Slope and rainfall effects on the volume of sediment yield by gully erosion in the Souar lithologic formation (Tunisia)

The Souar lithologic formation in semi-arid Tunisia is undergoing severe gully erosion which is threatening soil and water resources. Soil conservation strategies have focused more on terracing than on gully control techniques, since the contribution of gully sediment yield in the overall soil loss from watersheds is unknown. The paper reports investigations into the sediment yield provided by head-cut as well as sidewall–floor erosion of first order gullies on gentle and steep slope catchments underlined by the Souar lithologic formation. We measured mean field sediment volumes evacuated by different headward reaches of 10 and 9 gullies located on gentle and steep slope catchments, respectively. Two equations between the length of the gully head cutting and the corresponding volume of evacuated sediment were established. The treatment with a Geographic Information System (Arc View) of air photographs of six flights from 1952 to 2000 allowed the calculation of the volume of sediment provided both by head cutting and gully sidewalls–floor erosion through the following up of gully extension in eight catchments during the five periods separating the dates of these flights. Total gully erosion was on average 1.66 m³ ha^− 1 year^− 1 for the gentle slopes and 5.603 m³ ha^− 1 year^− 1 for the steep slopes. Sidewalls–floor contribution in total erosion was on average 81.5% for the gentle slopes and 77.8% for the steep slopes. We found out that the mean annual rainfall resulting from 40 mm daily rainfall threshold explained better the variation of annual head cutting sediment yield for these five periods than any other annual rainfall resulting from lower daily rainfall thresholds. Two equations between these two variables were established both for gentle and steep slope catchments.     

Phosphorus and iron erosion from non-vegetated sites in a post-mining landscape,Lusatia, Germany: Impact on aborning mining lakes

Particulate phosphorus (P) can be transported via soil erosion in overland flow to waters, where it provides a long-term source of P for aquatic biota, and can accelerate freshwater eutrophication. Hence, knowledge of P sources is important for good environmental management. However, data on P, and related Fe, losses from various structures of a post-mining landscape are lacking. A year-long monitoring, and ten short rainfall simulations on plot scale, at ridges and rills and a combination of them, revealed high erosion from bare lignite mining dumps at Schlabendorf-North, Lusatia, Germany. The mean annual soil erosion rate from the year-long monitoring site was 18 × 10⁶ kg km^− 2 yr^− 1, corresponding to 0.034 g m^− 2 min^− 1. The erosion rates were lowest at rill plots (1.9–4.4 g m^− 2 min^− 1), intermediate at ridge plots (14.3–37.1 g m^− 2 min^− 1), and highest at a combined rill and ridge plot (48.7–63.4 g m^− 2 min^− 1). These differences in extent were due to small scale differences in morphology and extreme water repellency. The hydrophobicity leads to very low infiltration, thus generating surface runoff even at low rainfall intensities. Loss rates of P and Fe, as deduced from the year-long erosion rate, were 470–650 kg km^− 2 yr^− 1, and 37.9 × 10³–71 × 10³ kg km^− 2 yr^− 1 respectively. However, these P inputs from lignite mining dump erosion, consisting of P-poor (17–90 μg g^− 1) tertiary spoil materials, into aborning mining lakes, are negligible since they are accompanied by high Fe inputs, which favour an efficient P co-precipitation in the water column.     

随机气候生成器在黄土高原的适用性检验

 为进一步检验水蚀预报模型WEPP在黄土高原的适用性,并提供必要的数据准备,根据安塞水土保持综合试验站1986—2003年的日序列的降雨量、最高温度、最低温度和平均风速的实测值及全美范围内选择参照站得到的其他气象因子,对随机气候生成器在黄土高原的适用性进行了检验。结果表明:随机气候生成器能够较好地模拟单个气象因子,并未考虑各个气象因子之间的相互关系;同时,能准确地模拟年降水及其月分布,日最高温度、日最低温度的月分布,而风速模拟值的月均值、标准差普遍高于实测值的月均值、标准差。为此,选择参考站点时应综合考虑各个气象因子。按月计算的降水降水的概率和不降水降水的概率的模拟月均值比实测值偏低。     

