Vegetation patchiness and implications for landscape function: The case of Pteronia incana invader species in Ngqushwa Rural Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Patchy vegetation patterns are an expression of soil surface conditions, water redistribution on the soil surface and landscape function. Their origin is attributed by many a scholar to the degradation of the original plant cover due to human disturbances and climatic fluctuations. In this study, aerial photographs were analysed to benchmark the onset of the invasion by Pteronia incana. The soil moisture dependencies of the invader shrub and grasses were also investigated. The invasion assumed varying trajectories on abandoned and grazing lands. The different soil moisture dependencies between P. incana and grass species were noted to underpin the competitive advantage and eventual replacement of the latter by the former. Soil surface crusting inherent to P. incana, the loss of patchiness and associated expansion of bare zones promote runoff generation and connectivity, and erosion intensification, leading to conversion of hillslopes to dysfunctional systems. Despite its runoff enhancing role, to some extent, P. incana tussocks act as sink areas for some of the runoff generated on the bare zones. Recognition of this resource capture capability should provide the starting point for the rehabilitation of degraded hillslopes.     

Hillslope characteristics and particle size composition of surficial armoring on a semiarid watershed in the southwestern United States

Distributed process-based hydrologic models have been used to describe and predict the movement of sediment on small watersheds. However, to parameterize these models requires an understanding of the spatial variability of erosion processes and the particle sizes of the sediment being moved. In this study, a high resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and detailed sediment particle sampling allowed a comparison of hillslope characteristics and particle sizes of surficial armoring in a semiarid watershed. Individual particle size classes on hillslopes are correlated with the underlying sediment type, local slope, aspect, and area draining through a grid element. The strongest correlations are between the underlying sediment and overlying sediment. However, the distribution of the particle size classes is consistent with a hydrodynamic explanation for sorting. In particular, increased area draining through a grid node and increased slope are correlated with higher concentrations of the 16–64-mm particle size class. Both the coarsest and finest particle size classes are significantly correlated with the aspect of flow from a grid cell, with increased coarse particles and decreased fines on east-facing slopes. These spatial differences with aspect are attributed to dry season prevailing winds. These observations about process and spatial distribution are useful in predicting the spatial distribution of particles on the watershed for applications such as distributed hydrologic models.     

起伏地形下地理可照时数空间分异分析——以重庆市为例

基于重庆市100 m×100 m分辨率的数字高程模型,利用Solar Analyst模型对各月份地理可照时数进行了模拟,并通过空间叠加运算进一步求得了季、年地理可照时数。季节和月地理可照时数变化表明重庆市夏季地理可照时数最长,以6月最高;冬季地理可照时数最小,以12月最低,地形遮蔽对可照时数的影响显著,可明显影响可照时数的局地空间分布。结合坡度、坡向因子,对起伏地形条件下地理可照时数模拟结果进行了时空分布特征分析。分析结果表明:同坡度不同坡向的地理可照时数都随着太阳高度角的增大而增加;同坡向的地理可照时数随着坡度的增加而减小;坡度越高地理可照时数受坡向影响程度越大。     

DEM空间尺度对可照时数模拟结果的影响 ——以浙江省仙居县为例

以浙江省仙居县为实验区,基于4种不同空间分辨率DEM提取相关地形因子,结合可照时数分布式模型,利用数字地形分析和空间数据叠置分析等方法,模拟1月和7月4种空间分辨率下的可照时数,并定量分析DEM尺度效应对模拟结果的影响。结果表明：（1）模拟结果的空间异质性随分辨率减小而减小,其平均值逐渐增加,且1月增幅大于7月,最大值随分辨率的变化不大,而最小值差异较大,标准差逐渐减小。（2）受海拔和地形遮蔽影响,平地和山脊处可照时数最多,海拔200-400m区间最少,400-1100m区域可照时数随海拔增加而增加。以10m分辨率结果为参照,30m、90m和900m分辨率下的差值随分辨率减小而增加,海拔<100m处差值最小,700-900m区域差值最大,1月日均多算0.7、1.4和2.9h,7月日均多算0.5、0.9和2.3h。（3）坡度0-55°范围内,可照时数随坡度增加而减少,30m、90m和900m分辨率与10m分辨率的差值随分辨率降低而增加,且最小差值均在<5°区域,最大差值在不同坡度等级,1月日均多算2.1、1.8和1.7h,而7月日均多算0.3、0.6和1.2h。（4）受太阳高度角和方位角影响,可照时数在南坡-北坡间的差异较大,东南-西南坡、东坡-西坡以及东北-西北坡之间差异较小,30m、90m和900m分辨率与10m分辨率的差值随分辨率降低而增加,在偏北坡,1月差值大于7月,最大差值在1月的北坡上,日均多算1.4、2.5和4.8h,在偏南坡上,1月差值小于7月,最大差值在7月的南坡或西南坡上,日均多算0.5、0.9和2.1h。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区坡体稳定性影响因素分析

