The utility of Burns’s equation to describe solute movement through soil under various boundary and initial conditions

Burns’s equation for describing solute movement through soil is attractive because it is simple and predicts adequately in many instances. However, the assumptions implicit in it are not inconsistent with preferential solute flow. We have explored the consequences of this by leaching initially resident chloride and surface-applied tritium and nitrate through 250-mm-long intact cores of a silt loam soil. The applied flow rates of 3 and 5 mm h^?1 (realistic rainfall intensities) produced unsaturated soil conditions, except near the base where free water dripped out. Burns’s equation described the movement of the three solutes fairly successfully with the water content parameter having values between 0.29 and 0.48, similar to the actual volumetric water content of 0.47. The leaching of resident chloride to 450-mm-deep mole drains in the field was also successfully simulated using Burns’s equation. However, simulation of the leaching of bromide applied to the soil surface as a solid salt was problematic. This resulted from uncertainty as to whether to treat the application as a pulse input to the flux or resident concentration. The observed behaviour fell about midway between the simulations for these contrasting initial conditions.     

耦合基质区与裂隙网络的土壤优先流模型及验证

该文旨在通过分析土壤裂隙存在下的土壤优先流运动模式与特点,建立耦合基质区与裂隙网络的土壤优先流模型(crack preferential flow model,CP模型)。用控制体积有限元法求解两区土壤水分运动的基本方程,采用整体法将土壤基质水流运动方程和三维土壤裂隙网络区水流运动方程耦合。模拟与试验结果表明,增加降雨或灌溉强度能促进激活裂隙通道作为优先流通道,有利于优先流形成。CP模型及耦合方法较好地描述出了优先流运动的特点,模拟与实测的土壤饱和度均方根误差为0.016~0.025,决定系数均在0.78以上(P0.05),偏差为0.020~0.026,一致性指标为0.918~0.938。与等效连续体模型(Richards模型)相比较,CP模型模拟裂隙存在情况下土壤水流非均匀性规律更有效。研究丰富了土壤优先流理论,对提高农田水分利用率具有重要的意义。     

Lead and soil properties distributions in a roadside soil: Effect of preferential flow paths

Preferential flow is the non-uniform movement of water and solutes through soils that bypasses a portion of the soil matrix. It limits the effective sorbing capacity of the soil and it has been related to a reduced solute residence time accounting for an increased risk of groundwater contamination. A dye tracer experiment and a subsequent soil sampling procedure in three adjacent soil profiles were performed in a moderately Pb contaminated roadside soil aiming to make visible different flow domains, to test whether preferential flow paths influence the metal content depth distribution, to study differences in selective soil properties resulting from flow domains and, lastly, to investigate whether preferential flow induces changes in the solid phase distribution of lead. Identified preferential flow domains showed greater lead concentration along with lower pH and greater amounts of both inorganic and organic C contents than unstained soil matrix domains. The ratio humic acids (HAs) to fulvic acids (FAs) contents was significantly lower in the preferential paths than in the matrix domains which might be related with sizable differences in the humification process. Lastly, based on the three-step BCR sequential extraction procedure, it has been shown that preferential flow phenomena induce differences in metal distribution between both identified flow domains. While lead content in the soluble and exchangeable (FI) as well as bound to organic matter fractions (FIII) were greater in the matrix than in the preferential flow domains, the amount of metal bound to Fe, Al and Mn (hydr)oxides (FII) was significantly greater in the preferential flow domain than in the matrix one. This indicates that more stable lead sorption mechanisms, thus leading to a lower metal mobility, might partially be responsible for the larger amount of total metal content found associated to the preferential flow paths. Overall, our results suggest that preferential flow domains may behave as metal storage compartments in the soils due to differences in soil properties promoted by means of the heterogeneous water flow distribution.     

