Runoff- and erosion-reducing effects of vegetation on the loess hillslopes of China under concentrated flow

Abstract

Evaluating the effects of revegetation on runoff and erosion reduction is essential for studying soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau after implementation of China's Grain for Green Project. However, quantifying the influence of revegetation on the erosion caused by concentrated runoff in extreme rainstorms is still challenging. To evaluate this influence, scouring-erosion experiments were implemented in situ on the vegetated hillslope plots (GR) and bare hillslope plots (CK). The runoff-reducing effects of grass (GRR) averaged 31%, 20% and 8%, and the erosion-reducing effects of grass (GER) averaged 93%, 95% and 93% on the 5°-plots, 10°-plots and 18°-plots, respectively. The ratios of GRR to GER were 0.09–0.33, implying that the ability of vegetation to reduce erosion was greater than its ability to reduce runoff. The GRR and GER obviously decreased as the inflow rate increased, and the GRR decreased as the hillslope gradient increased, but there were no obvious differences in the GER between hillslope gradients. Vegetation could decrease the ability of the concentrated flow to carry and transport sediment and increase the energy consumption of the concentrated flow in response to hydraulic resistance. Vegetation also significantly reduced the degree of rill development. The degree of rill dissection on the GR (0.054–0.087 m2 m−2) was lower than that on the CK (0.061–0.184 m2 m−2). Our findings provide an essential reference for ecological environment and vegetation restoration on loess hillslopes.

Keywords

• Soil erosion
• Concentrated runoff
• China's grain for green project
• Vegetation
• Hydraulic parameters
• Chinese loess plateau