Soil erosion processes on row sideslopes within contour ridging systems

Liu, Q.J.; Zhang, H.Y.; An, J.; Wu, Yadong

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2013.11.013

Cited by 53 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Consequently, due to sediment deposition or furrow collapse, the original depression water reservoir would begin to generate runoff and carry the sediment with it. The difference in the total runoff decreases under different tillage practices (Liu, Zhang, An, & Wu, ). Similarly, the SSR could increase the extent of flow confluence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Zhao

Duan

et al. 2019

Hydrological Processes

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Surface roughness and slope gradient are two important factors influencing soil erosion. The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil loss from sloping farmland due to water erosion on the Loess Plateau, China. Following the surface features of sloping farmland in the plateau region, we manually prepared rough surfaces using four tillage practices (contour drilling, artificial digging, manual hoeing, and contour plowing), with a smooth surface as the control measure. Five slope gradients (3°, 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) and two rainfall intensities (60 and 90 mm/hr) were considered in the artificial rainfall simulation experiment. The results showed that the runoff volume and sediment yield increased with increasing slope gradient under the same tillage treatment. At gentle slope gradients (e.g., 3° and 5°), the increase in surface roughness prevented the runoff and sediment production, that is, the surface roughness reduced the positive effect of slope gradient on the runoff volume and sediment yield to a certain extent. At steep slope gradients, however, the enhancing effect of slope gradient on soil erosion gradually increased and surpassed the reduction effect of surface roughness. This study reveals the existence of a critical slope gradient that influences the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling soil erosion on sloping farmland. If the slope gradient is equal to or less than the critical value, an increase in surface roughness would decrease soil erosion. Otherwise, the increase in surface roughness would be ineffective for preventing soil erosion. The critical slope gradient would be smaller under higher rainfall intensity. These findings are helpful for us to understand the process of soil erosion and relevant for supporting soil and water conservation in the Loess Plateau region of China.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Zhao

Duan

et al. 2019

Hydrological Processes

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“…For row grade, the RUSLE2 model indicates that the contour ridge system rapidly becomes less effective with increasing row grade (USDA‐ARS, ). Furthermore, when contouring failure occurs, effects of row grade on soil erosion process cannot be neglected, although it exhibited no significant affect on run‐off and sediment yield for inter‐rill erosion (Liu et al ., b). Here, row grade significantly affected NO 3 ‐N loss.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contour ridging is an effective tillage practice that is recommended for reducing run‐off and nonpoint source (NPS) pollution (Quinton & Catt, ; Stevens et al ., ). This tillage management is widely used throughout the world, especially in arid and semi‐arid regions (Jin et al ., ; Liu et al ., ,b). In northern China, contour ridging is the most common practice used on sloping land (Figure ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of the contour ridge system for controlling nitrogen and phosphorus losses under seepage condition

Juan

Liu

YuanZhi

2015

Soil Use and Management

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Contour ridging can enhance the occurrence of deep seepage because more rainwater concentrates in the low areas along furrows when soil is saturated. Greater seepage could significantly increase nonpoint source pollution. To optimize the contour ridge system to effectively control nutrient losses under seepage condition, 23 treatments with three variables (row grade, field slope and ridge height) in five levels were arranged in a quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design. Results showed that field slope and interactions between the three factors did not significantly influence NO 3 -N and PO 4 -P losses. The dominant factor that controlled NO 3 -N loss was ridge height, followed by row grade. The smallest NO 3 -N loss was obtained at a ridge height of 8.72 cm and a row grade of 7.05°. The dominant factor that controlled PO 4 -P loss was ridge height. The optimal ridge height for efficiently controlling PO 4 -P loss was 9.79 cm. For simultaneously maximally controlling NO 3 -N and PO 4 -P losses, a ridge height of 9.26 cm, a row grade of 7.05°and a field slope of 5°were optimum. This study provides guidance for implementing the contour ridge system.

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“…This is because SSR is used as a numerical characteristic of the surface microtopography on a tilled surface and shows a reduced effect during rainfall when compared with that of the original surface condition (Bertol et al, ; Rocha Junior et al, ; Zhao et al, ). However, compared with a reduction in SSR, the changing patterns of the surface microtopography induced by water erosion are diversified (Darboux & Huang, ; Gómez, Darboux, & Nearing, ; Liu, Zhang, An, & Wu, ; Zhao et al, ). For example, sediment deposition from upslope contributing areas leads to a relative height increase in depressional areas, the impact of raindrops leads to a relative height decrease in mound areas, and ridge failure and rill network development occur over the surface due to run‐off scouring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of tillage on soil erosion before and after rill development

Zhao

Hou

2018

Land Degrad Dev

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Tillage has a large effect on soil surface microtopography and consequently on soil erosion. Here, we measured soil and water loss from soil prepared by contour tillage (CT) and reservoir tillage (RT), and to analyse why tilled slopes produce more sediment run‐off. Rainfall experiments (90 mm/hr) were carried out to simulate the overland and rill flow erosion processes. Soil type is silt clay loam. Results showed that CT and RT reduced surface run‐off by 60% compared with a smooth slope during overland flow, whereas only a small reduction in run‐off occurred during rill flow. Sediment erosion from CT was reduced by about 30–60% compared with a smooth slope for both overland and rill flow erosion processes. Although RT also resulted in reduced sediment erosion during overland flow, sediment erosion increased by 25% during rill flow, leading to an overall increase in sediment flow on the RT‐treated slope. For slopes with CT, sediment production depends on the ridges, but furrows limit sediment transport. For slopes with RT, sediment production depends on the depressions, but once the depressions fill with sediment, rainwater outflowing from the depressions cause rill flow erosion and greater sediment loss compared with CT. Our results suggest that sediment and run‐off differences for different surface microtopographies induced by tillage are significant, especially during the rill flow erosion process. Future studies should address rill erosion on tilled sloped land with different microtopographies to better determine how rills are triggered and change during rainfall.

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Soil erosion processes on row sideslopes within contour ridging systems

Cited by 53 publications

References 32 publications

Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Exploring the interaction of surface roughness and slope gradient in controlling rates of soil loss from sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau of China

Optimization of the contour ridge system for controlling nitrogen and phosphorus losses under seepage condition

Effect of tillage on soil erosion before and after rill development

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