Simulation of rill erosion in black soil and albic soil during the snowmelt period

Snowmelt-induced rill erosion could bring serious harm for soil quality and agricultural productive conditions of slope farmland in the black soil zone of Northeast China. In this study, we conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the effects of the freeze-thaw (FT) temperature, number of FT cycles, water content, flow rate, and thaw depth on rill morphology and erosion amount in two common soil (black soil and albic soil). The thaw depth obtained the maximum range, which was the primary factor for the width-to-depth ratio of rills in the black soil; whereas, the flow rate obtained the maximum range as the primary factor for rill erosion in black soil and albic soil. The number of FT cycles had a minor effect on rill erosion in the two soils. Under the same conditions, the rill morphology showed a large difference between the two soils, and higher rill erosion occurred in albic soil than black soil. Rill erosion was relatively high in black soil and albic soil when the FT temperature fluctuated around 0°C during freezing-thawing. The water content exhibited a greater effect on rill erosion in black soil than in albic soil. The unthawed frozen layer could promote rill erosion during snowmelt period to some extent. The results could provide some reference for future study snowmelt-induced rill erosion mechanism and preventive measures.     

Accuracy of methods for field assessment of rill and ephemeral gully erosion

To properly assess soil erosion in agricultural areas, it is necessary to determine precisely the volume of ephemeral gullies and rills in the field by using direct measurement procedures. However, little information is available on the accuracy of the different methods used. The main purpose of this paper is to provide information for a suitable assessment of rill and ephemeral gully erosion with such direct measurement methods. To achieve this objective: a) the measurement errors associated to three methods used for field assessment of channel cross sectional areas are explored; b) the influence of the number of cross sections used per unit channel length on the assessment accuracy, is analysed and; c) the effect of the channel size and shape on measurement errors is examined. The three methods considered to determine the cross sectional areas were: the micro-topographic profile meter (1); the detailed measurement of section characteristic lengths with a tape (2); and the measurement of cross section width and depth with a tape (3). Five reaches of different ephemeral gully types 14.0 or 30.0 m long and a set of six 20.4 to 29.4 m long rill reaches were selected. On each gully reach, the cross sectional areas were measured using the three above mentioned methods, with a separation (s) between cross sections of 1 m. For rills, the cross sectional areas were measured with methods 1 and 3, with s = 2 m. Then, the corresponding total erosion volumes were computed. The volume calculated with method 1 with s = 1 m for gullies and s = 2 m for rills was taken as the reference method. For each channel, and for each one of the possible combinations of s and measurement method (m), the relative measurement error and the absolute value of the relative measurement error (E_sm^r and |E_sm^r|), defined with respect to the reference one, was calculated. |E_sm^r| much higher than 10% were obtained very easily, even for small s values and for apparently quasi prismatic channels. Channel size and shape had a great influence on measurement errors. In fact, the selection of the more suitable method for a certain gully shape and size seemed to be much more important than s, at least when s < 10 m. Method 1 always provided the most precise measurements, and its results were the less dependent on s. However, s must be < 5 m to guarantee an error smaller than 10%. Method 2 is not recommended, because it is difficult, time consuming and can lead to large errors. Method 3 seems to be enough for small, wide and shallow gullies, and for small rills, but only if s is shorter than 5 m. Results obtained after the analysis of rill measurement errors were similar to those of gullies. The analysis of E_sm^r and |E_sm^r| when calculating channel volumes using a unique representative cross section highlighted the importance of correctly selecting the adequate cross section. Due to the high error values that this method can entail, it is not considered as advisable whenever accurate erosion measurements are pursued.     

Estimating interrill soil erosion from aggregate stability of Ultisols in subtropical China

