Optimization of the contour ridge system for controlling nitrogen and phosphorus losses under seepage condition

Contour ridging can enhance the occurrence of deep seepage because more rainwater concentrates in the low areas along furrows when soil is saturated. Greater seepage could significantly increase nonpoint source pollution. To optimize the contour ridge system to effectively control nutrient losses under seepage condition, 23 treatments with three variables (row grade, field slope and ridge height) in five levels were arranged in a quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design. Results showed that field slope and interactions between the three factors did not significantly influence NO₃‐N and PO₄‐P losses. The dominant factor that controlled NO₃‐N loss was ridge height, followed by row grade. The smallest NO₃‐N loss was obtained at a ridge height of 8.72 cm and a row grade of 7.05°. The dominant factor that controlled PO₄‐P loss was ridge height. The optimal ridge height for efficiently controlling PO₄‐P loss was 9.79 cm. For simultaneously maximally controlling NO₃‐N and PO₄‐P losses, a ridge height of 9.26 cm, a row grade of 7.05° and a field slope of 5° were optimum. This study provides guidance for implementing the contour ridge system.     

横坡垄作下雨型对褐土坡面细沟侵蚀过程的影响

雨型对细沟侵蚀过程起关键作用,而横垄坡面具有独特的细沟侵蚀特征。为定量研究雨型对横垄坡面细沟侵蚀过程的影响,以褐土横垄坡面为研究对象,设计了降雨动能、降雨量和平均雨强相同的4种雨型,采用可同时调节垄向和坡面坡度的土槽进行模拟降雨,分析了各雨型下细沟发育形态、产流产沙特征和细沟水流的水动力特性等。结果表明:雨型间细沟沟头溯源、沟壁崩塌和沟底下切侵蚀速率的不同导致细沟形态具有明显差异,增加-减弱型、减弱-增加型和减弱型的沟宽和沟深较增加型分别增加158.8%和38.9%,115.7%和-27.8%,21.6%和-33.3%,相应宽深比的增加率分别为14.9%,60.4%,82.6%。雨型间的细沟径流量和侵蚀量均差异显著,径流量为增加-减弱型>减弱-增加型>减弱型>增加型,而侵蚀量为增加-减弱型>减弱型>减弱-增加型>增加型。4种雨型下产沙率与径流率之间均符合幂函数关系,但增加-减弱型、减弱型和减弱-增加型方程中的指数较增加型(0.54)分别增加2.52,2.46,1.46倍。雨型间差异最大的水力学参数为雷诺数,侵蚀动力参数则为水流功率;增加-减弱型、减弱-增加型和减弱型的雷诺数和水流功率较增加型分别显著增加107.0%和106.8%,42.2%和41.9%,16.6%和16.7%。研究结果有助于深入理解横坡垄作对坡面细沟侵蚀过程的作用机制,并为横坡垄作措施的合理利用提供依据。     

Rill formation and evolution caused by upslope inflow and sediment deposition on freshly tilled loose surfaces

Rill erosion easily occurs on tilled surfaces because the soil shear resistance is less than the runoff shear stress. However, rill erosion formation and evolution on tilled surfaces under upslope inflow conditions remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the rill formation process and rill erosion amount on tilled surfaces via flow scouring under different inflow rates (4, 6, and 8 L min⁻¹) at a 15° slope. Close-range photogrammetric technology was applied to measure the rill morphology during the experiments. The results suggested that the rill formation process due to inflow could be divided into two distinct stages, namely, before and after runoff reached the downslope end, i.e., stages I and II, respectively. At stage I, runoff washed soil particles along the downslope direction. In this process, due to limited transport capacity of runoff, washed soil particles were deposited at the runoff head and formed a soil mound, which blocked the flow path, after which the runoff direction changed within the 6.7°− 50.6° range with an average moving distance of 0.62 m. As a result, a curved rill and a series of soil mounds were left on the surface. The inflow rate affected rill morphology by influencing the runoff direction change angle and runoff moving distance between the mounds on the surface. Herein, the rill formation process is referred to as downslope-trending erosion by inflow (DTEI). At stage II, runoff reached the downslope end, and a rill channel was formed throughout the slope. Thereafter, DTEI was largely reduced, and headward erosion was strengthened. As a result, the rill morphology quickly changed, such as the rill depth and rill width, which gradually increased with ongoing headward erosion. During DTEI, the rill paths were curved due to sediment deposition, and the sediment deposition conditions varied under the different inflow rates. Therefore, the rill curvature (RC) differed (1.039 ± 0.014). The RC decreased with headward erosion progression at stage II. The total sediment yield (TSY) increased with increasing inflow rate. Under inflow rates ranging from 4 to 6 L min⁻¹ and 6–8 L min⁻¹, the TSY increased 2.1–2.4 times. Consequently, DTEI on tilled surfaces significantly affects the initial rill morphology and evolution at the later stage. Hence, on slopes, its role should be considered in rill erosion assessment.     

