Wind-splash erosion of bare peat on UK upland moorlands

Peat is a common land surface material in many countries of the world and is particularly important in upland regions of the UK. Peat landscapes represent an important land use for hill farming, water management, and shooting, and are a globally scarce resource. Wind is a fundamental characteristic of upland environments in the UK and has long been recognised as a significant factor in peat erosion. This paper presents the first results of a project that aims to determine the significance of wind action in the erosion of upland peat. Wind erosion monitoring is being undertaken at Moor House in the North Pennines on a 3-ha area of relatively flat, sparsely vegetated peat. Measurements using arrays of passive horizontal mass flux gauges (fixed orientation vertical slot gauges), together with a vertical array of mass flux samplers (directional), provide estimates of sediment flux. A micrometeorological station records local wind speed (four heights), wind direction, rainfall, soil moisture, and temperature conditions. For 1999 and 2000, the annual horizontal net erosion flux is 0.46 and 0.48 t ha⁻¹, respectively. Results of detailed monitoring over a 10-month period demonstrate that the peat sediment flux collected in windward- and leeward-oriented sediment traps on 10 separate occasions is between 3 and 12 times greater in the windward-facing traps. The concentration of peat with height decays rapidly and the majority of the peat is transported close to the ground surface. Above 0.3 m, very little peat is found. Significant horizontal fluxes of peat occur in both wet and dry periods. This is evaluated using the local micrometeorological data to try and predict sediment yields. Correlations among time-averaged friction velocity measurements, surface conditions, and sediment flux are complex. Event-based measurements, as opposed to cumulative sediment yields, are required to resolve this. These results quantify for the first time the significance of wind action in the erosion of peat in a UK upland environment.     

Trends in relief design and construction in opencast mining reclamation

This paper examines trends in topography design and construction in opencast mining restoration. The greatest geomorphological focus is the protection of aquatic ecosystems downstream of reclaimed sites through the construction of topographies and structures that not only reduce sediments and contaminants to a minimum, but which soften the impact of maximum water flows. From the ecological point of view, the most important focus is the integration of the geomorphological component with those of the soil and vegetation, and the formation of a functional ecosystem with the capacity to maintain itself. The conceptual models of relief that have been used in practice are discussed and criticized: these include the platform‐bank model (geotechnically but not ecologically stable), faithful reproduction of the original topography (inadequate in steep areas), and understanding the hydrological basin as a restoration unit (now considered the most appropriate). Finally, erosion models are reviewed as tools for relief design. The practicality of ‘RUSLE 1.06 for Mined Lands, Construction Sites and Reclaimed Lands’ is underlined owing to its ease of use. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factors influencing adoption of soil and water conservation measures in southern Mali

A soil and water conservation (SWC) extension programme, promoting erosion control measures and soil fertility measures, has been going on in southern Mali since 1986. Five factors that influence farmer adoption of SWC measures were analysed: land pressure, cotton‐growing area, possession of ploughing equipment, possession of a donkey cart and farmer training in SWC. Interviews were carried out with 298 farmers and two to three fields per farmer were visited, in 30 representative villages and 30 villages with high SWC adoption. Correlation, regression and factor analysis led to the following conclusions:

• (1) Farmers in the high land‐pressure area adopt more soil fertility measures.
• (2) Farmers in the cotton‐growing area adopt less SWC measures.
• (3) Farmers with more ploughing equipment adopt more SWC measures.
• (4) Farmers with a donkey cart adopt more soil fertility measures.
• (5) Trained farmers adopt more erosion control measures.

There is a strong correlation between the adoption of erosion control measures and soil fertility measures that could not be explained by these five factors only. This suggests that there are additional factors that trigger the adoption of SWC measures. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A preliminary assessment of the potential for using Pbex measurement to estimate soil redistribution rates on cultivated slopes in the Sichuan Hilly Basin of China

