红壤团聚体特征与坡面侵蚀定量关系

为明确红壤结构特征对坡面侵蚀过程的影响,选取6种典型红壤为研究对象,通过团聚体稳定性分析和野外原位人工模拟降雨试验,就红壤团聚体稳定性特征与坡面侵蚀过程定量关系进行了初步探讨。结果表明：在野外尺度上,红壤团聚体稳定性是影响坡面侵蚀的重要因素;能定量描述土壤可蚀性的团聚体特征参数Ka,与径流强度、产沙强度等侵蚀参数显著相关;将Ka代入WEPP模型,建立了细沟间侵蚀预测方程,方程可决系数较高（R2＝0.86）,显示了较好的预测性能。该研究扩展了团聚体稳定性作为土壤可蚀性指标的适用范围,为红壤侵蚀机理研究提供了新思路。     

冻融对土壤分离能力及侵蚀阻力的影响

冻融后坡面为水力侵蚀产沙提供了大量有效物质源,是河道泥沙的主要策源地。该研究利用室内模拟冻融和径流冲刷试验,设置不同冻融循环次数、坡度和流量梯度,分析冻融对土壤分离能力及侵蚀阻力的影响机制。结果表明,冻融条件下,坡度、流量和冻融循环次数均对土壤分离能力有显著影响（P<0.05）,贡献率分别为17.94%、19.96%和18.43%。冻融前后,土壤分离能力基本均随坡度和流量的增加而增大,冻融后的均值（5.28±2.48 g/(cm2·min)）显著大于冻融前（2.39 ±1.71 g/(cm2·min)）,但冻融后的增幅明显小于冻融前。不同坡度和流量条件下,冻融1次后,土壤分离能力均显著增大（P<0.05）,但其随冻融循环次数增加的变化趋势差异较大,只有在坡度与流量同时较小（10°和≤18L/min）或较大（15°和≥18L/min）时,呈显著增大趋势。冻融循环1、5、10次后,土壤细沟可蚀性分别增大1.25、1.66和1.72倍,随冻融次数的增加逐渐趋于稳定;土壤临界剪切力冻融后显著降低,与冻融次数无明显关系。冻融后土壤平均容重、水稳性团聚体和抗剪强度分别降低了6.61 %、24.77 %和21.35 %,土壤孔隙度和三相结构指数变化与之相反。冻融条件下,土壤细沟可蚀性与水稳性团聚体和抗剪强度呈显著负相关关系,而与孔隙度呈显著正相关关系。     

Effect of particle-size distribution on wind erosion rate and soil erodibility

Wind erosion is a serious problem, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This study was conducted to assess the effects of wind speed as well as soil particle-size distribution on erosion rate (ER) using a wind tunnel. For this purpose, two clay loam soil samples (C2 and C10) in addition to a sandy clay loam (S2) were exposed to different wind velocities of 2, 9 and 18 m s^?1. The result showed that erosion rate increased significantly with increasing wind speeds. In addition, a critical diameter of 0.84 mm for soil particles was supported; for larger particles the changes in erosion rate were negligible. Furthermore, soil erodibility (K) was determined, which for S2, C2 and C10 was 57.73, 10.27 and 1.43, respectively. To predict soil erodibility, a power relationship as K = 3.382 MWD^?1.732 (R ² = 0.99) was established. The results indicated with increasing wind speed, the sensitivity of S2 remained constant, whereas C2 and C10 resisted wind speed. The finding of this research indicates the importance of particle-size distribution on wind erosion rate as well as soil erodibility.     

基于WEPP模型的紫色土坡面水蚀预报

应用水蚀预报项目（Water Erosion Prediction Project,WEPP）模型评价紫色土坡面水蚀强度,提出模型参数的估算方法,并利用四川省遂宁水土保持试验站长期径流小区观测资料,验证和检验模型预测的精度和敏感性;探讨该模型在川中丘陵紫色土地区应用的可能性及模型参数选择存在的问题。运用WEPP模型进行降雨侵蚀预测,并与实测值进行比较。结果表明,WEPP模型在大多数情况下预报值较合理,低坡度坡面上模拟预测值高于实际观测值,高坡度坡面上模拟预测值低于实际观测值,不仅在一定程度上模拟值与实测值接近,而且模型还可估算土壤侵蚀的时空分布及全坡面或坡面任意一点的净土壤流失量及随时间的变化。这对布置水土保持管理措施具有重要意义。     

