 70 km north of Adelaide, to develop a suitable system for sustaining the soil resource. Measurements of infiltration capacity, soil detachment rate, and erosion were taken in summer, autumn, winter, and spring 1989-90. The rotation was wheat-barley-grain legume, and treatments included 3 levels of stubble retention (0.5, 3.0, 5.0 t/ha.year) and 4 types of tillage [no-tillage (NT), direct drill (DD), reduced tillage (RT), conventional cultivation (CC)]. NT was seeded with narrow points (30 mm) and the other tillage treatments with wide shares (150 mm). The Northfield rainfall simulator with an erosive rainfall of 100 mm/h and an energy of 28.6 J/ m2.mm was used to measure runoff and soil and nutrient loss. This paper reports on erosion from this experiment. The results show that runoff was reduced through farming practices such as the retention of adequate stubble residue (about 3-5 t/ha.year of cereals), NT, or a combination of these factors. Increasing the average - - - annual stubble retention decreased runoff and soil loss linearly. The greater the amount of stubble retained annually, the less the runoff and soil loss, whether or not the soil surface was protected. The significant sediment release and soil loss from bared soil is inversely related to soil stability measured by a reduction in soil organic matter. Crop type also influenced erosion; for example, soil was more vulnerable to erosion after peas than after cereal. The amount of stubble after harvest was usually greater with cereals than with grain legumes. Runoff as a percentage of applied rain, and soil loss, ranged from 26 to 60% and 0.52 to 1 .I t/ha for 0.5 t/ha. year stubble (means of all treatments) for April 1989 and August 1990, respectively, and from 5 to 35% and 0.03 to 0.8 t/ha for 5.0 t/ha.year stubble for the same simulation period. Runoff rates in the last 3 min of 18 min simulation ranged from 0.4 to 1.1 mm/min for 5.0 t/ha.year stubble and from 0.8 to 1.7 mm/min for 0.5 t/ha.year stubble. The runoff rates recorded at the 18th minute of simulation ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 mm/min for NT and 0.7 to 1.5 mm/min for CC.

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The effectiveness of jute and coir erosion control blankets in different field and laboratory conditions

10.5194/se-2016-8 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

J. Kalibová ◽

L. Jačka ◽

J. Petrů

Keyword(s):

Soil Loss ◽

Peak Discharge ◽

Slope Gradient ◽

Laboratory Conditions ◽

Discharge Ratio ◽

Steep Slopes ◽

Runoff And Soil Loss ◽

Field And Laboratory Conditions ◽

The Impact

Abstract. A vegetation cover is found to be an ideal solution to most problems with erosion on steep slopes. Biodegradable geotextiles (GTX) have been proved to provide a sufficient protection against soil loss in the period before the vegetation reaches maturity. In this study, 500 g.m−2 jute (J500), 400 g.m−2 (C400), and 700 g.m−2 coir (C700) GTX were installed firstly on 9° slope in “no-inf iltration” laboratory conditions, secondly on 27° slope in natural field conditions. The impact of GTX on runoff and soil loss was investigated to compare the performance of GTX in different conditions. Laboratory runoff ratio (percentage portion of control plot) equaled 78 %, 83 % and 91 % and peak discharge ratio equaled 83 %, 91 % and 97 % for J500, C700 and C400, respectively. In the field, a runoff ratio of 31 %, 62 % and 79 % and peak discharge ratio of 37 %, 74 % and 87 % were recorded for C700, J500 and C400, respectively. All tested GTX significantly decreased soil erosion. The highest soil loss reduction in the field was observed for J500 (by 99.4%) followed by C700 (by 97.9%) and C400 (by 93.8%). Irrespective of slope gradient or experiment condition, C400 provided lower runoff volume and peak discharge control than J500 and C700. The performance ranking of J500 and C700 in the laboratory differed from the field, which may be explained by different slope gradient and also by the role of soil, which was not included in the laboratory experiment.

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