Effects of structural and depositional crusts on soil erosion on the Loess Plateau of China

Conventional tillage practices used on the Loess Plateau lead to different soil surface micro-topography which results in forming two types of soil crusts. The objective of this study was to explore the formation position, properties and erosion characteristics of structural crusts and depositional crusts under the influences of the microtopography in the rainfall experiments. Two simulated rainstorms were applied in the experiments. The first rainfall event was used for soil crust formation, then the following simulated rainfall storms at 40 mm h^?1, 60 mm h^?1, and 80 mm h^?1 rates were applied to the soil boxes set to a 17.6% (10°) slope under three tillage types (contour tillage, artificial digging, and straight slope conditions) to investigate the resulting runoff discharge rate and sediment yield on crusted soil surface. Results show that: (1) structural crusts formed on the mounds, and depositional crusts formed in the depressions after the first rainfall events; structural crusts exhibit a lower thickness, bulk density, higher porosity and shear strength than depositional crusts; (2) structural crusts increased the runoff yield less and decreased the sediment yield more than depositional crusts; and (3) the runoff yield was significantly greater, and the sediment yield was lower on the crusted soil surface than that on the uncrusted soil surface, regardless of the effect of the tillage treatments.     

雨强和植被覆盖度对典型坡面产流产沙的影响

应用先进的UGT水蚀测量仪,研究黄土高原祖厉河流域雨强和植被覆盖度对典型坡面产流产沙的影响。结果表明:黄土高原半干旱区间隔为15min的产流量、径流含沙量和产沙量与15min雨强具有相同的增减趋势,呈三次曲线关系y=b0+b1x+b2x2+b3x3。7种雨强条件下,人类扰动撂荒地的产流量、径流含沙量和产沙量均明显大于植被自然恢复的撂荒地,覆盖度20%的撂荒地是覆盖度35%撂荒地的平均径流系数的2.35倍,径流含沙量的4.48倍,产沙量的14.06倍。相对于受到扰动的撂荒地,植被自然恢复的撂荒地水土保持效益显著。     

Effect of soil management on soil erosion on sloping farmland during crop growth stages under a large-scale rainfall simulation experiment

Soil erosion on farmland is a critical environmental issue and the main source of sediment in the Yellow River, China. Thus, great efforts have been made to reduce runoff and soil loss by restoring vegetation on abandoned farmland. However, few studies have investigated runoff and soil loss from sloping farmland during crop growth season. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of soil management on runoff and soil loss on sloping farmland during crop growth season. We tested different soybean growth stages (i.e., seedling stage (R1), initial blossoming stage (R2), full flowering stage (R3), pod bearing stage (R4), and initial filling stage (R5)) and soil management practice (one plot applied hoeing tillage (HT) before each rainfall event, whereas the other received no treatment (NH)) by applying simulated rainfall at an intensity of 80 mm/h. Results showed that runoff and soil loss both decreased and infiltration amount increased in successive soybean growth stages under both treatments. Compared with NH plot, there was less runoff and higher infiltration amount from HT plot. However, soil loss from HT plot was larger than that from NH plot in R1-R3, but lower in R4 and R5. In the early growth stages, hoeing tillage was effective for reducing runoff and enhancing rainfall infiltration. By contrast, hoeing tillage enhanced soil and water conservation during the late growth stages. The total soil loss from HT plot (509.0 g/m²) was 11.1% higher than that from NH plot (457.9 g/m²) in R1-R5. However, the infiltration amount from HT plot (313.9 mm) was 18.4% higher than that from NH plot (265.0 mm) and the total runoff volume from HT plot was 49.7% less than that from NH plot. These results indicated that crop vegetation can also act as a type of vegetation cover and play an important role on sloping farmland. Thus, adopting rational soil management in crop planting on sloping farmland can effectively reduce runoff and soil loss, as well as maximize rainwater infiltration during crop growth period.     

陇东黄土高原地表粗糙度对耕作土壤径流的影响

用人工模拟降雨器,对陇东黄土高原不同地表粗糙度(RR)条件下翻耕土壤的径流和蓄水能力进行研究.以兰州大学庆阳黄土高原试验站为试验点,设3个处理:轻度(LR,RR＝7.6 mm),中度(MR,RR＝10.1 mm)和重度(HR,RR＝21.0 mm)处理.结果表明:在66mm/h的降雨强度下,降雨开始的20min内,LR...     

