Soil & Water Res., 2023, 18(2):116-127 | DOI: 10.17221/157/2022-SWR

Soil resistance to flowing water erosion as affected by tea planting age in Three Gorges Reservoir Area of ChinaOriginal Paper

Guanhua Zhang1,2, Wenjun Yang1*, Jiajun Hu3, Jigen Liu1,2, Wenfeng Ding1,2, Hai Xiao4
1 Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan, P.R. China
2 Research Center on Mountain Torrent & Geologic Disaster Prevention of Ministry of Water Resources, Wuhan, P.R. China
3 Changjiang Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, Wuhan, P.R. China
4 College of Civil Engineering & Architecture, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P.R. China

Soil erosion resistance is influenced by intrinsic soil properties and multiple external factors. This study investigated the effect of tea planting age on soil resistance to flowing water erosion (reflected by rill erodibility (Kr) and critical shear stress (τc)) in Three Gorges Reservoir Area. One slope farmland (as the control) and five tea plantations cultivated for 3 to 34 years were selected for sampling sites. The results indicated that bulk density (BD), soil cohesion (Coh), water stable aggregate (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil organic carbon (SOC), litter density (LD), and root mass density (RMD) increased generally with tea planting age. Compared to the control, Kr of tea plantations reduced by 71.1%–85.3%. The temporal variation in soil erosion resistance was controlled greatly by the variations in most near-surface characteristics. Kr decreased with WSA, Coh, LD, RMD, and SOC following a power function (P < 0.01); τc increased with MWD, LD, RMD, and SOC as an exponential function, with BD a power function, and Coh a logarithmic function (P < 0.01). In this study, Kr could be simulated well by WSA and LD with a power function, and τc could be simulated well by MWD and RMD with an exponential function.

Keywords: critical shear stress; near-surface characteristics; rill erodibility; soil erosion resistance; tea cultivation age