两种工程堆积体坡面细沟形态与产沙关系对比研究

为探究不同土壤类型工程堆积体坡面细沟形态与水动力学参数及侵蚀产沙间的关系,选取沟宽、沟深、宽深比等作为细沟形态参数,在放水流量8、12、16、20 L·min–1和坡度32°条件下,对红土和塿土工程堆积体进行冲刷试验.结果表明:(1)两种堆积体坡面细沟沟宽、沟深在前24 min均发育迅速;随放水流量增大,沟宽和沟深均呈...     

Performance of soil and water conservation practices in the erosion evolution process,runoff dynamics and surface roughness

Soil and water conservation practices are used widely to prevent soil erosion and protect soil and water resources, which is significant for ecological restoration and food security. However, rill evolution processes, erosion and deposition characteristics and critical hydrodynamic parameters need more research. In order to investigate the effect of soil and water conservation practices on soil erosion dynamics, simulated rainfall experiments were undertaken in a laboratory on 15° loess slopes with engineering measures (fish-scale pits, FSPs), tillage measures (artificial digging, AD; contour ploughing, CP) and bare slope (CK). The results showed that: (1) during rill erosion, hillslopes with FSPs, CP and AD were more likely to develop wide and shallow rills, while a bare slope (CK) was more likely to develop narrow and deep rills. At the end of the experiment (cumulative rainfall was about 150 mm), headward retreat erosion dominated the AD slope (maximum rill length: 3.27 m), side-wall expansion erosion dominated the CP slope (maximum rill width: 0.522 m) and bed incision erosion dominated the CK (maximum rill depth: 0.09 m); (2) soil and water conservation practices reduced surface erosion and sediment transport and runoff velocity. However, the positive effects disappeared when rainfall amounts exceeded 82.5, 105 and 127.5 mm for FSPs, CP and AD, respectively; (3) for runoff kinetic energy and runoff shear strength of 3 J and 1.5 N/m², respectively, soil and water conservation measures had greater anti-erosion abilities than CK; (4) as rainfall duration increased, surface roughness, runoff rate and sediment concentration increased on the CK and FSP treatments, but decreased on the CP and AD treatments. This study has important implications for managing different soil and water conservation measures based on rainfall conditions and offers a deeper understanding of soil erosion processes.     

东北黑土区横垄坡面融雪期细沟侵蚀特征研究

融雪期土壤由于受到融雪径流、冻融作用及未完全解冻层影响,细沟发育有别于降雨期。基于野外实地测量,对东北典型黑土区横垄坡面融雪期细沟侵蚀形态及空间分布进行分析。结果表明,横垄坡面融雪侵蚀产生的细沟主要为顺垄型、断垄型和复合型三种。顺垄型细沟平均长度和宽度较大,深度小于其他两种类型;断垄型细沟平均长度最小且变异程度最低、深度最大;复合型细沟平均长度最大、宽度最小。均匀坡面下部细沟侵蚀量最大,占坡面总量的85%,形态以顺垄型和断垄型细沟为主;坡面中部存在起伏区域,低洼处细沟侵蚀量最大,占坡面总量的64%,三种类型细沟均有发育。融雪期细沟发育的形态受微地形及未完全解冻层等因素影响,细沟分布则主要受坡位及融雪径流量等因素影响。     