陕北黄土高原降雨侵蚀力时空变化研究

陕北地区是典型的黄土高原水土流失严重区,降雨侵蚀力是表征水蚀地区降雨侵蚀潜力的复合指标。系统分析降雨侵蚀力国内外研究现状,采用陕北及其周边地区27站日降雨资料及降雨侵蚀力简易计算方法,分析陕北地区降雨侵蚀力季节差异、年际变化,绘制了陕北地区多年平均及其20世纪各年代降雨侵蚀力空间分布等值线,研究结果对进一步认知陕北地区水土流失规律、指导水土保持工作具有重要意义。     

Suppression of weeds and weed seeds in the soil by stubbles and no-tillage in an arid maize-winter wheat-common vetch rotation on the Loess Plateau of China

Reduced tillage provides ecological and economic benefits to arable land on the Loess Plateau of China, where soil erosion has long been a serious problem and soil water availability is largely restricted. However, high abundances of weeds in reduced tillage systems cause significant yield losses. In this study, we explored the effects of no-tillage and stubble retention on the number and density of weeds and weed seeds in a 12-year maize-winter wheat-common vetch rotation on the Loess Plateau. Four treatments including conventional tillage, no-tillage, conventional tillage+stubble retention and no-tillage+stubble retention were designed and applied. We found that no-tillage increased the number of weed species and weed density in most of the crops, while stubble retention decreased weed density in maize and tended to suppress weeds in both no-tillage treatments(no-tillage and no-tillage+stubble retention). No-tillage led to an increase in the number of weed species in the weed seedbank and tended to increase seed density during the spring growth of winter wheat, but it decreased seed density during post-vetch fallow. Stubble retention tended to reduce seed density during the spring growth of winter wheat and post-vetch fallow. We concluded that no-tillage can promote weeds in the experimental crop rotation, while stubble retention suppresses weeds in untilled fields. The combined effects of stubble retention and no-tillage on weed suppression varied among the three crops. Based on these results, we recommend stubble retention in untilled legume-crop rotations on the Loess Plateau to improve the control of weeds.     

Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term (approximately 15 years) field experimentin the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed (T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), no tillage with straw removed (NT) and no tillage with straw retention (NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates (LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates (SA, 250-2000 μm), microaggregates (MA, 53-250 μm), and silt and clay (SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices (including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions (LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices (including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%-56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter (MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates (including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25-6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34-0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.     

Effects of vegetation near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment reduction in typical grasslands on the Loess Plateau,China

Vegetation near-soil-surface factors can protect topsoil from erosion,however,their contributions to the reduction of soil erosion,especially under natural rainfall events,have not been systematically recognized.This study was performed to quantify the effects of near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment under natural rainfall events on grasslands dominated by Bothriochloa ischaemum(Linn.)Keng(BI grassland)and Artemisia gmelinii Thunb.(AG grassland)in two typical watersheds on the Loess Plateau,China in 2018.By successive removal of the plant canopy,litter,biological soil crusts(BSCs)and plant roots,we established five treatments including plant roots,plant roots+BSCs,plant roots+BSCs+litter,intact grassland and bare land in each grassland type.In total,twenty runoff plots(5 m×3 m)with similar slopes and aspects were constructed in the two types of grasslands.Results showed that plant canopy,litter and roots reduced runoff,while BSCs,which swelled in the presence of water,increased runoff.In contrast,all of these factors reduced sediment yield.In addition,the reductions in runoff and sediment yield increased with I30(maximum 30-min rainfall intensity)for each vegetation near-soil-surface factor except for BSCs.Among these factors,plant canopy had the largest contribution to runoff reduction,accounting for 48.8% and 39.9% in the BI and AG grasslands,respectively.The contributions of these vegetation near-soil-surface factors to sediment yield reduction were similar(21.3%-29.9%)in the two types of grasslands except for BSCs in the AG grassland(10.3%).The total reduction in runoff in the BI grassland(70.8%)was greater than that in the AG grassland(53.1%),while the reduction in sediment yield was almost the same in both grasslands(97.4%and 96.7%).In conclusion,according to the effects of different vegetation near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment production,our results may provide more complete insight and scientific basis into the effects of various vegetation related factors in controlling soil erosion.     

保护性耕作对黄土高原春玉米田土壤理化特性的影响

为了探索黄土高原春玉米区保护性耕作农田土壤理化特性变化,测定分析了保护性耕作处理第二年春玉米生长不同时期农田土壤容重、水分和养分变化.结果表明,保护性耕作处理在玉米生长前期0～10 cm土壤容重呈下降趋势且小于传统耕作,但后期增加幅度较大;与传统耕作相比保护性耕作能显著增加玉米生长前期表层0～60 cm和后期100～200 cm土壤含水量 ,有较好保水、蓄水作用;保护性耕作下表层0～20 cm土壤养分指标除全磷外,均表现为稳定升高趋势,且能有效提高土壤全钾和速效钾含量;土壤有机质、全氮、速效氮、速效磷含量低于传统耕作,但变异系数较小.     