Geomorphological investigation on gully erosion in the Rift Valley and the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Gully erosion phenomena are very common in Ethiopia. They affect large areas with different morphological, pedological and climatic characteristics. The amount of soil loss due to gullying has become a very serious problem in the recent decades as it was associated to remarkable depletion of cultivated land. Field investigations on gully morphology and its genetic processes were carried out in two study areas of Ethiopia, representative of different geo-environmental conditions: the Lakes Region in the Rift portion north of Shashamene and the area surrounding the town of Mekele in Tigray.Two main types of gullies were identified on the basis of their morphological and hydraulic geometry characteristics: (1) discontinuous gullies which generally develop on low gradient slopes (1–5° on average) and the hydraulic radius of which increases from an upstream minimum to a maximum, at approximately their mid length, and decreases again to a relative minimum at their downstream end; and (2) stream gullies, formed by deep erosion processes typically migrating upslope. In order to investigate the main causes originating the different types of gullies, shear stress data were collected in the field from their hydraulic geometry. Hypotheses on the mechanisms responsible for both discontinuous and stream gullies development and for their different characteristics are discussed considering the pattern of shear stress variation in the downstream direction.     

降雨条件下地表糙度对片蚀的影响及其变化

为了进一步明确地表糙度在片蚀过程中的效应,该文通过室内人工模拟降雨的方法,就场降雨和连续降雨条件下,地表糙度对片蚀的影响及其变化进行了研究。结果表明,场降雨条件下,实施人为管理措施坡面的径流与产沙量均低于对照坡面;在雨强0.67 mm/min条件下,随地表糙度的增加,径流量与侵蚀量呈先减小、后趋于稳定的变化趋势;而在雨强1.63 mm/min条件下,随地表糙度的增加,径流量与产沙量却呈一直减小的变化趋势。在雨强0.67 mm/min条件下,耙耱地、人工掏挖和等高耕作坡面的地表糙度均呈减小的变化趋势,而人工锄耕坡面的地表糙度呈增加的变化趋势;在雨强1.63 mm/min条件下,人工掏挖和等高耕作坡面的地表糙度呈减小的变化趋势,人工锄耕、耙耱地坡面的地表糙度却呈增加的变化趋势;对照坡面地表糙度的变化,与耙耱地相反。连续降雨条件下,在前二次降雨作用下,坡面的径流量与产沙量随地表糙度的增加而逐渐减小,且均低于对照坡面;在第三次降雨条件下,径流与侵蚀产沙量变化较为复杂,且实施人为管理措施坡面均高于对照坡面。不同降雨条件下,实施人为管理措施坡面地表糙度对片蚀具有一定的抑制效应,且坡面片蚀的发展与地表糙度间的变化表现出相应的互动作用。该文研究结果为揭示地表糙度的侵蚀特征提供了一定的理论依据,同时也为黄土高原坡耕地的水土流失治理奠定理论基础。     

不同土壤坡面细沟侵蚀差异与其影响因素

采用室内纯净水人工模拟降雨试验,在坡度为10°、15°、20°、25°坡面,土槽为5 m、10 m两种规格,对两种土壤((土娄)土与黄绵土)分别进行雨强为1.5 mm min-1,的降雨实验,利用三维激光扫描仪对每一场降雨后的坡面进行监测,分析不同坡度对细沟侵蚀的影响,比较两种土壤坡面细沟侵蚀的差异,以及其差异的影响因子.结果表明:(土娄)土土壤颗粒以粉粒与黏粒为主,粉粒占总质量的64.12％,黏粒为28.42％.黄绵土的土壤颗粒以粉粒为主占总质量的67.95％,黏粒与沙粒含量较少,黏粒占14.52％,沙粒占17.53％.在相同条件下,(土娄)土降雨过程中人渗缓慢,产流时间、坡面流速均快于黄绵土,跌坎出现时间也较早,使其更容易产生细沟.(土娄)土的径流量高于黄绵土,在降雨过程中,径流稳定时间较早.(土娄)土侵蚀量高于黄绵土,(土娄)土产沙率呈增加趋势,黄绵土含沙量变化不明显.从坡面细沟发育来看,(土娄)土坡面细沟成平行状分布,黄绵土细沟为较宽树枝状.     

