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Effects of Soil Conservation Practices on Sediment Yield

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil Conservation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 8081

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Longshan Zhao

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Guest Editor

1. Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China
2. College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: tillage-induced soil surface roughness; water erosion processes and measurements; land-use/cover changes and watershed hydrology; interception loss by litter layer

Dr. Linhua Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
Interests: soil erosion; forest hydrology; ecohydrology; soil carbon loss; isotopes in hydrology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil erosion is a major worldwide threat to agroecosystem sustainability and land productivity, which has accelerated due to human activities such as deforestation, over-tilling, and inappropriate management practices. Intensive agriculture is one of the major causes of arable land degradation involving soil erosion, leaving arable land vulnerable to the loss of fertile topsoil. Approximately 80% of agricultural lands suffer from moderate-to-severe erosion. The FAO-led Global Soil Partnership reports that 75 billion tonnes of soil are eroded annually from arable lands worldwide, which equates to an estimated financial loss of USD 400 billion per year. Therefore, controlling agricultural soil erosion is the foundation of sustainable agricultural production, environmental protection, and food security in many regions across the world.

Adopting appropriate conservation practices such as mulching, contour cropping, intercropping, building terraces and check-dam systems can reduce arable land erosion by decreasing erodibility and runoff efficiency. For example, tillage management practices such as cross-slope intercropping and slope intercropping could prevent more than 60% of the total erosion amount compared to sloping agricultural land. Interplanting crops to increase land coverage is considered an effective measure to prevent soil erosion in agricultural land. Thus, it is feasible to reduce the current soil erosion rate by applying sustainable soil management practices, especially in the areas mostly affected by erosion.

Despite lots of research on soil and water conservation strategies, concerns for worldwide arable soil erosion remain high. Developing and refining soil management practices for water and sediment conservation is crucial when it comes to preserving soil quality for food security. This has created a broader understanding of the processes of arable land erosion and its effects on agroecosystems. Therefore, we call for contributions addressing soil conservation practices in soil erosion and their implications. Reviews, opinions, original research, experimental and odelling studies, and meta-analysis articles are welcome.

Preferred topics consist of three main areas, including (but not limited to):

Response and processes of soil erosion to soil conservation practices;
Effects of soil conservation practices on water infiltration, sediment reduction, and soil carbon/nitrogen/phosphorous loss;
Sustainable soil conservation practices in the context of global change.

Prof. Dr. Longshan Zhao
Dr. Linhua Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

soil and water conservation practices (including agricultural, biological, and engineering practices)
soil erosion processes and mechanisms
hydrological and sediment connectivity
detachability and transportability of soil particles
soil erosion modelling
human effects on runoff and sediment yields
land use/cover changes
soil leakage in karst region

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Counter Tillage and Slope Gradient on Nutrient Losses on Sloping Farmland

by Shuning Lu, Chong Yao and Faqi Wu

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2019; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032019 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1040

Abstract

Counter tillage is a typical cultivation practice on the Loess Plateau, which can influence the soil erosion process by intercepting runoff and increasing infiltration. However, few studies have investigated the mechanisms of nutrient losses associated with counter tillage. This study was conducted to reveal the effects of counter tillage and slope gradient on the soil nutrient loss mechanism on sloping farmland. In this study, the rainfall simulation was conducted with a rainfall intensity of 90 mm·h⁻¹ and with five slope gradients (5.24%, 8.75%, 17.63%, 26.79%, 36.40%). The runoff plots involved the counter tillage (CT) and traditional plow (CK), in order to investigate the characteristics of soil erosion and available phosphorus (AP), ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) losses. The soil erosion characteristics included the time until runoff generation, RR (runoff rate), and SR (sediment rate); the nutrient loss characteristics included nutrient loss concentrations, nutrient loss and nutrient loss rate in runoff or sediment. The results indicated that the RR and SR with a slope gradient of 5.24~26.79% on CT decreased by 11.77~94.92% and 20.69~99.27%, respectively, compared with that of CK. As the slope gradient increased (36.40%), a break in the ridge occurred and the reduction in the RR and SR was weakened; this was likely to be close to that of the CK. Nutrient losses differed significantly between different slope gradients and tillage practices. Nutrient losses increased with an increasing slope gradient. The nutrient losses of AP, NH₄⁺-N, and NO₃⁻-N in runoff, with the slope gradient of 36.40%, increased 75.75%, 76.34%, 75.63%; meanwhile, in sediment, it increased 32.93, 30.70, 32.18 times, compared with the slope gradient of 5.24% on CT. The CT with the slope gradient of 5.24~26.79% had a good effect in controlling nutrient losses; however, for the slope gradient of 36.40%, the effects of CT in controlling nutrient losses decreased. The nutrient loss rate and RR or SR satisfied a linear positive correlation. The reduction benefits of nutrient losses on CT in runoff and sediment can reach 57.7% to 100% and 45.5% to 100%, respectively. In conclusion, CT is an effective tillage practice to control soil erosion and nutrient losses. This study can provide a reference for soil erosion and nutrient loss control on sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Soil Conservation Practices on Sediment Yield)

