Runoff and Sediment Attenuation by Undisturbed and Lightly Disturbed Forest Buffers

A runoff plot experiment found that ten metre undisturbed forest buffers removed80–90% of runoff and over 95% of sediment produced by logging skid tracks. The study was carried out on 21^º slopes in a native forest in eastern New South Wales, Australia. The experiment included three replicates of four treatments including undisturbed control, skid track, skid track + undisturbed buffer and skid track + disturbed buffer. Skid track and control plots were 20 m long by 5 m wide. Buffer plots consisted of a 20 m by 5 m skid track directing runoff to a 10 m by 5 m naturally vegetated buffer that was either undisturbed or lightly disturbed. Runoff and sediment yields from plots were monitored over two successive summers. Undisturbed buffers greatly reduced overland flow and decreased sediment yields from around 100 Mg ha¹ to less than 0.5 Mg ha^-1. Differences in both runoff and sediment yield between undisturbed buffer and control treatments were minimal and not statistically significant. Disturbed buffers achieved similarly large reductions in runoff and sediment yield in two out of three replicates. The third replicate yielded as much or more runoff and sediment than the skid track plots suggesting that disturbance increased the risk of buffer failure. The peak rate of outflow from buffer plots was generally not related to peak buffer inflow until a threshold inflow of 1.6 L s^-1 was reached, after which peak outflow and peak inflow were linearly related.     

神府东胜煤田原生地面放水冲刷试验研究

神府东胜煤田是我国重要的能源重化工基地,在开发建设过程中造成了严重的人为水土流失,为了分析计算神府煤田弃土弃渣、扰动地面及非硬化路面的新增水土流失量,以本区未经人为扰动的、撂荒的原生地面为自然侵蚀本底值的作用对象,采用野外放水冲刷实验的研究方法,对原生地面的侵蚀产沙规律进行了研究.结果表明径流量、产沙量与放水流量,径流量、产沙量与坡度的关系均呈线性相关,即随着坡度与放水流量的增大,径流量和产沙量也在线性增加.径流量与产沙量之间呈幂函数关系变化,关系式为Ms=0.049W0.93.     

由降雨事件引起的坡面产流和土壤侵蚀的元胞自动机模拟

A novel quantitative cellular automata (CA) model that simulates and predicts hillslope runoff and soil erosion caused by rainfall events was developed by integrating the local interaction rules and the hillslope surface hydraulic processes. In this CA model, the hillslope surface was subdivided into a series of discrete spatial cells with the same geometric features. At each time step, water and sediment were transported between two adjacent spatial cells. The flow direction was determined by a combination of water surface slope and stochastic assignment. The amounts of interchanged water and sediment were computed using the Chezy-Manning formula and the empirical sediment transport equation. The water and sediment discharged from the open boundary cells were considered as the runoff and the sediment yields over the entire hillslope surface. Two hillslope soil erosion experiments under simulated rainfall events were carried out. Cumulative runoff and sediment yields were measured, respectively. Then, the CA model was applied to simulate the water and soil erosion for these two experiments. Analysis of simulation results indicated that the size of the spatial cell, hydraulic parameters, and the setting of time step and iteration times had a large impact on the model accuracy. The comparison of the simulated and measured data suggested that the CA model was an applicable alternate for simulating the hillslope water flow and soil erosion.     

神府东胜煤田原生地面放水冲刷试验研究

神府东胜煤田是我国重要的能源重化工基地，在开发建设过程中造成了严重的人为水土流失，为了分析计算神府煤田弃土弃渣、扰动地面及非硬化路面的新增水土流失量，以本区未经人为扰动的、撂荒的原生地面为自然侵蚀本底值的作用对象，采用野外放水冲刷实验的研究方法，对原生地面的侵蚀产沙规律进行了研究。结果表明：径流量、产沙量与放水流量，径流量、产沙量与坡度的关系均呈线性相关，即随着坡度与放水流量的增大，径流量和产沙量也在线性增加。径流量与产沙量之间呈幂函数关系变化，关系式为Ms=0.049W^0.93。     