基于染色示踪的农膜残留农田土壤优先流特征

随着覆膜农作的发展,农膜残留日益严峻,严重影响土壤水流运动。为了探索农膜残留对水流运动的影响机制,在河套灌区九庄节水综合试验站,设计3种残膜量,分别为0,300,600 kg/hm^2,于成熟期在各试验小区选择典型区域进行20,80 mm水量的染色示踪试验,共6个处理,研究不同残膜量对土壤物理特性的影响,基于染色示踪技术分析不同入渗量和不同残膜量对土壤水流运动的影响,并评价各处理土壤剖面的优先流特征。结果表明:随着残膜量增加,土壤容重、饱和导水率和土壤初始含水率呈下降趋势,而土壤孔隙度呈增大趋势,土壤中随机分布的残膜导致残膜处理(300,600 kg/hm^2)的各物理参数有较高的变异系数。基于土壤染色剖面二值化图像分析,土壤优先流发育程度随残膜量和入渗量增加而提高,300,600 kg/hm^2残膜量处理的最大染色深度(MDSD)和土壤染色剖面的变异系数(Cv)随残膜量增加而增大,与20 mm入渗量相比,80 mm入渗量下残膜处理的MDSD和Cv分别平均增加47.23%和27.34%。不同处理的优先流特征指标差异显著,5个优先流特征指标(染色面积比、基质流深度、优先流比、长度指数和变异系数)均显示残膜处理(300,600 kg/hm^2)的优先流程度高于无残膜处理(0 kg/hm^2),可见残膜量及入渗量的增加均会增大土壤优先流的发生几率和强度。     

Conservation tillage and macropore factors that affect water movement and the fate of chemicals

A thorough understanding of how conservation tillage influences water quality is predicated on knowledge of how tillage affects water movement. This paper summarizes the effects of conservation tillage on water movement and quality mainly based on long-term experiments on Luvisols at the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed near Coshocton, OH, USA. Conservation tillage can have a much larger effect on how water moves through the soil than it does on the total amount percolating to groundwater. Soil macroporosity and the proportion of rainfall moving through preferential flow paths often increase with the adoption of conservation tillage and can contribute to a reduction in surface runoff. In some medium- and fine-textured soils most of the water that moves to the subsoil during the growing season (May–October) is probably transmitted by macropores. If a heavy, intense storm occurs shortly after surface application of an agricultural chemical to soils with well-developed macroporosity, the water transmitted to the subsoil by the macropores may contain significant amounts of applied chemical, up to a few per cent, regardless of the affinity of the chemical for the soil. This amount can be reduced by an order of magnitude or more with the passage of time or if light rainstorms precede the first major leaching event. Because of movement into the soil matrix and sorption, solutes normally strongly adsorbed by the soil should only be subject to leaching in macropores in the first few storms after application. Even under extreme conditions, it is unlikely that the amount of additional adsorbed solute transported to groundwater will exceed a few per cent of the application when conservation tillage is used instead of conventional tillage. In the case of non-adsorbed solutes, such as nitrate, movement into the soil matrix will not preclude further leaching. Therefore, when recharge occurs during the dormant season thorough flushing of the soil, whether macropores are present or not, can move the remaining solutes to groundwater. Thus, the net effect of tillage treatment on leaching of non-adsorbed solutes should be minimal.     

长江三峡花岗岩区林地优先流影响因子分析

为了研究三峡地区花岗岩林地优先流影响因子，在长江三峡地区曲溪小流域内选定的实验坡面下部，垂直开挖了一个长度为2．9m、深度为2．60m的土壤剖面。在降雨过程中观察优先流过程，分析降雨对优先流的影响。同时对该地区的土壤物理性质和土壤渗透特性进行了测定，分析其对优先流的影响。分析结果表明，影响长江三峡花岗岩区优先流产流的降雨量在26mm（24h降雨量）以上。长江三峡库区的降雨可分为递减降雨型、均匀降雨型、突发降雨型及峰值降雨型4种类型，不同降雨类型对应的优先流过程都表现出相应的降雨过程特征。不同降雨类型的优先流出现时间也各有差异，峰值降雨型降雨产生的优先流出现时间最早，其次是突发降雨型、递减降雨型、均匀降雨型。当一场降雨中的最大降雨强度〉0．075mm／min时，就有可能产生优先流。非毛管孔隙比例较大的土壤中容易形成优先流。研究区林下土壤中粗颗粒含量呈现出由上层至下层逐渐增多的趋势。对于较深层次土壤来说，它们含有的较粗颗粒有利于优先流的形成。优先流的存在使距地表83～110cm土层中土壤稳渗速率较其他土层得以大幅度提高，土层内快速运动的水流又加速了优先流的形成与发展。     

