In order to study the factors affecting preferential flow, a 2.9 m-long, 2.6 m-deep soil profile was dug in the Quxi watershed, Yangtze River. To analyze the influence of rainfall on preferential flow, the preferential flow process was observed when the rainfalls were recorded. Soil physical and infiltration characteristics were also measured to study their effect on preferential flow. The results showed that the rainfall amount that could cause preferential flow was over 26 mm. There are four types of rainfall in the Three Gorges area, namely gradually dropping rain, even rain, sudden rain and peak rain. Preferential flow process was found to be relevant to the rainfall process. It was determined that with different rainfall types, preferential flow appeared at different times, occurring first in peak rain, followed by sudden rain, gradually dropping rain, and then even rain. Preferential flow would appear when the rainfall intensity was over 0.075 mm/min. In the studied area, the coarse soil particles increased with the soil depth, and for the deeper soil layer, the coarse particles promote the formation of preferential flow. Preferential flow accelerates the steady infiltration rate in the 83-110 cm soil horizon, and the quickly moving water in this horizon also enhanced the further formation and development of preferential flow.
Lakes represent an important source of atmospheric methane (CH4); however, there are few studies on which lake-dwelling invasive aquatic plants generate CH4. Therefore, in this study, CH4 emissions were measured using a floating chamber and gas chromatography in a subtropical lake in China. We considered four community zones of invasive plants (Eichhornia crassipes), emergent vegetation (Zizania latifolia), floating-plant (Trapa natans) and open-water zones. The results indicate that the flux of CH4 emissions varied between −5.38 and 102.68 mg m−2 h−1. The higher emission values were attributed to lake eutrophication. Moreover, the flux of CH4 emissions in the invasive plant zone was 140%–220% higher than that in the open-water and the floating-plant zones. However, there was no significant difference in CH4 emissions between the invasive plant and the emergent vegetation zones. This may be due to a higher production of plants, as well as the rapid reproductive rate of the invasive plants. Finally, CH4 emissions were positively associated with the air and water temperature; however, the emissions were also negatively associated with water depth. Our results suggest that invasive plants enhance freshwater CH4 emissions, thus contributing to global warming.
Preferential flow is a runoff mechanism intermediate between matrix flow and surface flow, transmitting water at high velocity through the subsurface zone. To assess the effect of preferential flow on soil-water flow and surface runoff in a forested watershed, precipitation and volumes of preferential flow, matrix flow and surface runoff were measured over a period of four years in a forested watershed in the Three Gorges area of southern China. Results show that preferential-flow hydrographs have gentler rises and steeper recessions than those for matrix flow and surface runoff. Preferential flow as a percentage of soil-water flow ranged from 2.40% to 8.72% and the maximum preferential-flow velocity exceeded as much as 5600 times that of matrix flow. This shows that preferential flow plays an important role in the movement of soil water. Preferential flow has a significant effect on peak surface runoff by increasing the surface runoff rate and accelerating the appearance of peak surface runoff. Preferential flow can also prolong the duration of surface runoff. Surface runoff was observed to be positively correlated with preferential flow. The greater the sum of rainfall amount and antecedent precipitation is, the greater the effect of preferential flow on surface runoff is.
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