选取黄土丘陵沟壑区纸坊沟小流域为研究区,利用高精度遥感影像(分辨率0.068 m)和DEM (分辨率0.34 m)数据,结合野外调查,对崩塌、滑塌、滑坡、脱落和陷穴等失稳体进行识别,通过统计学、敏感系数方法,利用识别失稳体数据,分析不同类型失稳体空间分布状况,定量研究不同类型失稳体的影响因子敏感程度,揭示不同类型失稳体的主控因子,进一步阐明流域坡体失稳体的空间分布规律和影响坡体稳定性的主控因子。结果表明:(1)利用高精度遥感影像,获取流域失稳体,主要是以小规模和浅层的脱落、崩塌和滑塌为主,三者面积合计为0.417 km²,占流域总面积的5.04%。(2)评价因子内部中,土壤母质的红黏土、土地利用的天然灌木林地和草地、地貌部位的沟坡、坡度＞35°、地形起伏度为0.74~3.34 m是坡体失稳发生的高敏感区域,也是崩塌、滑塌、脱落和陷穴发育共有的敏感区域。(3)影响坡体稳定性主控因子权重由大到小为土壤母质、地形起伏度、坡度、土地利用和坡向。崩塌、滑塌和脱落的主控因子与整体坡体稳定性的主控因子相同,但因子内部权重存在差异。崩塌与整体坡体稳定性影响因子顺序分布一致。滑塌主控因子权重由大到小为土壤母质＞地形起伏度＝坡度＞土地利用＞坡向＞地貌部位。脱落主控因子权重由大到小为土壤母质＞土地利用＞地形起伏度＞坡度＝坡向＞地貌部位。滑坡的主控因子为坡度和地形起伏度。陷穴的主控因子权重由大到小为土壤母质＞地形起伏度＞坡度＞坡向。     

贵州省猫跳河流域土壤侵蚀量计算及其背景空间分析

以贵州省猫跳河流域为研究区，在GIS 技术支撑下，应用修正的通用土壤流失方程计算研究区的土壤侵蚀量，分析土壤侵蚀的空间分布格局，对土壤侵蚀与其环境背景因子包括海拔高程、坡度、坡向和土地利用类型等进行叠加和空间统计分析，揭示土壤侵蚀与其环境背景等因子的空间关系，为土壤侵蚀的有效防治和治理提供科学依据。结果表明：研究区平均土壤侵蚀模数为28.6 t/(hm²·a)，1200～1400 m的海拔高程带、6°～25°坡度带和南坡是发生土壤侵蚀的主要区域，也是水土流失防治及治理的重点区域。在各种土地利用类型中，旱地发生土壤侵蚀面积和侵蚀量最大，其次是灌草地，水田最小。在县域中，清镇市土壤侵蚀面积和土壤侵蚀量最大，其次是平坝县和修文县，息烽县土壤侵蚀面积和土壤侵蚀量最小。     

Topographic controls of landslides in Rio de Janeiro: field evidence and modeling

Landslides are common features in the Serra do Mar, located along the southeastern Brazilian coast, most of them associated with intense summer storms, specially on the soil-mantled steep hillslopes around Rio de Janeiro city, where the favelas (slums) proliferated during the last few decades. On February 1996, hundreds of landslides took place in city of Rio de Janeiro triggered by intense rainstorms. Since then, many studies have been carried out in two experimental river basins in order to investigate the role played by the topographic attributes in controlling the spatial distribution of landslides inside them. Landslide scars and vegetation cover were mapped using aerial photographs and field observations. A detailed digital terrain model (4 m² resolution) of the basins was generated from which the main topographic attributes were analyzed, producing maps for slope, hillslope form, contributing area and hillslope orientation. By comparing these maps with the spatial distribution of the landslide scars for the 1996 event, a landslide potential index (LPI) for the many classes of the different topographic attributes was defined. At the same time, field experiments with the Guelph permeameter were carried out and a variety of scenarios were simulated with the SHALSTAB model, a process-based mathematical model for the topographic control on shallow landslides. The results suggest that most of the landslides triggered in the studied basins were strongly influenced by topography, while vegetation cover did affect landslide distribution. Between the topographic attributes, hillslope form and contributing area played a major role in controlling the spatial distribution of landslides. Therefore, any procedure to be used in this environment towards the definition of landslide hazards need to incorporate these topographic attributes.     

