Soil & Tillage Research最新文献

{"title":"Characterization of preferential flow and transport pathways under farmland with different land uses","authors":"Jiamin Ge ,&nbsp;Dongli She ,&nbsp;Xinni Ju ,&nbsp;Taohong Cao ,&nbsp;Yongqiu Xia","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater contamination in agriculturally intensive utilization areas is serious and widespread. Understanding the leaching of pollutants into groundwater is necessary, particularly the roles of preferential flow with macropores and solute transport in agricultural landscapes. However, limited studies focus on the quantitative effect of preferential flow on soil water and pollutants transport under different land uses in in-situ fields. This study quantified the process and paths of soil water and solute transport. This work also evaluated the impacts of three land uses (rice–wheat rotation (RW), vegetable (VG), and pear orchard (PO) fields) on the displacement of sodium bromide (Br⁻) and brilliant blue on a profile scale combined with field infiltration experiments. Results showed that in RW, VG, and PO fields, the stained area ratio decreased by 81.8 %, 82.6 %, and 86.7 % within 0–30 cm, respectively. Across the entire soil profile (0–100 cm), the majority of stained path width ratio concentrated at &lt; 1 cm, accounting for 53.8 %, 62.0 %, and 56.7 % in the RW, VG, and PO fields. In 0–20 cm soil layers, the proportion of stained path width ratio ranging from 1–8 cm relative to the entire profile was higher in RW and VG fields (51.2 % and 54.0 %, respectively) compared to the PO field (38.1 %). Moreover, the high macroporosity corresponds to the low stained area ratio. Further analysis revealed that water flow in the surface layers of all three land uses was primarily matrix flow. In contrast, macropore flow, predominantly mixed with low interaction, dominated in the subsurface layers (below 30 cm). Macropores were the main influencing factor of preferential flow. The mean residual concentration of Br⁻ ion in the profile followed the pattern RW (0.11∙10^–3 mol L^–1) &gt; PO (0^.08∙10^–3 mol L^–1) &gt; VG (0.04∙10^–3 mol L^–1). The RW field exhibited a deeper infiltration depth and faster movement speed. Consequently, the RW field with the characteristics of drying–wetting exhibited a more pronounced preferential flow than VG and PO in the profile, especially below the root zone (&gt; 40 cm). This study provides valuable insights into the migration pathways of nonpoint source and groundwater pollution in plain river network areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106573"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Covariate selection approaches in spatial prediction of soil quality indices using machine learning models at the watershed scale, west of Iran","authors":"Marziyeh Zandi Baghche-Maryam ,&nbsp;Mohsen Sheklabadi ,&nbsp;Shamsollah Ayoubi","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Assessing soil quality indices (SQI’s) is a fundamental approach for agricultural and natural resources as well as sustainable management practices. This study addresses the digital mapping of SQI’s, with the objective of comparing the efficacy of four variable selection methods in Hamadan Province (west of Iran). The following methods were utilized to evaluate the predictive power of three machine learning (ML) models: principal component analysis (PCA), Boruta, recursive feature elimination (RFE), and random forest (RF). The ML models include artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), and Cubist algorithm. Environmental variables were extracted from the digital elevation model (DEM) and Sentinel-2 image and employed in three scenarios: (i) topographic attributes, (ii) remote sensing data, and (iii) integration of scenarios (i) and (ii). A systematic and random grid sampling method was employed to collect 150 soil samples. Surface soil samples, were collected from 0–25 cm depth in agricultural and rangeland areas. The dominant soil groups were Xerorthents, Calcixerepts, and Haploxerepts. The samples were analyzed for physical and chemical properties, and the minimum data set (MDS) was determined by applying PCA. The indicators were scored using both linear and non-linear functions, and the SQI’s were calculated using the Additive Soil Quality Index (SQIa), the Weighted Soil Quality Index (SQIw), and the Nemoro Soil Quality Index (SQIn) methods. The best performances of the SQI’s were observed for SQIn derived from MDS and TDS using linear scoring. The results showed that scenario (iii) consistently yielded the most accurate predictions. The Boruta method and Cubist algorithm produced R² and RMSE values of 0.84 and 0.023, respectively, which were the most optimal in this context. The accuracy assessment demonstrated that the Boruta method and Cubist algorithm exhibited the highest accuracy in all three scenarios for predicting