Abstract:

To study the mechanism of land use and soil erosion at gentle slope in the hilly-gullied loess region, based on the experiment plot research (from 2009 to 2011) in Ansai Integrated Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, effects of soil erosion under different land use pattern at gentle slope were discussed. Five kinds of land use configuration types were designed, including Setaria italica (F), Panicum virgatum (S), Abandoned land (A), two-thirds Setaria italica and one-third Panicum virgatum (FS), two-thirds Setaria italica and one-third Abandoned land (FA). The research results indicated that, for the five land use types, sediment amounts under individual rainfall events were in the order of F > FS > FA > S > A, and sediment amounts were significantly associated with rainfall depth and rainfall intensity. In the whole observation period, July might be the sensitive time of producing sediments. One or two erosive storms were the main reason for the change of annual sediment amount. Compared with Setaria italica (F), the other four land use configuration types (S, A, FS, FA) had positive effects of sediment reduction, and effects of sediment reduction were in the order of A > S > FA > FS. High vegetation coverage had a positive effect on reducing sediment amount for the five land use types (F, S, A, FS, FA). The results would provide reference for the effect evaluation of land use on soil and water losses at gentle slope.