Effects of postfire seeding and fertilizing on hillslope erosion in north-central Washington,USA

After the 1998 North 25 Fire in the Wenatchee National Forest, eight study sites were established on steep, severely burned hillslopes to examine the effectiveness of postfire seeding and fertilizing treatments in increasing cover to reduce hillslope erosion, and to measure the nutrient content of the eroded sediment. At each site, four 4 by 9 m plots were located with four randomly applied treatments: seed (winter wheat, Triticum estivum) at 34 kg ha^− 1, fertilizer (75% ammonium nitrate and 25% ammonium sulfate) at 31 kg ha^− 1, seed and fertilizer, and untreated control. Sediment fences were installed at the base of each plot to measure erosion rates and sample the eroded sediments. In addition, precipitation amounts and intensities, surface cover, canopy cover, and nutrient concentrations in the eroded sediments were measured for four years after the fire. Total precipitation was below average during the four-year study period, and most erosion occurred during short duration, moderate intensity summer rainfall events. The overall first year mean erosion rate was 16 Mg ha^− 1 yr^− 1, and this decreased significantly in the second year to 0.66 Mg ha^− 1 yr^− 1. There were no significant differences in erosion rates between treatments. In the first year, the seeded winter wheat provided 4.5% canopy cover, about a fourth of the total canopy cover, on the seeded plots; however, the total canopy cover on the seeded plots did not differ from the unseeded plots. The below average precipitation in the spring after seeding may have affected the winter wheat survival rate. In the fourth year of the study, the mean canopy cover in the fertilization treatment plots was 74%, and this was greater than the 55% mean canopy cover in the unfertilized plots (p = 0.04); however, there was no accompanying reduction in erosion rate for either the seeding or fertilization treatments. Revegetation by naturally occurring species was apparently not impacted by seeding during the four years of this study. The pH of the sediment as well as the concentrations of NO₃–N, NH₄–N, and K was not affected by seeding or fertilizing. The nutrient loads in the eroded sediment were minimal, with most of the nutrient loss occurring in the first postfire year. These results confirm that seeding success is highly dependent on rainfall intensity, amounts, and timing, and that soil nutrients lost in eroded sediments are unlikely to impair the site productivity.     

Soil management effects on runoff and soil loss from field rainfall simulation

Soil erosion from agricultural lands is a serious problem on the Chinese Loess Plateau. In total, 28 field rainfall simulations were carried on loamy soils under different management practices, namely conventional tillage (CT), no till with mulch (NTM), reduced tillage (RT), subsoiling with mulch (SSM), subsoiling without mulch (SS), and two crops per year (TC), to investigate (i) the effects of different soil management practices on runoff sediment and (ii) the temporal change of runoff discharge rate and sediment concentration under different initial soil moisture conditions (i.e. initially dry soil surface, and wet surface) and rainfall intensity (85 and 170 mm h^− 1) in the Chinese Loess Plateau. NTM was the best alternative in terms of soil erosion control. SSM reduced soil loss by more than 85% in 2002 compared to CT, and its effects on runoff reduction became more pronounced after 4 years consecutive implementation. SS also reduced considerably the runoff and soil loss, but not as pronounced as SSM. TC resulted in a significant runoff reduction (more than 92%) compared to CT in the initial ‘dry’ soil, but this effect was strongly reduced in the initial ‘wet’ soil. Temporal change of runoff discharge rate and sediment concentration showed a large variation between the different treatments. In conclusion, NTM is the most favorable tillage practices in terms of soil and water conservation in the Chinese Loess Plateau. SSM can be regarded as a promising measure to improve soil and water conservation considering its beneficial effect on winter wheat yield.     