Modelling runoff and soil erosion in logged forests: Scope and application of some existing models

Predictive erosion models are useful tools for evaluating the impact of land-use practices on soil and water properties, and as often used by environmental protection authorities, for setting guidelines and standards for regulation purposes. This study examines the application of three erosion models of varying complexity and design for predicting runoff and soil erosion from logged forest compartments in south eastern Australia. These are: the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP), and TOPOG, a physically based hydrologic modelling package. Data on rates of soil loss and redistribution collected during a series of large-scale rainfall simulator experiments were used as model input parameters and validation. The models were evaluated in terms of general ease of use, input data requirements and accuracy of process understanding and prediction. Results suggest that in this application the USLE overestimated soil loss, and have the limitation that it does not predict sediment yield or sediment redistribution for specific storm events. When used at the hillslope scale, WEPP and TOPOG have predicted runoff and soil loss reasonably well, particularly on disturbed surfaces such as skid trails. On less disturbed surfaces such as the general harvesting area, both models performed less accurately, generally under-predicting soil loss and sediment yield, notably on sites with low observed values. The complexity and data requirements of WEPP and TOPOG limit their usability as a general-purpose, erosion hazard predicting tool. In terms of process understanding, none of the existing models accurately depict the nature and extent of sediment redistribution quantified in the rainfall simulator experiments. In order to advance the application and accuracy of modelling tools in forestry environments, this redistribution process should be considered integral to the refinement and redevelopment of future models.     

Simulated rainfall evaluation of revegetation/mulch erosion control in the Lake Tahoe Basin—1: method assessment

Revegetation of road cuts and fills is intended to stabilize those drastically disturbed areas so that sediment is not transported to adjacent waterways. Sediment has resulted in water quality degradation, an extremely critical issue in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Many revegetation efforts in this semiarid, subalpine environment have resulted in low levels of plant cover, thus failing to meet project goals. Further, no adequate physical method of assessing project effectiveness has been developed, relative to runoff or sediment movement. This paper describes the use of a portable rainfall simulator (RS) to conduct a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of a variety of erosion‐control treatments and treatment effects on hydrologic parameters and erosion. The particular goal of this paper is to determine whether the RS method can measure revegetation treatment effects on infiltration and erosion. The RS‐plot studies were used to determine slope, cover (mulch and vegetation) and surface roughness effects on infiltration, runoff and erosion rates at several roadcuts across the basin. A rainfall rate of ≈60 mm h⁻¹, approximating the 100‐yr, 15‐min design storm, was applied over replicated 0·64 m² plots in each treatment type and over bare‐soil plots for comparison. Simulated rainfall had a mean drop size of ≈2·1 mm and approximately 70% of ‘natural’ kinetic energy. Measured parameters included time to runoff, infiltration, runoff/infiltration rate, sediment discharge rate and average sediment concentration as well as analysis of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and dissolved phosphorus (TDP) from filtered (0·45 μm) runoff samples. Runoff rates, sediment concentrations and yields were greater from volcanic soils as compared to that from granitic soils for nearly all cover conditions. For example, bare soil sediment yields from volcanic soils ranged from 2–12 as compared to 0·3–3 g m⁻² mm⁻¹ for granitic soils. Pine‐needle mulch cover treatments substantially reduced sediment yields from all plots. Plot microtopography or roughness and cross‐slope had no effect on sediment concentrations in runoff or sediment yield. RS measurements showed discernible differences in runoff, infiltration, and sediment yields between treatments. Runoff nutrient concentrations were not distinguishable from that in the rainwater used. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