降雨类型对褐土横垄坡面土壤侵蚀过程的影响

雨型是影响土壤侵蚀过程的重要因子之一,而影响效应与耕作措施密切相关。目前,雨型对横垄坡面土壤侵蚀过程的影响机制尚不清楚。该文以褐土横垄坡面为研究对象,设计了平均雨强和降雨量相同的4种雨型(增加、减弱、增加-减弱和减弱-增加型),采用可同时调节垄向和坡面坡度的土槽进行模拟降雨,研究各个雨型下不同侵蚀阶段的产流产沙特征。结果表明:雨型间的径流量和侵蚀量在细沟间和细沟侵蚀阶段均差异显著,且差异在细沟阶段体现的更为明显。雨型间径流量的大小顺序为增加-减弱型减弱型减弱-增加型增加型,侵蚀量则为增加-减弱型减弱-增加型减弱型增加型。给定雨强下(30、60或90 mm/h),径流量、径流贡献率和侵蚀量贡献率均随降雨过程中雨强发生时序的延迟而增加,而单位径流侵蚀量呈相反趋势;雨型间给定雨强同一发生时序下的径流量和侵蚀量及其它们对总径流量和总侵蚀量的贡献率均差异显著。4种雨型下,幂函数均能很好的描述细沟间和细沟侵蚀阶段内产沙率与径流率间的关系,且方程中的指数均低于2,但雨型间幂函数方程中的指数存在明显差异。以上研究结果有助于深入理解褐土垄作系统下的土壤侵蚀机理,并为横坡垄作的合理利用提供科学指导。     

Rainstorm pattern effects on the size distribution of soil aggregate in eroded sediment within contour ridge systems

Purpose

Intra-storm temporal distributions of rainfall intensity (storm patterns) greatly affect soil erosion process within flat tillage systems, but limited information is available about its influence on the distribution characteristics of soil aggregate, especially within contour ridge system.

Materials and methods

In this study, a laboratory study of 12 rainfall simulation experiments was conducted to analyze the loss characteristic of 16 sizes aggregate in eroded sediment within contour ridge system under the rising, falling, rising–falling, and falling–rising patterns. All patterns included three rainfall intensities, 30, 60, and 90 mm h^?1, and comprised the same rainfall amount and kinetic energy.

Results and discussion

The results showed that storm patterns showed significant influence on soil aggregate loss. The rising–falling, falling–rising, and falling pattern had 1.43, 1.11, and 1.04 times soil aggregate loss greater than the rising pattern, respectively. Differences in size distribution of soil aggregate among storm patterns mainly concentrated on the most eroded size of microaggregate, especially 50–100 μm fraction. An intensity of 30 mm h^?1 made the greatest contribution of 100.87%–511.93% to the diversity of soil aggregate loss following the storm pattern simulations relative to 60 and 90 mm h^?1 intensities, likely resulting from erosion process, soil aggregate detachment, and runoff transport abilities from 30 mm h^?1 intensity varying within storm pattern duration. The occurring periods of rainfall intensity significantly affected the loss of each size aggregate and showed the most obvious influence on 50–100 μm aggregate. Effects of storm pattern and rainfall intensity occurring periods were more pronounced with the increase of aggregate size at the macro-aggregate scale. Contour failure was easily to occur under the most prevalent storm pattern—falling and rising–falling patterns—which comprised 59.44% of soil aggregate loss.

Conclusions

Results recommended that more attention should be given to contour ridge stability, especially under falling and rising–falling patterns. Incorporating contour failure and the occurring context of rainfall intensity into the erosion model could successfully simulate soil aggregate loss characteristics, especially small-sized aggregates.

     

草带宽度对紫色土坡面细沟形态及水土流失特征的影响

为了解不同草带宽度对紫色土坡耕地水土流失的影响,以铺设四季青草带的紫色土坡面为研究对象,采用放水冲刷模拟试验,以裸坡为对照组,研究不同放水冲刷流量和草带宽度条件下坡面细沟形态变化和减沙减流效应.结果表明:(1)沟深随草带宽度增大呈先减小后增大趋势,而沟宽、沟长和沟宽深比均随草带宽度呈先增加后减小趋势;此外,沟宽、沟深和...     

