Influence of soil surface features and vegetation on runoff and erosion in the Western Sierra Madre (Durango, Northwest Mexico)

Descroix, Luc; Viramontes, David; Vauclin, Michel; Barrios, José Luís González; Estèves, Michel

doi:10.1016/s0341-8162(00)00124-7

Cited by 128 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Areas dominated by grassy plants such as D. linearis (average 125 individuals per square meter) in the TCP plots are the most effective at avoiding erosion. Other studies also reported that low values of runoff and soil loss correspond with high values of grass cover (Descroix et al, 2001). And the types of plant life forms were also found to be influential to runoff control (Casermeiro et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…In addition, organic carbon increases the formation of soil aggregates (Casermeiro et al, 2004). Descroix et al (2001) also found that soil organic matter content was negatively correlated with runoff and soil loss, while sand content increased runoff and erosion, and higher silt content resulted in good structural stability leading to reduced erosion and runoff. By contrast, in this research, the soils of the plantation and control plots were considerably lower in silt and slightly lower in clay than adjacent soils under natural secondary forest, most likely as the result of preferential removal of silt and clay by accelerated water erosion (Hassan and Majumder, 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…The tree canopy determines the size and erosive power of raindrops. The litter layer protects soil surface, thus preventing soil detachment, and provides surface roughness that minimizes soil particle movement down the slope and reduces runoff velocity (Hartanto et al, 2003;Casermeiro et al, 2004;Descroix et al, 2001). Ross and Dykes (1996) found that removal of the litter layer resulted in a 20-fold increase in runoff and soil loss compared to the intact forest floor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of reforestation approaches on runoff control in the hilly red soil region of Southern China

Zheng

Chen

Ouyang

et al. 2008

Journal of Hydrology

113

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Summary Vegetation structure and soil properties are not only correlated with forest management practices, but also affect soil and water loss significantly. To estimate the long-term influences of regenerating forest cover on soil and water loss from degraded land, the runoff and soil loss in the context of different forest restoration approaches, including a control plot (CL) and plantations of slash pine (Pinus elliottii), Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), tea-oil camellia (Camellia oleifera), and natural secondary forest, were monitored in runoff plots over a 4-year period (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003) in a hilly red soil region in Southern China. Relevant ecological factors and management intensity, were also measured. The results indicated that the four forest restoration approaches decreased surface runoff by 63.0-88.1% and soil erosion by 75.5-97.1% compared to the control. Moreover, runoff and soil erosion in tea-camellia plantation (TCP) and natural secondary forest (NSF) plots were significantly lower than with other treatments. Canopy cover, litter fall, plant roots, plant life forms, soil properties, and vegetation structure are important ecological factors that determine the magnitude of soil loss. Vegetation structure and plant life forms are the main factors reducing surface runoff and the movement of sediments. Effective control of soil and water loss in NSF and TCP are closely related to multiply stratified communities and the presence of specific plant life forms (the herbaceous keystone species Dicranopteris linearis), respectively. In addition, the above mentioned factors were sensitive to forest management patterns, including improper mechanical cultivation. Management practices should attempt to minimize disturbances to these factors to control runoff and soil erosion in each forest management unit. In particular, mechanical cultivation should loosen the soil around the base of a tree only, instead of over the entire ground surface, in the early stages of forest restoration. ª

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of reforestation approaches on runoff control in the hilly red soil region of Southern China

Zheng

Chen

Ouyang

et al. 2008

Journal of Hydrology

113

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“…Loss of vegetation cover and removal of leaf litter led to the formation of soil seals (Singer and Bissonnais 1998) and exposure of soil particles to the direct impact of raindrops (Mohammad and Mohammad 2010), both of which enhance runoff and soil erosion (Descroix et al 2001(Descroix et al , 2008Snyman and duPreez 2005;Al-Seikh 2006). Overgrazing and cattle movement were the main causes of gully erosion in mountainous areas (Descroix et al 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking fine root and understory vegetation to channel erosion in forested hillslopes of southwestern China

