Importance of grass stolons in mitigating runoff and sediment yield under simulated rainstorms

Impacts of grass planting density and components on overland flow hydraulics and soil loss

“…In addition, our results showed that the plant aboveground parts performed better in reducing runoff rate and velocity than the roots and contributed 77.9% and 75.1% of the total reduction in runoff rate and velocity, respectively (Table 3, Figure 8). Li and Pan (2018) and Duan et al (2022) reported that the aboveground parts can contribute 64% and 65.1% to runoff reduction, which was slightly less than that in this study. However, we found that the aboveground parts of Astragalus adsurgens, Medicago sativa, and Cosmos bipinnatus in the study of Li and Pan (2018) showed a higher contribution (average 83.2%) to the reduction in flow velocity than our study.…”

“…Comparable results were reported by previous studies (e.g., Pan et al, 2010; Zhao et al, 2015; Li and Pan, 2019). For example, Duan et al (2022) found that the V , τ , and ω of grassed slopes planted with Trifolium repens , Cynodon dactylon , and Eremochloa ophiuroides were reduced by 26.1%–68.7%, 54.4%–78.2%, and 66.7%–93.5%, respectively, under simulated rainfall conditions (90 mm min −1 ). In addition, vegetation cover markedly increases the hydraulic roughness of sloped runoff (Wu et al, 1999; Pan and Shangguan, 2006; Zhao et al, 2015), so the potential runoff energy of sloped grasslands was mainly consumed by surmount land‐surface roughness induced by aboveground parts (Wainwright et al, 2000).…”

“…Comparable results were reported by previous studies (e.g., Pan et al, 2010;Zhao et al, 2015;Li and Pan, 2019). For example, Duan et al (2022) found that the V, τ,…”

“…This difference may be attributed to the discrepancies in grass type. Duan et al (2022) found that, for the plants with well‐developed stolon, the grass stem had a higher contribution to runoff and sediment reduction, but for the plants with primarily erect stems, the aboveground components primarily contributed to runoff reduction and the roots primarily contributed to sediment reduction. In addition, the effects of vegetation are also closely related to the soil erosion process.…”

“…In addition, root exudates, roots and residues that turn into soil organic matter, provide energy/carbon sources for microorganisms and promote the formation of water-stable aggregates (Six et al, 2000;Kong et al, 2005;Baumert et al, 2021). Some studies have also attempted to demonstrate the effects and contributions of vegetation aboveground parts and root systems on erosion under rainfall, flow scouring, and rainfall + inflow conditions (De Baets et al, 2006;Zhou and Shangguan, 2007;Zhang et al, 2014;Zhao et al, 2017;Li and Pan, 2018;Li et al, 2021;Duan et al, 2022). Most studies have confirmed the relatively higher contribution of aboveground parts in reducing runoff hydraulics, and most of the reduction in soil loss was induced by root systems (e.g., Li and Pan, 2018;Li et al, 2021).…”