In order to assess its potential for estimating soil redistribution rates, the naturally occurring fallout radionuclide ²¹⁰Pb_ex has been used in parallel with ¹³⁷Cs, derived from the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapon testing in the 1950s to 1970s, to estimate rates of soil redistribution on a sloping field with traditional erosion control measures located near Jiajia Village, Jianyang County, in the Sichuan Hilly Basin of China. The local ²¹⁰Pb_ex reference inventory of 12,860 Bq m^− 2 is higher than those reported for many other areas of the world and may reflect the influence of cloudy weather in preventing ²¹⁰Pb released to the atmosphere across the local region moving up into the upper troposphere, where is would be more widely dispersed. The mean ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs inventories measured in cores collected from the upper part of the field with an average slope of 10° were 8028 Bq m^− 2 and 993 Bq m^− 2, respectively, and the equivalent values for the lower part of the field, where the slopes are steeper (20°) were 11,388 Bq m^− 2 and 1299 Bq m^− 2. The pattern of post-fallout ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs redistribution on the sloping field reflects not only the effects of water erosion and redistribution by tillage, but also the local traditional practice of “Tiaoshamiantu”, whereby sediment trapped in the ditches is returned to the fields by the farmer. The estimates of annual rates of soil loss provided by the ²¹⁰Pb_ex measurement are closely comparable with those derived from the ¹³⁷Cs measurements and are consistent with existing knowledge for the study area. The results obtained from this study confirm the potential for using ²¹⁰Pb_ex measurement to estimate soil erosion rates over medium-term timescale of 50–100 years. By combining the estimates of erosion rates provided by the ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs measurements, the weighted mean net soil loss was estimated to be 48.7 t ha^− 1 year^− 1 from the upper subfield and 16.9 t ha^− 1 year^− 1 from the lower subfield. These rates are considerably lower than the erosion rates obtained from runoff plot measurements in the local area. It is suggested that the traditional erosion control practices and the practice of “Tiaoshamiantu” have a significant effect in reducing soil loss and conserving valuable cultivated soil on sloping fields in the Sichuan Hilly Basin.     

小麦秸秆覆盖量对坡面流水动力学特性影响

为系统研究小麦秸秆覆盖量对坡面流水动力学特性的影响,采用室内定床模拟试验,探究在不同流量(3.0、4.5、6.0、7.5、9.0 L/min)和坡度(3°、5°、10°、15°)下,坡面流水动力参数随秸秆覆盖量(0、1.5、2.5、3.5、4.5 t/hm²)的变化特征。结果表明：1)秸秆覆盖显著影响坡面流流型,在不同流量和坡度下,无秸秆覆盖时坡面流型均为急流,而在秸秆覆盖条件下,坡面流型均变为缓流。当流量≤7.5 L/min时,流态均为层流,当流量>7.5 L/min时,流态均为过渡流。2)随着秸秆覆盖量的增加,坡面流流速分别较裸坡降低了47.85%、53.86%、57.69%、60.11%。3)不同覆盖量下,坡面流流态指数随坡度的变化规律不一致。覆盖量≤2.5t/hm²时,随坡度的增加,流态指数呈先增后减的变化趋势,覆盖量>2.5 t/hm²时,流态指数随坡度的增加而逐渐减小。4)不同覆盖量下,坡面流阻力系数随坡度的变化规律不一致。秸秆覆盖坡面阻力系数是裸坡的9.36～19.68倍。低覆盖量下(≤2.5t...     

Effects of land management practices and land cover types on soil loss and crop productivity in Ethiopia: A review

Identifying land management practices (LMPs) that enhance on-site sediment management and crop productivity is crucial for the prevention, reduction, and restoration of land degradation and contributing to achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN). We reviewed studies in Ethiopia to assess the effects of LMPs on soil loss (84 studies) and crop productivity (34 studies) relative to control practice. Yield variability on conserved lands was assessed using 12,796 fixed plot data. Effects of LMP on soil loss were 0.5–55 t ha⁻¹y⁻¹ compared to control practices yielding 50 to 140 t ha⁻¹y⁻¹. More than 55% of soil loss records revealed soil loss less than the tolerable rate (10 t ha⁻¹). Area closure, perennial vegetation cover, agronomic practices, mechanical erosion control practices, annual cropland cover, and drainage groups of practices led to 74.0 ± 18.3%, 69.0 ± 24.6%, 66.2 ± 30.5%, 66.1 ± 18.0%, 63.5 ± 20.0%, and 40 ± 11,1% soil loss reduction, respectively. A yield increase of 25.2 ± 15.0%, 37.5 ± 28.0%, and 75.4 ± 85.0% was found from drainage, agronomy, and mechanical erosion control practices, respectively. The average yield loss by erosion on fields without appropriate land management practice and on conserved fields was 26.5 ± 26.0% and 25 ± 3.7%, respectively. The findings suggest that practices that entail a continuous presence of soil cover during the rainy season, perennial vegetation, retention of moisture, and barriers for sediment transport were most effective at decreasing soil loss and increasing productivity. This review provides evidence to identify the best LMP practices for wider adoption and inform decision-making on LMP investments towards achieving sustainable solutions to reverse land degradation.     