降雨强度对农业耕作措施水土保持作用的影响

利用人工模拟降雨试验，研究不同降雨强度下，不同农业耕作措施坡地水土流失特征。试验设计的坡地坡度分别为5°和15°，降雨强度分别为60、90、120 mm·h^-1；耕作措施分别为等高耕作、人工掏挖和人工锄耕，以相同坡度的平整坡地作为对照。结果表明：（1）随着降雨强度的增大，各耕作措施坡地产流量显著增大1.51倍以上，最大增加幅度为等高耕作坡地的2.28倍。而坡地产沙量在降雨强度较小时增加不显著，当降雨强度增大到120 mm·h^-1时，坡地产沙量显著增大；（2）与平整坡地相比，等高耕作在3个降雨强度下都具有明显的减流效益，减流量均大于15%，而人工锄耕和人工掏挖却不明显；（3）在5°坡地上，等高耕作和人工掏挖在3个降雨强度的减沙效益均大于25%，而人工锄耕减沙效益不明显；在坡度为15°、降雨强度为60 mm·h^-1和90 mm·h^-1时，人工锄耕和人工掏挖减沙效益与降雨强度关系无明显规律，在降雨强度为120 mm·h^-1时，3个耕作措施都不能有效降低坡地产沙量。可见，水土保持农业耕作措施具有降低坡地产流量的作用，而对于坡地产沙的作用存在明显差异，在大坡度和大降雨强度下，不仅不能降低坡地产沙，反而加剧坡地土壤流失。     

黄土高原春玉米保护性耕作农田土壤养分时空动态变化研究

试验以传统耕作(CT)为对照,连续3 a研究了保护性耕作(NT),传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)处理下黄土高原春玉米田土壤养分含量的动态变化。结果表明,与传统耕作相比,保护性耕作处理各土层土壤有机质含量随春玉米生育期推进呈上升趋势,其中收获后耕作层土壤有机质含量增加明显;保护性耕作使得土壤碱解氮有向表面富集的趋势,保护性耕作下土壤速效磷略显增加趋势,其中在玉米收获后表现较明显,且较TS和CT处理差异显著;速效钾含量保护性耕作处理要显著低于其它处理,但有增加趋势。     

浅析新构造运动对黄土高原水土流失的影响

本文论述了新构造运动对黄土高原水土流失的影响。笔者认为，新构造运动对黄土高原水土流失起着控制作用。主要表现为：１．大范围的新构造运动导致黄土高原地区多暴雨，有利于地表土壤的侵蚀。２．新构造运动抬升，导致地区侵蚀基准面下降，新构造运动上升与沉降交汇处的地形突变带、断裂活动带、地震破碎带，地表土岩体不稳定，地表降水大量下渗，为重力和流水侵蚀创造了条件。３．新构造运动的形式、类型，制约地形的发育演化，控     

黄土高原半干旱区保护性耕作经济适应性评价

在5种保护性耕作法与传统耕作法连续4年的田间对比试验研究的基础上，利用农业经济评价方法．对每一种耕作方法经济适应性进行评价，结果表明：不论是否计入秸秆的投入，采用保护性耕作法的免耕秸秆覆盖（NTS）在几种耕作措施中是最佳的一种耕作方法。免耕秸秆覆盖（NTS）经济效益好、综合生产能力高．且它的生产能力在不同的生产条件下比其它耕作法更具有稳定性，具有较强的抵御外界变化的能力。因此，在陇中黄土高原半干旱区实施免耕秸秆覆盖（NTS）的保护性耕作法不仅能够达到高效、高产的目的，而且有助于该区农业的可持续发展。     

Influences of sand cover on erosion processes of loess slopes based on rainfall simulation experiments

