Please wait a minute...
Journal of Arid Land  2015, Vol. 7 Issue (5): 590-598    DOI: 10.1007/s40333-015-0128-7     CSTR: 32276.14.s40333-015-0128-7
Research Articles     
Interactions between wind and water erosion change sediment yield and particle distribution under simulated conditions
TUO Dengfeng1, XU Mingxiang1,2, ZHAO Yunge2, GAO Liqian2
1 State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China;
2 Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China
Download:   PDF(201KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      

Abstract  Wind and water erosion are among the most important causes of soil loss, and understanding their interactions is important for estimating soil quality and environmental impacts in regions where both types of erosion occur. We used a wind tunnel and simulated rainfall to study sediment yield, particle-size distribution and the fractal dimension of the sediment particles under wind and water erosion. The experiment was conducted with wind erosion firstly and water erosion thereafter, under three wind speeds (0, 11 and 14 m/s) and three rainfall intensities (60, 80 and 100 mm/h). The results showed that the sediment yield was positively correlated with wind speed and rainfall intensity (P<0.01). Wind erosion exacerbated water erosion and increased sediment yield by 7.25%–38.97% relative to the absence of wind erosion. Wind erosion changed the sediment particle distribution by influencing the micro-topography of the sloping land surface. The clay, silt and sand contents of eroded sediment were also positively correlated with wind speed and rainfall intensity (P<0.01). Wind erosion increased clay and silt contents by 0.35%–19.60% and 5.80%–21.10%, respectively, and decreased sand content by 2.40%–8.33%, relative to the absence of wind erosion. The effect of wind erosion on sediment particles became weaker with increasing rainfall intensities, which was consistent with the variation in sediment yield. However, particle-size distribution was not closely correlated with sediment yield (P>0.05). The fractal dimension of the sediment particles was significantly different under different intensities of water erosion (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found under wind and water erosion. The findings reported in this study implicated that both water and wind erosion should be controlled to reduce their intensifying effects, and the controlling of wind erosion could significantly reduce water erosion in this wind-water erosion crisscross region.

Key wordsrangeland degradation      enclosures      microbial biomass      rehabilitation      reseeding      soil quality      Kenya     
Received: 20 November 2014      Published: 05 October 2015
Fund:  

Special Program for Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China (2014FY210100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41171422, 41271298) and the West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Corresponding Authors:
Cite this article:

TUO Dengfeng, XU Mingxiang, ZHAO Yunge, GAO Liqian. Interactions between wind and water erosion change sediment yield and particle distribution under simulated conditions. Journal of Arid Land, 2015, 7(5): 590-598.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-015-0128-7     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2015/V7/I5/590

Alberts E E, Wendt R C, Piest R F. 1983. Physical and chemical properties of eroded soil aggregates. Transactions of the Asae, 26: 465–471.

Blocken B, Carmeliet J. 2004. A review of wind-driven rain research in building science. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 92(13): 1079–1130.

Blocken B, Poesen J, Carmeliet J. 2006. Impact of wind on the spatial distribution of rain over micro-scale topography–numerical modelling and experimental verification. Hydrological Processes, 20: 345–368.

Bremner J M, Mulvaney C S. 1982. Nitrogen-total. Agronomy monograph 9. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbial Properties. Madison, Wisconsin: Agronomy Society of America, 595–624.

Breshears D D, Whicker J J, Johansen M P, et al. 2003. Wind and water erosion and transport in semi-arid shrubland, grassland and forest ecosystems: quantifying dominance of horizontal wind-driven transport. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 28: 1189–1209.

Bullard J E, Livingstone I. 2002. Interactions between aeolian and fluvial systems in dryland environments. Area, 34: 8–16.

Catroux G, Schnitzer M. 1987. Chemical, spec-troscopic, and biological characteristics of the organic matter in particle size fractions separated from an Aquoll. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 51: 1200–1207.

Chen X Y, Zhou J. 2013. Volume-based soil particle fractal relation with soil erodibility in a small watershed of purple soil. Environmental Earth Sciences, 70(4): 1735–1746.

de Lima J L M P, van Dijck P M, Spaan W P. 1992. Splash-saltation transport under wind-driven rain. Soil Technology, 5: 151–166.

Dong Z B, Qian G Q. 2007. Characterizing the height pro?le of the ?ux of wind-eroded sediment. Environmental Geology, 51: 835–845.

Ekhtesasi M R, Sepehr A. 2009. Investigation of wind erosion process for estimation, prevention, and control of DSS in Yazd-Ardakan plain. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 159: 267–280.

Erpul G, Norton L D, Gabriels D. 2002. Raindrop-induced and wind-driven soil particle transport. Catena, 47: 227–243.

Farouk E B, Maingue M, Robinson C. 2000. Fluvio-aeolian dynamics in the north-eastern Sahara: the relationship between fluvial/aeolian systems and ground-water concentration. Journal of Arid Environments, 44: 173–183.

Ferreira A D, Farimani A, Sousa A C M. 2011. Numerical and experimental analysis of wind erosion on a sinusoidal pile. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, 11: 167–181.