Soil ridge geometry for green control in French fry potato production on loamy clay soils in The Netherlands

Green potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers are rejected by the processing industry. Therefore their amount should be reduced to minimum. The objective of this study was to assess the reduction of greening of new French fry varieties in experiments conducted from 1998 to 2001 on ridge qualities like geometry and the compression and crumbling degree of the loose soil in the ridge.The experiments were mainly carried out on the experimental husbandry farm Westmaas on a Calcaric Fluvisol having a clay content of ca. 200 g kg⁻¹. French fry potato varieties used were Agria and Fambo, whereas Bintje was used as a reference. Row spacings were 0.75 m (30 in.) and 0.90 m (36 in.). Net ridge size was determined by the internal height (distance between the plate and the top of the ridge) and by the width of the top of the ridge combined with planting near the surface of the plate.For the traditional French fry variety Bintje a reduction in greening was achieved by ridges having a gross size of 0.06–0.07 m². New French fry potato varieties like Agria and Fambo, however, are characterized by higher yields, larger cluster widths and longer tubers than Bintje. These properties favor the greening of tubers and require adjustment of the ridge geometry.Increase of the internal height and of the top width were found to be crucial to reduce greening of tubers to minimum. An increase of the top width of standard 0.75 m ridges from 0.15–0.18 to 0.25 m combined with an internal height of 0.18–0.20 m was realized by the so-called plateau ridges. This ridge type required ca. 0.04 m deeper seedbed than the depth of the seedbed for standard 0.75 m ridges. Without deeper loosening of the seedbed such larger ridges could also be realized by an increase of row spacing to 0.90 m. Net yields of new French fry varieties of plateau and 0.90 m ridges were generally similar or higher than the yields of standard 0.75 m ridges with the same internal height. With 0.90 m ridges over-sizing occurred sometimes.Greening of new varieties of French fry potatoes was reduced to minimum by the new knowledge on ridge geometry: an increase of the internal ridge height to 0.18–0.20 m, a top width to 0.25 m and reduction of cracking by relatively coarse, non-compressed ridges.     

Effects of sheet and rill erosion on soil aggregates and organic carbon losses for a Mollisol hillslope under rainfall simulation

Purpose

Characterizations of soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) losses affected by different water erosion patterns at the hillslope scale are poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to quantify how sheet and rill erosion affect soil aggregates and soil organic carbon losses for a Mollisol hillslope in Northeast China under indoor simulated rainfall.

Materials and methods

The soil used in this study was a Mollisol (USDA Taxonomy), collected from a maize field (0–20 cm depth) in Northeast China. A soil pan with dimensions 8 m long, 1.5 m wide and 0.6 m deep was subjected to rainfall intensities of 50 and 100 mm h^?1. The experimental treatments included sheet erosion dominated (SED) and rill erosion dominated (RED) treatments. Runoff with sediment samples was collected during each experimental run, and then the samples were separated into six aggregate fractions (0–0.25, 0.25–0.5, 0.5–1, 1–2, 2–5, >?5 mm) to determine the soil aggregate and SOC losses.

Results and discussion

At rainfall intensities of 50 and 100 mm h^?1, soil losses from the RED treatment were 1.4 and 3.5 times higher than those from the SED treatment, and SOC losses were 1.7 and 3.8 times greater than those from the SED treatment, respectively. However, the SOC enrichment ratio in sediment from the SED treatment was 1.15 on average and higher than that from the RED treatment. Furthermore, the loss of <?0.25 mm aggregates occupied 41.1 to 73.1% of the total sediment aggregates for the SED treatment, whereas the loss of >?0.25 mm aggregates occupied 53.2 to 67.3% of the total sediment aggregates for the RED treatment. For the organic carbon loss among the six aggregate fractions, the loss of 0–0.25 mm aggregate organic carbon dominated for both treatments. When rainfall intensity increased from 50 to 100 mm h^?1, aggregate organic carbon loss increased from 1.04 to 5.87 times for six aggregate fractions under the SED treatment, whereas the loss increased from 3.82 to 27.84 times for six aggregate fractions under the RED treatment.