During raindrop impact soil, aggregates breakdown and produce finer, more transportable particles and micro-aggregates. These particles and micro-aggregates appreciably affect the processes of infiltration, seal and crust development, runoff, and soil erosion. Aggregate stability is, therefore, an important property that may explain, quantify, and predict these processes. This study was designed to develop improved formulae for assessing interrill erosion rate by incorporating the aggregate stability index (A_s) in the prediction evaluations for soil erodibilites of Ultisols in subtropical China. Field experiments of simulated rainfall involving rainstorm simulations with medium and high rainfall intensity were conducted on six cultivated soils for which the soil aggregate stability was determined by the LB-method. This study yielded two prediction equations D_i = 0.23A_sI²(1.05 − 0.85 exp^−4sin θ) and D_i = 0.34A_sqI(1.05 − 0.85 exp^−4sin θ) that allowed a comparison of their efficiency in assessing the interrill erosion rate. A_s is an aggregate stability index, which reflected the main mechanisms of aggregate breakdown in interrill erosion process, θ is the slope angle, I is the rainfall intensity, and q is the runoff rate. Relatively good agreement was obtained between predicted and measured values of erosion rates for each of the prediction models (R² = 0.86^**, and R² = 0.90^**). It was concluded that these formulae based on the stability index, A_s, have the potential to improve methodology for assessing interrill erosion rates for the subtropical Chinese Ultisols. Considering the time-consuming and costly experimentation of runoff rate measurements, the equation without runoff rate (q) was the more convenient and effective one to predict interrill erosion rates on Ultisols of subtropical China.     

WEPP模型中细沟可蚀性参数估计方法误差的理论分析

细沟土壤侵蚀在坡面土壤侵蚀占有重要地位。土壤可蚀性参数是WEPP模型中计算预报/计算细沟土壤侵蚀中极其重要的参数。WEPP模型现在采用的可蚀性参数是用长的细沟/径流小区试验以细沟侵蚀产沙估计得到的最大可能剥蚀率为基础获得的。该文分析了细沟侵蚀产沙随沟长的变化关系,分析了可蚀性参数估计误差的来源。从理论上推导出了计算现有WEPP可蚀性参数估计误差的计算方法。理论分析表明,对于限定性细沟,可蚀性参数的估计误差主要来源于细沟最大可能剥蚀率的估计值。最大可能剥蚀率的理想估计值是水流载沙量与细沟长度的函数关系在细沟     

土壤侵蚀危险度评价研究进展

通过对已有土壤侵蚀危险度评价研究的分析,将这些评价方法归纳为土壤抗蚀年限评价法、土壤侵蚀危险度主导因子分级评价法和土壤侵蚀危险度模型评价法3大类,并在对各种评价方法综合分析的基础上,对土壤侵蚀危险度评价的研究方向和发展趋势进行讨论。建议今后加强土壤侵蚀危险度定量评价方法,尤其是模型方法的研究。     

Reduction in interrill sediment transport by rolled erosion control systems

Rolled erosion control systems (RECS) reduce detachment and transport of sediment by mitigating the basic processes of run-off and erosion (e.g., splash detachment, interrill transport, run-off velocity, surface crusting). Despite the variety of products available in the market today, only limited research has been conducted on their influence on erosion subprocesses. This study addresses some of the limitations of previous research by using laboratory rainfall simulation to study rainsplash sediment redistribution, run-off, total interrill sediment transport, and aggregate size transport from an erodible Vertisol. Three 3-h rainfall simulations were conducted on a 20° slope at a rainfall intensity of ≈100 mm h⁻¹ on (1) a bare soil control, (2) four predominately natural RECS, and (3) four synthetic RECS. Data indicate that all products significantly reduced run-off (enhanced infiltration), and decreased interrill sediment transport compared to the bare soil control. However, it was observed that several products (C125, Curlex I, Geojute, SC150BN, TB1000, and P300) were statistically more effective than PECMAT and TerraJute. Finally, preferential transport of selected aggregate fractions was examined. Cover percentage, three-dimensionality, and drapability were identified as favorable physical attributes for mitigating erosion processes.     

Quantifying spatial distribution of interrill and rill erosion in a loess at different slopes using structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry

The spatial distribution of interrill and rill erosion is essential for unravelling soil erosion principles and the application of soil and water conservation practices. To quantify interrill and rill erosion and their spatial development, four 30-min rainfalls at 90 mm h^?1 intensity were consecutively simulated on runoff plots packed with a loess at six slopes of 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30° and 35°. The soil surface was measured using the structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry upon each simulation run, and the runoff and sediment samples were collected and measured at every 10 min. Rills did not develop until the third simulation run. During the initial two runs, the lower third section was more severely eroded than the upper and middle thirds along the slope direction, yet the interrill erosion was statistically uniform from left to right. Rills tended to emerge by both sidewalls and in the lower portion in the third run. The corresponding rill erosion increased with slope from 10° to 20° and then decreased for the slopes steeper, which was consistent with the slope trend of the sediment yield directly measured. The rills expanded substantially primarily via head retreat and to a lesser extent via sideward erosion after receiving another 30-min rainfall. Rill erosion contributed 69.3% of the total erosion loss, and shifted the critical slope corresponding to the maximum loss from 20° to 25°. These findings demonstrate the significance of rill erosion not only in total soil loss but also in its relation to slope, as well as the effectiveness of SfM photogrammetry in quantifying interrill and rill erosion.     