Landscape,Soil, and Plant Analysis of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Invasion in the Piedmont Region,SC

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), an exotic invasive plant, is native to Southeast Asia. This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of Japanese stiltgrass as well as soil and landscape characteristics that correlate with invasion of Japanese stiltgrass around Lake Issaqueena in the upper Piedmont of South Carolina. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) were used to determine the spatial pattern of invasion with respect to the aspect, slope, canopy cover, soils, and distance to roads and trails. Japanese stiltgrass was distributed on both sides of Lake Issaqueena in Pacolet and Madison soil map units (Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) on the average slopes of 21%, but it was particularly common on the eastern shore of the lake in low-lying wet and shaded areas (mean canopy cover 51%). In addition, invasion by Japanese stiltgrass was correlated with the proximity to roads and trails. Plant tissue analysis revealed many differences in the distribution of macronutrients, macrominerals, and micronutrients in the leaves, stems, and roots of Japanese stiltgrass, although those differences were not always statistically significant. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) were the highest in leaves while zinc (Zn) concentrations were the highest in stems and concentrations of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and sodium (Na) tended to be higher in roots. Carbon (C), sulfur (S), and potassium (K) concentrations were generally higher in above-ground tissues versus roots. Soil chemical analysis revealed no statistical differences between control and invaded plots. Our findings suggest that watershed areas surrounding lakes may be particularly susceptible to the invasion of Japanese stiltgrass due to their microclimates, low-lying wet pathways for seed distribution and recreational uses.     

Spatial distribution of rock fragments on steep hillslopes in karst region of northwest Guangxi,China

Rock fragments (> 5 mm in diameter) at the soil surface and within the topsoil have a large effect on the intensity of various hydrologic and geomorphic processes. However, little information is available on the spatial distribution of rock fragments in subtropical regions. The objective of this paper was to investigate the relationship between the spatial distribution of rock fragments and landforms on two different steep karst hillslopes in northwest Guangxi, southwest China. On the first hillslope (a disintegrated landslide failure) with the presence of several large rock outcrops (> 2 m in height), the spatial distribution of rock fragment cover had no obvious relationship with topographic position except that the mean cover percentage of small rock fragments (5–20 mm) decreased from bottom to top. On the second hillslope (an avalanche slope) without the presence of large rock outcrops, the mean total rock fragment cover (5–600 mm) increased from bottom (5%) to top (21%) with decreasing variability and rock fragments with various sizes (5–20, 20–75, and 75–250 mm) showed a similar increasing trend. The mean total rock fragment cover increased linearly with slope gradient on the second hillslope and tended to increase and then decrease with gradient but their relationship was not obvious on the first hillslope. This indicated that the spatial distribution of surface rock fragment cover had a close relationship with the presence of large rock outcrops and slope gradient. However, the median diameter (D₅₀) of the surface rock fragments had an increase–decrease trend with slope gradient but there was no obvious relationship on both hillslopes with low overland flow. Therefore, the dominant factor for the spatial distribution of rock fragment cover and size at the soil surface might not be soil erosion by water, but slope gradient, vegetation and geomorphologic condition of the slope. The mean total volumetric rock fragment content (5–250 mm) within the topsoil (10–20 cm thick) increased linearly from bottom (16%) to top (39%) with slope gradient on the first hillslope, and had a logarithmic increase from bottom (10%) to top (27%) with gradient on the second hillslope. This suggested that rock fragment content within the topsoil was mostly controlled by slope gradient and topographic positions and had not a close relationship with the presence of large rock outcrops.     

Ecology and habitat utilisation of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur in nepal

Observations of blue sheep Pseudois nayaur habitat utilisation are described with regard to habitat type, slope, aspect, altitude, human land-use practices, and predators. An increasing population of 800–900 sheep was observed in a 960 km² hunting reserve southwest of the Dhaulagiri Range. Blue sheep show a year-long preference for gently sloping, grass-covered amphitheatre basins and show no changes in seasonal use of habitat type or slope steepness. In the autumn sheep prefer slopes with southerly aspects, but shift to east-and southeast-facing slopes in response to spring snowstorms. Autumn observations indicate a trend in movement to higher altitudes as a response to courting rams or the burning of high altitude pastures. Heavy spring snowstorms force the sheep to significantly lower altitudes. Scat analyses suggest an absence of resident snow leopards in the reserve, but common leopards occasionally prey on blue sheep. Recommendations for multiple land-use of the reserve are proposed.     