Gao Q, Ci L, Yu M. 2002. Modeling wind and water erosion in northern China under climate and land use changes. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 57: 46–55.

Gomes L, Arrue J L, Lopez M V, et al. 2003. Wind erosion in a semiarid agricultural area of Spain: the welsons project. Catena, 52: 235–256.

Gomez J A, Nearing M A. 2005. Runoff and sediment losses from rough and smooth soil surfaces in a laboratory experiment. Catena, 59: 253–266.

Joanna E B, Lan L. 2002. Interactions between aeolian and fluvial systems in dryland environments. Area, 34: 8–16.

Kihara J, Bationo A, Mugendi D N, et al. 2011. Conservation tillage, local organic resources and nitrogen fertilizer combinations affect maize productivity, soil structure and nutrient balances in semi-arid Kenya. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 90(2): 213–225.

Kleinman P J, Srinivasan M S, Dell C J, et al. 2006. Role of rainfall intensity and hydrology in nutrient transport via surface runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35: 1248–1259.

Langford R P. 1989. Fluvial-aeolian interactions: Part I. modern systems. Sedimentology, 36: 1023–1035.

Lssa O M, Le Bissonnais Y, Planchon O, et al. 2006. Soil detachment and transport on field-and laboratory-scale interrill areas: erosion processes and the size-selectivity of eroded sediment. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 31: 929–939.

Lü P, Dong Z B. 2006. Wind tunnel experiments on the turbulent transmission over the near surface layer of different surfaces. Environmental Geology, 50: 983–988.

Nelson D W, Sommers L E. 1982. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. Agronomy monograph 9. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2, Chemical and Microbial Properties. Madison, Wisconsin: Agronomy Society of America, 539–552.

Pedersen H S, Hasholt B. 1995. Influence of wind speed on rainsplash erosion. Catena, 24: 39–54.

Perfect E, Kay B D. 1995. Applications of fractals in soil and tillage research: a review. Soil and Tillage Research, 36: 1–20.

Perrier E, Bird N, Rieu M. 1999. Generalizing the fractal model of soil structure: the pore-solid fractal approach. Geoderma, 88: 137–164.

Pieri L, Bittelli M, Hanuskova M, et al. 2009. Characteristics of eroded sediments from soil under wheat and maize in the North Italian Apennines. Geoderma, 154: 20–29.

Romkens M J M, Helming K, Prasad S N. 2001. Soil erosion under different rainfall intensities, surface roughness, and soil water regimes. Catena, 46: 103–123.

Sharma P P. 1996. Interrill erosion. In: Soil Erosion, Conservation, and Rehabilitation. New York: Marcel Dekker, 125–152.

Shi Z H, Fang N F, Wu F Z, et al. 2012a. Soil erosion processes and sediment sorting associated with transport mechanisms on steep slopes. Journal of Hydrology, 454–455: 123–130.

Shi Z H, Yue B J, Wang L, et al. 2012b. Effects of mulch cover rate on interrill erosion processes and the size selectivity of eroded sediment on steep slopes. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 77: 257–267.

Slattery M C, Burt T P. 1997. Particle size characteristics of suspended sediment in hillslope runoff and stream flow. Earth Surface Process and Landforms, 22: 705–719.

Song Y, Liu L Y, Yan P. 2006. A review on complex erosion by wind and water research. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 16: 231–241.

Su Y Z, Zhao H L, Zhao W Z, et al. 2004. Fractal features of soil particle-size distribution and the implication for indicating desertification. Geoderma, 122: 43–49.

Sweeney M R, Loope D B. 2001. Holocene dunesourced alluvial fans in

the Nebraska Sand Hills. Geomorphology, 38: 31–46.

Tang K L. 2000. Importance and urgency of harnessing the interlocked area with both water and wind erosion in the Loess Plateau. Soil and Water Conservation in China, 11: 11–12, 17. (in Chinese)

Tang K L, Hou Q C, Wang B K, et al. 1993. The environment background and administration way of wind-water erosion crisscross region and Shenmu experimental area on the Loess Plateau. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 18: 1–15. (in Chinese)

Uri N D. 2001. The environmental implications of soil erosion in the United States. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 66: 293–312.

Visser S M, Sterk G, Ribolzi O. 2004. Techniques for simultaneous quantification of wind and water erosion in semi-arid regions. Journal of Arid Environments, 59: 699–717.

Wan Y, El-Swaify S A. 1998. Characterizing interrill sediment size by partitioning splash and wash processes. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 62: 430–437.

Wang L, Shi Z H, Wang J, et al. 2014. Rainfall kinetic energy controlling erosion processes and sediment sorting on steep hillslopes: a case study of clay loam soil from the Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Hydrology, 512: 168–176.

Xu G C, Li Z B, Li P. 2013. Fractal features of soil particle-size distribution and total soil nitrogen distribution in a typical watershed in the source area of the middle Dan River, China. Catena, 101: 17–23.

Xu J X. 1998. A study of physico-geographical factors for formation of hyperconcentrated flows in the Loess Plateau of China. Geomorphology, 24: 245–255.

