| Orginal Article |
|
|
|
|
| Impacts of land disturbance and restoration on runoff production and sediment yield inthe Chinese Loess Plateau |
Ning AI1,2,3,4, Tianxing WEI1, Qingke ZHU1,*( ), Fangfang QIANG2, Huan MA1, Wei QIN3 |
1 School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
2College of Life Science, Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, China;
3China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, China
4International Research and TrainingCenter on Erosion and Sedimentation, Beijing 100048, China |
|
|
|
Abstract Land disturbance and land restoration are important factors influencing runoff production and sediment yield in the semi-arid loess regions of China.This study compared the runoff production and sediment yield during the early stage after land disturbance (ESLD) with those during restoring stage after land disturbance (RSLD). Grey relational analysis was used to analyse the importance of each one of the influencing factors (vegetation, rainfall, soil and topography) in affecting the runoff production and sediment yield. Our results showed that during ESLD, topography was the most critical factor controlling the runoff production, while soil was the most important factor controllingthe sediment yield. DuringRSLD, vegetation was more important in affecting runoff production, while rainfall was more important in affecting sediment yield. In additional, this study demonstrated that both the runoff production and the sediment yield can be effectively reduced by restoring vegetation on severely-disturbed lands, thus providing an important theoretical basis for better implementations of the Grain for Green Program.Our results revealed that the vegetation types of Hippophaerhamnoides+Pinustabulaeformis and H.rhamnoides are better plant selections for land restoration in this area, especially for relatively gentle slopes (i.e., less than 20 degrees).
|
|
Received: 05 June 2015
Published: 31 July 2017
|
|
Corresponding Authors:
|
|
|
| 1 | Ai N, Wei T X, Zhu Q K.2013. The effect of rainfall for runoff-erosion-sediment yield under the different vegetation types in loess plateau of northern Shaanxi Province. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation,27(2): 26-30, 35. (in Chinese) | | 2 | Brunbjerg A K, Svenning J C, EjrnaesR.2014.Experimental evidence for disturbance as key to the conservation of dune grassland. Biological Conservation,174: 101-110. | | 3 | Chen L D, Wang J, Fu B J, et al.2001. Land-use change in a small catchment of northern Loess Plateau, China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment,86(2): 163-172. | | 4 | Chen L D, Huang Z L, Gong J, et al.2007. The effect of land cover/vegetation on soil water dynamic in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China. Catena,70(2): 200-208. | | 5 | Descheemaeker K, Muys B, Nyssen J, et al.2006. Litter production and organic matter accumulation in enclosures of the Tigray highlands, Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management,233(1): 21-35. | | 6 | Dunne T, Western D, Dietrich W E.2011. Effects of cattle trampling on vegetation, infiltration, and erosion in a tropical rangeland. Journal of Arid Environments,75(1): 58-69. | | 7 | Fu B J, Chen L D, Ma K M, et al.2000. The relationships between land use and soil conditions in the hilly area of the loess plateau in northern Shaanxi, China. Catena,39(1): 69-78. | | 8 | Gao H D, Li Z B, Jia L L, et al.2016. Capacity of soil loss control in the Loess Plateau based on soil erosion control | | 9 | degree. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 26(4): 457-472. | | 10 | García-Ruiz J M.2010. The effects of land uses on soil erosion in Spain: a review. Catena,81(1): 1-11. | | 11 | Gyssels G, Poesen J, Bochet E, et al.2005. Impact of plant roots on the resistance of soils to erosion by water: a review. Progress in Physical Geography,29(2): 189-217. | | 12 | Herrick J E, Van Zee J W, Belnap J, et al.2010. Fine gravel controls hydrologic and erodibility responses to trampling disturbance for coarse-textured soils with weak cyanobacterial crusts. Catena,83(2-3): 119-126. | | 13 | Huang J, Wu P T, Zhao X N.2013. Effects of rainfall intensity, underlying surface and slope gradient on soil infiltration under simulated rainfall experiments. Catena,104: 93-102. | | 14 | Kairis O, Karavitis C, Salvati L, et al.2015. Exploring the impact of overgrazing on soil erosion and land