Synergistic effects of vegetation restoration and check dams on water erosion in a slope‐gully system

Bibliographic Data

ID21649237
AuthorsLulu Bai (0000-0003-0268-0858, State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China Xi'an University of Technology Xi'an 710048 PR China), Peng Shi (0000-0002-2322-183X, State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China Xi'an University of Technology Xi'an 710048 PR China, corresponding author), Zhanbin Li (0000-0003-3389-5069, State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China Xi'an University of Technology Xi'an 710048 PR China), Peng Li (0000-0002-7138-430X, State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China Xi'an University of Technology Xi'an 710048 PR China), Zhun Zhao (State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China Xi'an University of Technology Xi'an 710048 PR China), Jingbin Dong (State Key Laboratory of Eco‐hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China Xi'an University of Technology Xi'an 710048 PR China), Lingzhou Cui (College of Life and Environmental Science Wenzhou University Wenzhou 325035 PR China, corresponding author), Hongbo Niu (Shaanxi Coalbed Methane Development Co., Ltd Xi'an 710119 PR China), Pengju Zu (Shaanxi Ecological Industry Co., Ltd Xi'an 710061 PR China), Manhong Cao (Shaanxi Ecological Industry Co., Ltd Xi'an 710061 PR China)
Year2023
Volume34
Issue12
Pages3581-3592
Publication date2023-07-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLand Degradation and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1085-3278 • E-ISSN: 1099-145X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ldr.4704
OpenAlexW4362672102
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited44

Restoring vegetation and constructing check dams are important measures for controlling water erosion in slope‐gully systems. However, percolation through the dam body could lead to shortened runoff paths in the gully. Moreover, the synergistic effects of vegetation patterns and siltation‐induced runoff path length decrease (RPLD) in slope‐gully systems on reducing water erosion remain unclear. In this study, 20 physical models of slope‐gully systems were constructed to quantitatively evaluate the synergistic effect of these measures under simulated rainfall. The models included four slope vegetation patterns (no vegetation, up‐slope, middle‐slope, and down‐slope) and five levels of RPLD in the gully (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 m). Owing to synergistic effects, combined measures led to a more considerable reduction in soil and water loss than a single measure. Furthermore, the synergistic effect was related to vegetation patterns and shorter siltation‐induced runoff paths. The mean synergistic effect produced the following runoff yield order: down‐slope (2.84%) > middle‐slope (2.81%) > up‐slope (1.78%); and 4 m (3.18%) > 3 m (2.66%) > 2 m (2.29%) > 1 m (1.78%). The sediment yields were in the following order: down‐slope (18.15%) > middle‐slope (12.63%) > up‐slope (6.67%), and 4 m (14.56%) > 3 m (12.82%) > 2 m (11.73%) > 1 m (10.82%). These results suggest that revegetation of the lower parts of the slope, along with check dams, will be more effective for controlling soil erosion. Such synergistic effects should be considered in future soil erosion modeling

Erosion · Geomorphology · Geotechnical engineering · Gully Erosion · Revegetation · Sediment · Siltation · Slope stability · Surface runoff · Vegetation and slope stability · Environmental Science · Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes · Landslides and related hazards · Soil erosion and sediment transport · Ecology · Geology · Soil Science

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