CLIGEN降水要素在黄土塬区的适应性评估

 CLIGEN是目前较全面产生降水要素(降水量、历时、达到最大降水强度的时间与降水总历时的比率、最大降水强度与平均降水强度的比率)的天气发生器,其生成降水要素的质量直接影响水文和农业响应模型的输出结果。利用黄土高原长武1957—2001年的日气象观测数据、王东沟流域1988—2001年的降水要素数据和CLIGEN生成的100年日气象数据,对CLIGEN模型产生日、月、年降水量的均值和方差、概率分布、降水极端值和降水历时、强度进行评估。结果表明:CLIGEN对日、月和年降水量均值的模拟效果较好,相对误差都不大于1.0%;对标准差的模拟结果偏低,相对误差的绝对值小于6.6%;没有模拟出日降水量的概率分布,但是较好地模拟出了月和年降水量的概率分布;对日、月和年最大降水量的模拟误差较大,表明CLIGEN对极值的模拟精度有待提高。CLIGEN很好地模拟出连续降水的频率,但是连续干旱天数在20d以内的累积频率的平均相对误差为8.9%;CLIGEN产生的最大降水强度与平均降水强度的比率高于实测数据;相对于实测数据,CLIGEN模拟的降水历时和降水量具有相同的趋势,对小降水量或短历时的模拟结果偏高,对大降水量或长历时的模拟结果偏低。     

Residue cover and rainfall intensity effects on runoff soil organic carbon losses

Soil cover and rainfall intensity (RI) are recognized to have severe impacts on soil erosion and an interaction exists between them. This study investigates the effect of rainfall intensity (RI) and soil surface cover on losses of sediment and the selective enrichment of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the sediment by surface runoff. A field rainfall simulator was used in the laboratory to produce 90 min rainfall events of three rainfall intensities (65, 85 and 105 mm h^− 1) and four cover percentages (0%, 25%, 50% and 75%) on soil material at 9% slope. A strong negative exponential relation was observed between cover percentage and RI on sediment loss under 85 and 105 mm h^− 1 of rain, while under RI of 65 mm h^− 1, the highest sediment loss was observed under 25% cover. Overall, higher RI and lower cover produced higher sediment and consequently higher nutrient loss, but resulted in a lower SOC enrichment ratio (ER_SOC) in the sediment. The amount of runoff sediment rather than the ER_SOC in the sediment was the determinant factor for the amount of nutrients lost. The values of ER_SOC were high and positively correlated with the ER values of particles smaller than 20 µm (p < 0.01). Although the sediment contained substantially more fine fractions (fine silt and clay, < 20 µm), the original soil and runoff sediment were still of the same texture class, i.e. silt clay loam.     

Abandonment of soil and water conservation structures in Mediterranean ecosystems: A case study from south east Spain

Traditional rainfed agriculture in semi-arid regions heavily relies on soil and water conservation (SWC) structures to supplement the sparse rainfall. As referring to the ecosystem functions of these constructions, when extensive such systems prevent any runoff into the fluvial system. The extent to which these dams and terraces resist major events is variable, and earthen dams can be major sediment sources. Extensification and increasing mechanization of rainfed agriculture in marginal areas have led to a change in cropping systems. Large-scale almond and olive plantations with widely spaced trees do not rely on runoff water, but draw the soil water from a large soil volume of bare soil maintained by regular shallow tillage. The high density of terraces has now become a nuisance to the farmers. The aim of this paper is to i) demonstrate the degradation of SWC structures and the relative importance of the driving forces, ii) assess the limits of the protection that earthen dams can provide by surveying their resistance during a heavy storm (return period 8.2 years) and iii) demonstrate the implications of the abandonment of SWC structures over the period 1956–2005 for the hydrological connectivity between croplands and the ephemeral rivers system. The headwaters of a marl catchment with a continuous area treated with SWC structures in Murcia region (Spain) already had a very high density of step terraces and check dams (182 m ha^− 1) in 1956. This density decreased by 27% in the period 1956–2005. Furthermore, many terraces have not been maintained and flow traces indicate that they no longer retain water. This is particularly true for the check dams in abandoned lands. The distance between the step terraces has increased over time, making them vulnerable to erosion. The mean drainage area of the dams that failed during the heavy storm was significantly (3.16 ha) higher than that of the ones that remained intact (1.11 ha). The probability of failure increases with drainage area from P = 0.16 for an area of 1.8 ha to P = 0.8 for an area of 20 ha. The percentage of cropland draining directly on the river system without interference of a check dam has increased from just 9% in 1956 to 31% in 2005 and 40% after the storm in November 2006.     

