Effects of rock fragment cover on soil infiltration, interrill runoff and erosion

Considerable attention has been paid recently to the influence of surface rock fragments on hydrological and erosional processes, although much of this research has been done on disturbed soils under laboratory conditions. I have studied the effects of rock fragments on soil infiltration, runoff and erosion under field conditions using simulated rainfall on bare areas of natural soils within typical Mediterranean scrubland characterized by patchily distributed vegetation. Sample areas were chosen where rock fragments cover more than half the surface within unvegetated patches. Twenty experiments were carried out by applying rain at an intensity of 55 mm h^?1 for 60 minutes. This approach shows that rock fragments (i) retard ponding and surface runoff, and (ii) give greater steady‐state infiltration rates and smaller interrill runoff discharges, sediment concentrations and interrill erosion rates. A second set of six experiments was carried out by applying rainfall at an intensity of 55 mm h^?1 for two runs of 60 minutes. The second run was initiated 10 minutes after the first. During this interval, surface rock fragments were removed in order to measure their effects on infiltration, interrill runoff and erosion rates. In this way, I showed that water and soil losses are reduced by the rock fragments. After the removal of rock fragments the steady‐state infiltration rate diminished from 44.5 to 27.5 mm h^?1 and the runoff coefficient, sediment concentration and erosion rates were, respectively, 3, 33 and 39 times greater than they were before the rock fragments were removed.     

植被对含碎石土壤坡面降雨入渗和径流侵蚀的影响

[目的]研究植被对含碎石土壤坡面入渗和径流侵蚀的影响,为合理配置三峡地区含碎石土壤坡面植被提供科学依据。[方法]在建立的径流小区内铺设含碎石土壤,并配置不同种类、不同覆盖度的植被,进行人工降雨试验。[结果]各类小区径流量排序为:裸坡灌木坡面草本坡面草灌混合坡面,入渗量与径流量排序相反,有植被覆盖坡面的壤中流大于裸坡;入渗率服从对数函数规律,产流强度呈幂函数变化;草地对水沙的调控机制更多的是直接拦沙;累计径流量和累计侵蚀量的关系均满足幂函数形式。[结论]植被措施可有效地减少含碎石土壤坡面的水土流失,不同的植被措施减少的效益不同。     

Effect of rock fragment cover on interrill soil erosion from bare soils in Western Andalusia, Spain

It is known that rock fragments on the surface of soils can enhance infiltration and protect the soil against rainfall erosion. However, the effect of rock fragments in natural forest soils is less well understood. In this article, we studied the influence of rock fragment cover on run‐off, infiltration and interrill soil erosion under simulated rainfall on natural bare soils in a Spanish dehesa (managed holm oak woodland). We studied 60 plots with different rock fragment cover ranging from 3% to 85% under three simulated rainfall intensities (50, 100 and 150 mm/h). Surface run‐off appeared later and sediment yield values were smaller in soils with greater rock fragment cover. Rock fragment cover also increased infiltration rates. The final infiltration rates were 54–98% at a rainfall intensity of 50 mm/h, 31–88% at 100 mm/h and 20–80% at 150 mm/h. The interrill soil loss rates were decreased by rock fragment cover and increased with rainfall intensity. The soil loss rate was always small (0.02–1 Mg ha/h) when rock fragment cover was 75% or more. Rock fragment cover was related to soil loss rate by an exponential function.     

A comparison of the texture of grassland and eroded sandy soils from Shropshire, UK

In previous studies, periodic sampling of topsoils on runoff plots on sandy soils at the Hilton experimental site, Shropshire, UK, suggested erosion decreased the topsoil clay content and increased the coarse fraction. However, a comparison of soil and sediment properties suggested erosion selectively removed sand. Therefore, to cross-check the effects of erosion on soil properties, topsoil samples were collected from bare, eroded runoff plots and compared with samples from adjacent non-eroded grassland. Bare, eroded soil was stonier and particularly deficient in sand compared with grassed soil. Textural differences were very marked in the medium and coarse sands, especially the 0.5–1.0 mm fraction. On the basis of mean properties, the grassed soil was a very slightly stony loamy sand and the bare soil a slightly stony sandy loam. Soil organic matter was significantly less in the bare soils than the grassed soils and thus may have contributed to the higher erodibility of sands in bare soils.     