Magnitude of soil erosion on the northern slope of the Uluguru Mountains,Tanzania: Interrill and rill erosion

The magnitude of interrill and rill erosion was determined on the northern slopes of the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania which is representative for larger areas of East African Arch Mountains, where population pressure is high and land degradation is severe. The aim of the study was to develop a database to support soil conservation in the area. The study was done on two distinct geomorphic units with respect to altitude and hence rainfall distribution pattern: mountain ridges with an altitude ranging from 1000 to 1500 masl and mean annual rainfall of 2300 mm and mountain foothills whose altitude and mean annual rainfall are 550 to 900 masl and 900 mm, respectively. Total soil loss was measured on 36 individual bounded plots measuring 1.2 m × 20 m using Gerlarch troughs on each day with rain from July 2000 to June 2001. The plots were located on six different geopedologic units, nine on mountain ridges and the rest on the mountain foothills. The slope gradient on the terrain ranged from 30% to 70%. The plots were put under maize cultivation as the main crop. Soil loss through rill erosion was estimated by volumetric measurements of rills on each soil erosion plot. The soil loss due to interrill erosion was obtained by subtracting soil loss through rill erosion from the total soil loss measured in the Gerlarch troughs. The results indicate that soil loss due to both interrill and rill erosion was very high with mean soil loss of 69 and 163 t/ha/year, respectively. Rill erosion accounted for about 58% of the total soil loss while interrill erosion contributed to the remaining 42%. Both interrill and rill erosion were higher in the mountain ridges with mean soil loss of 88 t/ha/year and 210 t/ha/year compared to 49 and 116 t/ha/year in the mountain foothills, respectively. Rill erosion was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) in all geopedologic units with slope gradient above 40% (mean soil loss ranged between 91 and 258 t/ha/year) compared to interrill erosion with mean soil loss varying from 41 to 115 t/ha/year. In geopedologic units with slope gradient above 60% both interrill and rill erosion were highly active while in geopedologic units with slope gradient below 40% the two processes were less active. The results demonstrate that rill erosion is more important than interrill erosion in the study area particularly where the slope gradient exceeds 40%. The results further show that the major part of the studied area has moderate interrill erosion (10–50 t/ha/year) and severe to very severe (> 100 t/ha/year) rill erosion. This study clarifies the magnitude of interrill and rill erosion which is important for designing soil conservation on agricultural fields.     

The assessment of soil loss by water erosion in China

Soil erosion is a major environmental problem in China. Planning for soil erosion control requires accurate soil erosion rate and spatial distribution information. The aim of this article is to present the methods and results of the national soil erosion survey of China completed in 2011. A multi-stage, unequal probability, systematic area sampling method was employed. A total of 32,948 sample units, which were either 0.2–3 km² small catchments or 1 km² grids, were investigated on site. Soil erosion rates were calculated with the Chinese Soil Loss Equation in 10 m by 10 m grids for each sample unit, along with the area of soil loss exceeding the soil loss tolerance and the proportion of area in excess of soil loss tolerance relative to the total land area of the sample units. Maps were created by using a spatial interpolation method at national, river basin, and provincial scales. Results showed that the calculated average soil erosion rate was 5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in China, and was 18.2 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for sloped, cultivated cropland. Intensive soil erosion occurred on cropland, overgrazing grassland, and sparsely forested land. The proportions of soil loss tolerance exceedance areas of sample units were interpolated through the country in 250 m grids. The national average ratio was 13.5%, which represents the area of land in China that requires the implementation of soil conservation practices. These survey results and the maps provide the basic information for national conservation planning and policymaking.     