神府东胜煤田开发建设弃土弃渣冲刷试验研究

采用野外放水冲刷实验,对神府东胜煤田弃土弃渣侵蚀产沙规律进行了系统研究。结果表明:弃土弃渣堆积年限越短,可蚀性越大,侵蚀程度越强。经过4～7年的自然沉降过程,其表面的紧实度逐渐趋于稳定值。流量相同时不同下垫面条件下的产沙量1997年弃渣>1994年弃渣>煤渣>煤矸石。径流量、产沙量与放水流量呈线性关系,产沙量与径流量亦呈线性关系。集中的水流冲刷对弃土弃渣坡面造成严重的侵蚀,使含沙量保持在一个较高的水平,随着时间的变化含沙量出现剧烈的上下波动,总体上表现出逐渐减小的趋势,同时,会出现高含沙水流过程甚至泥石流过程。     

Post-fire hillslope erosion response in a sub-alpine environment, south-eastern Australia

This paper examines post-fire erosion response in a sub-alpine environment in south-eastern Australia for a period of 2.2 years. Few studies have examined fire impacts on sediment transfer in this environment. Erosion pins were used in grids located at upper, mid and lower slope positions on adjacent burnt and unburnt hillslopes to assess fire effects on the extent of surface level change. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the surface level change regimes on the burnt and unburnt hillslopes. Estimated erosion rates for the burnt slope over the study period ranged from 2.7 to 94.3 t ha^− 1, which could be considered low given the high slope angles, high precipitation and moderate fire severity. Slope position was critical in modifying post-fire erosion response, as it controlled slope angle and the rate of surface cover regrowth. Analysis of lower slope sites, for which more detailed data was available, indicated a second delayed erosion peak after the initial elevated post-fire response during the following spring snowmelt period. Surface recovery on the lower burnt site was slow, with vegetation cover still comparatively low 2.3 years after the fire. Evidence of post-fire sediment supply limitation was found on this site, with a declining rate of increase in the magnitude of total surface level change, despite limited regrowth and an increasing number of precipitation events > 20 mm for measurement intervals since the fire. Modification of the hillslope surface by fire leads to changing hillslope erosion process dominance in this environment. The post-fire hillslope undergoes erosion by direct rain-drop impact and overland flow, whereas the unburnt slope rarely experiences overland flow due to the thick ground cover. As a result surface level change on the unburnt slope was largely influenced by wetting–drying effects rather than sediment transfer by surface flow. Downslope biotransfer appears to be the dominant sediment movement process in the unburnt sub-alpine forest environment.     

Soil erosion and hydrological response to land abandonment in a central inland area of Portugal

This paper analyses the effects of land abandonment on runoff and sediment yield in a central inland area of Portugal. Rainfall simulation experiments were performed in areas of traditional land use (land cultivated with cereals) with various types of soil plant cover associated with the period of abandonment (4–5 years, 15–20 years and 30–40 years) in two different seasons, namely under very dry conditions and after a long wet period. Statistical analysis showed a notable difference between the cultivated soils and those abandoned for a long period of time, which included appreciable vegetation recovery, higher organic matter content and negligible overland flow and soil loss. Cereal cultivation, in particular ploughing, is a very negative land management practice, due to the high runoff and soil loss. Within 4–5 years a crust develops over abandoned soils with sparse herbaceous plant cover, particularly after a dry season, which enhances runoff and sediment yield. In scrubland and oak plots, although marked water repellency was registered at the end of a dry, warm season, its influence seems to be irrelevant in terms of overland flow and erosion yield. The major factor in controlling overland flow and reducing soil erosion rates appears to be the role played by vegetation in protecting the soil surface and supplying organic carbon to the top layer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sediment and Phosphorous Fluxes Analysis in Aquia Creek,a Sub-watershed of the Chesapeake Bay Basin,VA, USA