碎石土坡地不同植被配置下的养分流失途径

为了解不同植被类型及覆盖度对碎石土壤坡地养分流失途径的影响,采用模拟径流小区降雨,研究了6种植被配置模式下地表径流、壤中流及侵蚀泥沙氮、磷养分流失特征。结果表明:植被覆盖坡地氮流失量比裸地减少了0.91~4.60倍,磷流失量减少了6.25~63.9倍,养分控制效果排序为草灌草本灌木裸地。6种植被配置下的地表径流、壤中流及侵蚀泥沙养分流失量存在显著差异,裸地氮、磷的主要损失途径是侵蚀泥沙,灌木是地表径流,草本与草灌结合处理则是地表径流和壤中流;而草本、灌木以及草灌结合土壤磷的主要损失途径是侵蚀泥沙与地表径流共同作用的结果。不同植物覆盖措施对含碎石土裸地氮、磷的流失起到显著的截留作用,主要通过由侵蚀泥沙向非侵蚀泥沙途径转化而实现对氮磷的截留。灌木覆盖度与地表径流的氮磷流失量、径流总量的氮磷流失量之间呈现显著的正相关性,与壤中流的氮磷流失量呈现显著的负相关性。     

Factors affecting the formation of dark, thick epipedons beneath forest vegetation, Michigan, USA

Extremely gravelly, coarse-textured soils (frigid Udorthents and Rendolls) with different thicknesses of Oa+A horizon sequences were studied to identify factors that have influenced their genesis. These well-drained, forested soils occur on geomorphic surfaces that range in age from 3200 to 6000 years BP. The soils all have more than 500 g kg^?1 coarse fragments by mass; most contain less than 300 g kg^?1 fine earth. In the lower solum of most pedons, content of cobbles increases and amount of fine earth decreases. Most coarse fragments are dolomite and chert. Thick, gravelly Oa and A horizons are weakly correlated with parent material characteristics such as high pH and carbonate contents. Organic matter concentrations in, and thicknesses of, upper horizons are enhanced by an abundance of coarse clasts, as soils with the most gravel exhibited the thickest and darkest epipedons. Relatively high amounts of crystalline clasts in the fine gravel fraction, as well as feldspathic minerals in the fine sands, also appear to promote the development of mollic epipedons.     

Relationships between rock fragment cover and soil hydrological response in a Mediterranean environment

Rock fragments are a key factor for determining erosion rates, particularly in arid and semiarid environments where vegetation cover is very low. However, the effect of rock fragments in non-cultivated bare soils is still not well understood. Currently, there is a need for quantitative information on the effects of rock fragments on hydrological soil processes, in order to improve soil erosion models. The main objective of the present research was to study the influence of rock fragment cover on run-off and interrill soil erosion under simulated rainfall in Mediterranean bare soils in south-western Spain. Thirty-six rainfall simulation experiments were carried out at an intensity of 26.8 mm h⁻¹ over 60 min under three different classes of rock fragment cover (<50%, 50–60% and >60%). Ponding and run-off flow were delayed in soils with high rock fragment cover. In addition, sediment yield and soil erosion rates were higher in soils with a low rock fragment cover. The relationship between soil loss rate and rock fragment cover was described by an exponential function. After this first set of experiments, rock fragments were removed from sites with the highest cover (>60%) and the rainfall simulation experiments were repeated. The steady-state run-off rate and soil loss increased significantly, showing that run-off and soil erosion were partly conditioned by rock fragment cover. These results have significant implications for erosion modelling and soil conservation practices in areas with the same climate and soil characteristics.     

Controls of infiltration–runoff processes in Mediterranean karst rangelands in SE Spain

Semiarid karst landscapes represent an important ecosystem surrounding the Mediterranean Basin for which little is known on runoff generation. Knowledge of the sources and patterns of variation in infiltration–runoff processes and their controls is important for understanding and modelling the hydrological functions of such ecosystems. The objectives of this paper are to determine the infiltration rates and their controls in a representative mountain karst area (Sierra de Gádor, SE Spain) at micro-plots and to investigate the integrated response of rainfall on a typical hillslope. Rainfall simulations in micro-plots and natural rainfall-runoff monitoring on a hillslope were carried out complementarily. We investigated the role of soil surface components (vegetation, rock outcrop, fracture, and soil crust), topographic position, antecedent soil moisture, and rainfall characteristics in regulating infiltration–runoff processes. Results of rainfall simulation revealed the importance of vegetation cover and the presence of rock fractures in promoting the infiltration in the limestone karst landscape, while bare patches and rock outcrops acted as sources for runoff. All plots with > 50% vegetation cover had no runoff with up to 55 mm h^− 1 of simulated rain. In contrast, nearly all bare plots had runoff under the same simulated rain, with runoff coefficients ranging from 3.1 to 20.6% on dry soil surface conditions, and from 2.0 to 65.4% on wet soil surfaces. Runoff coefficients amounted to 59.0–79.5% for rock outcrops without cracks, but were drastically reduced by the presence of cracks. The surfaces with rock fragments resting on the soil (generally located in the middle of the slopes) prevented more effectively the runoff generation than those surfaces where rock fragments were embedded in the top soil. Antecedent soil moisture had significant impact on runoff generation, with wet soil having doubled runoff coefficient, shortened time to runoff, and increased runoff rate compared to the same but dry soil. Linear regressions indicated that the main controls for constant infiltration rate were the cover percentages of vegetation and litter, plus rainfall intensity; while the major controls for runoff coefficient were the bare soil and vegetation coverage, plus rainfall intensity. High infiltration rates measured at the micro-plots agreed with low intra-event runoff coefficients (mostly below 1%) observed under natural rainfalls at the hillslope. Runoff depth and coefficient at the hillslope was significantly correlated with rainfall depth, maximum hourly rainfall intensity and antecedent precipitation over 20 days (AP₂₀). During the 1.5-year monitoring period from Sep-2003 to Mar-2005, the overall infiltration was 41% of the total rainfall amount and the maximum infiltration rate was almost 94% of the largest single rainfall event. The results from this study contribute to improved understanding of the magnitude and controls of the surface runoff in semiarid karst mountain areas.     