Soil resistance to interrill erosion: Model parameterization and sensitivity

Interrill erosion, which is less visible in the landscape than rill and gully erosion, may cause major sediment deposits in the lower part of cultivated fields. It is often associated with runoff resulting from sealing and crusting, and soil properties such as soil detachability or soil aggregate stability have been used to express soil resistance to interrill erosion processes, i.e., interrill erodibility. From a literature review including more than fifteen erosion models, we have identified three main methods used to measure these properties: aggregate stability and splash cup detachability, methods performed in the laboratory using only a few grams of soil, and standard plot methods that are based on field plot measurements. This difference makes the parameters involved in assessing interrill erodibility dependent upon the scale and the hydrological processes involved and difficult to compare. According to the literature, the sensitivity of actual erosion models to interrill erodibility is lower than the sensitivity to hydrological properties and rill erodibility parameters. This numerical study shows that erodibility measurements from the three major assessment methods give different results regarding the contribution of interrill erosion and show that the sensitivity of erosion modeling to interrill erodibility may in fact be greater than shown in the literature on global sensitivity analysis.     

延河流域水土保持措施减蚀效应分析

 利用延河流域35个雨量站50多年的日降雨、数字高程模型、土壤类型图、土地利用图和植被覆盖图、水土保持措施调查数据,结合黄土高原的区域特征,运用CSLE,在ArcGIS的支持下分别计算研究区1986、1997和2006年土壤侵蚀量,以1986年的水土保持措施实施情况作为基期水平,模拟1997、2006年在水土保持基期水平情景下的土壤侵蚀量,对比分析水土保持措施变化对土壤侵蚀量的影响。结果表明:以1986年作为基期,新增水土保持措施在1997年减少土壤侵蚀量96万t,在2006年减少土壤侵蚀量628万t;考虑2006年降雨特征不同于研究区多年降雨特征,按照2006年降雨特征计算,则新增水土保持措施在2006年减少土壤侵蚀量140万t。研究结果可为延河流域水土保持效益评价、水土流失治理和生态建设提供参考。     

东北黑土区典型坡面耕作侵蚀定量分析

东北黑土区水土流失主要集中在坡耕地,以往研究多关注水蚀而忽略了耕作侵蚀的存在。为印证并定量描述黑土耕作侵蚀,该文采用物理示踪法,测定了典型坡耕地耕作位移量及其分布格局。结果表明:铧式犁耕作后示踪剂沿耕作方向发生扩散,上坡耕作示踪剂集中分布在0~20 cm范围,而下坡耕作示踪剂集中分布在0~20和50~150 cm。一次耕作引起的耕作位移量为32.68~134.14 kg/m,耕作迁移系数234 kg/m。坡度是影响耕作位移的重要因素,二者呈显著的正相关关系,且对上坡耕作的影响大于下坡耕作。研究区耕作年侵蚀速率0.4~11.0 Mg/(hm2·a),凸起的坡背、坡肩处及坡度较大的位置侵蚀严重。虽然黑土区坡度较小,但由于耕作深度大,速度快,耕作侵蚀严重,应引起足够重视。     

Effects of intra-storm variations in rainfall intensity on interrill runoff and erosion

Five simulated rainstorms, each with a different rainfall intensity pattern but all delivering the same total kinetic energy to the soil surface, were applied to three different soils in a laboratory flume. The storm patterns were: constant rainfall intensity, increasing intensity, decreasing intensity, increasing then decreasing intensity and decreasing then increasing intensity. The three soils were: a clay loam, a sandy loam and a sandy soil. No differences in total runoff were observed that were consistent across the three soil types. However, consistent differences were observed in the amount and size distribution of the eroded sediment. In particular, the constant-intensity storm yielded an average soil loss of 75% of the varying-intensity storms, and the eroded sediment from the constant-intensity storms had a lower clay content than that from the varying-intensity storms. In contrast to the differences in amount and size distribution of eroded sediment, splashed sediment exhibited much smaller differences. Interrill erosion rates are widely assumed to vary with rainfall intensity to the power 2, but this relationship has been obtained from experiments over a range of rainfall intensities, but in which rainfall intensity has been constant in each experiment. The experiments reported here, undertaken using variable rainfall intensity within each experiment, indicates an exponent of 2.55. The experiments demonstrate that the assumption that a given rainfall intensity falling on a given soil for a given amount of time will result in a given amount of runoff and erosion is unsound. They point to the need for a greater understanding of the processes of interrill sediment detachment and transport in order to model successfully erosion under temporally varying rainfall.     