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16 pages, 1512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Soil Surface Mounds and Depressions on Runoff

by Xinlan Liang, Jiawei Feng, Zhixin Ye, Lei Zhang, Jidong Li, Xiuyuan Lu, Sixiang Zhao, Qi Liu, Zicheng Zheng and Yong Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 175; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15010175 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1148

Abstract

Surface mounds and depressions are the basic patterns of microtopography. Their geometric forms and physical properties affect rainfall infiltration, runoff generation and runoff confluence process. In this study, soil beds were set up with seven different types of microtopography to study the effects of surface mounds and depressions on runoff. They were the control check (CK), alternate mounds (AM), continuous mounds (CM), alternate depressions (AD), continuous depressions (CD), alternate mounds and depressions (AMD) and continuous mounds and depressions (CMD). There was only one microtopography type for monomorphic surface relief (MSR) while two for compound surface relief (CSR). All soil beds were exposed under 60, 90 or 120 mm/h rainfall intensity for 90 min. The main results are as follows: surface mounds could promote surface runoff, triggering and shortening runoff generation time, while surface depressions showed contrary results. Whether there was an interval between mounds or depressions also affected the characteristics of runoff. The runoff generation time was 3.8–5.0 times higher for continuous slope than for interval slope, while the runoff yield and runoff coefficient both decreased by approximately 40%. CSR can significantly neutralize the flow-promoting effects of the mounds and the flow-inhibiting effects of the depressions, making the runoff yield and runoff process present a neutral state between the mounds and depressions. CSR prolongs runoff generation time from 1–10 min of MSR to 5–16 min. The runoff yield of CSR presented as 0.12, between 0.17 for mounds and 0.10 for depressions, and so did the runoff coefficient and hydrodynamic parameters. In addition, with rainfall intensity increased, the runoff pattern of CSR and MSR became more similar to each other, and the retarding effects of topography on overland flow were more effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Soil Conservation Practices on Sediment Yield)

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24 pages, 17810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RUSLE Model Evaluation of the Soil and Water Conservation Ratio of the Guizhou Province in China between 2000 and 2019

by Fayong Fang, Qian Fang, Wanyang Yu, Chunhua Fan, Ruyi Zi and Longshan Zhao

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 8219; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14138219 - 05 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

The soil and water conservation ratio (SWCR), which is a quantitative index for measuring the control degree of soil and water loss, is equal to the percentage of the land areas with a slight erosion intensity in the study area. The dynamic change in the SWCR reflects the dynamic process of realizing a specific soil and water conservation goal in a certain stage. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the change in the SWCR in the Guizhou Province in this century and to analyze its causes. The temporal and spatial variations of soil erosion intensity and SWCR were measured based on GIS technology and revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). The results showed that the spatial pattern of soil erosion intensity in the Guizhou Province was high in the west and low in the southeast, and that the soil erosion characteristics were obviously different between karst and non-karst areas. In the karst areas, the land with a moderate and above erosion intensity (>3 t hm⁻² y⁻¹ in the karst area; >25 t hm⁻² y⁻¹ in the non-karst area) accounted for 28.20–34.78% of the total area, while only accounting for 2.39–2.72% in the non-karst areas. From 2000 to 2019, the mean intensity of soil erosion decreased from 13.97 to 10.83 t hm⁻² y⁻¹, and the SWCR increased from 32.95% to 35.31%. According to the change in erosion intensity grades, 22.30% of the whole province’s erosion grade changed from high to low, especially in the west, with a high erosion intensity. Meanwhile, about 11.99% of the land in the central, eastern and southeastern regions, was where the erosion intensity showed a slight increase and the spatial distribution showed sporadic patch distribution characteristics, which may be related to an increase in infrastructure investment in the Guizhou Province in recent years. A large number of production and construction projects caused the destruction of surface vegetation and also caused patchy soil erosion. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the soil erosion and the SWCR in the Guizhou Province between 2000 and 2019 were mastered through this study, and our results provide an important basis for further scientific and reasonable soil and water conservation planning work. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Soil Conservation Practices on Sediment Yield)