Soil erosion from sugar beet in Central Europe in response to climate change induced seasonal precipitation variations

This study estimates the implications of projected seasonal variations in rainfall quantities caused by climate change for water erosion rates by means of a modeling case study on sugar beet cultivation in the Central European region of Upper-Austria. A modified version of the revised Morgan–Morgan–Finney erosion model was used to assess soil losses in one conventional and three conservation tillage systems. The model was employed to a climatic reference scenario (1960–89) and a climate change scenario (2070–99). Data on precipitation changes for the 2070–99 scenario were based on the IPCC SRES A2 emission scenario as simulated by the regional climate model HadRM3H. Weather data in daily time-steps, for both scenarios, were generated by the stochastic weather generator LARS WG 3.0. The HadRM3H climate change simulation did not show any significant differences in annual precipitation totals, but strong seasonal shifts of rainfall amounts between 10 and 14% were apparent. This intra-annual precipitation change resulted in a net-decrease of rainfall amounts in erosion sensitive months and an overall increase of rainfall in a period, in which the considered agricultural area proved to be less prone to erosion. The predicted annual average soil losses under climate change declined in all tillage systems by 11 to 24%, which is inside the margins of uncertainty typically attached to climate change impact studies. Annual soil erosion rates in the conventional tillage system exceeded 10 t ha^− 1 a^− 1 in both climate scenarios. Compared to these unsustainably high soil losses the conservation tillage systems show reduced soil erosion rates by between 49 and 87%. The study highlights the importance of seasonal changes in climatic parameters for the discussion about the impacts of global climate change on future soil erosion rates in Central Europe. The results also indicate the high potential of adaptive land-use management for climate change response strategies in the agricultural sector.     

Response of soil respiration to precipitation during the dry season in two typical forest stands in the forest-grassland transition zone of the Loess Plateau

Forest ecosystems on the Loess Plateau are receiving increasing attention for their special importance in carbon fixation and conservation of soil and water in the region. Soil respiration was investigated in two typical forest stands of the forest-grassland transition zone in the region, an exotic black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) plantation and an indigenous oak (Quercus liaotungensis) forest, in response to rain events (27.7 mm in May 2009 and 19 mm in May 2010) during the early summer dry season. In both ecosystems, precipitation significantly increased soil moisture, decreased soil temperature, and accelerated soil respiration. The peak values of soil respiration were 4.8 and 4.4 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹ in the oak plot and the black locust plot, respectively. In the dry period after rainfall, the soil moisture and respiration rate gradually decreased and the soil temperature increased. Soil respiration rate in black locust stand was consistently less than that in oak stand, being consistent with the differences in C, N contents and fine root mass on the forest floor and in soil between the two stands. However, root respiration (R_r) per unit fine root mass and microbial respiration (R_m) per unit the amount of soil organic matter were higher in black locust stand than in oak stand. Respiration by root rhizosphere in black locust stand was the dominant component resulting in total respiration changes, whereas respiration by roots and soil microbes contributed equally in oak stand. Soil respiration in the black locust plantation showed higher sensitivity to precipitation than that in the oak forest.     

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.     

陕北子洲县典型淤地坝淤积过程和降雨关系的研究

淤地坝作为黄土丘陵沟壑区水土流失治理的重要工程措施之一,其坝系优化布局、相对稳定性及坝地效益等受到广泛关注,但对其淤积过程研究甚少。该文通过对黄土高原淤地坝进行调查,典型坝淤积过程剖面的观测及取样分析,结合库容曲线和每个淤积层的淤积厚度求出分层淤积量。根据暴雨产沙过程原理及淤积过程降雨资料,反演淤地坝各淤积层所对应的次侵蚀性降雨,建立层淤积量与相应次侵蚀性降雨指标的相关方程。研究结果表明：坝地淤积物中层淤积量和次侵蚀性降雨的降雨侵蚀力呈幂函数关系,层淤积量和次侵蚀性降雨的最大30 min降雨强度呈指数函数关系,经检验结果良好。     

