Comprehensive analysis of relationship between vegetation attributes and soil erosion on hillslopes in the Loess Plateau of China

Hou, Jian; Fu, Bojie; Wang, Shuai; Zhu, He

doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3076-1

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…It has thus been suggested that the relationship between the soil 137 Cs inventory and species diversity (SHDI) can be modulated by the vegetation pattern (LSI) (Bautista et al, 2007). To reveal whether similar vegetation patterns can present the relationship between plant diversity (SHDI) and the extent of soil erosion (soil 137 Cs inventory) better than different patterns (Hou et al, 2014), these plots were divided into nine groups. There are more similar vegetation patterns within a group than between groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the relationship between plant diversity and soil erosion can be affected by the vegetation pattern (Bautista et al, 2007). It has been suggested that similar vegetation patterns can be better conditions for determining the relationship between plant diversity and soil erosion than areas with different vegetation patterns (Hou et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of plant diversity on soil erosion for different vegetation patterns

Hou

Wang²,

et al. 2016

CATENA

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Vegetation effectively prevents soil erosion. However the relationship between plant diversity and soil erosion remains ambiguous under various environmental conditions. To explore the role that plant diversity plays in soil erosion, this study was conducted in the Three-River-Source region, located in the hinterlands of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. After examining 99 plots within the study area, and analyzing the soil 137 Cs inventory within the plots, we found that with a greater number of plants distributed within an aggregation pattern, there was greater interception of the soil particles by the vegetation patch. This phenomenon results in a more developed vegetation patch that can support greater vegetation coverage and higher plant diversity than it previously could. Although a positive correlation exists between plant diversity and vegetation coverage, the relationship between the extent of soil erosion and plant diversity is modulated by the vegetation pattern. When plants are distributed in a relatively homogeneous pattern, vegetation coverage decreases with increasing plant diversity, which leads to increased soil erosion. When plants are distributed between a homogenous and a heterogeneous pattern, no relationship is found between plant diversity and soil erosion. With a heterogeneous plant distribution, vegetation coverage increases with plant diversity, and soil erosion is inhibited under such conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of plant diversity on soil erosion for different vegetation patterns

Hou

Wang²,

et al. 2016

CATENA

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“…Furthermore, there are uncertainties and contradictions in the relationships between pattern indexes and runoff and soil erosion (Liu et al, 2013;Ludwig et al, 2002;Ouyang et al, 2010). As pattern indexes are interdependent, it is difficult to show how landscape patterns prevent soil erosion using a single pattern index (Bautista et al, 2007;Hou et al, 2014).…”

Section: Application Of Pattern Indexes To Represent Vegetation Spatimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the slope scale, due to the development of interrill and rill erosion, in addition to aboveground vegetation cover and litter, plant roots must be considered as a crucial factor (Gyssels et al, 2005). Vegetation distribution patterns determine landscape fragmentation and connectivity, and plant diversity contributes greatly to runoff and sediment yields (Bautista et al, 2007;Hou et al, 2014;Pohl et al, 2009;Wei et al, 2014). Several studies have concluded that topography (e.g., slope gradient and slope length) shapes the effects of vegetation on runoff and sediment (Donjadee and Chinnarasri, 2012;Liu et al, 2012;Sadeghi et al, 2013).…”

Section: Scale Issues On the Relationships Of Vegetation Factors Withmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of vegetation on runoff and soil loss: Multidimensional structure analysis and scale characteristics

et al. 2017

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This review summarizes the effects of vegetation on runoff and soil loss in three dimensions: vertical vegetation structures (aboveground vegetation cover, surface litter layer and underground roots), plant diversity, vegetation patterns and their scale characteristics. Quantitative relationships between vegetation factors with runoff and soil loss are described. A framework for describing relationships involving vegetation, erosion and scale is proposed. The relative importance of each vegetation dimension for various erosion processes changes across scales. With the development of erosion features (i.e., splash, interrill, rill and gully), the main factor of vertical vegetation structures in controlling runoff and soil loss changes from aboveground biomass to roots. Plant diversity levels are correlated with vertical vegetation structures and play a key role at small scales, while vegetation patterns also maintain a critical function across scales (i.e., patch, slope, catchment and basin/region). Several topics for future study are proposed in this review, such as to determine efficient vegetation architectures for ecological restoration, to consider the dynamics of vegetation patterns, and to identify the interactions involving the three dimensions of vegetation.

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“…Vegetation can decrease sand dune encroachment intensity [40] and soil erosion and create a micro-climate for the local population and their livestock [41,42]. Therefore, vegetation plants enrich organic soil and provide a high capacity to reduce the intensity of soil erosion, thus improving the coherence and quality of soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Desertification Sensitivity Analysis Using MEDALUS Model and GIS: A Case Study of the Oases of Middle Draa Valley, Morocco

Lamqadem

Pradhan

Saber

et al. 2018

Sensors

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Oases can play a significant role in the sustainable economic development of arid and Saharan regions. The aim of this study was to map the desertification-sensitive areas in the Middle Draa Valley (MDV), which is in the southeast of Morocco. A total of 13 indices that affect desertification processes were identified and analyzed using a geographic information system. The Mediterranean desertification and land use approach; which has been widely used in the Mediterranean regions due to its simplicity; flexibility and rapid implementation strategy; was applied. All the indices were grouped into four main quality indices; i.e., soil quality; climate quality; vegetation quality and management quality indices. Each quality index was constructed by the combination of several sub-indicators. In turn; the geometric mean of the four quality index maps was used to construct a map of desertification-sensitive areas; which were classified into four classes (i.e., low; moderate; high and very high sensitivity). Results indicated that only 16.63% of the sites in the study were classified as least sensitive to desertification; and 50.34% were classified as highly and very highly sensitive areas. Findings also showed that climate and human pressure factors are the most important indicators affecting desertification sensitivity in the MDV. The framework used in this research provides suitable results and can be easily implemented in similar oasis arid areas.

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Comprehensive analysis of relationship between vegetation attributes and soil erosion on hillslopes in the Loess Plateau of China

Cited by 23 publications

References 40 publications

Effects of plant diversity on soil erosion for different vegetation patterns

Effects of plant diversity on soil erosion for different vegetation patterns

The effects of vegetation on runoff and soil loss: Multidimensional structure analysis and scale characteristics

Desertification Sensitivity Analysis Using MEDALUS Model and GIS: A Case Study of the Oases of Middle Draa Valley, Morocco

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