Zhou

et al. 2014

Plant Soil

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Aims The forestland understory vegetation reduces concentrated overland flow through infiltration improvement by roots and raindrop interception by surface cover. However, little has been done to quantify the linkages between understory vegetation cover, roots, and channel erosion, and such information can help assessing the role of the reforestation in soil erosion control. In this study, we evaluated the relationships between channel density, root density, and vegetation cover in forested hillslopes of southwestern China. Methods Twelve locations (four slopes and three positions) of forested hillslopes with a wide range of understory degradation due to litterfall extraction and livestock grazing were selected for the study. Channel density as a measure of rill and (small) gully erosion, root density of different diameter classes, and vegetation cover of all types were determined using field measuring, soil coring and the line transect method, respectively. Soil loss rates were estimated using the caesium-137 ( 137 Cs) technique. Results Rills (depth<0.3 m) with a width of 0.05-0.1 m were the dominate channel erosion in all hillslopes with understory-degradation, and small gullies (depth>0.3 m) with a width 0.5-1.0 m were found at the locations of hillslopes with high understory-degradation. Channel density and soil loss rate increased with the increase in understory-degradation in the forested hillslopes. Simple correlation analysis indicated that channel density was negatively correlated with fine root density (diameter< 1 mm and 1-2 mm) and grass and shrub covers, but not with coarse roots (diam. 2-5 mm and 5-10 mm) and mulch and tree covers. The principal component regression revealed fine root density (diam. <1 mm), shrub and grass covers were the most important predictors for channel density in the forested hillslopes. Tree cover, mulch cover and coarse root density were found to have much less influence on channel density. For the model established from this study using principle component regression, vegetation variables could explain 82 % variance of channel density.

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“…The morphological properties of surface rocks, biological soil crusts, and vascular plants have important effects on water and wind flow, sediment production and deposition, and erosion (Descroix et al, 2001;Wainwright, 2009). By using a chronosequence approach we can infer how feedbacks between abiotic and biotic land surface components influence geomorphic processes over time and impact landscape evolution (McAuliffe, 1994).…”

Section: Implications Of Abiotic and Biotic Land Surface Components Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeomorphology of a Mojave Desert landscape — Configurations and feedbacks of abiotic and biotic land surfaces during landform evolution

et al. 2014

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Terrestrial ecosystems can be more holistically understood by investigating the morphology of landscape mosaics, the assemblage of their ecological communities, and the linkages and feedbacks between the mosaics and communities. The overarching objectives of this study were to: (1) study the abiotic and biotic configurations of landform units as mosaics within a Mojave Desert chronosequence; and (2) elucidate their potential feedbacks, interactions, and dynamics during landform evolution. Seven landform units distributed over three geomorphic ages were identified, including: young bars and swales; intermediate-aged flattened bars, flattened swales, and bioturbation units; and old desert pavements and shrub zones. These landform units were characterized according to abiotic and biotic land surface properties. Landform units were statistically distinct and predictable based on a specific suite of abiotic and biotic properties. Vascular plant functional group and biological soil crust community diversity varied with geomorphology, with greatest diversity associated with bars and shrub zones and lowest diversity associated with desert pavements. Biological soil crust communities were controlled by geomorphic age, surface rock size, and protruding rocks with young bar units having the highest abundance and diversity. Perennial forbs were observed in old shrub zones with small rocks and few protruding rocks. A high clast density and a finer-sized clast distribution were found particularly in desert pavements and flattened swales, and generally inhibited biological soil crust and plant cover. Evolutionary trajectories for landforms of a lower piedmont landscape can be dominated by either abiotic and biotic landform processes. These two trajectories are distinctly different and are associated with their own unique linkages, feedbacks, and dynamics of abiotic and biotic land surface properties, producing a highly diverse desert landscape.

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Influence of soil surface features and vegetation on runoff and erosion in the Western Sierra Madre (Durango, Northwest Mexico)

Cited by 128 publications

References 19 publications

Impacts of reforestation approaches on runoff control in the hilly red soil region of Southern China

Impacts of reforestation approaches on runoff control in the hilly red soil region of Southern China

Linking fine root and understory vegetation to channel erosion in forested hillslopes of southwestern China

Biogeomorphology of a Mojave Desert landscape — Configurations and feedbacks of abiotic and biotic land surfaces during landform evolution

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