降雨条件下耕作方式对地表糙度的溅蚀效应

地表糙度是影响坡耕地土壤侵蚀的主要因素之一,为了进一步明确耕作方式对地表糙度的侵蚀效应,该文通过室内人工模拟降雨的方法,就单雨强与组合雨强条件下耕作方式对溅蚀的作用以及地表糙度的变化进行了研究。结果表明,从对照坡面,经耙耱地、人工锄耕、人工掏挖到等高耕作方式的坡面,在雨强0.62 mm/min条件下,不同耕作方式坡面向上坡溅蚀量呈先增加再减小的变化,向下坡和总溅蚀量均呈先增加再减小最后增加的变化;除耙耱地外,其他耕作方式坡面的地表糙度呈减小的变化。在雨强1.53 mm/min条件下,不同耕作方式坡面向上坡、向下坡和总溅蚀量均呈先增加再减小最后增加的变化;地表糙度与对照坡面相反,均呈增加的变化。组合雨强条件下,随降雨强度的增加,耙耱地总溅蚀量与地表糙度呈一直增加的变化趋势;其他耕作方式下,随降雨强度的增加,坡面总溅蚀量呈先增加后减小的变化趋势,地表糙度却呈先减小后增大的变化。这为揭示地表糙度的侵蚀特征提供了一定的理论依据,同时也可服务于黄土高原坡耕地的水土流失治理。     

黄土坡面细沟侵蚀发育过程与模拟

以坡面细沟侵蚀过程为研究对象,利用人工模拟降雨试验和三维激光扫描技术,研究了同一坡面三场间歇性降雨下细沟侵蚀发生、发展和演化的图形化过程;同时,采用已有细沟侵蚀过程模型(CARill),结合Net Logo软件,将试验结果与模型模拟结果进行对比分析。结果表明:(1)扫描三场降雨图形化过程显示:侵蚀阶段呈现出溅蚀—片蚀—跌坑—断续细沟—连续细沟—细沟崩塌过程,沟长发育迅速,沟宽和沟深发育相对缓慢,细沟沟网形成迅速,降雨结束后侵蚀强度达到22.11 kg m-2,较初期降雨侵蚀增加了22.04倍。(2)CA-Rill模型模拟结果显示,在细沟侵蚀演化图形化过程方面,该模型可较完整地模拟细沟形态发育过程,实现细沟侵蚀的发生、发展以及演化过程中细沟形态的可视化模拟;(3)模型模拟三场降雨细沟侵蚀参数t检验结果发现:最长平均沟深、最大沟深、最长沟平均沟宽模拟效果不好;而细沟平面密度、最长沟长、侵蚀强度模拟效果较好。     

降雨类型对北方土石山区坡面土壤侵蚀的影响

该文基于北京市房山区蒲洼径流小区2013-2015年观测的105场自然降雨,采用实测水文数据与WEPP模型模拟降雨侵蚀过程相结合的方法,对比了北方土石山区不同雨型下的坡面土壤侵蚀差异。结果表明:1)自然降雨中,单场降雨的侵蚀能力表现为B型雨(低频率、短历时、中雨量、大雨强)A型雨(中频率、长历时、大雨量、中雨强)C型雨(高频率、中历时、小雨量、小雨强),其中,侵蚀性降雨中A型雨降雨频率最高、对研究区土壤侵蚀的累计贡献率最大;而C型雨几乎不会引发土壤侵蚀。2)诱发北方土石山区棕壤坡面土壤侵蚀的临界雨量为8 mm、临界雨强为9.5 mm/h。3)利用WEPP模型通过设置最大30 min雨强I30出现的不同时间将3类雨型进一步划分为4个子雨型,结果表明同一雨强出现的降雨时序差异会影响土壤侵蚀的发生程度,且子雨型下土壤侵蚀量整体表现为递增型峰值型递减型均值型,其中A型雨4个子雨型下侵蚀量差异最显著。研究结果可为北方土石山区棕壤坡面土壤侵蚀预报模型的建立及土壤侵蚀防治提供参考依据。     