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18 pages, 3748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-Erosion Influences of Surface Roughness on Sloping Agricultural Land in the Loess Plateau, Northwest China

by Taotao Li, Yu Wang and Faqi Wu

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6246; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14106246 - 20 May 2022

Viewed by 1096

Abstract

The roughness of surface soil and the benefits produced by tillage for slope runoff and sediment reduction have attracted considerable interest; however, there are inconsistencies in existing research results. In this study, we have studied the anti-erosion influences of several typical tillage practices on both runoff and sediment generation in areas of sloping farmland in the Loess Plateau of northwest China. Rough surfaces were prepared manually, according to the surface microtopography of the plateau’s sloping farmland, using four tillage practices; a smooth surface was used as a control. Rainfall simulation experiments were performed using three rainfall intensities and five slope gradients. A path analysis was used to analyze the interactive effects of the slope gradient, rainfall intensity, and the surface roughness on the sediment yield and runoff volume. According to our findings, the gradient of a slope and the intensity of the rainfall both had a positive effect, while the surface roughness had a negative effect; the rate of 40.8% and 21.0% was lower than the values under CK on sediment yield and runoff volume. The interaction between the rainfall intensity and surface roughness always had a runoff reduction effect. Conversely, there was a critical slope gradient between 5° and 10° for sediment yield. The interaction between the slope gradient and surface roughness also had a runoff reduction effect, which was diminished by increasing the rainfall intensity. However, their interactive influence on sediment yield was inconsistent, with a critical slope gradient between 10° and 15°. Based on the comprehensive interactive effects among all three factors, we concluded that rainfall intensity, slope gradient, and surface roughness collectively played a crucial role in promoting runoff and sediment generation under tillage. The results support soil and water conservation by tillage on the sloping farmlands of the Loess Plateau. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Soil Conservation Practices on Sediment Yield)

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14 pages, 438 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Use of Vegetable Residues and Cover Crops in the Cultivation of Maize Grown in Different Tillage Systems

by Felicia Chețan, Cornel Chețan, Ileana Bogdan, Paula Ioana Moraru, Adrian Ioan Pop and Teodor Rusu

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3609; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063609 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1706

Abstract

The purpose of research on alternative variants of soil tillage systems related to fertilization, vegetal residues, and cover crops, in the case of the maize crop, is to elaborate and promote certain integrated technologies on conservation agriculture. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in the Transylvanian Plain during 2019–2021, regarding the influence of certain technological and climatic factors on the yield and quality of maize. The objective of the research was to focus on how vegetable residues and cover crops can be integrated into the optimization of the fertilization system of conservation agriculture. A multifactorial experiment was carried out based on the formula A × B × C × D − R: 4 × 2 × 3 × 3 − 2, where A represents the soil tillage system (a₁ conventional tillage with moldboard plow; a₂ minimum tillage with chisel; a₃ minimum tillage with disk; a₄ no tillage); B represents the maize hybrid (b₁ Turda 332; b₂ Turda 344); C represents the vegetable residues and cover crops (c₁ vegetable residues 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + 350 kg ha⁻¹ NPK; c₂ vegetable residues 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + cover crops mustard; c₃ vegetable residues 2.5 t ha⁻¹ + gulle 10 t ha⁻¹); D represents the year (d₁ 2019; d₂ 2020; d₃ 2021); and R represents the replicates. The results emphasized the fact that for the soil conditions from the area taken into account (Chernozem), for maize, a minimum tillage with chisel during autumn + disk harrow in spring + sowing can be considered as an alternative to the conventional tillage system. Yield and quality of maize can be improved and optimized by combined fertilization: vegetable residues and cover crops being supported with different sources of mineral NPK. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Soil Conservation Practices on Sediment Yield)

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