SQI. The uncertainty assessment revealed that the northwestern of the studied regions exhibited a higher degree of uncertainty, which can be attributed to the high diversity in topographic and soil attributes. The findings of this study offer a framework for developing spatial-based models to generate soil quality maps at a large scale, thereby facilitating informed decision-making for the further future land use plannings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106571"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing more effective phosphorus-loaded iron modified biochar fertilisers for improvement of peanut yield and regulation of soil phosphorus fractions","authors":"Junxiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Qi Wu ,&nbsp;Daocai Chi ,&nbsp;Guimin Xia ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Arthur","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus-loaded iron-modified biochar (Fe-BP) can be used as farmlands' slow-release phosphorus (P) fertilizer. This study aimed to explore the effects of Fe-BP on soil P composition, phosphatase activity, peanut P accumulation, and P fertilizer utilization efficiency in sandy soi<u>l</u>. The two-year experiment was a randomized complete block design including no biochar and no P fertilizer (B0P0), no biochar and conventional phosphate fertilizer (CK) (B0P1, CK, P₂O₅ is 144 kg· ha⁻¹), biochar and CK (B1P1), iron-modified biochar (Fe-B) and CK (FeB-P1), P loaded Fe-B and CK (FeBP-P1), P loaded Fe-B and two third CK (FeBP-P2, P₂O₅ is 96 kg· ha⁻¹). It was found that Fe-B increased P accumulation, yield and P fertilizer utilization efficiency in peanuts. The physiological efficiency of P (PEP) of FeBP-P1 increased by 14.8 % compared with that of FeB-P1. During the fallow period, FeB-P1 decreased the soil available P content, while FeBP-P1 increased the soil available P content, and this effect lasted into the second year. Fe-B did not increase soil pH and did not significanlty affect acid phosphatase. FeBP-P2 increased NaHCO₃-Pi by 66 % and 49 %, respectively, compared to B0P0 and B0P1. This increase is mainly due to the slow release of phosphates carried by FeBP-P2. Overall, Fe-BP enhanced soil available P under reduced P fertilizer application, improving P use efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106572"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143800254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual film-controlled model urea improves summer maize yields, N fertilizer use efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions","authors":"Yifeng Li ,&nbsp;Wenfei Yang ,&nbsp;Wanxin Wang ,&nbsp;Ningning Yu,&nbsp;Peng Liu,&nbsp;Bin Zhao,&nbsp;Jiwang Zhang,&nbsp;Baizhao Ren","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Controlled-release fertilizers are recognized for improving nitrogen efficiency, but they are significantly affected by environmental factors and often leading to suboptimal results. Nitrogen fertilizer synergists, due to their water solubility, exhibit limited persistence in the soil and cannot achieve the desired effect. Therefore, we incorporated nitrogen fertilizer synergists into the film of controlled-release fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer synergists were encapsulated within the film of the controlled-release fertilizer to achieved “dual film-controlled model”, which improved the performance of the controlled release fertilizer. A field experiment was conducted with five treatments: no N fertilizer (N0), controlled-release fertilizer (C210), controlled-release fertilizer combined with urease inhibitor (C210N), controlled-release fertilizer combined with nitrification inhibitor (C210D), controlled-release fertilizer combined with nitrification inhibitor and urease inhibitor (C210DN). Maize yield and economics, nitrogen use efficiency, gas emissions, global warming potential and apparent nitrogen losses were assessed. The results indicated that the application of this model regulates soil microbial community structure and functionality, thereby influencing soil nitrogen cycling processes and reduced global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI). Additionally, C210DN increased NH₄⁺-N content in the 0–20 cm soil layer at the sixth leaf stage and the tasseling stage, while significantly decreasing NO₃^--N content. The dual film-controlled model improved nitrogen use efficiency by 7.9 %–17.7 %. Overall, the dual film-controlled urea model enhanced summer maize yield and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency while mitigating environmental pollution and emissions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106565"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting on tillage blade performance and soil fragmentation characteristics under different soil moisture contents","authors":"Jian Cheng ,&nbsp;Kan Zheng ,&nbsp;Junfang Xia ,&nbsp;Beihai Zhang ,&nbsp;Yang Ni ,&nbsp;Jun Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106575","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In response to the challenge of high cutting resistance experienced by the blade during tillage operations, this study proposes a resistance reduction method based on ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting. Five types of soil with different moisture contents were selected as the research objects, and a dynamic model of the blade and soil particles under ultrasonic vibration was constructed. The simulations employed the discrete element method (DEM) coupled with a contact model to calibrate soil models with different moisture contents. The cutting force and cutting energy in both the ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting (UVAC) and conventional cutting (CC) modes were analyzed. Least significant difference and regression analysis were used to determine the differences between the two modes. Additionally, the force and velocity of soil particles under both cutting modes were examined to quantitatively and intuitively assess the fragmentation between particles. The results demonstrated that the simulation results were largely consistent with the bench experiment results. The simulation analysis effectively captured the trends in cutting force and cutting energy observed in the actual cutting process and revealed the microscopic changes in soil fragmentation. For all five moisture contents, the cutting force in both modes gradually increased with cutting depth, while the cutting force in UVAC mode was significantly reduced. As moisture content increased from 10 % to 30 %, the cutting energy for both modes decreased, with higher moisture content corresponding to lower energy requirements during cutting. Notably, the cutting energy in UVAC mode was reduced by more than 60 % across all moisture contents. Furthermore, UVAC mode enhanced the force and velocity of soil particles, facilitating the fragmentation of interparticle bonds. However, the electrical energy in UVAC mode was consistently higher than that in CC mode. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that using ultrasonic vibration-assisted blade for soil cutting effectively reduces cutting force and cutting energy while enhancing the fragmentation of soil particles. These findings provide a new research direction for the development of resistance reduction equipment in agricultural tillage operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106575"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of particle size fractions and clay content for determination of soil organic carbon and soil organic matter","authors":"Matthew Tiller ,&nbsp;Lucy Reading ,&nbsp;Les Dawes ,&nbsp;Marc Miska ,&nbsp;Prasanna Egodawatta","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) influence soil behaviour, quality, and applications. While conversion equations exist, the GlobalSoilMap Science Committee (2015) determined that no universal equation is viable due to regional soil variability. Instead, region-specific equations are required. This study presents SOM and SOC data from 75 sites for soils at 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depth intervals, aligning with GlobalSoilMap specifications, allowing for global applicability of research findings. While this study develops region-specific SOM-SOC conversion equations for southeastern Queensland, the findings contribute to the broader understanding of how soil properties influence SOM-SOC relationships. The methods used, particularly clustered regression based on clay content and particle size, can be applied in other regions worldwide to refine soil carbon estimates in diverse landscapes. Regression analysis showed that the selected particle size fractions (&lt;2 mm vs. &lt;0.5 mm) had minimal effect on the dry combustion (DC) method but significantly influenced loss on ignition (LOI) results. A regression slope of 0.827 indicated that &lt; 2 mm samples yielded higher SOM values than &lt; 0.5 mm samples, introducing uncertainty in LOI-derived estimates. Clay content further impacted conversions: samples with &lt; 15 % clay produced robust equations with high coefficients of determination, whereas those with &gt; 15 % clay exhibited increased variance, lower slopes, and reduced accuracy, necessitating caution in their application. This research improves understanding of SOM-SOC relationships across key depth intervals and particle size fractions. It highlights the influence of clay content and particle size on LOI and DC methods, refining the accuracy of SOM and SOC estimation. These findings are valuable globally for soil science, agriculture, hydrology, and engineering, aiding more precise soil carbon assessments in various environmental and land management applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106568"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Depth