Runoff and soil loss from bench terraces. 1. An event-based model of rainfall infiltration and surface runoff

Overland flow resulting from an excess of rain over infiltration is an essential component of many models of runoff and erosion from fields or catchments. The spatially variable infiltration (SVI) model and a set of associated equations relating depth of runoff and maximum rate of ‘effective’ runoff (as used in the GUEST erosion model) to storm depth, depth‐averaged intensity of rainfall, average maximum infiltration capacity and an additional amount of initial infiltration were validated and tested on back‐sloping bench terraces in volcanic upland West Java, Indonesia. Data used were runoff rate and depth from 31 small (1.0–8.2 m²) bounded plots representing sections of terrace beds or risers and from six larger (53–231 m²) terrace units with hydrologically defined boundaries. Modelled runoff rates using rainfall intensity data corresponded well with observed patterns and the storm‐based equations were used successfully to model runoff depths and maximum effective runoff rates for individual events. Resulting values for maximum average infiltration rate (I_m) varied between 18 and 443 mm hour^?1 and reflected effects of vegetation or mulch cover and soil compaction. We conclude that the SVI model and the derived equations provide a robust and accurate method for predicting runoff at the investigated scale.     

水蚀条件下土壤初始含水量对黄土坡地溶质迁移的影响

水蚀条件下坡地水分溶质迁移规律对农业生产和水土资源保护具有重要作用.通过室内模拟降雨试验,研究了1.3%,5.7%,9.7%,14.2%和18.9%共5个含水量坡地土壤PO3-4、K 和Br-的迁移特征.结果表明溶质流失量和流失率均随土壤初始含水量的增加而增加,径流中溶质平均浓度与前期含水量呈抛物线关系,1.3%含水量坡地平均浓度均高于5.7%和9.7%坡地,18.9%含水量坡地最高.溶质在土壤剖面的垂向迁移量由大至小依次为:Br-＞K ＞PO3-4.前期含水量越低,非吸附性的Br-向较深土层的入渗量越大.K 和PO3-4的质量传递系数Km均随土壤初始含水量增加而增加,Br-和K 的Km较大,PO3-4的Km最小.基于对流一弥散理论的质量传递系数Km可以反映非吸附性Br-随地表径流迁移的特征,但不能够反映土壤侵蚀对吸附性K 和PO3-4地表流失的影响.避免在雨季里喷施大量速效肥料,可以有效地减少养分,尤其是吸附性养分的地表流失.     

西南岩溶区粉垄耕作和免耕方式下甘蔗地土壤优先流特征

以西南岩溶区的典型农地甘蔗地为研究对象,采用野外染色示踪技术,利用形态学解析手段,并结合土壤水分分层评价方法,对粉垄耕作和免耕方式下甘蔗地土壤优先流特征进行研究。结果表明:在相同外部供水条件下,粉垄耕作甘蔗地水分下渗湿润锋迹线较免耕甘蔗地平缓,呈均匀整体形式下渗,平均下渗深度是免耕甘蔗地的0.95倍,其优先流染色形态相对于免耕甘蔗地的枝状分化状态,多以零散团块状分化形式为主;在相同外部条件下,免耕甘蔗地最先发生优先流现象,优先流的发生速度是粉垄耕作甘蔗地的1.45倍,平均优先流比达88.61%,大于粉垄耕作甘蔗地(82.89%),二者之间差异显著(P0.05);沿土壤深度的增加,优先流在粉垄耕作甘蔗地土壤空间中的发展变化程度表现为"次活跃—活跃—次活跃—相对稳定—次活跃",而免耕甘蔗地表现为"次活跃—活跃—次活跃—相对稳定",免耕甘蔗地的优先流空间发展变化程度较高,主要发生在5—35cm土层范围内,相比粉垄耕作甘蔗地10—30cm土层深。粉垄耕作方式与免耕方式相比,降低了岩溶区甘蔗地土壤优先流的发生与发展,在一定程度上提高了土壤的保肥蓄水能力。     