Conclusions

This study highlights the effects of sheet and rill erosion on soil and carbon losses at the hillslope scale, and further study should quantify the effects of erosion patterns on SOC loss at a larger scale to accurately estimate agricultural ecosystem carbon flux.

     

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。     

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.     

东北黑土区顺坡垄作和无垄作坡面侵蚀过程对比

[目的]以无垄作坡面侵蚀过程为对照,研究顺坡垄作坡面土壤侵蚀过程及机理,为东北黑土区坡耕地土壤侵蚀防治提供科学依据。[方法]基于人工模拟降雨试验,设计了3个降雨强度(50,75和100mm/h)以及1个坡度(即顺坡垄作改横坡垄作的临界坡度5°),进行顺坡垄作和无垄作坡面侵蚀过程的对比研究。[结果]顺坡垄作坡面径流量和侵蚀量分别较无垄作坡面增加了1.2~1.7和1.3~2.1倍,径流和侵蚀过程也发生了变化。与无垄作坡面相比,顺坡垄沟的集中汇流作用使坡面水流流速增加了1.0~2.3倍,径流剪切力增加了0.7~1.2倍,其坡面侵蚀方式也由片蚀为主转变为以细沟侵蚀为主,细沟侵蚀量可占总侵蚀量的55.3%~65.6%。[结论]坡面水流流速增加和细沟侵蚀发生是导致顺坡垄作坡面土壤侵蚀增加的主要原因。     

冲刷条件下裸露砒砂岩区坡面细沟微形态变化及其侵蚀特征

选择裸露砒砂岩坡面为研究对象,基于野外径流小区冲刷试验结合三维激光扫描技术,研究3种流量(60,100,200 L/h)与4个坡度(5°,10°,20°,30°)组合冲刷下砒砂岩区坡面细沟形态演变特征及径流侵蚀产沙机制。结果表明:坡面细沟在坡下最先发育,随着冲刷流量和坡面坡度的增大而向上延伸;细沟出现的时间随着坡度的增加而缩短;10°坡面上细沟的形态表现为"宽浅型",最大宽深比为0.038,20°坡面细沟的形态为"深窄型",最小宽深比为0.017;随着冲刷强度和坡度的增加,细沟宽深比变小,而细沟数量、细沟密度、细沟复杂度、细沟割裂度等指标均增大。坡度和冲刷强度共同影响着坡面产沙率变化,随着坡度和冲刷强度的提升坡面产沙率表现为先增后减的趋势。细沟宽深比与坡面产沙量呈现极显著负相关(-0.935,P0.01),细沟密度与细沟割裂度与产沙量呈显著正相关关系(0.888,0.944,P0.01)。     

尖山河小流域坡耕地的细沟侵蚀研究

开展坡耕地细沟侵蚀的研究,对搞清坡面土壤侵蚀规律,促进坡耕地水土保持具有十分重要的意义。通过定位观测和野外调查资料分析,研究了尖山河小流域坡耕地细沟侵蚀的发展过程。结果表明:坡耕地产生细沟后,随着侵蚀性降雨的继续,坡面细沟向坡下侵蚀加长,细沟密度逐渐增大,细沟不断加深加宽,细沟侵蚀量也不断增加。细沟发展至其深度达到犁底层后,将基本趋于稳定。细沟侵蚀深度一般不超过30 cm,宽可达35 cm,而大多数细沟深度小于15 cm,宽度小于20 cm。由细沟侵蚀产生的年土壤侵蚀量可达到8 700 t/km²以上。     