Effects of vegetation restoration on soil organic carbon sequestration at multiple scales in semi-arid Loess Plateau,China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration by vegetation restoration is the theme of much current research. Since 1999, the program of “Grain for Green”has been implemented in the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China. Its scope represents the largest vegetation restoration activity in China. However, it is still unclear for the SOC sequestration effects of vegetation cover change or natural succession promoted by the revegetation efforts at different scales under the semi-arid conditions. In this study, the changes in SOC stocks due to the vegetation restoration in the middle of Loess Plateau were estimated at patch, hill slope transect and small watershed scale from 1998 to 2006. Soil samples were taken from field for the determination of cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) and SOC contents. Vegetation cover change from 1998 to 2006 at the small watershed scale was assessed using Geographic Information System. The results showed that cropland transforming to grassland or shrubland significantly increased SOC at patch scale. Immature woodland, however, has no significant effect. When vegetation cover has no transformation for mature woodland (25 years old), SOC has no significant increase implying that SOC has come to a stable level. At hill slope scale, three typical vegetation cover patterns showed different SOC sequestration effects of 8.6%, 24.6%, and 21.4% from 1998 to 2006, and these SOC increases mainly resulted from revegetation. At the small watershed scale, SOC stocks increased by 19% in the surface soil layer at 0–20 cm soil depth from 1998 to 2006, which was equivalent to an average SOC sequestration rate of 19.92 t C y^− 1 km^− 2. Meanwhile, SOC contents showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.001) with the ¹³⁷Cs inventory at every soil depth interval. This implied significant negative impacts of soil erosion on SOC sequestration. The results have demonstrated general positive effects of vegetation restoration on SOC sequestration at multiple scales. However, soil erosion under rugged topography modified the spatial distribution of the SOC sequestration effects. Therefore, vegetation restoration was proved to be a significant carbon sink, whereas, erosion could be a carbon source in high erosion sensitive regions. This research can contribute to the performance assessment of ecological rehabilitation projects such as “Grain to Green” and the scientific understanding of the impacts of vegetation restoration and soil erosion on soil carbon dynamics in semi-arid environments.     

CLIGEN非降水参数在黄土高原的适应性评估

 天气生成器(CLIGEN)可以产生以日为时间单元的天气数据,从而广泛应用于土壤侵蚀和作物生长模拟模型,其模拟结果的优劣直接影响这些模型的输出结果。利用散布黄土高原的12个标准气象站点长时间序列的气候数据评估CLIGEN模拟非降水参数(温度、太阳辐射、风速)的能力。结果表明:CLIGEN能较好的模拟日最高温度;对日最低温度与露点温度的模拟次之;模型对太阳辐射和风速的模拟较差,特别是对风速的模拟,模拟值要显著的高于实测值。CLIGEN模拟的温度日较差、第1天最高温度与第2天最低温度之差、第2天最高温度与第1天最低温度之差的均值和标准差普遍偏高,但均值的误差较小,而标准差被过高模拟;模型在产生气候数据时,没有保持逐日渐变性和连续性。CLIGEN能够较好的模拟最高温度与最低温度的季节连续性与相关性;而过高的模拟了太阳辐射的季节相关性以及温度与太阳辐射的季节互相关性;同时,模型没有模拟出各气象要素自身及其之间的逐日相关性。     

黄土高原不同地貌类型区降雨侵蚀力时空特征研究

通用土壤流失方程USLE是迄今为止较为成熟,应用较广的土壤侵蚀预报模型,区域降雨侵蚀力R及其分布特征是将USLE应用于较大地区的关键.以日降雨量计算侵蚀力模型为基础,建立了黄土高原月降雨量计算降雨侵蚀力模型.用黄土高原235个气象站点1971-2000年30 a的月降雨量数据,计算得各站点的时间序列月降雨侵蚀力和年降雨侵蚀力,通过Kriging空间插值方法生成降雨侵蚀力时空分布栅格图像,并分析了不同地貌类型区降雨侵蚀力的时空特征.黄土高原降雨侵蚀力空间分布从东南到西北呈梯度递减趋势,范围在300～7 500,平均不到3 000,不同地貌类型区从大到小依次为土石山区、丘陵沟壑区(延安)、高塬沟壑区、丘陵沟壑区(榆林)、丘陵区(陇西);降雨侵蚀力年内分布主要集中于7,8两月,年际变化上存在一个2.7 a的波动周期,波动范围在多年平均值的1倍以上,不同地区相差较大.     