Short‐term transport of cadmium during a heavy‐rain event simulated by a dual‐continuum approach

The transport of solutes in soils, and its intensification due to preferential flow, plays crucial role when problems related to the groundwater pollution are dealt with. The objective of this study was to examine transport of cadmium (Cd) in response to an extreme rainfall event for three different soils using numerical modeling. The ^115mCd²⁺ concentration profile had been measured in the Bodiky reference site (Danubian Lowland, Slovakia) by the radioactive‐tracer technique and used for the calibration of the dual‐continuum model S1D. The Cd transport during a single rain event was predicted with the S1D model for light, medium‐heavy, and heavy soil in the same region. The Cd transport through the soil profile was simulated by the one‐dimensional dual‐permeability model, which assumes the existence of two pore domains: the soil‐matrix domain and the preferential‐flow domain. The model is based on Richards' equation for water flow and advection‐dispersion equation for solute transport. A modified batch technique enables to distinguish process of adsorption in the matrix domain and the preferential pathways. Modeling with classical single‐permeability approach and dual‐continuum approach without considering the particle‐facilitated transport led to negligible Cd penetration. The rainfall event with extremely high rainfall intensity induced deep penetration of Cd in the medium‐heavy and heavy soil, which may indicate increased vulnerability to shallow groundwater pollution for the respective sites in Danubian Lowland region. The highest Cd leaching was predicted for heavy clay soil, where the preferential particle‐facilitated transport of Cd through the soil profile was significant due to the contrasting properties of the soil‐matrix domain and the preferential‐flow domain. The results of the sensitivity analysis suggested only slight effect of the transfer rate coefficients on simulated Cd leaching.     

A usable mechanistic model of nitrate leaching I. The model

A mechanistic model to simulate the leaching of nitrate in soil is described. Three flow patterns are accommodated: conventional convective-dispersion; preferential flow, in which water and solute moving in the larger water-filled pores fails to equilibrate with that in the smaller pores; and by-pass flow, in which water (and solute) moves rapidly down cracks and fissures without displacing the soil water. The pattern of flow depends on the rainfall intensity and the hydraulic conductivity of the water-filled pore space. The performance of the model is examined in terms of its ability to reproduce solute profiles calculated from analytical solutions to transport equations, and in the sensitivity of the output to changes in the main parameters. A second paper (Barraclough, 1989) illustrates the use of the model to reproduce nitrate leaching patterns observed in the field.     

Sorption and transport of metals in preferential flow paths and soil matrix after the addition of wood ash

As a consequence of heterogeneous transport in soils, only a small part of the soil might be responsible for sorbing incoming elements. After staining preferential flow paths in forested Dystric Cambisol with a colour dye, we sampled soil material from the flow paths and from the soil matrix. We measured chemical properties and sorption isotherms of these two flow regions and estimated the significance of preferential flow paths for the transport of solutes leached from wood ash applied at the surface. In the A horizon (0–9 cm depth), the cation exchange capacity of the flow paths was 83.8 mmol_c kg^?1, while that of the soil matrix was only 74.6 mmol_c kg^?1. The base saturation was 42% and soil organic matter content was 41% larger in flow paths than in the soil matrix. The sorption capacity for Cu was also larger than in the matrix, whereas the sorption capacity for Sr was similar in both flow regions. The impact of the addition of 8 t wood ash ha^?1 on soil chemical properties was restricted mainly to the flow paths in the uppermost 20 cm of the soil; it was negligible in the matrix and at greater depths. Concentrations of exchangeable Ca in the flow paths increased nearly 10‐fold during the 6 months following the addition of the wood ash, and those of organically bound Pb by 50%. The opposite effect was found for exchangeable Al. Our results show that only part of the whole soil volume, approximately 50% of 0–20 cm in our study, is involved in transporting and sorbing the elements applied with the wood ash or as tracers. Such differences must be considered when calculating the maximal impact of any addition of fertilizer, wood ash, or liming agent.     