黑土区垄作方式对坡耕地土壤侵蚀的调控效果

[目的]分析黑土区不同垄作方式对坡耕地土壤侵蚀的调控效果,为该区土壤侵蚀防治提供科学指导。[方法]在5°和10°坡耕地开展人工模拟降雨试验,降雨强度为50,100 mm/h,垄作方式包括：横坡垄作、垄向区田、顺垄+底部横垄和横垄+排水沟,对照处理为传统顺坡垄作。[结果]试验条件下,与顺坡垄作处理相比,横坡垄作、垄向区田、顺垄+底部横垄和横垄+排水沟处理均可有效调节径流、降低土壤侵蚀量,但不同垄作方式对径流和侵蚀的调控效果随着降雨强度和坡度的增加而减小。在5°坡耕地,横坡垄作方式对径流和侵蚀的调控效果最佳,产流率和土壤侵蚀速率分别稳定在15.0 mm/h和0.2 kg/(m~2·h)以下。在50,100 mm/h降雨强度下,与顺坡垄作处理相比,其径流量分别降低92.3%和83.9%,土壤侵蚀量分别降低96.8%和94.6%;而垄向区田方式对径流和侵蚀的调控效果略大于顺垄+底部横垄处理。在10°坡耕地,横坡垄作方式在降雨前期具有较好的蓄水保土作用,但在降雨后期垄体易损坏,造成土壤侵蚀量剧增;横垄+排水沟方式在降雨前期能够蓄水保土,在降雨后期能够较好地进行排水。[结论]在坡度平缓的坡耕地,应...     

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.     

不同降雨强度及坡度条件下饱和紫色土坡面细沟形态特征

坡面细沟形态特征的定量分析是研究细沟侵蚀的基础。通过设计3种降雨强度(30,60,90 mm/h)和5种坡度(2°,5°,10°,15°,20°)组合条件下的人工降雨模拟试验,定量研究饱和紫色土坡面降雨强度及坡度对细沟形态及其空间变化特征的影响。结果表明：饱和紫色土坡面细沟平均宽度、深度和细沟宽深比分别为3.44～9.64 cm、1.01～8.14 cm和1.18～3.87,细沟宽度和深度沿坡面从上至下整体均表现出先增大后减小的趋势,细沟宽深比沿坡面表现为上坡<中坡<下坡的变化特征。整体来看,坡面细沟宽度和深度均与降雨强度和坡度呈正相关关系,且降雨强度和坡度对坡面细沟宽度的影响相近,而坡度对细沟深度的影响较降雨强度更显著;细沟宽深比与降雨强度和坡度呈负相关关系,且坡度对坡面细沟宽深比的影响显著大于降雨强度的影响。研究结果对认识饱和土壤坡面细沟侵蚀形态变化规律、进一步探究坡面细沟发育过程具有重要参考价值。     

Comparing surface erosion processes in four soils from the Loess Plateau under extreme rainfall events

This research aims to improve erosion control practice in the Loess Plateau, by studying the surface erosion processes, including splash, sheet/interrill and rill erosion in four contrasting soils under high rainfall intensity (120 mm h⁻¹) with three-scale indoor artificial experiments. Four contrasting soils as sandy loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam and loamy clay were collected from different parts of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that sediment load was significantly impacted by soil properties in all three sub-processes. Splash rate (4.0–21.6 g m⁻²∙min⁻¹) was highest in sandy loam from the north part of the Loess Plateau and showed a negative power relation with the mean weight diameter of aggregates after 20 min of rainfall duration. The average sediment load by sheet/interrill erosion (6.94–42.86 g m⁻²∙min⁻¹) was highest in clay loam from middle part of the Loess Plateau, and the stable sediment load after 20 min showed a positive power relation with the silt content in soil. The average sediment load increased dramatically by rill and interrill erosion (21.03–432.16 g m⁻²∙min⁻¹), which was highest in loamy clay from south part of the Loess Plateau. The average sediment load after the occurrence of rill showed a positive power relation with clay content and a negative power relation with soil organic matter content. The impacts of slope gradient on the runoff rate and sediment load also changed with soil properties. The critical factors varied for different processes, which were the aggregate size for splash erosion, the content of silt particles and slope gradient for sheet/interrill erosion, and the content of clay particles, soil organic matter and slope gradient for rill erosion. Based on the results of the experiments, specific erosion control practices were proposed by targeting certain erosion processes in areas with different soil texture and different distribution of slope gradient. The findings from this study should support the improvement of erosion prediction and cropland management in different regions of the Loess Plateau.