Use of a shrub (Medicago arborea) to control water erosion on steep slopes

Abstract. The effect of Medicago arborea on erosion on a burnt area was studied in experimental plots near Valencia, Spain, between 1989 and 1992. Its growth and development was studied, and its effect was compared with the natural vegetation (matorral) and bare soil. Medicago decreased soil loss by 41.7% and runoff by 25.7% compared with bare soil. However, under natural vegetation soil loss was 27.5% less than under Medicago.     

Soil losses under simulated rainfall in semi-arid shrublands of the Ebro Valley, Spain

Abstract. Runoff and soil loss were measured using simulated rainfall at nine shrubland sites on gypsiferous soils in the Ebro Valley. The sites represented diverse physiographical situations, including three soil types, three slopes and different percentages of rock outcrop and vegetation cover. Soil type, slope and vegetation cover significantly affected runoff and soil losses. An average of 40% of the simulated rainfall (48 mm/h) appeared as runoff and amounts were positively correlated with soil losses. The greatest runoff and soil losses were from plots with the steepest slopes. Rock outcrops decreased soil losses.     

Rock fragments IL Their impact on soil physical properties and biomass production under Mediterranean conditions

Abstract. The effects of rock fragments on soil temperature, soil moisture conservation, night time water vapour absorption and wheat biomass production were investigated. Under conditions of moderate water stress, water conservation was generally greater in the stony soils. Under conditions of pronounced drought the opposite occurred, with stony soils conserving less water than soils free of stones, though soils with large cobbles on the surface conserved the most water.
Stony soils were generally warmer during daytime and cooler at night than soils free of rock fragments. In the warmest month (July) the diurnal amplitude reached 14.3 °C in the control soil and 24.1 °C in the stony soils. Night time absorption of water vapour in the upper 15–20 cm was less for the stony soil (17.8% cobble cover), than for the stone-free soil. Cobbles on the soil surface increased biomass production by increasing moisture conservation. After removing all the stones from the surface of 16 plots, total dry matter yield of rainfed wheat was on average 20% less than from plots with stones on the surface.     

农田恢复措施对黑土母质发育的新成土壤团聚体微形态及孔隙结构的影响

土壤结构是土壤肥力的物质基础,水土流失等导致土壤结构退化成为威胁我国粮食安全的重要因素。本文利用8年田间定位试验,通过土壤切片技术,研究不同农田恢复措施(耕作和有机物料投入)对黑土母质发育的新成土壤团聚体微形态的影响,对理解成土过程和肥力快速恢复具有重要意义。结果表明:免耕土壤(自然、人工植被恢复)、不施肥耕作土壤和仅施化肥耕作土壤均为复合孔洞状微结构,主要孔隙形状均为面状或孔洞状,连通性及数量相当,土壤垒结和微结构类似;但土壤颗粒分布频度和均匀度及粗细粒质接触紧密度与耕作负相关,免耕土壤显著地高于耕作土壤(P0.05)。施肥耕作土壤中,施有机物料的土壤为海绵状微结构,施高量有机物料的土壤微结构发育最好,施低量有机物料的土壤微结构次之,不施有机物料土壤微结构最差;其土壤垒结和微结构发育特征与有机物料的投入正相关。     