黄土丘陵区不同坡度撂荒草地入渗特征影响因素试验研究

降雨特征和坡度是影响土壤入渗过程的重要因素,在植被恢复过程中,其对土壤入渗特征的影响可能会有所不同。选取黄土丘陵区6个坡度(5°,10°,15°,20°,25°和30°)的撂荒草地(2年)径流小区(5 m×20 m),观测自然降雨条件下(共计34场降雨,产流11场)植被生长旺期(7—9月)土壤入渗特征,研究降雨过程参数(降雨量、平均雨强、降雨历时和I_(30))、坡度和植被盖度对坡面入渗特征的影响。结果表明:(1)11场产流降雨不同坡度土壤入渗量总体变化范围为6.58～70.91 mm,入渗补给系数为0.83～1.00,入渗率为0.22～19.35 mm/h;(2)土壤入渗量随降雨量呈线性增加(R~2=0.99,p0.01),入渗补给系数随I_(30)呈指数降低(R~2=0.91,p0.01),平均入渗率随降雨强度呈线性增加(R~2=0.71,p0.01),随降雨历时呈幂函数降低(R~2=0.99,p0.05);(3)坡度增大使得径流位移增长,导致入渗量、入渗补给系数和平均入渗率整体随坡度增大而呈幂函数增加,但当坡度25°时,因径流势能沿坡面方向分量增加,径流流速加快,上述入渗特征参数略有降低;(4)由于降雨量在植被生长周期内呈下降趋势,很大程度上导致植被对入渗特征的影响受控于降雨量,土壤入渗量表现出随着植被盖度的增加呈幂函数显著下降的趋势。总体而言,降雨特征和坡度是影响土壤入渗的主要因素,且土壤入渗特征参数可表示为降雨过程参数和坡度的综合幂函数方程;在入渗补给系数较高的情况下,植被覆盖对土壤入渗特征的影响减弱。研究结果对于坡面尺度降雨径流调控机制和生态水文过程研究具有重要意义。     

Estimating leaching losses from sub-surface drained soils

Abstract. Leaching losses of solutes can be calculated if two variables, the amount of water passing through the soil and the concentration of solute in that water (a flux concentration), are known. Two simple approaches, soil extraction and suction cup sampling, were used to estimate the concentration of solutes in the water moving through a silt loam soil. The results were compared with actual concentrations measured in the drainage water from a sub-surface (mole-pipe) drained soil.
Seasonal leaching losses were calculated as the sum of the products of estimated monthly drainage and the estimated average monthly solute concentration in the soil solution. These results were compared with the leaching losses measured in drainage water from the mole-pipe system. For non-reactive solutes such as bromide (an applied solute) and chloride (a resident solute), the suction cup data provided better estimates of the leaching losses than did the soil extraction data. The leaching losses calculated using volume-averaged soil solution concentrations (obtained by soil extraction) overestimated the loss for the resident solute, but under-estimated the loss for the surface-applied solute. On the other hand, the data for non-reactive solutes suggest that measurements on suction cup samples may be representative of the flux concentration of a solute during leaching. For nitrate, a biologically reactive solute, there was no clear pattern in the differences between the estimated and measured leaching losses. The flux-averaged concentration in the drainage water was about midway between those measured in the suction cup samples and in the soil solution.     

利用染色示踪法研究四面山两种林地优先路径分布特征

[目的]研究不同林种土壤的优先路径分布特征,为土壤水的高效利用以及植物生长环境改善等方面的研究提供理论参考。[方法]以重庆四面山张家山的针阔混交林和楠竹林为研究对象,在林地土壤存在优先路径的情况下,运用染色示踪法研究了水分及溶质的运移,并对采集的垂直剖面染色图像进行处理分析。[结果]两种林地对水分入渗的响应不同,染色路径宽度和染色路径数量在同一剖面不同深度处及不同剖面同一深度处均呈现明显的异质性:(1)针阔混交林染色路径宽度曲线呈"倒阶梯型";(2)楠竹林染色路径宽度曲线呈S形。两种林地的土壤优先流宽度和数量在一定范围内均随着深度增加而逐渐下降。[结论]两种林地均存在优先流现象,随着深度增加优先流路径不均匀递减,在0—20cm深度内,植物根系对土壤优先流影响较大。     