degradation in a dry Mediterranean agro-forest landscape (Crete, Greece). Arid Land Research and Management,29(3): 360-374. | | 15 | Li Z W, Zhang G H, Geng R, et al.2015. Land use impacts on soil detachment capacity by overland flow in the Loess Plateau, China. Catena,124: 9-17. | | 16 | Lin Y, Han G D, Zhao M L, et al.2010. Spatial vegetation patterns as early signs of desertification: a case study of a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Landscape Ecology,25(10): 1519-1527. | | 17 | Ludwig J A, Wilcox B P, Breshears D D, et al.2005. Vegetation patches and runoff-erosion as interacting ecohydrological processes in semiarid landscapes. Ecology,86(2): 288-297. | | 18 | Ma L, Teng Y G, Shangguan Z P.2014. Ecohydrological responses to secondary natural Populusdavidiana and plantationPinustabulaeformiswoodlands on the Loess Plateau of China.Ecohydrology,7(2): 612-621. | | 19 | Malowerschnig B, Sass O.2014. Long-term vegetation development on a wildfire slope in Innerzwain (Styria, Austria). Journal of Forestry Research,25(1): 103-111. | | 20 | Martin C, Pohl M, Alewell C, et al.2010. Interrill erosion at disturbed alpine sites: effects of plant functional diversity and vegetation coverage. Basic and Applied Ecology,11(7): 619-626. | | 21 | Mathys N, Klotz S, Esteves M, et al.2005. Runoff and erosion in the black marls of the French Alps: observations and measurements at the plot scale. Catena,63(2-3): 261-281. | | 22 | McDowell R W, Drewry J J, Paton R J, et al.2003. Influence of soil treading on sediment and phosphorus losses in overland flow. Australian Journal of Soil Research,41(5): 949-961. | | 23 | Meng Q H, Fu B J, Tang X P, et al.2008. Effects of land use on phosphorus loss in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment,139(1-3): 195-204. | | 24 | Mohammad A G, Adam M A.2010. The impact of vegetative cover type on runoff and soil erosion under different land uses. Catena,81(2): 97-103. | | 25 | Mohr C H, Coppus R, Iroumé A, et al.2013. Runoff generation and soil erosion processes after clear cutting. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface,118(2): 814-831. | | 26 | Návar J.2011. Stemflow variation in Mexico's northeastern forest communities: its contribution to soil moisture content and aquifer recharge. Journal of Hydrology,408(1-2): 35-42. | | 27 | Nunes A N, de Almeida A C, CoelhoC O A.2011. Impacts of land use and cover type on runoff and soil erosion in a marginal area of Portugal. Applied Geography,31(2): 687-699. | | 28 | Pan C Z, Shangguan Z P, Lei T W.2006. Influences of grass and moss on runoff and sediment yield on sloped loess surfaces under simulated rainfall. Hydrological Processes,20(18): 3815-3824. | | 29 | Peng T, Wang S J.2012. Effects of land use, land cover and rainfall regimes on the surface runoff and soil loss on karst slopes in southwest China. Catena,90: 53-62. | | 30 | Pohl M, Graf F, Buttler A, et al.2012. The relationship between plant species richness and soil aggregate stability can depend on disturbance. Plant and Soil,355(1-2): 87-102. | | 31 | Porto P, Walling D E, Callegari G.2009.Investigating the effects of afforestation on soil erosion and sediment mobilization in two small catchments in Southern Italy. Catena,79(3): 181-188. | | 32 | Smith D D, WischmeierW H.1962.Rainfall erosion. Advances in Agronomy,14: 109-148. | | 33 | Snyman H A.2005. Rangeland degradation in a semi-arid South Africa-I: influence on seasonal root distribution, root/shoot ratios and water-use efficiency. Journal of Arid Environments,60(3): 457-481. | | 34 | Snyman H A, du Preez C C.2005. Rangeland degradation in a semi-arid South Africa—II: influence on soil quality. Journal of Arid Environments,60(3): 483-507. | | 35 | Taye G, Poesen J, Van Wesemael B, et al.2013. Effects of land use, slope gradient, and soil and water conservation structures on runoff and soil loss in semi-arid Northern Ethiopia. Physical Geography,34(3): 236-259. | | 36 | Tiwari K R, Sitaula B K, Bajracharya R M, et al.2009. Runoff and soil loss responses to rainfall, land use, terracing and management practices in the middle mountains of Nepal. ActaAgriculturaeScandinavica, Section B-Soil & Plant Science,59(3): 197-207. | | 37 | Ungar E D, Stavi I, Lavee H, et al.2010. Effects of livestock traffic on rock fragment movement on hillsides in a semiarid patchy rangeland. Land Degradation & Development,21(2): 92-99. | | 38 | Vacca A, Loddo S, Ollesch