紫色土坡地旋耕机耕作侵蚀特征

耕作侵蚀的过程机制和防治技术研究是我国现阶段水土保持科学与技术的重点研究领域,关于小型旋耕机耕作的土壤再分布过程和影响因素研究较少.应用磁性示踪法研究旋耕机等高耕作、向下耕作和向上耕作的土壤再分布模式和强度,查明耕作速度对旋耕机耕作侵蚀的影响.结果表明:不同耕作方向下旋耕机单次耕作过程中均引起土壤同时发生向上坡和向下坡移动,且均导致土壤发生向下坡净位移;不同耕作速度时等高耕作和向上耕作土壤净位移与坡度均呈显著正相关(P＜0.01),而向下耕作二者无显著相关性(P＞0.05);土壤净位移量表现为快挡等高耕作(11.53 kg/m)＞快挡向下耕作(11.40kg/m)＞快挡向上耕作(7.59kg/m)＞慢挡向下耕作(7.33 kg/m)＞慢挡等高耕作(6.87 kg/m)＞慢挡向上耕作(6.29 kg/m);快挡时上下坡交替耕作的耕作侵蚀速率小于等高耕作,但慢挡时二者相当.旋耕机耕作相比传统耕作机具的耕作侵蚀明显下降,其推广应用对于防治紫色土坡地耕作侵蚀和土壤退化有重要作用.     

Field evaluation of relationships between a vegetation structural parameter and sheltering against wind erosion

Measurements of natural vegetation canopies and of threshold friction velocities for soil movement were made at three arid and semiarid field sites. Threshold friction velocities for the vegetated surface and for bare soil were used to evaluate the partitioning of shear stress between that absorbed by the plant canopies and that absorbed by the soil surface (this potentially causing movement of soil particles). Canopy measurements were used to estimate lateral cover (total frontal-silhouette area per unit ground area), a parameter shown by previous laboratory studies to be a good predictor of shear stress partitioning. The relationship between lateral cover and shear stress partitioning for the field sites agreed with the laboratory results of Gillette and Stockton (1989). Results indicate that the protective influence of vegetative cover against wind erosion can be successfully predicted using simple measurements of vegetation canopy structure.     

饱和状态下黄绵土坡面细沟侵蚀可蚀性和临界剪切应力特征

土壤可蚀性参数和临界剪切应力是评价土壤易侵蚀程度和抗水流剪切变形能力的重要指标,目前在黄绵土坡面细沟侵蚀过程中,土壤饱和条件下可蚀性参数和临界剪切应力的变化尚不明确。该研究采用室内土槽模拟冲刷试验确定不同坡度（5°、10°、15°、20°）和流量（2、4、8 L/min）下饱和黄绵土坡面的最大细沟剥蚀率,基于数值法、修正数值法和解析法计算土壤可蚀性参数和临界剪切应力。结果表明,3种方法所得最大细沟剥蚀率均随坡度和流量增加而增大,其中修正数值法和解析法计算的最大细沟剥蚀率更接近。土壤可蚀性参数分别是0.485、0.283和0.268 s/m,土壤临界剪切应力分别为1.225、1.244和1.381 N/m2。修正数值法可提高数值法近似计算的精度,使近似计算结果更接近解析法计算获得的理论值。饱和较未饱和黄绵土的土壤可蚀性参数略有减小（16.83%）,而临界剪切应力减小了66.97%,表明土壤饱和对黄绵土土壤可蚀性参数影响很小,但大幅度削弱了土壤临界剪切应力,使得黄绵土坡面饱和后土壤侵蚀更为强烈。此外,饱和黄绵土边坡的临界剪切应力比饱和紫色土坡面大6.38%,而细沟可蚀性参数大2.35倍,表明土壤饱和对2种土壤临界剪切应力影响程度相似,但黄绵土较紫色土对土壤侵蚀的敏感性更高。研究结果可为饱和状态下不同土壤坡面细沟侵蚀模型参数的优化提供参考。     