模拟降雨条件下林木裸露根系分布方式对坡面土壤侵蚀的影响

为探究喀斯特地区林木根系分布方式对坡面土壤侵蚀的影响,采用人工模拟降雨方法,研究林木根系3类分布方式：根系横坡方向局部裸露（横向）、根系顺坡方向局部裸露（顺向）、根系垂直坡面（垂直）的土壤侵蚀特征。降雨强度为75 mm/h,降雨历时为90 min,坡度为25°。结果表明：（1）降雨过程中,横向和垂直生长根系影响土壤入渗,壤中流和地下径流产流时间表现为顺向>横向>垂直;顺向坡面地表径流初始产流时间比横向和垂直坡面略有提前,但差异不显著（p>0.05）;（2）横向、顺向及垂直坡面地表径流总量大小表现为顺向>垂直>横向,壤中流与地下径流产流速率在降雨过程中缓慢增加,降雨停止后急剧减小;（3）林木根系3类分布方式坡面间的地表减沙效益表现为横向>垂直>顺向。综上所述,顺向坡面的汇流作用促使地表产流产沙增加,垂直坡面增加土壤降雨入渗并减少侵蚀,横向坡面对坡面径流泥沙的拦蓄作用最为明显。研究结果对认识喀斯特石漠化坡地土壤侵蚀机理和水土流失防治措施提供了参考。     

入渗水量和试验尺度对土壤水非均匀流动的影响

[目的]研究入渗水量和试验尺度对土壤水非均匀流动(最大入渗深度和平均入渗深度、土壤水流运动非均匀程度和土壤优先流尺寸的影响)的影响,为农业灌溉施肥的高效利用、地下水环境保护以及流域水文过程预测等方面提供理论支撑。[方法]采用亮蓝染色示踪方法在砂土条件下开展了9组18个(每组2个重复)不同入渗水量(分别为1.25,2.5和5.0cm)和试验尺度(分别为0.25m×0.25m,0.5m×0.5m和1.0m×1.0m)的入渗试验。[结果](1)相同试验尺度条件下,土壤水最大入渗深度和平均入渗深度均随着入渗水量的增大而增大;土壤水流运动非均匀程度随入渗水量的增大而先增大后减小。(2)相同入渗水量条件下,当入渗水量较小时,土壤水最大入渗深度和土壤水流运动非均匀程度随着试验尺度的增大而增大;当入渗水量很大时,试验尺度的变化对最大入渗深度和土壤水流运动非均匀程度的影响不明显。(3)入渗水量的增加和试验尺度的增大都将使得优先流通道尺寸增大。[结论]入渗水量和试验尺度对土壤优先流运动有重要影响。     

秸秆覆盖下桂北岩溶区水稻田土壤优先流特征

优先流作为一种土壤水分的快速入渗形式,广泛发生于水稻田内。通过进行野外土壤染色示踪试验,结合形态学图像解析技术,开展秸秆覆盖与非覆盖条件下的广西岩溶区水稻田土壤优先流特征研究。结果表明:在相同的外部供水条件下,秸秆覆盖水稻田土壤染色形态以整体均匀分布形式为主,而非秸秆覆盖水稻田呈明显枝状染色形态分化现象并贯穿整个土壤空间,其平均染色斑块形状系数为13.96,染色形态表现为显著不规则分化状况,且土壤空间中染色水流平均分布密度达0.117,相比秸秆覆盖水稻田更大,呈现染色水流集中分布状态。秸秆覆盖水稻田土壤入渗量相比非秸秆覆盖水稻田较高,平均总染色面积比达46.69%,二者之间差异显著(P0.05),但田间优先流发生时间相对较晚,对应的平均基质流深度为16.92 cm,优先流比显著小于非秸秆覆盖水稻田(49.55%)(P0.05),仅为27.47%。秸秆覆盖措施可影响田间土壤水分运动过程,在一定程度上提高田间水分的入渗量,降低土壤优先流发生程度,促进稻田土壤水分的保持,减少田间水肥流失。     

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.