Decline in global surface water quality around the world is closely linked to excess sediment and nutrient inputs. This study examined sediment and phosphorus fluxes in Aquia Creek, a fourth-order sub-watershed of the Chesapeake Bay located in Stafford, Virginia. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), sediment delivery ratio (SDR), field sediment traps, bank erosion pins, and LIDAR data, combined with historical aerial images, were used in quantifying rill and inter-rill erosion from the basin, as well as internally generated sediments. Stream water and stream bank soils were analyzed for phosphorus. RUSLE/SDR modeling estimates a basin total sediment flux of 25,247 tons year^?1. The greatest calculated soil losses were in deciduous forests and cropland areas, whereas medium and high-intensity developed areas had the least soil loss. Cut-bank erosion ranged from 0.2 to 27.4 cm year^?1, and annual bank sediment fluxes were estimated at 1444 Mg, with a corresponding annual mass of phosphorous of 13,760 kg year^?1. The highest bank loss estimates were incurred along reaches draining urban areas. Stream water total phosphorous levels ranged from 0.054 μg g^?1 during low flows to 134.94 μg g^?1 during high discharge periods in autumn and spring. These results show that stormwater management practices in urban areas are limiting runoff water and soil contact, reducing surficial soil loss. However, the runoff acceleration due to expansion of impervious surfaces is progressively increasing the significance of intrinsic sediment and phosphorous sources by exacerbating stream bank erosion and resuspension of internally stored sediments.     

山西省葛铺煤矿弃土弃渣径流泥沙研究

通过人工降雨模拟实验,对岚县葛铺煤矿堆土场,弃渣场及原状地貌耕地的径流量和泥沙量进行了系统的研究.结果表明,在降雨量相同的情况下,不同下垫面条件下的径流量与泥沙量的排序为:堆土场>弃渣场>耕地;随着降雨量和坡度的增大,各地类径流量和泥沙量也随之增大.并且针对实际情况,对该矿区未来的水土流失防治技术进行了探讨.     

坡面薄层含沙水流水动力学参数提取的方法

针对坡面径流水深浅(1～5mm)和水动力学参数(流速、水深等)提取困难,给坡面侵蚀径流水流结构、能量耗散及泥沙输移等的深入研究带来困难的问题,基于水动力学原理和相似性理论,通过"非常规比尺模型"将径流水深进行放大,来研究坡面薄层含沙水流的水流相似过程。结果表明:(1)当薄层含沙水流水深放大2.5倍,含沙量在10～320kg/m~3时,薄层含沙水流原型和模型的水面线(阻力)、流速、侵蚀地形的误差分别为0～0.1%,0.1%～5.3%,0.9%～4.9%,误差均在允许范围之内,原型和模型满足几何、运动等相似比尺转换关系;(2)水深在0.5～1.25cm时,薄层含沙水流为紊流,原型和模型的流速垂向分布满足对数分布,可以用同一方程进行表达;(3)"非常规比尺模型"可以作为一种方法应用到薄层含沙水流的水动力学参数提取、水流结构、能量耗散、泥沙输移等的深入研究过程中。     

Simulated rainfall evaluation of revegetation/mulch erosion control in the Lake Tahoe basin: 2. Bare soil assessment