黄土高原不同退耕年限刺槐林地土壤侵蚀阻力

为了明确黄土高原植被恢复后不断蓄积的枯落物对土壤分离过程的影响,论文选取10、15、20、30、40a退耕年限刺槐林样地及对照样地,采集180个土壤样品用于土壤分离试验,在6组侵蚀动力条件下进行变坡水槽冲刷试验,结果表明:随着退耕年限的增大,刺槐林土壤结构趋于稳定且疏松多孔,40年刺槐林地与对照样地相比:容重降低12.9%、总孔隙度增加10.1%、毛管孔隙度增加62.4%,土壤有机质含量增加97.9%、水稳性团聚体增加112.3%.土壤分离能力均值随着林龄呈指数函数递减(R2=0.82、P<0.05).在退耕0~40年范围内,在0~15 a内土壤分离能力下降迅速,对照、10 a刺槐林地、15年刺槐林地之间的土壤分离能力差异显著(P<0.05),退耕15 a以后土壤分离能力趋于稳定.40 a林龄刺槐林细沟可蚀性比对照的细沟可蚀性降低86.3%,临界剪切力提高10.1%.土壤临界剪切力变化范围在4.15~4.78 Pa之间.细沟可蚀性的变化趋势与土壤分离能力变化趋势相似,相比临界剪切力的变化,细沟可蚀性的变化更能反映土壤分离能力的变化情况.     

裸地雨滴溅蚀对坡面微地形的影响与变化特征

为了探讨溅蚀作用与坡面微地形之间的相互关系,该文通过模拟降雨试验方法,研究了黄土区坡耕地无植被条件下雨滴对坡面微地形的溅蚀作用与变化特征。微地形由不同的耕作管理措施形成,包括锄耕措施、掏挖措施和等高耕作措施,以平整坡面为对照措施。降雨强度分别为60,90和120mm/h。试验小区大小为0.5m2。用溅蚀板测定坡面向下和向上2个方向的溅蚀量。利用激光扫描仪测定微地形,并结合GIS技术建立大比例DEM(分辨率2cm)。结果表明,在耕作管理条件下,坡面微地形具有降低坡面溅蚀量的作用。微地形的变化特征主要表现为微坡度的变化,而微坡向对溅蚀作用的变化不敏感。因此,微坡度可以作为研究雨滴溅蚀作用与微地形变化的一个反映指标。     

Effects of grazing on soil physical properties and soil erodibility in semiarid grassland of the Northern Loess Plateau (China)

Grazing animals provide a livelihood for farmers, but they may also produce adverse environmental effects. We investigated whether grazing leads to deterioration of soil physical properties that subsequently increases topsoil erodibility. We sampled three sites (an ungrazed grassland, a continuously grazed grassland, and a track trampled by stock) on the northern Loess Plateau of China. The bulk density, water content, proportion of stable aggregates, infiltration rate, and resistance to scouring were determined for each soil sample. The results showed that the track had the highest soil bulk density and the lowest soil water content, proportion of stable aggregates, infiltration rate, and ability to resist scouring. The ungrazed plots had the best results for these parameters, in terms of reduced erosion. Soil bulk density and the proportion of stable aggregates differed significantly with depth beneath the track. However, the effect of depth on water content, infiltration rate, and the soil resistance to scouring was not significant at any sampling site. The ability of the soil to resist scouring was negatively correlated with the soil's bulk density and positively correlated with the soil's water content, infiltration rate, and proportion of stable aggregates. Thus, soil physical properties played an important role in determining soil erodibility. Grazing and trampling by livestock therefore appear to cause deterioration of soil physical properties and to increase soil erodibility.     

Assessing soil erosion after fire and rehabilitation treatments in NW Spain: Performance of rusle and revised Morgan–Morgan–Finney models

Although the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the revised Morgan–Morgan–Finney (MMF) are well‐known models, not much information is available as regards their suitability in predicting post‐fire soil erosion in forest soils. The lack of information is even more pronounced as regards post‐fire rehabilitation treatments. This study compared the soil erosion predicted by the RUSLE and the revised MMF model with the observed values of soil losses, for the first year following fire, in two burned areas in NW of Spain with different levels of fire severity. The applicability of both models to estimate soil losses after three rehabilitation treatments applied in a severely burned area was also tested. The MMF model presented reasonable accuracy in the predictions while the RUSLE clearly overestimated the observed erosion rates. When the R and C factors obtained by the RUSLE formulation were multiplied by 0·7 and 0.865, respectively, the efficiency of the equation improved. Both models showed their capability to be used as operational tools to help managers to determine action priorities in areas of high risk of degradation by erosion after fire. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