Received: November 23, 2022; Accepted: April 24, 2023; Prepublished online: May 3, 2023; Published: May 22, 2023  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Zhang G, Yang W, Hu J, Liu J, Ding W, Xiao H. Soil resistance to flowing water erosion as affected by tea planting age in Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China. Soil & Water Res. 2023;18(2):116-127. doi: 10.17221/157/2022-SWR.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Hao H.X., Qin J.H., Sun Z.X., Guo Z.L., Wang J.G. (2021): Erosion-reducing effects of plant roots during concentrated flow under contrasting textured soils. Catena, 203: 105378. Go to original source...
    2. Knapen A., Poesen J., Galindo-Morales P., De Baets S., Pals A. (2007a): Effects of microbiotic crusts under cropland in temperate environments on soil erodibility during concentrated flow. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32: 1884-1901. Go to original source...
    3. Knapen A., Poesen J., Govers G., Gyssels G., Nachtergaele J. (2007b): Resistance of soils to concentrated flow erosion: a review. Earth-Science Reviews, 80: 75-109. Go to original source...
    4. Liu F., Zhang G.H., Sun L., Wang H. (2016): Effects of biological soil crusts on soil detachment process by overland flow in the Loess Plateau of China. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41: 875-883. Go to original source...
    5. Liu F., Zhang G.H., Sun F.B., Wang H., Sun L. (2017): Quantifying the surface covering, binding and bonding effects of biological soil crusts on soil detachment by overland flow. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 42: 2640-2648. Go to original source...
    6. Liu J.X., Liu G.B., Flanagan D.C., Wang B., Wang Z.Y., Xiao J. (2020): Effects of soil-incorporated plant litter morphological characteristics on the soil detachment process in grassland on the Loess Plateau of China. Science of the Total Environment, 705: 134651. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Liu J.X., Wang B., Duan X.W. (2022a): Temporal variation in soil detachment processes under litter incorporation effects in typical grassland on the Loess Plateau of China. Catena, 215: 106358. Go to original source...
    8. Liu Y.F., Meng L.G., Huang Z. (2022b): Contribution of fine roots mechanical property of Poaceae grasses to soil erosion resistance on the Loess Plateau. Geoderma, 426: 116122. Go to original source...
    9. Moragoda N., Kumar M., Cohen S. (2022): Representing the role of soil moisture on erosion resistance in sediment models: Challenges and opportunities. Earth-Science Reviews, 229: 104032. Go to original source...
    10. Sun L., Zhang G.H., Liu F., Luan L.L. (2016): Effects of incorporated plant litter on soil resistance to flowing water erosion in the Loess Plateau of China. Biosystems Engineering, 147: 238-247. Go to original source...
    11. Vannoppen W., Vanmaercke M., De Baets S., Poesen J. (2015): A review of the mechanical effects of plant roots on concentrated flow erosion rates. Earth-Science Reviews, 150: 666-678. Go to original source...
    12. Vannoppen W., De Baets S., Keeble J., Dong Y., Poesen J. (2017): How do root and soil characteristics affect the erosion-reducing potential of plant species? Ecological Engineering, 109: 186-195. Go to original source...
    13. Wang B., Zhang G.H., Shi Y.Y., Zhang X.C., Ren Z.P., Zhu L.J. (2013): Effect of natural restoration time of abandoned farmland on soil detachment by overland flow in the Loess Plateau of China. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 38: 1725-1734. Go to original source...
    14. Wang B., Zhang G.H., Shi Y.Y., Zhang X.C. (2014): Soil detachment by overland flow under different vegetation restoration models in the Loess Plateau of China. Catena, 116: 51-59. Go to original source...
    15. Wang B., Zhang G.H., Yang Y.F. (2018a): The effects of varied soil properties induced by natural grassland succession on the process of soil detachment. Catena, 166: 192-199. Go to original source...
    16. Wang B., Li P.P., Huang C.H., Liu G.B., Yang Y.F. (2021): Effects of root morphological traits on soil detachment for ten herbaceous species in the Loess Plateau. Science of the Total Environment, 754: 142304. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Wang H., Zhang G.H., Li N.N., Zhang B.J., Yang H.Y. (2018b): Soil erodibility influenced by natural restoration time of abandoned farmland on the Loess Plateau of China. Geoderma, 325: 18-27. Go to original source...
    18. Wang H., Zhang G.H., Li N.N., Zhang B.J., Yang H.Y. (2019a): Soil erodibility as impacted by vegetation restoration strategies on the Loess Plateau of China. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 44: 796-807. Go to original source...
    19. Wang H., Zhang G.H., Li N.N., Zhang B.J., Yang H.Y. (2019b): Variation in soil erodibility under five typical land uses in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. Catena, 174: 24-35. Go to original source...
    20. Wang H., Zhang G.H., Li N.N., Zhu P.Z. (2020a): Variation in soil erosion resistance of slips deposition zone with progressive vegetation succession on the Loess Plateau, China. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 20: 234-248. Go to original source...
    21. Wang J.F., Yang Y.F., Wang B., Liu G.B., Li J.M. (2022): Soil detachment caused by flowing water erosion in six typical herbaceous plant root systems on the Loess Plateau, China. Biosystems Engineering, 217: 56-67. Go to original source...
    22. Wang S.Q., Li T.X., Zheng Z.C. (2016): Effect of tea plantation age on the distribution of soil organic carbon and nutrient within micro-aggregates in the hilly region of western Sichuan, China. Ecological Engineering, 90: 113-119. Go to original source...
    23. Wang S.Q., Li T.X., Zheng Z.C. (2018c): Effects of tea plantation age on soil aggregate-associated C- and N-cycling enzyme activities in the hilly areas of Western Sichuan, China. Catena, 171: 145-153. Go to original source...
    24. Wang S.Q., Li T.X., Zheng Z.C., Zhang X.Z., Chen H.Y.H. (2019c): Soil organic carbon and nutrients associated with aggregate fractions in a chronosequence of tea plantations. Ecological Indicators, 101: 444-452. Go to original source...
    25. Wang S.Q., Yao X.Y., Ye S.M. (2020a): Soil aggregate-related organic carbon and relevant enzyme activities as affected by tea (Camellia sinensis L.) planting age in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China. Applied Soil Ecology, 150: 103444. Go to original source...
    26. Wang S.Q., Zheng Z., Ye S.M. (2020b): Response of soil fertility characteristics in water-stable aggregates to tea cultivation age in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China. Catena, 191: 104578. Go to original source...
    27. Xiao H., Guo P., Zhang Q.H., Hu H., Hong H., Zhang L., Yang Y.S., Xia Z.Y., Li M.Y., Kang H.L., Zhang G.H. (2022): Variation in soil properties and its influence on the dynamic change of soil erosion resistance to overland flow in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Catena, 213: 106141. Go to original source...
    28. Xu X.B., Yang G.S., Tan Y., Liu J., Bryan B. (2020): Unravelling the effects of large-scale ecological programs on ecological rehabilitation of China's Three Gorges Dam. Journal of Cleaner Production, 256: 120446. Go to original source...
    29. Yao C., Zhang Q.W., Lu C., Li H.K., Wang H., Wu F.Q. (2022): Variations in soil detachment by rill flow during crop growth stages in sloping farmlands on the Loess Plateau. Catena, 216: 106375. Go to original source...
    30. Yu Y.C., Zhang G.H., Geng R., Sun L. (2014): Temporal variation in soil detachment capacity by overland flow under four typical crops in the Loess Plateau of China. Biosystems Engineering, 122: 139-148. Go to original source...
    31. Zhang B.J., Zhang G.H., Yang H.Y., Wang H. (2019a): Soil resistance to flowing water erosion of seven typical plant communities on steep gully slopes on the Loess Plateau of China. Catena, 173: 375-383. Go to original source...
    32. Zhang B.J., Zhang, G.H., Zhu P.Z., Yang H.Y. (2019b): Temporal variation in soil erosion resistance of steep slopes restored with different vegetation communities on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Catena, 182: 104170. Go to original source...
    33. Zhang G.H., Ding W.F., Pu J., Li J.M., Qian F., Sun B.Y. (2020): Effects of moss-dominated biocrusts on soil detachment by overland flow in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area of China. Journal of Mountain Science, 17: 2418-2431. Go to original source...
    34. Zhang G.H., Yi L., Ding W.F., Lei X., Wang Y.R., Sun B.Y., Li J.M. (2021): Apportioning above- and below-ground effects of moss biocrusts on soil detachment by overland flow in a subtropical climate. Journal of Mountain Science, 18: 2646-2655. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content