Water dispersible clay in calcareous soils of southwestern Spain

Water dispersible clay (WDC) is a good indicator of the risk of soil erosion by water and the consequent losses of nutrients and contaminants in overland flow. We measured the content and studied the properties of WDC in 26 samples of calcareous Xeralfs, Xerepts and Xererts of southwestern Spain collected from fields under different crop and tillage management; the soils ranged widely in total clay content (60–455 g kg^− 1), calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) (< 1–559 g kg^− 1) and active calcium carbonate equivalent (ACCE; 2–135 g kg^− 1), and were poor in organic carbon and soluble salts. The WDC content was determined by shaking 10 g of soil in 1 L of simulated rainwater for 4 hours. Non-carbonate WDC contents were found to be strongly correlated with the total clay content of the soils and ranged from 1 to 92 g kg^− 1 soil (mean = 29 g kg^− 1), the non-carbonate WDC/total clay ratio ranging from 0.01 to 0.29 (mean = 0.12). Based on regression analyses, illite was more dispersible than smectite and iron oxides decreased dispersion of clay. Carbonate WDC contents ranged from 1 to 27 g kg^− 1 (mean = 8 g kg^− 1) and were averaged one third the non-carbonate WDC contents; also, they were strongly correlated with the soil ACCE. WDC was rich in phosphorus (P) relative to the bulk soil. The enrichment ratio (ER) for total P (i.e. the ratio of total P in WDC to total P in soil) ranged from 0.2 to 29 (mean = 5) and was inversely related to the total clay content. On average, about one tenth of the soil total P was exported in the WDC and about one fifth of the total P in WDC was in the form of bicarbonate-extractable P (i.e. relatively soluble or ‘labile’ P). Part of the P in WDC seemingly occurred as metal phosphate particles formed by reaction of P fertilizers with soil. In summary, significant amounts of P can be exported via WDC, even though the proportion of total clay that is water dispersible is substantially lower in these soils than in cultivated soils of other semiarid regions.     

Will higher minimum temperatures increase corn production in Northeast China? An analysis of historical data over 1965-2008

Recent crop model projections have shown that crop production may benefit from warming, especially in the high latitudes, but hard evidence is limited. In this study we conducted correlation and regression analyses of climate records of seventy-two meteorological stations and records of corn yield over the period 1965-2008 in Northeast China. It was found that over these forty-four years, the diurnal mean, minimum and maximum temperatures during corn growing season increased on average by 0.31 °C, 0.42 °C and 0.23 °C every ten years, respectively. No significant change in precipitation was found, although differences between years were large. The daily minimum temperature was the dominant factor to corn production. Corn yield was significantly correlated with the daily minimum temperature in May and September. According to a regression analysis of the anomalies of corn yield and air temperature, a 1.0 °C increase in daily minimum temperature in May or September will lead to an increment of 303 kg ha⁻¹ or 284 kg ha⁻¹ in corn yield, respectively. Corn varieties with longer growth duration will profit most from the climatic changes but agronomic practices may have to be modified to address expected weather extremes such as droughts and periods with heavy rainfall.     

蔡家川流域降雨-径流关系及水量平衡分析

以晋西黄土区蔡家川流域为研究对象,利用该流域2004—2009年的降雨径流实测数据,采用多重比较和回归分析等统计方法,对降雨—径流关系及水量平衡进行了研究。结果表明,流域年耗水量占年降雨量的比例高达90%以上,是水循环过程中的重要支出项;流域年径流系数只有1.60%～2.66%;场降雨条件下径流量和洪峰流量随雨量P和最大60min雨强I60的量级具有明显的跳跃式变化,当P≥30mm时,径流量、洪峰流量分别是0～10mm雨量级的8.31,6.52倍,当I60≥20mm/h时,径流量、洪峰流量分别是0～10mm/h雨强级的3.35,16.87倍;对不同雨型下径流量、洪峰流量与降雨指标进行多元回归分析后得出,短历时高雨强的A型雨下雨强对洪峰流量的贡献率(47.12%)大于历时较长且雨强较大的B型雨(44.62%)和长历时低雨强的C型雨(32.51%),C型雨下雨量对径流量的贡献率(28.5%)大于A型雨(26.69%)和B型雨(3.15%)。     