Xu J X. 2000. The wind-water two-phase erosion and sediment-producing processes in the middle Yellow River basin, China. Science in China Series D: Earth Science, 43: 176–186.

Xu J X. 2005. Hyperconcentrated flows as influenced by coupled wind-water processes. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 48: 1990–2000.

Yang M Y, Walling D E, Sun X J, et al. 2013. A wind tunnel experiment to explore the feasibility of using beryllium-7 measurements to estimate soil loss by wind erosion. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 114: 81–93.

Zhang G H, Liu G B, Wang G L, et al. 2011. Effects of vegetation cover and rainfall intensity on sediment-bound nutrient loss, size composition and volume fractal dimension of sediment particles. Pedosphere, 21: 676–684.

Zhao H L, Yi X Y, Zhou R L, et al. 2006. Wind erosion and sand accumulation effects on soil properties in Horqin Sandy Farmland, Inner Mongolia. Catena, 65: 71–79.
[1] ZHOU Jiqiong, GONG Jinchao, WANG Pengsen, SU Yingying, LI Xuxu, LI Xiangjun, LIU Lin, BAI Yanfu, MA Congyu, WANG Wen, HUANG Ting, YAN Yanhong, ZHANG Xinquan. Historical tillage promotes grass-legume mixtures establishment and accelerates soil microbial activity and organic carbon decomposition[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(7): 910-924.
[2] Orhan DENGİZ, İnci DEMİRAĞ TURAN. Soil quality assessment for desertification based on multi-indicators with the best-worst method in a semi-arid ecosystem[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(7): 779-796.
[3] HUI Rong, TAN Huijuan, LI Xinrong, WANG bingyao. Variation of soil physical-chemical characteristics in salt-affected soil in the Qarhan Salt Lake, Qaidam Basin[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(3): 341-355.
[4] CHEN Shumin, JIN Zhao, ZHANG Jing, YANG Siqi. Soil quality assessment in different dammed-valley farmlands in the hilly-gully mountain areas of the northern Loess Plateau, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2021, 13(8): 777-789.
[5] Xifeng ZHANG, Xin JIN, Xiao BAI, Yanbin JIANG, Chansheng HE. Impacts of water resource planning on regional water consumption pattern: A case study in Dunhuang Oasis, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2019, 11(5): 713-728.
[6] BELALA Fahima, HIRCHE Azziz, D MULLER Serge, TOURKI Mahmoud, SALAMANI Mostefa, GRANDI Mohamed, AIT HAMOUDA Tahar, BOUGHANI Madjid. Rainfall patterns of Algerian steppes and the impacts on natural vegetation in the 20th century[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2018, 10(4): 561-573.
[7] Z MGANGA Kevin, M NYARIKI Dickson, K R MUSIMBA Nashon, A AMWATA Dorothy. Determinants and rates of land degradation: Application of stationary time-series model to data from a semi-arid environment in Kenya[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2018, 10(1): 1-11.
[8] Wen SHANG, Yuqiang LI, Xueyong ZHAO, Tonghui ZHANG, Quanlin MA, Jinnian TANG, Jing FENG, Na SU. Effects of Caragana microphylla plantations on organic carbon sequestration in total and labile soil organic carbon fractions in the Horqin Sandy Land, northern China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(5): 688-700.
[9] Xiaoyun LI, Yiquan WANG, E REYNOLDS Mark, Xiaoping LI, Xinwei LU. Long-term agricultural activity affects anthropogenic soil on the Chinese Loess Plateau[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(5): 678-687.
[10] YANG Zhaoping, GAO Jixi, YANG Meng, SUN Zhizhong. Effects of freezing intensity on soil solution nitrogen and microbial biomass nitrogen in an alpine grassland ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2016, 8(5): 749-759.
[11] WANG Shaokun, ZHAO Xueyong, ZHAO Halin, LIAN Jie, LUO Yongqing, YUN Jianying. Impact of sand burial on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity and soil quality in Horqin sandy cropland, Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2016, 8(4): 569-578.
[12] Alisher MIRZABAEV, Mohamed AHMED, Jutta WERNER, John PENDER, Mounir LOUHAICHI. Rangelands of Central Asia: challenges and opportunities[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2016, 8(1): 93-108.
[13] Yang QIU, ZhongKui XIE, YaJun WANG, Sukhdev S MALHI, JiLong REN. Long-term effects of gravel―sand mulch on soil orga¬nic carbon and nitrogen in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2015, 7(1): 46-53.
[14] BingChang ZHANG, XiaoBing ZHOU, YuanMing ZHANG. Responses of microbial activities and soil physical-chemical properties to the successional process of biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Xinjiang[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2015, 7(1): 101-109.
[15] Stephen M MUREITHI, Ann VERDOODT, Charles KK GACHENE, Jesse T NJOKA, Vivian O WASONGA, Stefaan De NEVE, Elizabeth MEYERHOFF, Eric Van RANST. Impact of enclosure management on soil properties and microbial biomass in a restored semi-arid rangeland, Kenya[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2014, 6(5): 561-570.