包头市达茂旗居民点空间分布变化及其影响因素分析

深刻把握居民点空间分布和变化规律及其与影响因素的关系,对居民点整治、优化布局及实施乡村振兴战略规划具有重要意义。以包头市达茂旗为例,综合土地利用、地名志、旗志等历史数据资料,采用核密度分析、重心迁移等空间分析方法,探索揭示居民点空间分布特征及演变规律,选取DEM、坡度、坡向、距水域距离及距道路距离、距城镇距离、民族文化、人口数量、政府政策因子,分析居民点空间分布与自然环境、社会经济影响因素的内在关系。研究表明:1)2012年达茂旗居民点分布集聚特征明显,达到集聚峰值1.416个/km2。1996-2016年间达茂旗居民点分布重心向东南部迁移,逐渐靠近百灵庙镇。2)在DEM和坡度对居民点分布的影响上呈倒"U"型特征,即先增加到峰值后逐渐减少,DEM的峰值为1 400～1 600m,坡度峰值为3.056°～5.446°。在坡向选择上逐渐倾向于南坡等阳坡,且比重逐年增大,但仍有部分居民点分布在阴坡。达茂旗居民点空间分布在距水域距离上并未呈现出明显的近水性,而在距水域7～10km区间分布数量最多。3)道路距离上呈现出明显的近道路取向,2016年居民点分布在距道路距离为0～1 000 m内的个数占98.77%,表明道路与居民点之间具有相互影响、相互作用的关系。中心城镇对居民点的辐射影响仅局限一定范围内,居民点空间分布远离中心城镇。达茂旗农区和牧区的居民点个数与其人口数量相关性呈现不同特征,1996年、2016年牧区蒙古族人口数量与居民点个数呈显著正相关。蒙古族游牧文化促使居民点分布呈"满天星"的高度分散特征,政府政策对达茂旗居民点空间分布及格局具有重要影响。     

山区太阳直接辐射的空间高分辨率分布模型

该文以山区的高空间分辨率DEM数据为主要数据源，从中分别提取经度、纬度、坡度、坡向等相应的地形要素栅格数据，再结合多年平均的实际日照百分率资料，利用GIS技术建立山区实际太阳直接辐射的高空间分辨率分布模型，实现太阳直接辐射空间分布规律的可视化表达，分析了山区各月太阳直接辐射的空间分布特征，对于山区的农业、林业和生态环境等方面的研究具有重要的指导意义。     

黄土丘陵区典型峁坡土壤侵蚀空间分异特征

选择黄土高原丘陵沟壑区典型峁坡,采用137 Cs示踪技术,通过对不同坡向和坡位土样137 Cs含量的测定,分析了峁坡137 Cs空间分布特征及土壤侵蚀的空间分异。结果表明,不同坡向峁坡侵蚀差异明显,各坡向平均侵蚀速率大小依次为:北坡西南坡东北坡西坡西北坡南坡东南坡东坡,各坡向侵蚀强度均表现为强度侵蚀;峁坡各坡向不同坡位的侵蚀差异也非常明显,坡下部侵蚀量最大,坡面中上部次之。侵蚀速率顺坡呈波动变化趋势,且侵蚀强度表现为中度、强度以及极强度侵蚀,以强度侵蚀为主。     

Effects of tree species and topography on soil chemistry, litter quality, and decomposition in Northeast Turkey

Leaf litters from beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) and oak (Quercus robur L.), and needle litters from fir (Abies nordmanniana Spach.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees were collected from north-facing site and south-facing site and at three slope positions (top, middle and bottom) on each aspect that varied in soil chemical characteristics (soil pH, cation exchange capacity and base saturation). The litters were analysed for initial total carbon, nitrogen, acid detergent fibre, lignin and cellulose concentrations. Nitrogen, acid detergent fibre and lignin concentrations and carbon:nitrogen and lignin:nitrogen ratios varied significantly within and between species according to soil chemical characteristics on aspects and slope positions. Litter decomposition was studied in the field using the litterbag technique. The litters were placed on two aspects and at three slopes on each aspect in October 2001, and were sampled every 6-month for 2 years. The main effects of aspect, species and slope position on decomposition rates were all statistically significant. Oak leaf litter showed highest decomposition rates, followed by pine, fir and beech litter, and the litters placed on north-facing site decomposed faster than those on the south-facing site. The litters placed at the top slope position decomposed slower than at those at either the bottom or middle positions. Initial lignin concentrations explained most of the variation in decomposition rates between species, and within species for the aspects and the slope positions, but the explained variance showed differences between aspects and slope positions. This result illustrates the important point that litter quality may define the potential rates of microbial decomposition but these are significantly influenced by the biotic and abiotic environment in which decomposition takes place.     