Long-term tillage effects on the distribution patterns of microbial biomass and activities within soil aggregates

The effects of tillage on the interaction between soil structure and microbial biomass vary spatially and temporally for different soil types and cropping systems. We assessed the relationship between soil structure induced by tillage and soil microbial activity at the level of soil aggregates. To this aim, organic C (OC), microbial biomass C (MBC) and soil respiration were measured in water-stable aggregates (WSA) of different sizes from a subtropical rice soil under two tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT) and a combination of ridge with no-tillage (RNT). Soil (0–20 cm) was fractionated into six different aggregate sizes (> 4.76, 4.76–2.0, 2.0–1.0, 1.0–0.25, 0.25–0.053, and < 0.053 mm in diameter). Soil OC, MBC, respiration rate, and metabolic quotient were heterogeneously distributed among soil aggregates while the patterns of aggregate-size distribution were similar among properties, regardless of tillage system. The content of OC within WSA followed the sequence: medium-aggregates (1.0–0.25 mm and 1.0–2.0 mm) > macro-aggregates (4.76–2.0 mm) > micro-aggregates (0.25–0.053 mm) > large aggregates (> 4.76 mm) > silt + clay fractions (< 0.053 mm). The highest levels of MBC were associated with the 1.0–2.0 mm aggregate size class. Significant differences in respiration rates were also observed among different sizes of WSA, and the highest respiration rate was associated with 1.0–2.0 mm aggregates. The C_mic/C_org was greatest for the large-macroaggregates regardless of tillage regimes. This ratio decreased with aggregate size to 1.0–0.25 mm. Soil metabolic quotient (qCO₂) ranged from 3.6 to 17.7 mg CO₂ g^− 1 MBC h^− 1. The distribution pattern of soil microbial biomass and activity was governed by aggregate size, whereas the tillage effect was not significant at the aggregate scale. Tillage regimes that contribute to greater aggregation, such as RNT, also improved soil microbial activity. Soil OC, MBC and respiration rate were at their highest levels for 1.0–2.0 mm aggregates, suggesting a higher biological activity at this aggregate size for the present ecosystem.     

Decoupling effects of driving factors on sediment yield in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Investigations of runoff and sediment yield changes and their relationships with potential driving factors provide good insights for understanding the mechanisms of hydrological processes. This study attempted to present a comprehensive investigation on the spatiotemporal variations of sediment yield in the Loess Plateau using continuous observed data at 46 hydrological stations during 1961–2016, and its responses to changes of precipitation, land use/cover and vegetation cover were analyzed by using the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that sediment yield reduced pronouncedly during 1961–2016 in the Loess Plateau, and 77.9% of this variation was explained by the combined effects of precipitation, land-use change, vegetation dynamics and runoff reduction. Indirect effects of precipitation, land-use change, and vegetation cover on sediment yield were 0.242, ?0.528 and ?0.630 (P < 0.05), respectively, and direct effect of runoff on sediment yield was 0.833 (P < 0.05). According to the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, the strongest positive correlation existed between annual sediment yield and runoff (r = 0.88, P < 0.05), followed by vegetation cover (r = ?0.47, P < 0.05) and land-use change (i.e. forest land and grassland) suggesting their significant trapping effects on soil erosion. However, lower correlations were examined between sediment yield and precipitation indices (?0.14<r < 0.34), and a relatively higher relationship was examined between sediment yield and heavy rainfall (P₂₅) (r = 0.34). Overall, changes in runoff and land-use/vegetation cover well explained variations in sediment yield in the Loess Plateau. The findings are expected to provide scientific and technical support for future soil and water conservation planning in the Loess Plateau, and are valuable for sustainable water resources and sediment load management in the Yellow River Basin.