Determining the protective effect of agricultural crops on the soil erosion process using a field rainfall simulator

Abstract

In this paper the data measured by application of the MDS NZ2 field rainfall simulator have been used to demonstrate the effect of vegetation cover on surface runoff generation and soil loss. The results of 15 experiments for two crops (oats and wheat) are presented. Canopy cover and the leaf area index are used to describe the vegetation development. Measured soil loss decreased with growing vegetation significantly from the maximum values 74.7 g/min for oats (38.4 g/min for wheat) to 0.4 g/min (1.5 g/min respectively) from the experimental plot of 16 m 2 . Thus, this work clearly demonstrates the positive effect of canopy development on soil loss. However, the effect of the developing cover on the surface runoff generation was not significant.

Application of historical and recent aerial imagery in monitoring water erosion occurrences in Czech highlands

“…The field is diagonally divided into two parts by one major thalweg: the western part has a convex longitudinal profile and contains several minor thalwegs, while the eastern part has a In 2009, three USLE plots (22.13 × 2.27 m) and one plot comparable with the laboratory rainfall simulator at the Czech Technical University in Prague (4.0 × 0.9 m) (Bauer et al 2014) were installed in the north-eastern part of the field. These plots are equipped with measuring device for obtaining and recording meteorological data together with the water and sediment runoff from the plots (Davidová et al 2015). Both meteorological data and sediment yield obtained from long-term measurements were used for a comparison with situations captured in the aerial photographs.…”

Double Size Fulljet Field Rainfall Simulator for Complex Interrill and Rill Erosion Studies

“…This fact is confirmed by the device manual [32] and the published studies [33]. Transmittance of senescent leaves may be larger than that of green leaves, which can result in underestimated LAI [22]. The protective effect of vegetation was assessed by Soil Loss Ratio in 60 minutes from the beginning of the simulation, until then the SLR was close to zero since there was only limited flow of suspended solids recorded in first 40 minutes.…”

“…The most crucial variable influencing the course of the simulations are the rainfall intensity (spatial distribution and average over the plot) and droplet characteristics. Droplet size and impact velocity were analysed by a disdrometer, spatial distribution of intensity by a network of small buckets [22]. Average drop size (d50) reaches 1.75 mm for 0.7 bar pressure.…”

Sediment Outflow under Simulated Rainfall Conditions with Varying Geotechnical Properties

“…The results from the regression analysis indicated that rainfall intensity was the primary parameter that affected soil erosion. Davidová et al (2016) demonstrated the effect of vegetation cover on surface runoff generation and soil loss using a field rainfall simulator. The results of 15 experiments for oats and wheat crops were presented.…”