Analysis of Runoff and Sediment Losses from a Sloped Roadbed under Variable Rainfall Intensities and Vegetation Conditions

Chunfeng Jia, Baoping Sun, Xinxiao Yu and Xiaohui Yang
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Chunfeng Jia: School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Baoping Sun: School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Xinxiao Yu: School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Xiaohui Yang: Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100864, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: Vegetation plays an important role in reducing soil erosion. By exploring the allocation and coverage of different types of vegetation, we can improve management practices that can significantly reduce soil erosion. In this experiment, we study runoff and sediment losses on a shrub-grass planted, grass planted, and bare slope under different rainfall intensities. Results showed that the runoff generation time for the three subgrade types decreased as rainfall intensity increased ( p < 0.05). The slopes planted with either grass or shrub-grass were able to effectively delay runoff generation. As rainfall intensity increased, the runoff amount increased for all treatments, with runoff in the bare slope increasing the most. The runoff reduction rate from the shrub-grass slope ranged from 54.20% to 63.68%, while the reduction rate from the slope only planted with grass ranged from 38.59% to 55.37%. The sediment yield from the bare slope increased from 662.66 g/m 2 (15 mm/h) to 2002.95 g/m 2 (82 mm/h) with increasing rainfall intensity in the plot. When compared with the bare slope, both the shrub-grass and planted grass slopes were able to retain an additional 0.9 g/m 2 to 4.9 g/m 2 of sediment, respectively. An accurate relationship between rainfall intensity, sloped vegetation types, and runoff reduction rate was obtained by regression analysis and validated. These results can provide a reference for improving soil and water conservation via improved vegetation allocation on a sloped roadbed.

Keywords: precipitation; shrub-grass; soil erosion; soil and water conversation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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