Slopes that have been disturbed through roadway, ski slope or other construction often produce more sediment than less disturbed sites. Reduction or elimination of sediment loading from such disturbed slopes to adjacent streams is critical in the Lake Tahoe basin. Here, use of a portable rainfall simulator (RS), described in the first paper of this series, is used to evaluate slope effects on erosion from bare volcanic and granitic soils (road cut and ski run sites) common in the basin in order to establish a basis upon which revegetation treatment comparisons can be made. Rainfall simulations (60 mm h⁻¹, approximating a 100‐year, 15‐minute storm) at each site included multiple replications of bare soil plots as well as some adjacent ‘native’, or relatively undisturbed soils below trees where available. Field measurements of time to runoff, infiltration, runoff, sediment discharge rates, and average sediment concentration were obtained. Laboratory measurements of particle‐size distributions using sieve and laser counting methods indicated that the granitic soils had larger grain sizes than the volcanic soils and that road cut soils of either type also had larger grain sizes than their ski run counterparts. Particle‐size‐distribution‐based estimates of saturated hydraulic conductivity were 5–10 times greater than RS‐determined steady infiltration rates. RS‐measured infiltration rates were similar, ranging from 33–50 mm h⁻¹ for disturbed volcanic soils and 33–60 mm h⁻¹ for disturbed granitic soils. RS‐measured runoff rates and sediment yields from the bare soils were significantly correlated with plot slope with the exception of volcanic road cuts due to the narrow range of road cut slopes encountered. Sediment yields from bare granitic soils at slopes of 28 to 78 per cent ranged from ∼1 to 12 g m⁻² mm⁻¹, respectively, while from bare volcanic soils at slopes of 22 to 61 per cent they ranged from ∼3 to 31 g m⁻² mm⁻¹, respectively. Surface roughness did not correlate with runoff or erosion parameters, perhaps also as a result of a relatively narrow range of roughness values. The volcanic ski run soils and both types of road cut soils exhibited nearly an order of magnitude greater sediment yield than that from the corresponding native, relatively undisturbed, sites. Similarly, the granitic ski run soils produced nearly four‐times greater sediment concentration than the undisturbed areas. A possible goal of restoration/erosion control efforts could be recreation of ‘native’‐like soil conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

玉米秸秆覆盖缓冲带对细沟侵蚀及其水动力学特征的影响

玉米秸秆覆盖缓冲带是一项有效的坡面水土保持措施,为探究其减少细沟侵蚀的效果及水动力学机理,在室内人工模拟连续降雨条件下,选取黄土高原高强度侵蚀性降雨标准和细沟发育活跃的典型坡度,根据细沟发育的不同阶段,研究了不同布设部位(坡面中部5 m和坡面下部7 m)的秸秆覆盖缓冲带对细沟侵蚀及其水动力学特征的影响。结果表明:与裸露处理相比,玉米秸秆覆盖缓冲带可以减少坡面侵蚀量27.2%~54.8%,减少细沟侵蚀量40.8%~59.2%,减小细沟侵蚀量对坡面总侵蚀量的贡献率。对于细沟形态,缓冲带可减少细沟割裂度23.0%~32.0%,减少细沟平均深度6.7%~10.5%。比较2种布设部位,在坡面细沟发育后期,坡面下部7 m处布设的秸秆缓冲带可以取得更好地减少侵蚀和约束细沟形态变化的效果。对于单条细沟,裸露坡面上的细沟宽度沿坡长方向呈现约1.2 m长的周期性变化规律,而秸秆缓冲带改变了细沟宽度沿坡长方向的周期性变化趋势,此外还通过拦截淤积上方来沙减小了布设位置细沟侵蚀深度,通过拦截径流保护下方有限长度内的细沟。分析其水动力学原因可知,玉米秸秆覆盖缓冲带可使细沟水流向缓层流流态方向延伸,与缓冲带上方相比,秸秆缓冲带下方的细沟水流流速显著减小19.6%~21.9%,雷诺数和佛汝德数分别减少了29.6%~37.9%和8.3%~18.5%,而通过秸秆缓冲带后,细沟水流Darcy-weisbach阻力系数增加了22.4%~43.3%,水流剪切力、单位水流功率和断面单位能量分别减小13.6%~21.5%、20.0~21.0%和9.5%~21.0%,径流能量和侵蚀能力的降低最终导致了坡面总侵蚀量的减小。因此,在坡面上每隔5~7 m布设缓冲带可以有效的削弱坡面径流侵蚀能力,减少坡面细沟侵蚀量和总侵蚀量。该研究结果可为类似地形条件下的坡面水土保持措施合理配置提供理论基础。     

Simulated rainfall evaluation of revegetation/mulch erosion control in the Lake Tahoe basin—3: soil treatment effects

