Response of Runoff Change to Soil and Water Conservation Measures in the Jing River Catchment of China

Xiaoxin Li, Ruichen Mao, Jinxi Song (), Junqing Gao, Aying Shi, Wei Xiang and Haotian Sun
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Xiaoxin Li: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Ruichen Mao: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Jinxi Song: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Junqing Gao: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Aying Shi: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Wei Xiang: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Haotian Sun: Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: Soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) are vital in reducing runoff and ultimately affect water security and regional development. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the impact of a single SWCM, neglecting to distinguish between the effects of different SWCMs on runoff reduction. A Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was established in the Jing River catchment to identify the responses to runoff changes resulting from climate change and human activities. The model was used to quantitatively analyse the impact of different SWCMs on runoff reduction. The results indicated that human activities contributed significantly more to runoff reduction than climate change. The reduction benefits of different unit area changes for each SWCM on discharge, surface runoff and water yield at the outlet were ranked as follows: changing cultivated land to forest land > changing cultivated land to grassland > building terraces on a 5–15° slope > building terraces on a 5–25° slope > building terraces on a 15–25° slope. Regional authorities should comprehensively consider the effects of various SWCMs on water reduction, and optimise the layout of vegetation and terracing measures, to support the efficient utilization of water resources in the Jing River catchment.

Keywords: SWAT model; climate change; human activities; runoff reduction; Jing River catchment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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