不同近地表水文条件下紫色土坡面土壤侵蚀过程研究

采用模拟降雨试验,研究了自由下渗(free drainage)、土壤水分饱和(saturation)、壤中流(seepage)3种近地面水文条件下紫色土坡面土壤侵蚀过程.结果表明,近地表水文条件会对紫色土坡面侵蚀过程产生重要影响.在地面坡度5°～15°条件下,当地表水文条件由自由下渗演变为土壤水分饱和时,坡面侵蚀量由1.31～2.02 g/(min·m2)增加到1.83～5.50 g/(min·m2);当地表水文条件由土壤水分饱和变为壤中流时,坡面侵蚀量达到4.40～16.41 g/(min·m2).土壤水分饱和条件下坡面侵蚀量是自由下渗的1.40～2.73倍;壤中流条件下坡面侵蚀量是自由下渗时的3.36～8.12倍,是土壤水分饱和时的2.40～2.98倍.同时,坡面坡度对紫色土坡面侵蚀过程有重要的影响.     

Dynamic study of infiltration rate for soils with varying degrees of degradation by water erosion

Ultisols, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of south China, are suffering from serious water erosion, however, slope hydrological process for Ultisols under different erosional degradation levels in field condition has been scarcely investigated. Field rainfall simulation at two rainfall intensities (120 and 60 mm/h) were performed on pre-wetted Ultisols with four erosion degrees (non, moderate, severe and very-severe), and the hydrological processes of these soils were determined. The variation of soil infiltration was contributed by the interaction of erosion degree and rainfall intensity (p < 0.05). In most cases, time to incipient runoff, the decay coefficient, steady state infiltration rate, and their variability were larger at the high rainfall intensity, accelerating by the increasing erosion severity. Despite rainfall intensity, the infiltration process of Ultisols was also significantly influenced by mean weight diameter of aggregates at the field moisture content, soil organic carbon and particle size distribution (R² > 30%, p < 0.05). The temporal erodibility of surface soil and soil detachment rate were significantly and negatively correlated with infiltration rate (r < -0.32, p < 0.05), but less significant correlation was observed between sediment concentration and infiltration rate for most soils, especially at the high rainfall intensity. The variation of surface texture and soil compactness generated by erosion degradation was the intrinsic predominant factors for the change of infiltration process of Ultisols. The obtained results will facilitate the understanding of hydrological process for degraded lands, and provide useful knowledge in managing crop irrigation and soil erosion.     

北京市灵山侵蚀沟道治理与近自然修复效果研究

以灵山亚高山草甸植被保护为目的,按照"源头修复—中段防治—末端控制"的思想,采取传统工程、土壤生物工程、植物措施相结合的方式,对灵山高山地区侵蚀沟道进行治理,建立起一套较为完整的亚高山草甸侵蚀沟道近自然修复体系,研究了其水土保持效果和人工促进下草甸群落恢复的动态变化特征。研究结果表明:该体系能有效控制侵蚀沟道溯源侵蚀发展速率,减弱横向和纵向扩张规模,2016年研究区土壤侵蚀模数为647 t/(km^2·a),与治理前相比降低了71.8%,达到了北京市水土流失控制要求。经过3年的治理,侵蚀沟道内物种数量呈上升趋势,由2014年的19种增加到了2016年的27种,治理工程的实施有效促进了侵蚀沟道内植被数量的恢复,2015年开始植物群落结构逐渐清晰,并朝着正向演替的方向发展。