Revegetation, or other erosion control treatments of disturbed soil slopes in forested areas and along highways of the Lake Tahoe basin are directed at reduction of sediment loading to waterways reaching the lake. However, following treatment, little vegetation monitoring, or hydrologic evaluation has been conducted either to determine if the various treatments are successful or to assess the duration of erosion control anticipated in the field. Here, we build upon results from use of the portable rainfall simulator (RS) described in the first two papers of this series to evaluate cover and revegetation treatment effects on runoff rates and sediment concentrations and yields from disturbed granitic and volcanic soils in the basin. The effects of slope on rainfall runoff, infiltration and erosion rates were determined at several revegetated road cut and ski run sites. Rainfall simulation (∼60 mm h⁻¹, approximating a 100‐year, 15‐minute storm) had a mean drop size of ∼2·1 mm and approximately 70 per cent of ‘natural’ rainfall kinetic energy. Measurements of: time to runoff; infiltration; runoff amount; sediment yield; and average sediment concentration were obtained. Runoff sediment concentrations and yields from sparsely covered volcanic and bare granitic soils can be correlated to slope. Sediment concentrations and yields from nearly bare volcanic soils exceeded those from granitic soils by an order of magnitude across slopes ranging from 30–70 per cent. Revegetation, or application of pine‐needle mulch covers to both soil types dramatically decreased sediment concentrations and yields. Incorporation of woodchips or soil rehabilitation that includes tillage, use of amendments (biosol, compost) and mulch covers together with plant seeding resulted in little or no runoff or sediment yield from both soils. Repeated measurements of sediment concentrations and yields in the subsequent two years following woodchip or soil rehabilitation treatments continued to result in little or no runoff. Revegetation treatments involving only use of grasses to cover the soils were largely ineffective due to sparse sustainable coverage (< 35 per cent) and inadequate infiltration rates. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Testing the MEDALUS hillslope model

In the Mediterranean environment formative erosional and runoff events are sporadic, intense and infrequent. They are difficult to study, their effects difficult to anticipate and the impact of vegetational and climatic change, whether natural or human-induced, difficult to predict. For these reasons, modelling has to augment the traditional approaches. In the Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use research programme, models have been developed to look at these problems at the hillslope (MEDALUS model) and large catchment scale (MEDRUSH model). Such models are only as good as their capacity to replicate, to an acceptable level, the magnitude, pattern in space and time and character of real world processes. These models can be tested by (a) examining their logical structure and performance against synthetic or control data (primary level) (b) evaluating their behaviour against published empirical spatial and temporal data (secondary level) and (3) by direct comparison with field test data (real world validation).The MEDALUS catena model comprises atmospheric, plant growth, overland flow and erosion, and subsurface water redistribution components involving a number of important novel features especially for dryland environments. It produces vegetation biomass and storm event runoff and sediment yield for different positions over a hillslope at different times. It is here tested against plot data for events and vegetation, soil moisture, runoff, erosion and slope armouring for annual series over several years. The model is found to perform moderately well for runoff and very well for sediment yield for event-based simulations. The results for longer simulations, tested at the secondary level, perform well in comparison with responses cited in the literature.     

稻草编织物覆盖对坡耕地红壤土壤侵蚀和养分流失的控制作用

采用田间小区试验,研究了稻草编织物覆盖在坡耕地红壤水土流失控制上的作用及其对玉米生长的影响。结果表明:在坡耕地红壤上,稻草编织物覆盖能有效抑制土壤侵蚀和养分流失,增加玉米产量。在种植玉米条件下,稻草编织物覆盖比无覆盖处理土壤的径流量和侵蚀量分别降低了38.40%和75.36%,比薄膜覆盖处理土壤的径流量和侵蚀量分别降低了15.41%和5.83%。稻草编织物覆盖侵蚀土壤流失的有机质、全氮、全磷和全钾分别占无覆盖处理流失量的12.04%,12.15%,12.11%和12.48%,薄膜覆盖处理则分别占无覆盖处理流失量的48.66%,52.55%,54.54%和53.37%。对坡耕地红壤地表径流、土壤侵蚀量和养分流失的控制作用效果为稻草编织物覆盖>薄膜覆盖>无覆盖。稻草编织物覆盖在降雨集中时期控制水土流失作用更为显著。稻草编织物覆盖和薄膜覆盖玉米产量分别比无覆盖处理增加8.05%和29.67%。     