Aeolian-fluvial interplay erosion regions are subject to intense soil erosion and are of particular concern in loess areas of northwestern China.Understanding the composition,distribution,and transport processes of eroded sediments in these regions is of considerable scientific significance for controlling soil erosion.In this study,based on laboratory rainfall simulation experiments,we analyzed rainfall-induced erosion processes on sand-covered loess slopes(SS)with different sand cover patterns(including length and thickness)and uncovered loess slopes(LS)to investigate the influences of sand cover on erosion processes of loess slopes in case regions of aeolian-fluvial erosion.The grain-size curves of eroded sediments were fitted using the Weibull function.Compositions of eroded sediments under different sand cover patterns and rainfall intensities were analyzed to explore sediment transport modes of SS.The influences of sand cover amount and pattern on erosion processes of loess slopes were also discussed.The results show that sand cover on loess slopes influences the proportion of loess erosion and that the compositions of eroded sediments vary between SS and LS.Sand cover on loess slopes transforms silt erosion into sand erosion by reducing splash erosion and changing the rainfall-induced erosion processes.The percentage of eroded sand from SS in the early stage of runoff and sediment generation is always higher than that in the late stage.Sand cover on loess slopes aggravates loess erosion,not only by adding sand as additional eroded sediments but also by increasing the amount of eroded loess,compared with the loess slopes without sand cover.The influence of sand cover pattern on runoff yield and the amount of eroded sediments is larger than that of sand cover amount.Furthermore,given the same sand cover pattern,a thicker sand cover could increase sand erosion while a thinner sand cover could aggravate loess erosion.This difference explains the existence of intense erosion on slopes that are thinly covered with sand in regions where aeolian erosion and fluvial erosion interact.     

Mulching mode and planting density affect canopy interception loss of rainfall and water use efficiency of dryland maize on the Loess Plateau of China

High and efficient use of limited rainwater resources is of crucial importance for the crop production in arid and semi-arid areas. To investigate the effects of different soil and crop management practices(i.e., mulching mode treatments: flat cultivation with non-mulching, flat cultivation with straw mulching, plastic-covered ridge with bare furrow and plastic-covered ridge with straw-covered furrow; and planting density treatments: low planting density of 45,000 plants/hm~2, medium planting density of 67,500 plants/hm~2 and high planting density of 90,000 plants/hm~2) on rainfall partitioning by dryland maize canopy, especially the resulted net rainfall input beneath the maize canopy, we measured the gross rainfall, throughfall and stemflow at different growth stages of dryland maize in 2015 and 2016 on the Loess Plateau of China. The canopy interception loss was estimated by the water balance method. Soil water storage, leaf area index, grain yield(as well as it components) and water use efficiency of dryland maize were measured or calculated. Results showed that the cumulative throughfall, cumulative stemflow and cumulative canopy interception loss during the whole growing season accounted for 42.3%–77.5%, 15.1%–36.3% and 7.4%–21.4% of the total gross rainfall under different treatments, respectively. Soil mulching could promote the growth and development of dryland maize and enhance the capability of stemflow production and canopy interception loss, thereby increasing the relative stemflow and relative canopy interception loss and reducing the relative throughfall. The relative stemflow and relative canopy interception loss generally increased with increasing planting density, while the relative throughfall decreased with increasing planting density. During the two experimental years, mulching mode had no significant influence on net rainfall due to the compensation between throughfall and stemflow, whereas planting density significantly affected net rainfall. The highest grain yield and water use efficiency of dryland maize were obtained under the combination of medium planting density of 67,500 plants/hm~2 and mulching mode of plastic-covered ridge with straw-covered furrow. Soil mulching can reduce soil evaporation and retain more soil water for dryland maize without reducing the net rainfall input beneath the maize canopy, which may alleviate the contradiction between high soil water consumption and insufficient rainfall input of the soil. In conclusion, the application of medium planting density(67,500 plants/hm~2) under plastic-covered ridge with bare furrow is recommended for increasing dryland maize production on the Loess Plateau of China.     

保护性耕作对黄土高原旱地表土容重和水分入渗的影响

通过在陇中黄土高原半干旱区进行保护性耕作的定位研究,探讨了保护性耕作对土壤容重以及渗透性能的影响。结果表明:与传统耕作(T)、免耕无覆盖(NT)、传统耕作结合秸秆还田(TS)相比,试验的前2～3a免耕覆盖(NTS)使得土壤容重增大,而后保持稳定状态不再持续增加。通过对渗吸率、宏观毛管长度、有效孔径以及饱和导水率等指标的比较发现,免耕覆盖(NTS)对土壤的渗透性能有显著的改善作用。     