Accumulation of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus during soil formation on alder spoil heaps after brown-coal mining,near Sokolov (Czech Republic)

The accumulation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and their vertical distribution in the soil profile in relation to site age were studied in a chronosequence of 19 sites on reclaimed spoil heaps from open-cast coal mining, near Sokolov (Czech Republic) and compared to a semi-natural alder forest in the vicinity of the mining area. The reclaimed sites were located on tertiary clay or quaternary gravel–sand spoil material and afforested with alder species (Alnus glutinosa, A. incana) 4–65 years ago.Rapid accumulation of C and N in the soil profile was registered within 15 years after reclamation. The rate of increase in C and N contents in the whole profile and the thickness of the litter and fermentation layers was slower in 25-year-old and older reclaimed sites. The soil of the semi-natural alder forest was richer in C and N in the 5–10-cm layer compared with 40-year-old (clays) and even with 65-year-old (gravel–sand) reclaimed soils. N accumulated more slowly in comparison with C, especially in deeper (5–10 cm) parts of the profile. Accumulation of organic C resulted in a decrease in substrate pH from alkaline, which was characteristic of young sites, to slightly acidic on older sites. The pH decreased gradually with increasing site age in all soil layers but increased with depth in the soil profile. In contrast to C and N, P content did not significantly change with site age in any layer of the soil profile. The highest amount of P was found in the fermentation layer, but there was no difference to the other layers. The soil profile of the semi-natural sites was richer in P in comparison to 40-year-old reclaimed ones.     

Relationship between soil depth and terrain attributes in karst region in Southwest China

Purpose

Soil depth generally varies in peak-cluster depression regions in rather complex ways. Because conventional soil survey methods in these regions require a considerable amount of time, effort, and consequently relatively large budget, new methods are required in karst regions.

Materials and methods

This study explored the relationship between soil depth and terrain attributes abstracted from digital elevation models (DEMs) at different spatial resolutions in the Guohua Karst Ecological Experimental Area, a representative region of peak-cluster depression in Southwest China. A uniform 140 m?×?140 m grid combined with representative hillslope methodology was used to select 171 sampling points where soil depth was measured. Nine primary and secondary terrain attributes, such as elevation, slope, aspect, especial catchment area, wetness index, length-slope factor, stream power index, relief degree of land surface, and distance from ridge of mountains, were computed from DEMs at different spatial resolutions. The optimal DEM spatial resolution was determined by Grey relational analysis (GRA) to reflect the correlations between soil depth and terrain attributes.

Results and discussion

GRA revealed that the 10-m spatial resolution DEM can best reflect the relationship between soil depth and terrain attributes; therefore, the terrain attributes at this resolution were used for multiple linear stepwise regression (MLSR) analysis. The result of MLSR indicated that slope, TWI, and elevation could explain about 61.4 % of the total variability in soil depth in the study area.

Conclusions

The terrain attributes of slope, WTI and elevation can be used to evaluate soil depth in this region very well. This proposed approach may be applicable to other peak-cluster depression regions in the karst areas at a larger scale.     

青藏高原地区3种全球DEM精度对不同地形因子的响应

[目的]探究青藏高原地区3种全球DEM精度对不同地形因子的响应,以便对全球DEM在各领域应用研究提供支撑。[方法]以青藏高原地区作为研究区,以ICESAT/GLAS的GLAH14高程数据作为高程参考数据,研究SRTM DEM,ASTER GDEM和HydroSHEDS DEM的精度对坡度、坡向以及地形粗糙度等地形因子的响应规律。[结果]总体上,SRTM DEM精度最高,HydroSHEDS DEM精度最低。不同地形因子对3种DEM精度均有不同影响。DEM误差随着坡向分布呈不同的态势。其中SRTM DEM正负测量偏离值点分别集中在南坡向和西北坡方向;ASTER GDEM正负测量偏离值点分别集中西北坡向和东南坡向;HydroSHEDS DEM正负测量偏离值点分别集中在东坡向和西南坡向。3种DEM精度与地形粗糙度均呈现较为明显的二次多项式关系。[结论]在青藏高原地区,3种DEM精度均与地形要素有着不同程度相关性,SRTM DEM精度最优且受地形要素影响程度小,HydroSHEDS DEM精度最差,受到地形要素的影响程度最大。     