matters: The impact of vegetation clipping on phosphorus fractions across peatland depth profiles","authors":"Yuchen Suo ,&nbsp;Xin Guo ,&nbsp;Leming Ge ,&nbsp;Chenhao Cao ,&nbsp;Meng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The stability of carbon (C) stocks in peatlands is closely linked to phosphorus (P) bioavailability. Plant plays a crucial role in modulating P bioavailability. However, the mechanisms by which different plant functional types (PFTs; mainly <em>Sphagnum</em> moss, shrub, and graminoid) modulate P bioavailability in peatlands remain unknown, especially the vertical stratification related to plant belowground biomass distributions. In this study, we investigated the effects of PFT clipping on soil P bioavailability through a vegetation clipping manipulation, followed by the application of low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) (azelaic, malonic, and muconic acids) and phosphatase enzymes (acid phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, and phytase). The results showed that LMWOAs are the key factors in promoting the concentration of soluble P in the soil, especially for organic P (P_o). Following PFT clipping, P bioavailability significantly decreased, except for graminoids, where clipping increased it. The relative abundance of P-solubilizing bacteria <em>Acinetobacter</em> and <em>Rhodanobacter</em> increased while soil pH decreased after graminoid clipping, which enhanced the desorption and dissolution of inorganic P and increased water-soluble orthophosphate concentration. Acid phosphatase activity decreased by ∼40 % after PFT clipping, indicating the reduction in the mineralization of P_o and the accumulation of potentially bioavailable P (i.e., enzyme-labile P_o), especially acid phosphatase and phosphodiesterase labile P_o. Furthermore, <em>Sphagnum</em> mosses, shrubs, and graminoids were the primary regulators of P bioavailability at depths of 0–10, 0–20, and 20–30 cm, respectively. Shift in vegetation composition driven by climate change and human activity may significantly influence P dynamics and the stability of C stock in peatlands, offering critical insights for balancing peatland conservation and agricultural utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"252 ","pages":"Article 106564"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of tyres and soil conditions in enhancing the efficiency of agricultural tractors","authors":"Leonardo Angelucci ,&nbsp;Massimiliano Varani ,&nbsp;François Pinet ,&nbsp;Vincent Martin ,&nbsp;Andrea Vertua ,&nbsp;Giovanni Molari ,&nbsp;Michele Mattetti","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106570","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106570","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Maximizing agricultural tractor energy efficiency is crucial for sustainable farming. Tractors are one of the most popular machines in use in agriculture, and much of their use is dedicated to drawbar operations. Under these conditions, only up to 70 % of engine power is transferred to the soil, and this may even drop to 50 % on soils with poor mechanical properties. Recently, tyres which meet very high flexion standards have hit the market and to date, no study has performed a thorough full-vehicle traction analysis of vehicles equipped with such standards. This paper investigated the influence of tyres on vehicle performance and efficiency. Moreover, a cost analysis of the new tyre technology was carried out to assess the duration of use necessary for farmers to recoup the financial investment this new tyre technology requires. The analysis comprised steady-state drawbar tests on two soil types using a tractor rated at 230 kW and equipped with wheel force transducers. Key performance indicators were calculated from the collected data. Results showed superior traction on softer soil, where the mean vehicle traction ratio was 6.4 % higher than on firmer soil, highlighting tyre set performance differences. However, traction efficiency was 17.5 % greater on firmer soil. Very high flexion tyres resulted in improved indicators in both soils and despite the greater cost of tyres using the new standard, farmers may obtain economic benefits even within a year if such tyres are mostly used in field operations and on soft soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"251 ","pages":"Article 106570"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improving the prediction of vegetation carbon, phosphorus, and C:P ratio of alpine grassland in the Three-River Headwater Region by combining the field and laboratory reflectance spectroscopy","authors":"Shuangyin Zhang ,&nbsp;Baocheng Zhao ,&nbsp;Xu Jian ,&nbsp;Junlin Fu ,&nbsp;Yiyun Chen ,&nbsp;Teng Fei","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vegetation carbon (C), phosphorus (P), and