两种驱动力作用下植被调控堆积体坡面减水减沙效益

定量分析侵蚀驱动力的变化对于植被调控堆积体坡面水文和产沙过程的影响,对于深刻理解植被防护堆积体侵蚀及其水土保持效益具有重要作用。该研究以陡坡工程堆积体(30°)作为研究对象,采用野外模拟降雨和降雨+上方汇水试验研究苜蓿对工程堆积体侵蚀过程的影响及其减水减沙效益。结果表明:1)两种驱动力下苜蓿对工程堆积体坡面减沙和减流效益分别为57.28%～98.51%和13.17%～83.11%,加入上方汇水后减沙和减流效益分别减少17.01%和68.74%;2)降雨条件下苜蓿对堆积体坡面减流减沙效益随降雨强度增大降低,而加入上方汇水后减沙效益随降雨强度增大而增大,但减流效益减小。显著性差异分析表明降雨强度对裸坡和苜蓿堆积体的径流和产沙均有显著影响(P0.01),且上方汇水的作用大于降雨;3)两种驱动力下裸坡堆积体侵蚀速率总体随产流历时减少,而苜蓿堆积体在降雨条件下侵蚀速率总体增大。加入上方汇水后裸坡及苜蓿堆积体坡面侵蚀和径流随产流历时的波动性显著增强;4)裸坡堆积体在降雨和降雨+上方汇水条件下产流前期的平均侵蚀速率是后期的1.06～2.90倍,苜蓿堆积体在降雨条件下产流前期平均侵蚀速率小于后期。研究成果可为生产建设项目工程堆积体水土流失防治和植被措施布设提供科学指导,具有显著的科学意义和工程实践指导价值。     

粪肥对不同磷水平土壤磷流失潜力的影响

田间试验结果表明,因施肥方式不同,粪肥施用对不同磷水平土壤磷流失潜力的影响也不相同。在施用的粪肥与表土混合的情况下,粪肥对土壤磷流失的增加量随土壤磷水平的提高而升高。但当粪肥表施不与土壤混合时,情况有所不同。在粪肥表施初期,无论是高磷土壤还是低磷土壤,地表径流中磷浓度都达到较高水平,施肥引起的土壤磷流失的增加量以低磷土壤更为明显。但粪肥表施较长时间后,粪肥对土壤磷流失的增加量也随土壤磷水平的提高而升高。总的来说,控制地表径流磷流失的效果是粪肥与土混施优于表施,流域内粪肥处置应优先施于土壤磷水平较低的土壤中。     

黄土坡面不同土地利用方式对土壤有机碳流失的影响

坡面土地利用方式与产流、产沙及土壤有机碳的流失具有密切关系。对延安燕沟流域的坡耕地、草地、刈割草地、灌木地、刈割灌木以及刺槐林地径流小区的径流、泥沙及有机碳流失量进行了分析。结果表明：在不同土地利用方式下,产流、产沙量与植被覆盖度呈负相关关系;随径流流失的可溶性有机碳量表现为：坡耕地〉刈割草地〉草地〉刈割灌木地〉灌木地〉刺槐林地小区,随泥沙流失的有机碳量表现为：坡耕地〉草地〉灌木〉刺槐林地。随泥沙流失的土壤有机碳占总流失量的主要部分,而随径流流失的有机碳只占很少的比例。因此,增加黄土坡面植被覆盖度是控制产流、产沙量和有机碳流失的重要途径。     

Cation-exchange capacity of the sand fraction of some Chilean soils

The cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils in the Colina district is in interrelation neither with the texture nor the organic matter content. This apparent inconsistency is largely attributable to the CEC of the coarse fractions of the soils, which contain appreciable amounts of montmorilionite and zeolite with some vermiculite. The coarse particles containing exchange materials are widely distributed in the soils of central and northern Chile regardless of the soil type, and appear to be rather stable under semi-arid climates.     

Anthropic pedogenesis of purple rock fragments in Sichuan Basin,China

Considerable amounts of rock fragments are found in many “Purple soils” developed from purple rocks in the Sichuan basin of southwestern China. We describe the effects of anthropic pedogenetic processes on purple rock fragments associated with soil amelioration by determining changes in rock fragment size distribution, transformation of P and K of purple rocks into soils, and the complexing of purple rock particles (soil mineral particles) with organic matter during anthropic pedogenesis of “Purple soils” in Sichuan basin of southwestern China. The pedogenetic capacity of rock fragments can be expressed by the content of < 2.0 mm particles as weathered products of rock fragment disintegration. The pedogenetic capacity of the purple rocks studied ranges from 0.3% to 6.2% under natural conditions. The rates of P and K transformed from purple rocks are closely associated with the pedogenetic capacity of rock fragments(r = 0.891^??; 0.961^??, n = 16). Digging (simulated by sieving) and crop planting facilitate pedogenesis of purple rock fragments and their mineral nutrient transformations. The soil mineral particles preserve 18%–36% of the organic carbon added as corn straw. The organic carbon is complexed after corn straw is mixed with < 1.0 mm soil mineral particles for 1 year. The improvement of newly reclaimed purple soils is enhanced by the complexing effect of organic substances with purple rock particles. The pedogenesis of purple rock in Sichaun basin can be accelerated by anthropic activity, such as tillage, crop planting, fertilization, and land reclamation.     

