Runoff–sediment coupling in low vegetation coverage scenario: Insights from plot scale experiment in the loess environment

IF 6.6 1区农林科学 Q1 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Catena Pub Date : 2026-04-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-06 DOI:10.1016/j.catena.2026.109894

Yingxi Zeng , Yu Liu , Cong Wang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Vegetation cover is generally considered as an effective factor reducing surface runoff and soil erosion. Yet the role of vegetation cover pattern plays in runoff generation and sediment production under low vegetation coverage remains unclear. This study aims to explore the impacts of vegetation cover pattern on runoff, sediment production, and their coupling under the low vegetation coverage scenario in the loess environment by experiment at plot scale. Ten experimental plots with a gradient of low vegetation coverage were established to monitor runoff generation and sediment production under natural rainfall events. Based on upslope contributing area (UCA) derived from the digital surface model (DSM) and orthoimages derived from the UAV photogrammetry, the rills on the soil surface were identified. The linear regression equations revealing the runoff–sediment coupling of each plot were established. Results showed increased rill area proportion, total runoff volume, and sediment production with increased vegetation coverage under the low vegetation coverage scenario. Sediment production exhibited a linear relationship with runoff volume, with no significant difference in slopes of fitting equations among plots. However, a significant increase in equation intercept corresponding to increased vegetation coverage was detected. These results indicated that the sediment carrying capacity of runoff kept consistent under low vegetation coverage. This study confirmed that the increasing vegetation coverage within the low coverage range promoted rill formation by impacting the evolution of microtopography and thus enhanced concentrated flow, which intensified runoff generation and soil erosion. Overall, the results revealed an enhancement stage of runoff and sediment generation under low vegetation coverage less than 10%. It is implied that there is a critical vegetation coverage threshold that must be surpassed to guarantee an effective reduction in soil and water loss, particularly in semiarid regions.

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低植被覆盖度下的径流-泥沙耦合：来自黄土环境样地尺度试验的启示

植被覆盖通常被认为是减少地表径流和土壤侵蚀的有效因素。然而，低植被覆盖度条件下植被覆盖格局在产流产沙中的作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在通过样地尺度试验，探讨低植被覆盖度黄土环境下植被覆盖格局对径流、产沙及其耦合的影响。建立了10个低植被覆盖梯度试验区，监测自然降雨条件下的产流产沙。基于数字地表模型（DSM）得到的上坡贡献面积（UCA）和无人机摄影测量得到的正射影，对土壤表面的细沟进行了识别。建立了各样地径流-泥沙耦合的线性回归方程。结果表明：低植被覆盖度情景下，随着植被覆盖度的增加，细沟面积比例、总径流量和产沙量均增加；产沙量与径流量呈线性关系，各样地拟合方程斜率差异不显著。然而，随着植被覆盖度的增加，方程截距显著增加。结果表明，低植被覆盖度条件下，径流携沙能力基本保持一致。本研究证实，低覆盖度范围内植被覆盖度的增加通过影响微地形的演变促进了细沟的形成，从而增强了集中流，从而加剧了产流和土壤侵蚀。总体而言，低植被盖度小于10%时，流域产流产沙处于增强阶段。这意味着必须超过一个关键的植被覆盖阈值，以保证有效减少水土流失，特别是在半干旱地区。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Catena 环境科学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

10.50

自引率

9.70%

发文量

816

审稿时长

54 days

期刊介绍： Catena publishes papers describing original field and laboratory investigations and reviews on geoecology and landscape evolution with emphasis on interdisciplinary aspects of soil science, hydrology and geomorphology. It aims to disseminate new knowledge and foster better understanding of the physical environment, of evolutionary sequences that have resulted in past and current landscapes, and of the natural processes that are likely to determine the fate of our terrestrial environment. Papers within any one of the above topics are welcome provided they are of sufficiently wide interest and relevance.