基于SOTER的海南岛土壤水侵蚀模拟

The actual and potential water erosion rates of soils with different land covers in Hainan Island,China,were estimated based on the universal soil loss equation(USLE) and a 1:200000 Soils and Terrain digital Database(SOTER) Ddatabase,from which soil water erosion factors could be extracted.92.8% of the whole island had a current erosion rate of lowerthan 500t km^-2 a^-1.Soil erosion risk was considered to be high because of its abundant rainfall.Without vegetation tcover,the potential soil erosion ratewould be extremely high and 90.8% ofthe island would have a soil erosion rate higher than 2500t km^-2a^-1.Relative erosion vulnerability of different soil zones,landform types,and lithological regions of the island was compared by introducing a relative erosion hazard parameter α.Cambosols developed from siltstone and mudstone in low hill regions were pinpointed as soils with the highest erosion risk in the island.     

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。     

东北黑土坡耕地不同水力条件下坡长对土壤细沟侵蚀的影响

集中水流条件下细沟土壤侵蚀过程对研究细沟侵蚀机理与土壤侵蚀预报有着重要的意义,并且为土壤侵蚀模型其他重要参数比如剥蚀率、可蚀性参数提供基础数据。为了研究东北黑土坡耕地不同水动力条件下坡长对土壤细沟侵蚀的影响,该文采用室内模拟试验方法,测量含沙量随坡长的分布。试验设计包括4个坡度(5?、10?、15?、20?)与3个流量(1、2、4 L/min),在不同水力条件下,测量不同坡长(0.5、1、2、3、4、5、6、7、8m)含沙量。结果表明含沙量在各种水力条件下均随坡长增加,且其增加的速率随坡长减小。对坡长与含沙量系列数据用幂指数函数拟合,其决定系数R2在0.85到0.99之间。因此,黑土坡耕地细沟侵蚀产生的含沙量随坡长呈幂指数增加,且含沙量在一定坡长之后将达到最大值。随坡度和流量的增大,水流在更短的坡长上侵蚀并携带更大的最大含沙量。该文对进一步理解与研究细沟侵蚀过程有着重要的意义,且为深入研究细沟侵蚀提供了数据支撑,为土壤侵蚀模型剥蚀率、可蚀性参数等提供依据。     

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。     

Assessing interrill erosion rate from soil aggregate instability index, rainfall intensity and slope angle on cultivated soils in central Greece

In order to develop a new formula for assessing interrill erosion rate by incorporating the soil aggregate instability index, β, erosion plots at seven sites in central Greece were used to measure interrill erosion rate under natural rainfall conditions during a 39-month period. Soils classified as Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols with slopes 7–21%, moderately well to excessively drained, clay to loamy textured, were studied. Runoff and total sediment were collected after each ponding rainfall event. The equation E_i=0.628 β S_t^1.3 e^{0.0967I₃₀} was finally proposed (R²=0.939,P<0.001) to describe interrill erosion rate. The term, S_t represents the tangent of the slope angle, and I₃₀ represents the maximum rainfall intensity in 30 min. The addition of the aggregate instability index to improve existing methodologies provide was considered to provide an easy to determine and reliable measure of soil erodibility. Validation with independent data showed that the model predicted interrill erosion well (R²=0.766, P<0.001). Therefore, the proposed model based on the aggregate instability index, β, has the potential to improved methodology for assessing interrill erosion rate.     

Effects of freshly incorporated straw residue on rill erosion and hydraulics

Rill hydraulics (and hence, flow detachment) are modified by the presence of incorporated vegetation residue. Typically, water flow in the rill is retarded due to the extra shear stress generated by the residue. The main objective of this study was to develop an approach to predict soil detachment by rill flow in the presence of freshly incorporated vegetation residue that is compatible with our current understanding of rill hydraulics and requires no additional information on rill geometry. Laboratory experiments were carried out to collect a dataset on rill flow detachment on surfaces with incorporated straw that was compatible with existing dataset on bare soils (Giménez and Govers, 2001). Interaction between bed roughness and flow hydraulics in eroding rills. Water Resources Research, Vol. 37 No. 3, 791–799).