粗质地土壤坡度和前期含水量对土壤侵蚀的影响

利用野外模拟降雨试验,研究了粗质地土壤裸地和苜蓿地在不同坡度(5°,15°,25°)、不同前期含水量(低、中、高)条件下坡面降雨产流、产沙的过程及其特征,以此探究该区退耕还草效益。结果表明:3种坡度条件下裸地和苜蓿地的产流过程在不同前期含水量下均为先增大后趋于稳定,不同坡度之间的径流量差异不显著,但泥沙流失量随着坡度的增大而显著增加,在降雨过程中先增大达到峰值趋于稳定波动,裸地的波动幅度大于苜蓿地。2种处理的前期含水量对径流量以及平均入渗率的影响均达显著水平,裸地在相同的坡度下,前期含水量由低水平增加到中水平、低水平增加到高水平,径流量分别增加38.2%~52.8%,39.7%~42.8%,苜蓿地径流量分别增加27.3%~77.8%,45.5%~91.1%。坡度对泥沙流失量及含沙率影响显著,在相同的前期含水量下,裸地由5°增加到15°,15°增加到25°的泥沙流失量分别增加96.3%~268.7%,6.9%~40.3%,苜蓿地的泥沙流失量分别增加81.1%~384.2%,61.7%~169.9%。在相同坡度和前期含水量下,苜蓿地的径流量和泥沙流失量均显著低于裸地。研究结果表明粗质地土壤前期含水量和坡度显著影响坡地土壤侵蚀过程和总量,植被不但因为冠层拦截而减少径流,而且因为耗水量增加,降低了土壤前期含水量而减水减沙。     

自然降雨条件下红壤坡面有机碳的选择性迁移

依托江西水土保持生态科技园,2015年3月―8月期间,对裸地、草地、果园和湿地松人工林四种类型径流小区自然降雨条件下侵蚀过程中径流泥沙和土壤有机碳的流失特征进行了原位监测。结果表明,监测期间24场降雨下,径流系数和侵蚀模数基本上均随雨型的增大而增加。随着土地利用类型由裸地向果园、草地和林地的转换,减流效益和减沙效益依次增大。径流量和泥沙流失量最主要的影响因素分别是降雨量和径流量。裸地、草地、果园和林地四种类型坡面上,自然降雨下土壤有机碳随泥沙迁移的比例分别为64.67%、47.38%、53.94%和36.03%,碳流失强度分别达到560.3、1.98、122.5和2.66 mg m-2。径流有机碳含量与径流量之间、泥沙含碳量与泥沙量之间均呈负相关关系。裸地、果园、草地和林地四种径流小区泥沙有机碳富集比分别为1.27、1.10、0.80和0.58,即随着土壤侵蚀模数的降低,有机碳富集比也减小。泥沙有机碳富集比均随雨强的增大而减小,有机碳的选择性迁移在低强度降雨条件下表现更为明显。     

红黏土侵蚀劣地集水区30年植被恢复中的水沙特征

为探究红黏土侵蚀劣地植被恢s复的水土保持效益,在自然降雨条件下,对红黏土区裸地对照及植被恢复的2个自然集水区进行长期降雨径流泥沙监测,得到30年的产流产沙数据.结果表明:1)植被恢复第6年裸地对照和恢复林地的产流差距显著,8年后恢复林地基本不再产沙.年内产流产沙集中在雨季4-6月,植被的减流和减沙效益分别超过40％和90％.在次降雨尺度上,植被能够显著降低径流泥沙曲线斜率,在降雨量相同的条件下减小地表产流产沙量.2)降雨过程产流产沙与降雨强度I60变化趋势一致,呈多峰型,总体上恢复区延缓产流1h以上,产流峰值减小67％ ～ 83％,中雨条件下植被延缓径流和降低产流峰值的效益最好.3)恢复林地径流中全N、全P、全K流失量分别减少54.62％、57.53％、56.46％,次降雨过程中全N和全K流失质量浓度高于全P浓度,且随径流过程波动较大.植被恢复后的红黏土集水区产流产沙及养分流失显著减少,水土流失得到有效控制.