连续14年保护性耕作对土壤总有机碳和轻组有机碳的影响

依托于2001年布设在陇中黄土高原半干旱雨养农业区的保护性耕作定位试验,于2014年测定了5种保护性耕作(免耕+秸秆覆盖NTS、免耕NT、传统耕作+秸秆翻埋TS、传统耕作+地膜覆盖TP和免耕+地膜覆盖NTP)和传统耕作T处理下小麦-豌豆双序列轮作中表层土壤(0~5、5~10、10~30 cm)总有机碳(SOC)和轻组有机碳(LFOC)在作物生育期前后的变化。结果表明:土壤总有机碳和轻组有机碳在土壤剖面上均随着土层深度的增加而降低;相比传统耕作T,NTS和TS处理能显著提高0~30 cm土层中SOC、LFOC的含量,在作物播种前较T分别提高了19.51%、64.58%和13.36%、42.08%,在收获后分别提高了28.00%、85.37%和18.61%、77.82%,而SOC、LFOC含量NT和TP处理与T处理间差异不显著;从作物播种前至收获后,各处理下0~30 cm土层SOC含量均有减小趋势,其中NTS和TS处理变化量最小,NT和TP处理加大了作物生育期间SOC和LFOC的消耗;LFOC可以灵敏地反应出土壤有机碳的变化。因此,在该区推行以免耕、秸秆覆盖为主的保护性耕作措施更有利于碳的积累和土壤质量的改善,促进该区农业的可持续发展。     

黄土区土质道路径流水动力学参数的灰色关联度分析

黄土区土质道路路面侵蚀是该地区土壤侵蚀中的重要形式之一,为了探讨其土壤剥蚀率与径流水动力学参数的相关关系,以便为该地区道路土壤侵蚀预报模型的建立提供帮助,采用室内人工降雨及放水冲刷实验、灰色关联度分析方法研究了裸露土质路和植草土质路的径流水动力学参数与土壤剥蚀率间的关系,结果表明:1)在15°坡度、不同雨强条件下,可根据径流量或水流功率计算土壤剥蚀率;2)在2mm.min-1雨强、不同坡度条件下,可根据水流功率或坡度计算土壤剥蚀率;3)在降雨加放水冲刷试验条件下,裸露土质路的土壤剥蚀率可通过径流水深或径流流速计算得出,而植草土质路的土壤剥蚀率可通过过水断面单位能量或径流量计算得出。因此,在无汇水条件时,根据径流水流功率计算土壤剥蚀率较为合理;在有汇水条件时,采用径流量计算土壤剥蚀率较为合理。     

石匣小区氮磷坡面流失特征研究

以石匣试验小区为研究对象,分析了小区特征对氮磷、泥沙流失的影响。结果表明:在不同的土地利用方式中果园产生的径流中氮磷浓度最高,林地最低,而氮磷的流失量标准小区最高,林地最低;免耕种植、梯田种植、鱼鳞坑造林等耕作方式会明显减少农田土壤的侵蚀及氮磷的流失,植被覆盖明显减少径流量和泥沙量,从而有效地控制农田氮磷污染物的流失;在其它条件相同的情况下,坡度小的小区氮磷流失量明显减小;降雨量与氮磷的流失量呈现明显的正相关;雨季径流中氮、磷主要以颗粒态存在,径流中的泥沙量与径流量有较好的线性关系(R=0.72)。     

双垄全膜覆盖沟播栽培对甘肃中部坡耕地水土流失和作物产量的影响

在甘肃省榆中县黄土高原丘陵沟壑区的坡耕地,采用双垄全膜覆盖沟播(DRM)、全膜平铺覆盖(WM)、条膜(半膜)起垄覆盖(RM)、条膜(半膜)平铺覆盖(NM)、露地条播(CK)5个处理进行对比试验。结果表明,双垄全膜覆盖沟播栽培具有良好的减少坡耕地土壤水土流失的作用,土壤流失量分别较露地条播、条膜起垄、条膜平铺、全膜平铺下降了56.07%、67.24%、71.59%、82.47%;作物产量大幅度提高,玉米产量分别比半膜垄作和半膜平铺增产46.76%和58.07%,蚕豆产量分别比条膜起垄、条膜平铺和对照增产46.52%、54.99%和102.96%,马铃薯产量分别比条膜起垄、条膜平铺和对照增产95.21%、76.30%和74.89%。玉米的水分生产率分别比半膜垄作和半膜平铺提高4.77 kg/(mm.hm2)和9.47 kg/(mm.hm2),蚕豆的水分生产率比半膜垄作、半膜平铺和露地对照提高3.24、6.58 kg/(mm.hm2)和5.03 kg/(mm.hm2),马铃薯的水分生产率比半膜垄作、半膜平铺和露地对照提高47.35、42.02、41.57 kg/(mm.hm2)。黄土高原丘陵沟壑半干旱雨养农业区坡耕地采用双垄全膜覆盖沟播栽培,具有良好的减少土壤水土流失的作用,能够最大限度地集蓄天然降水,加之其明显的增温保温作用,可大幅度地提高作物产量,降水生产率显著提高。