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Arid Land Geography ›› 2022, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (1): 208-218.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000–6060.2021.154

• Biology and Pedology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Runoff and sediment yield benefits and hydraulic characteristics of perennial ryegrass plantation canopy and root slope in the Loess Plateau

JIAO Ruoyu(),SONG Xiaoyu(),ZHAO Xinkai,LI Lanjun,FU Chong,ZHANG Zhixu,WANG Shaona   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region of China, Xi’an University of Technology, Xi’an 710048, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2021-04-06 Revised:2021-09-23 Online:2022-01-25 Published:2022-01-21
  • Contact: Xiaoyu SONG E-mail:546399179@qq.com;songxy@xaut.edu.cn

Abstract:

Based on artificial rainfall simulations and the canopy structure, root structure, and bare slope structure of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), analysis on runoff and sediment yield patterns on a slope, changes in hydraulic indicator distribution, and the relationship between slope erosion and hydraulic characteristics were conducted through setting various rainfall intensities (30 mm·h-1, 60 mm·h-1, and 90 mm·h-1) and different lower-bedding surfaces (1°, 3°, and 5°). Consequently, the patterns of runoff and sand yield, as well as the hydraulic characteristics of different slopes in varied grass structures, were revealed. The findings show that as rainfall intensities and slope gradients change, the full vegetation structure has the lowest rate of runoff and sand yield, followed by the root structure, and the bare slope has the highest rate. In terms of contribution to runoff reduction, the ryegrass canopy outperforms the root structure, with the average contribution rate of the canopy and root structure to runoff reduction reaching 62% and 38%, respectively. For contribution to sand reduction, the root structure is superior to that of the canopy structure. The average contribution of the canopy and root structure to sand reduction can reach 37% and 65% separately. The abovementioned runoff and sand yield patterns demonstrate the effectiveness of the herbaceous canopy and root structure in preventing erosion. Reynolds number and water power, as applicable hydraulic parameters, have shown notable correlations with runoff rate and sediment yield (P<0.01). This study can provide theoretical and experimental references for optimizing water and soil conservation benefits and analyzing hydraulic characteristics under varied grass structures.

Key words: underlying grass surface, artificial rainfall, runoff and sand yield, runoff and sand reduction, slope erosion, hydraulic characteristics