C:P ratio of alpine grassland is vital for understanding forage quality and yield. Visible and near-infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy is an effective approach to analyzing the vegetation growing status in low-altitude region. However, the feasibility of applying VNIR spectroscopy for vegetation biochemical parameters monitoring in high altitude regions, such as the alpine grassland above 4500 m, remains unclear, and little is known about enhanced approaches to improve the estimation accuracy using comprehensive spectral information. Here, we explored the feasibility of using VNIR to estimate these stoichiometries in the Three-River Headwater Region (TRHR) by using field and laboratory spectra, and the possibility of using complementary spectral information to improve estimation accuracy. The R² of only using field spectra was less than 0.45 for C, P, and C:P. The laboratory spectra improved the estimation accuracy to 0.81, 0.66, and 0.64 respectively, and these accuracies were further improved to 0.87, 0.79,0.83 by complementary information from field and laboratory spectra. The results demonstrated the potential of VNIR to estimate accurate nutrient indicators of alpine grassland. The correlation between the field and laboratory spectra was changing and weak, and it varied from positive to negative in the ‘Red-edge’ region, implying that their spectral information was complementary. Improved estimation accuracy of nutrient indicators using complementary spectral information contributes to monitoring accurately the vegetation health in the TRHR and promotes our understanding of the forage quality and the growing status of alpine grassland.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"251 ","pages":"Article 106563"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response law and prediction model of soil erosion considering vegetation and litter cover under different rainfall intensities in the Loess Plateau","authors":"Wenjia Zhao ,&nbsp;Kuandi Zhang ,&nbsp;Youdong Cen ,&nbsp;Wei Hu ,&nbsp;Chenxin Yang ,&nbsp;Qingjun Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurately predicting soil erosion rate on covered slopes can help formulate reasonable vegetation restoration schemes to prevent soil erosion. To study the impacts of vegetation and litter cover on slope soil erosion, this study conducted indoor artificial rainfall experiments under 15° and five rainfall intensities (<em>RI</em> = 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2.00 mm min⁻¹). Three different treatments were studied: shrub coverage (<em>C</em>_<em>S</em>) changing grass-shrub community slope (GS); Grass coverage (<em>C</em>_<em>G</em>) changing grass-shrub community slope (SG); And litter-covered grass-shrub community slope (GSL). The variation of soil erosion on different treatments under rainfall conditions and the mechanism of each influencing factor were analyzed. The results showed that (1) vegetation and litter cover reduced the erosion rate (<em>ER</em>) for different experimental slopes. Compared with BS, the <em>ER</em> of GS, SG, and GSL decreased by 2.57–28.53 %, 5.54–68.33 %, and 23.85–69.63 %, respectively. In addition, with the increase of <em>RI</em>, <em>ER</em> increased, and the erosion reduction effect of grass, shrubs, and litter decreased. (2) With the increase of <em>C</em>_<em>G</em>, <em>C</em>_<em>S</em>, and litter biomass (<em>W</em>_<em>L</em>), the contribution of grass, shrub and litter to the erosion reduction rate increased. The critical coverage ratio was determined when the erosion reduction contribution rate of each cover is dominant. <em>C</em>_<em>S</em>/<em>C</em>_<em>V</em> = 0.6 and <em>W</em>_<em>L</em>/<em>C</em>_<em>V</em> = 50 are the critical ratio for determining which is dominant, grass or shrub, and vegetation or litter. In addition, with the increase of <em>RI</em>, the contribution of erosion reduction rate of higher coverage vegetation and litter increased. (3) Under grass, shrubs, and litter cover, critical shear stress (<em>τ</em>₀) of slope soil increased and soil erodibility coefficient (<em>K</em>_<em>r</em>) decreased, leading to the enhancement of soil erosion resistance. Compared with BS, the <em>τ</em>₀ increased by 12.85–44.07 %, 18.70–81.97 %, and 44.07–123.87 %, respectively, the <em>K</em>_<em>r</em> decreased by 7.78–23.48 %, 16.73–58.91 %, and 39.47–73.07 %, respectively. (4) A prediction model of <em>ER</em> of covered slope under rainfall condition was established, which considered hydrodynamic characteristics and quantified the influence of surface cover. This model has good prediction accuracy and can provide useful insights for the erosion process of the Loess Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"251 ","pages":"Article 106559"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143767884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}