基于无人机航摄的坡形对浅沟发育的影响

为探究坡形对浅沟发育的影响,以陕西省靖边县狼儿子沟无人机航摄影像为基础数据,通过目视解译得到浅沟（指瓦背状地形底部）225条,统计了浅沟条数、浅沟长度、沟头到分水岭的距离及浅沟密度等指标。利用浅沟地形分水线上的高程点进行插值得到原始坡面数字高程模型（digital elevation model,DEM）,以此DEM提取地形曲率以表征坡形,进而分析坡形与浅沟指标的关系。结果表明：（1）以浅沟地形分水线上的高程点插值后的DEM对浅沟进行了综合,能较好地表达浅沟发育之前原始坡面的地形特征。（2）从单一坡形来看,横向凹形坡的浅沟密度最大,纵向凹形坡的浅沟沟头到分水岭的平均距离最大;纵向凸形坡的浅沟条数以及浅沟平均长度均最大;从组合坡形来看,双凸形坡和凸凹形坡上的浅沟平均长度与沟头到分水岭的平均距离均大于双凸形坡和凹凸形坡。双凹形坡的浅沟长度与双凸形坡和凸凹形坡的浅沟长度具有显著性差异（p<0.05）;凹凸形坡的浅沟长度与双凸形坡和凸凹形坡的浅沟长度具有显著性差异（p<0.05）。凹凸形坡的浅沟沟头到分水岭的距离与凸凹形坡的浅沟沟头到分水岭的距离具有显著性差异（p<0.1）。（3）不同形态坡面浅沟发育的地形曲率分布特征具有明显差异。     

不同近地表水文条件下紫色土坡面土壤侵蚀过程研究

采用模拟降雨试验,研究了自由下渗(free drainage)、土壤水分饱和(saturation)、壤中流(seepage)3种近地面水文条件下紫色土坡面土壤侵蚀过程.结果表明,近地表水文条件会对紫色土坡面侵蚀过程产生重要影响.在地面坡度5°～15°条件下,当地表水文条件由自由下渗演变为土壤水分饱和时,坡面侵蚀量由1.31～2.02 g/(min·m2)增加到1.83～5.50 g/(min·m2);当地表水文条件由土壤水分饱和变为壤中流时,坡面侵蚀量达到4.40～16.41 g/(min·m2).土壤水分饱和条件下坡面侵蚀量是自由下渗的1.40～2.73倍;壤中流条件下坡面侵蚀量是自由下渗时的3.36～8.12倍,是土壤水分饱和时的2.40～2.98倍.同时,坡面坡度对紫色土坡面侵蚀过程有重要的影响.     

Soil landscape evolution due to soil redistribution by tillage: a new conceptual model of soil catena evolution in agricultural landscapes

This paper focuses on analysing tillage as a mechanism for the transformation of soil spatial variability, soil morphology, superficial soil properties and development of soil–landscape relationships in agricultural lands. A new theoretical two-dimensional model of soil catena evolution due to soil redistribution by tillage is presented. Soil profile truncation occurs through loss of soil mass on convexities and in the upper areas of the cultivated hillslopes; while the opposite effect takes place in concavities and the lower areas of the field where the original soil profile becomes buried. At sectors of rectilinear morphology in the hillslope (backslope positions), a null balance of soil translocation takes place, independent of the slope gradient and of the rate of downslope soil translocation. As a result, in those backslope areas, a substitution of soil material in the surface horizon with material coming from upslope areas takes place. This substituted material can produce an inversion of soil horizons in the original soil profile and sometimes, the formation of “false truncated soil”. In the Skogstad agricultural field (Cyrus, MN) spatial patterns of soil properties (soil calcium carbonate content) in the surface soil horizons and soil morphology along several slope transects were analyzed. These spatial patterns are compared with those estimated for soil redistribution (areas of erosion and deposition) due to tillage using the Soil Redistribution by Tillage (SORET) model and water erosion using the models Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and Universal Soil Loss Equation (Usle2D). Results show that tillage was the predominant process of soil redistribution in the studied agricultural field. Finally, some practical implications of the proposed model of soil landscape modification by tillage are discussed. Nomographs to calculated the intensity of the expansion process of the eroded soil units by tillage are proposed for three different patterns of tillage.