Passage of sediment through flumes and over weirs

This paper reports on laboratory research on the sediment passagecapability through long-throated flumes and broad-crested weirs withwhich the Froude number in the approach channel does not exceed 0.6over a distance of about 20 times the water depth upstream of thestructure. Design rules are given for any combination of flume or weirin combination with any channel.     

不同林型立地土壤水分性状及其持水能力的比较

对辽宁省北票县刺槐-油松混交林、刺槐、油松纯林及无林地土壤水分的物理性质和持水特性进行了测定。结果表明：刺槐-油松混交林的土壤孔隙状况、机械组成、持水性能、渗透性能和储水量均明显优于无林地和2种纯林。刺槐和油松纯林的各项指标均明显优于无林地,刺槐和油松纯林的各项指标处于相近水平。综合评价表明：在持水能力方面,以上3种林...     

Using Static and Dynamic Indicators to Evaluate Soil Physical Quality in a Sicilian Area

Both capacitive indicators derived from the water retention curve and dynamic measurements of the flow‐weighted mean pore radius, R₀, were used to assess the soil physical quality of two agricultural areas (cropland and olive orchard) and two natural areas (grassland and managed woodlot plantation) potentially subject to soil degradation. The overall idea of the study was to investigate whether a dynamic indicator quantitatively derived from hydraulic conductivity measurements could be used to supplement the traditionally applied capacitive indicators retrieved from water retention measurements. According to the available criteria, only the surface layer of the cropland site showed optimal soil physical quality. In the grassland and woodlot sites, the physical quality was deteriorated also as a consequence of compaction because of grazing. Overall, the physical quality was better in tilled than nontilled soils. The optimal soil in terms of capacitive indicators had hydraulic conductivity close to saturation that was intermediate among the different land uses, and it remained 1·3–1·9 times higher than that observed in the natural sites even when the largest pores emptied. A depth effect on R₀ was observed only when larger macropores were activated. It was suggested that water transmission parameters are more affected by changes in large pore domain. The plant available water content and Dexter's S‐index showed inverse statistically significant regressions with R₀. The empirical relationships were physically convincing given that, at increasing R₀, the contribution of macropores increases, water is transmitted faster below the root zone and the soil's ability to store water is reduced. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation Study of the Impact of Permanent Groundcover on Soil and Water Changes in Jujube Orchards on Sloping Ground

Land degradation is recognized as a major environmental problem in rainfed fruit orchards on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Six treatments were used to investigate surface runoff and soil moisture by means of simulated rainfall experiments: (i) a control (clean cultivation) (CC); (ii) strip cock's foot (Dactylis glomerata L.) cover (SCF); (iii) strip crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.) cover (SCV); (iv) strip bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) cover (SBF); (v) strip white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cover (SWC); and (vi) complete white clover cover (WCC). The time to runoff was significantly longer under WCC than under other treatments (p < 0·05). The total runoff volume and sediment yield were significantly greater under CC than under the vegetation cover treatments (p < 0·05). The mean infiltration rate under WCC and CC was the largest and lowest and differed significantly from that under other treatments (p < 0·05). The change of soil water storage was the largest under WCC and the least under CC. The soil moisture was significantly greater under SCF than under other treatments (p < 0·05). Treatment SCF seemed to be the best groundcover for rainfed sloping jujube orchards on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Biophysical and Economic Assessment of a Community‐based Rehabilitated Gully in the Ethiopian Highlands

Gully erosion reduces agricultural productivity by destroying valuable land resources, increases sediment concentrations, reduces water quality, and fills up reservoirs. Gully rehabilitation has proven to be challenging especially in the high‐rainfall areas of the Ethiopian Highlands and has therefore had limited success. This paper describes a successful low‐cost gully rehabilitation effort with community participation in the Birr watershed in the Blue Nile basin that begun in early 2013. Initially, farmers were reluctant to participate for religious reasons, but with the aid of local priests and respected elders, community discussions, and a visit to a rehabilitated gully, a consensus was reached to rehabilitate a 0·71‐ha upland gully. The rehabilitation measures consisted of regrading the gully head at a 45° slope, constructing low‐cost check dams from locally available materials, and planting Pennisetum purpureum grass and Sesbania sesban. At the end of the first post‐implementation rainy season, 2,200 tons of soil was conserved by the constructed check dams and newly planted vegetation, compared with soil losses of 680 and 560 tons in two untreated, nearby gullies. In 2014, an additional 3,100 tons of soil was conserved. In 2013, the marginal rate of return (MRR) on the gully rehabilitation investment was 2·6 based on the value of increased forage production alone. When we include trapped soil nutrient values, the rehabilitation MRR was increased to 10. Although these numbers are impressive, the best proof of the success was that farmers on their own initiative rehabilitated an additional five gullies in 2014. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amending Soil with Sludge,Manure, Humic Acid,Orthophosphate and Phytic Acid: Effects on Infiltration,Runoff and Sediment Loss

Application of organic wastes to cultivated lands can replace mineral fertilizers but may also alter soil physical properties and enhance pollution potential. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of biosolids [composted manure (MC) and activated sludge (AS)] and specific biosolid component [orthophosphate (OP), phytic acid (PA) and humic acid (HA)] application on soils differing in texture [loamy‐sand (Ramat‐HaKovesh, RH), loam (Gilat, GL) and clay (Bet‐Dagan, BD)], infiltration rate, runoff volume and soil sediment loss. The soils were packed in erosion boxes (400 × 200 × 40 mm) and subjected to six consecutive simulated rainstorms, each of 186 mm deionized water. The results showed that runoff volume and sediment loss from untreated soils increased with increasing clay contents. In treated soils, the response to AS application differed from the response to other amendments; in the BD clay and GL loam, it was the only amendment that caused a decrease in sediment removed by runoff. In the RH loamy‐sand, all amendments reduced the final infiltration rate, but only AS and HA increased the measured runoff. It is proposed that the difference in the response of the soils to the amendments is associated with the soil's ability to attenuate changes in the negative charge on the clay edges following the increase in the specific adsorption of charged anions, thus controlling clay swelling and maintaining aggregate integrity. The effects of amending soils with a source of organic matter in order to control runoff and soil erosion are not straight forward and depend on soil and amendment properties. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

