Effects of Different Aboveground Structural Parts of Grass Strips on the Sediment-Trapping Process

Mingjie Luo, Chengzhong Pan, Yongsheng Cui, Yahui Guo and Yun Wu
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Mingjie Luo: Key Laboratory of Water Sediment Sciences, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Chengzhong Pan: Key Laboratory of Water Sediment Sciences, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Yongsheng Cui: Key Laboratory of Water Sediment Sciences, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Yahui Guo: Key Laboratory of Water Sediment Sciences, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Yun Wu: Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: Grass strips can decrease erosion, trap sediment in silt-laden water flowing downhill, and control nonpoint source pollution. Determining the effects of different parts of grass strips on silt-laden overland flow will improve our understanding of sediment trapping by grass strips with different structures. Sediment trapping by grass strips was studied using a 5° slope, 30 L min −1 m −1 flow rate, 120 g L −1 sediment concentration, and different aboveground components of grass strips (complete grass, removed green grass, and removed green and withered grass). The whole overland flow process was monitored. Meanwhile, the runoff sediment samples at the outlet were collected and measured. Sediment trapping by aboveground grass parts was quantified at different stages. Of the soil bed surface, green grass, and withered grass, the soil bed surface dominated sediment trapping in the initial stage of the sediment-trapping process, contributing about 90% of total sediment deposition in the first 5 min. As the sediment-trapping process continued, the effect of the soil bed surface weakened, and the green grass played a major role at the later stage of sediment trapping. The ratio of the soil bed surface, green grass, and withered grass contributions to total sediment deposition at the stable stage of the experiments was approximately 3:5:2. The results will help assess the effects of vegetation restoration on sediment transport in entire watersheds.

Keywords: grass strips; sediment trapping; silt-laden flow; aboveground; grass strip structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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