G, et al.2000. Measurement of runoff and soil erosion in three areas under different land use in Sardinia (Italy). Catena,40(1): 69-92. | | 39 | Vacher C A, Loch R J, Raine S R.2003. Effect of polyacrylamide additions on infiltration and erosion of disturbed lands. Australian Journal of Soil Research,41(8): 1509-1520. | | 40 | Vanacker V, Bellin N, Molina A, et al.2014. Erosion regulation as a function of human disturbances to vegetation coverage: a conceptual model. Landscape Ecology,29(2): 293-309. | | 41 | Wang B, Zhang G H, Shi Y Y, et al.2013. Effect of natural restoration time of abandoned farmland on soil detachment by overland flow in the Loess Plateau of China. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms,38(14): 1725-1734. | | 42 | Wang B, Zhang G H, Shi Y Y, et al.2014a. Soil detachment by overland flow under different vegetation restoration models in the Loess Plateau of China. Catena,116: 51-59. | | 43 | Wang B, Zhang G H, Zhang X C, et al.2014b. Effects of near soil surface characteristics on soil detachment by overland flow in a natural succession grassland. Soil Science Society of America Journal,78(2): 589-597. | | 44 | Wang L, Wei S P, Horton R, et al.2011. Effects of vegetation and slope aspect on water budget in the hill and gully region of the Loess Plateau of China. Catena,87(1): 90-100. | | 45 | Wei W, Chen L D, Fu B J, et al.2007. The effect of land uses and rainfall regimes on runoff and soil erosion in the semi-arid loess hilly area, China. Journal of Hydrology,335(3-4): 247-258. | | 46 | Wei W, Chen L D, Fu B J, et al.2009. Responses of water erosion to rainfall extremes and vegetation types in a loess semiarid hilly area, NW China. Hydrological Processes,23(12): 1780-1791. | | 47 | Wei W, Jia F Y, Yang L, et al.2014. Effects of surficial condition and rainfall intensity on runoff in a loess hilly area, China. Journal of Hydrology, 513: 115-126. | | 48 | Wilcox B P, Breshears D D, Allen C D.2003. Ecohydrology of a resource-conserving semiarid woodland: effects of scale and disturbance. Ecological Monographs,73(2): 223-239. | | 49 | Xu X L, Ma K M, Fu B J, et al.2008. Influence of three plant species with different morphologies on water runoff and soil loss in a dry-warm river valley, SW China. Forest Ecology and Management,256(4): 656-663. | | 50 | Xu X L, Ma K M, Fu B J, et al.2009. Soil and water erosion under different plant species in a semiarid river valley, SW China: the effects of plant morphology. Ecological Research,24(1): 37-46. | | 51 | Yang F S, Cao M M, Li H E, et al.2013. Simulation of sediment retention effects of the single seabuckthorn flexible dam in the Pisha Sandstone area. Ecological Engineering,52: 228-237. | | 52 | Zhang G H, Tang M K, Zhang X C.2009. Temporal variation in soil detachment under different land uses in the loess plateau of China. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms,34(9): 1302-1309. | | 53 | Zhao G, Mu X, Wen Z, et al.2013. Soil erosion, conservation, and eco-environment changes in the loess plateau of China. Land Degradation & Development,24(5): 499-510. | | 54 | Zhao J, Wei T X, Chen Z F, et al.2010. Soil and water conservation benefit analysis for different vegetation in young forests converted by farmland of WuqiCounty in Shaanxi province. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 24(3): 31-34, 49. (in Chinese) | | 55 | Zhao X N, Huang J, Wu P T, et al.2014. The dynamic effects of pastures and crop on runoff and sediments reduction at loess slopes under simulated rainfall conditions. Catena,119: 1-7. | | 56 | Zheng F L.2005. Effects of accelerated soil erosion on soil nutrient loss after deforestation on the loess plateau. Pedosphere,15(6): 707-715. | | 57 | Zheng F L, He X B, Gao X T, et al.2005. Effects of erosion patterns on nutrient loss following deforestation on the Loess Plateau of China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment,108(1): 85-97. | | 58 | Zheng F L.2006. Effect of vegetation changes on soil erosion on the Loess Plateau.Pedosphere,16(4): 420-427. | | 59 | Zhu J L, Gao P, Geissen V, et al.2015. Impacts of rainfall and land use on sediment regime in a semi-arid region: case study of the Wuqi catchment in the upper Beiluo river basin, China. Arid Land Research and Management,29(1): 1-16. |
|
|
Viewed |
|
|
|
Full text
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
|
Cited |
|
|
|
|
| |
Shared |
|
|
|
|
| |
Discussed |
|
|
|
|