流域次降雨侵蚀产沙的BP神经网络模拟

在分析黄土高原韭园沟流域多年观测资料的基础上,应用BP神经网络建模方法,建立了流域次降雨侵蚀产沙的神经网络模型。通过输入模型变量流域次降雨量、平均降雨强度、径流深和洪峰流量模数,对流域次降雨侵蚀产沙量进行了训练和预测。预测结果表明,所建BP神经网络模型预测精度较高,可近似揭示复杂非线性流域次降雨侵蚀产沙系统的产沙规律,为建立较高预报精度的黄土高原流域次降雨侵蚀产沙预报模型提供了依据。     

黄土丘陵区不同降雨强度对农地土壤侵蚀的影响

采用人工模拟降雨的方法，对仪器自身性能进行了测试，并分设5种不同的降雨强度分别研究半干旱区林地、草地、人工草地和耕地的产流产沙特征。模拟天然降雨最大雨强5．05mm／min，雨量118．2～300．3mm／h；雨滴落地速度、雨滴动能等降雨特征值与天然降雨特征值是一致的；不同立地条件下径流量、侵蚀模数随雨强的增加而增加，并与降雨强度呈指数函数或幂函数关系。     

无定河粗泥沙产沙量的变化及其原因

 为了解决黄河治理中迫切需要解决的粗泥沙来源和数量问题,依据大量实测资料,运用统计方法对无定河粗泥沙产沙量进行研究。结果表明:无定河流域d>0.05 mm粗泥沙产沙量呈现出减少趋势,这种减少与年降水量、年沙尘暴频率的减少和水土保持面积的增大有一定的因果关系;估算出最大30d降雨量和年沙尘暴频率的变化对d>0.05mm粗泥沙产沙量变化的贡献率分别为66.5%和33.5%,即沙尘暴特征的变化对粗泥沙产沙量变化的贡献率相当于暴雨特征的变化贡献率的1/2。建立了粗泥沙年产沙量与最大30d降雨量、年沙尘暴频率和水土保持措施面积之间的回归方程,表明粗泥沙年产沙量随最大30d降雨量、年沙尘暴频率的减小而减小,随水土保持面积的增大而减小。因此,20世纪50年代以来暴雨的减弱、沙尘暴的减弱和水土保持措施面积的增大是无定河流域粗泥沙产沙量减少的原因。     

Regional Sediment Deficits in the Dutch Lowlands: Implications for Long-Term Land-Use Options (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Coastal and river plains are the surfaces of depositional systems, to which sediment input is a parameter of key-importance. Their habitation and economic development usually requires protection with dikes, quays, etc., which are effective in retaining floods but have the side effect of retarding sedimentation in their hinterlands. The flood-protected Dutch lowlands (so-called dike-ring areas) have been sediment-starved for up to about a millennium. In addition to this, peat decomposition and soil compaction, brought about by land drainage, have caused significant land subsidence. Sediment deficiency, defined as the combined effect of sediment-starvation and drainage-induced volume losses, has already been substantial in this area, and it is expected to become urgent in view of the forecasted effects of climate change (sea-level rise, intensified precipitation and run-off). We therefore explore this deficiency, compare it with natural (Holocene) and current human sediment inputs, and discuss it in terms of long-term land-use options. Materials and Methods: We use available 3D geological models to define natural sediment inputs to our study area. Recent progress in large-scale modelling of peat oxidation and compaction enables us to address volume loss associated with these processes. Human sediment inputs are based on published minerals statistics. All results are given as first-order approximations. Results: The current sediment deficit in the diked lowlands of the Netherlands is estimated at 136 ± 67 million m3/a. About 85% of this volume is the hypothetical amount of sediment required to keep up with sea-level rise, and 15% is the effect of land drainage (peat decomposition and compaction). The average Holocene sediment input to our study area (based on a total of 145 km3) is ~14 million m3/a, and the maximum (millennium-averaged) input ~26 million m3/a. Historical sediment deficiency has resulted in an unused sediment accommodation space of about 13.3 km3. Net human input of sediment material currently amounts to ~23 million m3/a. Discussion: As sedimentary processes in the Dutch lowlands have been retarded, the depositional system's natural resilience to sea-level rise is low, and all that is left to cope is human countermeasure. Preserving some sort of status quo with water management solutions may reach its limits in the foreseeable future. The most viable long-term solutions therefore seem a combination of allowing for more water in open country (anything from flood-buffer zones to open water) and raising lands that are to be built up (enabling their lasting protection). As to the latter, doubling or tripling the use of filling sand in a planned and sustained effort may resolve up to one half of the Dutch sediment deficiency problems in about a century. Conclusions: Conclusions, Recommendations and Perspectives. We conclude that sediment deficiency – past, present and future – challenges the sustainable habitation of the Dutch lowlands. In order to explore possible solutions, we recommend the development of long-term scenarios for the changing lowland physiography, that include the effects of Global Change, compensation measures, costs and benefits, and the implications for long-term land-use options. Recommendations and Perspectives: -