Effects of typical surface cover types on the soil erodibility of terrace risers in the hilly regions of southwestern China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2024514

Abstract

Abstract:

In the hilly and mountainous areas of southwest China， newly constructed terraced field embankments are highly susceptible to rainfall erosion， which can lead to the formation of eroded gullies and severe soil and water losses. In this study， we investigated the effect of different surface cover types on the soil erodibility of embankments. The study was conducted in a newly developed high-standard farmland area in Shizhu County， Chongqing， and soils from terraced embankments with herbaceous vegetation cover， biological crust cover， and bare land cover （control） were analyzed. The results demonstrated that， compared with soil from bare land embankments， soils from embankments with herbaceous vegetation cover and biocrust cover showed significantly increased saturated hydraulic conductivity， mean weight diameter of aggregates， average number of droplets， and soil cohesion， and significantly lower soil erodibility （K-factor）， disintegration rate， maximum disintegration rate， and comprehensive soil erodibility index （CSEI）. The CSEI of soils from embankments with herbaceous vegetation cover and biological crust cover was 57.7% and 35.6% lower， respectively， than the CSEI of soil from bare land embankments. The changes in the CSEI of soils from different types of embankments were monitored from mid-summer （July） to early winter （November）. The CSEI of soils changed over time， and the pattern of change differed among the three types of embankments. The CSEI of soils from embankments with bare land cover and with herbaceous vegetation cover exhibited a gradually decreasing trend over time. The CSEI of soil from bare land embankments decreased from 0.82 to 0.60， and the CSEI of soil from embankments with herbaceous vegetation cover decreased from 0.45 to 0.14. In contrast， the CSEI of soil from embankments with biological crust cover first decreased （from 0.45 in July to 0.24 in August） and then increased （to 0.58 in November）. Path analysis indicated that the changes in the CSEI of soil in embankments with herbaceous vegetation cover were mainly driven by soil structural changes due to vegetation growth； the changes in the CSEI of soil in embankments with biological crust cover were closely related to the consolidation effect of the biological crust； and the changes in the CSEI of the soil in bare land embankments were primarily influenced by changes in organic matter content. The results of this study reveal the mechanisms by which different cover types affect the erodibility of soils in terraced embankments， providing scientific technical data and practical guidance for improving the stability of these structures.

Key words: soil erodibility, terrace ridges, surface cover, soil erosion

Sheng-hui ZHANG, Ping-zong ZHU, Fu-lin LUO, Ding-bin WANG, Xiao-yan CHEN. Effects of typical surface cover types on the soil erodibility of terrace risers in the hilly regions of southwestern China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2025, 34(11): 40-52.

Figures/Tables 11

References 31

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自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	间接通径系数Indirect path coefficient				总通径系数 Total path coefficient
自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	植被覆盖度 Vegetation coverage	总孔隙度 Total porosity	毛管孔隙度 Capillary porosity	合计 Total	总通径系数 Total path coefficient
植被覆盖度Vegetation coverage	-0.436	-	-0.153	-0.126	-0.279	-0.715
总孔隙度Total porosity	-0.519	-0.182	-	-0.257	-0.439	-0.958
毛管孔隙度Capillary porosity	-0.320	-0.107	-0.230	-	-0.337	-0.658

自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	间接通径系数Indirect path coefficient				总通径系数 Total path coefficient
自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	植被覆盖度 Vegetation coverage	总孔隙度 Total porosity	毛管孔隙度 Capillary porosity	合计 Total	总通径系数 Total path coefficient
植被覆盖度Vegetation coverage	-0.436	-	-0.153	-0.126	-0.279	-0.715
总孔隙度Total porosity	-0.519	-0.182	-	-0.257	-0.439	-0.958
毛管孔隙度Capillary porosity	-0.320	-0.107	-0.230	-	-0.337	-0.658

自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	间接通径系数Indirect path coefficient					总通径系数Total path coefficient
自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	有机质Organic matter content	结皮厚度Biological crust thickness	毛管孔隙度 Capillary porosity	砂粒含量Sand content	合计Total	总通径系数Total path coefficient
有机质含量Organic matter content	-0.299	-	-0.194	0.009	0.064	-0.121	-0.420
结皮厚度Biological crust thickness	-0.528	-0.343	-	0.155	-0.147	-0.335	-0.863
毛管孔隙度Capillary porosity	-0.271	0.008	0.134	-	0.060	0.203	-0.068
砂粒含量Sand content	0.260	-0.056	0.002	-0.058	-	-0.111	0.149

自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	间接通径系数Indirect path coefficient					总通径系数Total path coefficient
自变量 Argument	直接通径系数 Direct path coefficient	有机质Organic matter content	结皮厚度Biological crust thickness	毛管孔隙度 Capillary porosity	砂粒含量Sand content	合计Total	总通径系数Total path coefficient
有机质含量Organic matter content	-0.299	-	-0.194	0.009	0.064	-0.121	-0.420
结皮厚度Biological crust thickness	-0.528	-0.343	-	0.155	-0.147	-0.335	-0.863
毛管孔隙度Capillary porosity	-0.271	0.008	0.134	-	0.060	0.203	-0.068
砂粒含量Sand content	0.260	-0.056	0.002	-0.058	-	-0.111	0.149