Evaluating the Dominant Controls of Water Erosion in Three Dry Valley Types Using the RUSLE and Geodetector Method

Chao Yang, Jianrong Fan, Jiali Liu, Fubao Xu and Xiyu Zhang
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Chao Yang: Research Center for Digital Mountain and Remote Sensing Application, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Jianrong Fan: Research Center for Digital Mountain and Remote Sensing Application, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Jiali Liu: Research Center for Digital Mountain and Remote Sensing Application, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Fubao Xu: Research Center for Digital Mountain and Remote Sensing Application, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
Xiyu Zhang: Research Center for Digital Mountain and Remote Sensing Application, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The dry valley is a unique geographic phenomenon in Southwest China with severe water erosion. However, little is known regarding its dominant controls and the discrepancies between dry valley subtypes, leading to the poor management of water erosion. To solve these problems, the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and Geodetector method were used in a dry temperate (DT), dry warm (DW), and dry hot (DH) valley. Results indicated that dry valleys suffer severe water erosion with a value of 64.78, 43.85, and 33.81 t·ha −1 ·yr −1 . The Geodetector method is proven to be an efficient tool to quantify the dominant factor of water erosion. It was established that land use types (LUT) have the closest relationship with water erosion. The controls for water erosion could be better explained by multi-factor interactions analysis, particularly for the combination of slope and LUT in DW ( q = 0.71) and DH ( q = 0.66). Additionally, regions at high risk of water erosion were characterized by steep slope (>30°) and low vegetation coverage (<50%) in DT, while the opposite is shown in DH. These findings could provide insight for guiding soil erosion management and ecological restoration strategies that balance economic and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: water erosion; dry valley; dominant controls; high-risk region; Geodetector; RUSLE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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