Evolution of overland flow after a severe forest fire,Point Reyes,California

Forest fires on granitic soils often increase overland flow and erosion. Runoff generation was monitored on a small hillslope plot on Mt. Vision near Point Reyes Peninsula, California, after it had been burned by a wildfire on October 3, 1995. After the fire, the ground surface was covered with up to 2 cm of ash, which overlaid a 5–20 cm thick hydrophobic (water repellent) soil layer. We used nine recording tensiometers to monitor soil-water potentials during infiltration and runoff. Surface-runoff rates were determined by diverting the flow into a collection tank. The subsurface flow through the upper 6 cm of soil was collected and measured in a second tank. The surface runoff was diverted to a tank in order to record its rate. The initial intense rainfall infiltrated into the base of the ash-bed; here, the hydrophobicity limited deeper penetration and led to both subsurface and shallow saturation overland flow. The preferential flow paths through the ash layer contributed to deeper water penetration. As the ash was eroded and consolidated with successive rainstorms, the preferential flow paths clogged, the infiltration capacity reduced, thus preventing the storage of shallow permeable soil; therefore, the runoff generation changed to Hortonian overland flow. Correspondingly, the runoff ratio increased from approximately 0.2 during the early storms to 0.8 during intense rain bursts. These results suggest that runoff mechanisms evolve simultaneously with the eroding soil surface.     

A tracer budget quantifying soil redistribution on hillslopes after forest harvesting

Managing the impacts of erosion after forest harvesting requires knowledge of erosion sources; rates of sediment transport and storage; as well as losses from the system. We construct a tracer-based (¹³⁷Cs) sediment budget to quantify these parameters. The budget shows significant redistribution, storage and transport of sediment between landscape elements and identifies the snig tracks and log landings as the major impact sites in the catchment. Annual sediment losses from them were estimated to be 25±11 and 101±15 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively, however, it is probable that most of this is due to mechanical displacement of soil at the time of harvesting. The budget showed greatest net transport of material occurring from snig tracks; representing some 11±4% of the ¹³⁷Cs budget. Of the latter amount, 18%, 28% and 43% was accounted for within the cross banks, filter strip and General Harvest Area (GHA), respectively. The ¹³⁷Cs budget also showed the GHA to be a significant sediment trap. The filter strip played a fundamental role in the trapping of material generated from the snig tracks, the mass delivery to them from this source was calculated to be 1.7±0.6 kg m² year⁻¹. Careful management of these remains critical. Overall we could account for 97±10% of ¹³⁷Cs. This retention suggests that (within errors) the overall runoff management system of dispersing flow (and sediment) from the highly compacted snig tracks, by cross banks, into the less compacted (and larger area) GHA and filter strips has effectively retained surface soil and sediment mobilised as a result of harvesting at this site.     

黄土坡面径流输沙能力试验研究

为了建立合理的土壤侵蚀评价和预报模型,基于坡面流理论,通过室内径流冲刷模拟试验,以黄土坡面为研究对象.研究了坡面径流输沙能力.研究结果表明,当坡面侵蚀达到相对平衡时,在同一坡度条件下,坡面径流输沙率随流量的增加呈阶梯性增加,即表现为"缓一陡一缓一陡"的变化过程;坡面径流输沙率与坡度和流量之间存在指数函数关系,且流量对输沙率影响大于坡度;坡面径流输沙率与坡面径流切应力、单位水流功率及Re之间均存在着良好的线性关系.