暴雨条件下黄土高原长陡坡耕地细沟侵蚀特征

细沟侵蚀是黄土高原坡耕地侵蚀的重要形式,已有的坡耕地细沟研究成果主要集中于裸土细沟侵蚀特征及其发生机制的小区或水槽试验,极端暴雨条件下细沟侵蚀观测很少,对于田间细沟侵蚀的预报仍然缺少实用的方法。该研究旨在基于实地测量数据,分析极端暴雨条件下黄土高原长陡坡耕地细沟侵蚀特征。2017年无定河流域"7.26"暴雨后,在暴雨中心附近选择15个样地进行细沟侵蚀测量,结合Google影像和无人机航拍影像,调查分析不同类型坡耕地细沟侵蚀特征。研究结果表明:1)暴雨条件下坡耕地是坡面细沟侵蚀的主要地类。长陡坡裸露坡耕地侵蚀模数为22 478 t/km²,坡长20 m时,约为种植作物的平作坡耕地的1.5倍,且坡长越长,差异越大。等高垄作能够有效减少细沟侵蚀。撂荒坡耕地细沟侵蚀模数仅为裸露坡耕地的12%,草地未发现细沟侵蚀。2)幂函数可以很好地拟合细沟侵蚀模数与坡长的关系,裸露坡耕地坡长指数为0.831。暴雨强度越大,坡长指数也越大。3)上坡来水在坡耕地上造成了严重的细沟侵蚀,与地块上承接的降水相比,上坡来水对细沟侵蚀的影响更大。坡面浅沟汇水明显减小细沟侵蚀强度,浅沟发育程度越高,细...     

Wind tunnel test and Cs tracing study on wind erosion of several soils in Tibet

The soils of alpine meadows and alpine grassland steppes, aeolian soils, coarse-grained soils, and farm soils cultivated from alpine grasslands in Tibet are typical soils that are suffering from different degrees of soil erosion by wind. Based on field investigations, wind tunnel experiments, and a ¹³⁷Cs trace study, this work tested the erodibility of these soils by wind, simulated the protective functions of natural vegetation and the accelerative effects of damage by livestock, woodcutting, and cultivation on erosion, and estimated erosion rates from 1963 to 2001. The results indicated that alpine meadows have the strongest resistance to wind erosion, and that undamaged alpine meadow soils generally sustain only weak or no wind erosion. Alpine grassland steppes with good vegetation cover and little damage by humans exhibit good resistance to wind erosion and suffered from only slight erosion. However, soil erodibility increased remarkably in response to serious disturbance by livestock and woodcutting; wind erosion reached 33.03 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The erodibility of semi-stabilized aeolian soil and mobile aeolian soil was highest, at 52.17 and 56.4 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. The mean erosion rates of coarse-grained soil with various levels of vegetation coverage and of farm soil were intermediate, at 45.85 and 51.33 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. Restricting livestock, woodcutting, and excessive grassland cultivation are the keys to controlling wind erosion in Tibet. In agricultural regions, taking protective cultivation and management to enhance surface roughness is a useful way to control wind erosion.     

Effectiveness of palm and simulated geotextiles in reducing run-off and inter-rill erosion on medium and steep slopes

Palm‐leaf geotextiles could be an effective and cheap soil conservation method with enormous global potential. However, there are very few data on the effectiveness of palm geotextiles in reducing soil erosion by water. This study investigates the effectiveness of two types of palm geotextiles and the effect of geotextile mesh size on infiltration, run‐off and inter‐rill erosion rate and soil surface roughness on a medium and steep slope. A well‐defined protocol was developed to conduct laboratory experiments. Rainfall was simulated for 90 min with an intensity (I) of 45 and 67 mm h^?1 on an inter‐rill erosion plot, filled with an erodible sandy loam and having slope gradients (S) of 15 and 45%. Two palm‐leaf geotextiles (Borassus aethiopum and Brazilian Buriti Palm) and three simulated geotextiles (polyethylene tarpaulin) with different mesh sizes (1 × 1, 5 × 5 and 12 × 12 cm) were tested on a simulated fine tilth. Calculated k values from the Horton infiltration equation ranged from 0.025 to 0.145 and decreased linearly on both slopes with geotextile cover. Geotextiles are more effective in reducing the run‐off coefficient on a medium slope (15%) compared with that on a steep slope (45%), ranging from 76.4 to 17.9%. Mean b values from the mulch cover equation equalled 0.024 for a 15% slope and 0.045 for a 45% slope, indicating a higher effectiveness of geotextiles in reducing total inter‐rill soil loss on gentler slopes compared with commonly used mulches. Erosion‐induced soil surface roughness at the end of each experiment increased linearly with geotextile cover percentage and this increase was not significantly different between the two slope gradients.