Wood chips as soil conservation in field conditions

The soil conditioner in processes of soil conservation is important especially in heavily eroded areas. Because in this study done in Educational and Research Forest Watershed of Tarbiat Modares University, north of Iran, the experiments created four treatments of control and different wood chips with rates of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg m^?2, by rainfall simulation in rainfall intensity of 60 mm h^?1, and plot scale of 1 m² on changing ponding time, runoff coefficient, sediment concentration, and soil loss. The results showed that the average change ponding time in control treatment and wood chip treatments with rates of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg m^?2 were 4.25, 7.48, 11.63, and 12.45 min. Also, the average change runoff coefficient in control treatment and wood chip treatments with rates of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg m^?2 were 50.03, 26.27, 15.28, and 13.17 %. The results also indicated that the wood chips could decrease average soil loss with the rates of ?52.15, ?82.18, and ?89.35 % compared with control treatment for 0.5, 1, and 1.5 kg m^?2 of wood chips, respectively. The one-way ANOVA results showed that the runoff coefficient, sediment concentration, and soil loss decreased with increasing wood chip amount, and the effect of conservation treatment was significant on study variables (R ² = 0.99). But, the ponding time increased with increasing wood chip amount, and this effect was significant on study variables (R ² = 0.99).     

Deforestation effects on soil properties,runoff and erosion in northern Iran

Improper cultivation practices are seriously degrading native forest ecosystems in northern Iran. Hence, the objectives of this study are to compare selected soil properties, runoff amount, erosion and also introducing equations to predict the runoff and soil erosion in three types of land use (forest, garden and cultivated). A simple portable rainfall simulator has been set in 90 random points to create experimental rainfall. Result showed that changes in natural forest led to a significant clay, organic carbon of soil, total N and antecedent soil moisture decrease and sand, pH and bulk density increasing. The rainfall runoff experiments indicate that runoff content of the natural forest soils was 35 % and respectively 38.45 % higher than the garden and cultivated land soils .This result could be related to the higher antecedent soil moisture in natural forest compared with the other land uses. According to the obtained results, garden soil erosion and cultivated land was 1.351 and respectively 1.587 times higher than the forest. The correlation matrix revealed that runoff content was positively correlated with antecedent soil moisture, bulk density and silt, and negatively with soil organic carbon, total N and sand. Also, soil organic carbon, total N, clay and sand showed negative correlation with soil erosion, while there is a positive correlation between erosion and silt, bulk density, pH and antecedent soil moisture. The results of multiple linear regression showed that runoff in forest, garden and cultivated land can be predicted with correlation coefficient of 0.637, 0.547 and 0.624, respectively. The correlation coefficients of 0.798, 0.628 and 0.560 in equations indicate their moderate potential in simulating soil erosion.     

Impact of rainfall intensity on the hydrological performance of erosion control geotextiles

The impact of erosion control geotextiles on the surface runoff from slopes is quite variable and depends strongly on site-specific conditions (soil characteristics, slope morphology, climate, etc.), as has been shown in several earlier studies. In addition, little is known about the proportion of runoff reduction that is caused by the geotextile and the proportion that is caused by soil characteristics. To shed more light on this issue, an experiment was carried out to test the impact of 500 g m^?2 jute nets (J500) and 400 g m^?2; 700 g m^?2 coir nets (C400, C700) on the surface runoff from simulated rainfall of four different intensities (I ₁ = 18.7; I ₂ = 27.2; I ₃ = 53.6; I ₄ = 90.5 mm h^?1). Data on runoff volume, peak discharge and time to peak discharge were collected from 40 simulated rainfall events. An impermeable “no-soil” subgrade was used to examine the impact of the geotextile on runoff without any influence of soil. All tested geotextiles significantly reduced runoff (volume, peak discharge) at all rainfall intensities, with the exception of C400 and C700 during simulated rainfall intensity I ₄. J500 seemed to have the most effective runoff reduction performance at all rainfall intensities. In general, as the rainfall intensity increased, the effectiveness of the geotextiles decreased. Interesting behaviour was observed for J500 under simulated rainfall intensity I ₄—the effectiveness of the geotextile increased with the duration of the rainfall.     

A threshold in soil formation at Earth’s arid-hyperarid transition

The soils of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile have long been known to contain large quantities of unusual salts, yet the processes that form these soils are not yet fully understood. We examined the morphology and geochemistry of soils on post-Miocene fans and stream terraces along a south-to-north (27° to 24° S) rainfall transect that spans the arid to hyperarid transition (21 to ∼2 mm rain y⁻¹). Landform ages are ? 2 My based on cosmogenic radionuclide concentrations in surface boulders, and Ar isotopes in interbedded volcanic ash deposits near the driest site indicate a maximum age of 2.1 My. A chemical mass balance analysis that explicitly accounts for atmospheric additions was used to quantify net changes in mass and volume as a function of rainfall. In the arid (21 mm rain y⁻¹) soil, total mass loss to weathering of silicate alluvium and dust (−1030 kg m⁻²) is offset by net addition of salts (+170 kg m⁻²). The most hyperarid soil has accumulated 830 kg m⁻² of atmospheric salts (including 260 kg sulfate m⁻² and 90 kg chloride m⁻²), resulting in unusually high volumetric expansion (120%) for a soil of this age. The composition of both airborne particles and atmospheric deposition in passive traps indicates that the geochemistry of the driest soil reflects accumulated atmospheric influxes coupled with limited in-soil chemical transformation and loss. Long-term rates of atmospheric solute addition were derived from the ion inventories in the driest soil, divided by the landform age, and compared to measured contemporary rates. With decreasing rainfall, the soil salt inventories increase, and the retained salts are both more soluble and present at shallower depths. All soils generally exhibit vertical variation in their chemistry, suggesting slow and stochastic downward water movement, and greater climate variability over the past 2 My than is reflected in recent (∼100 y) rainfall averages. The geochemistry of these soils shows that the transition from arid to hyperarid rainfall levels marks a fundamental geochemical threshold: in wetter soils, the rate and character of chemical weathering results in net mass loss and associated volumetric collapse after 10⁵ to 10⁶ years, while continuous accumulation of atmospheric solutes in hyperarid soils over similar timescales results in dramatic volumetric expansion. The specific geochemistry of hyperarid soils is a function of atmospheric sources, and is expected to vary accordingly at other hyperarid sites. This work identifies key processes in hyperarid soil formation that are likely to be independent of location, and suggests that analogous processes may occur on Mars.     

The role of rare rainstorms in the formation of calcic soil horizons on alluvial surfaces in extreme deserts

Soils in similar geomorphic settings in hyperarid deserts (< 50 mm yr⁻¹) should have similar characteristics because a negative moisture balance controls their development. However, Reg soils in the hyperarid southern Negev and Namib deserts are distinctly different. Soils developed on stable alluvial surfaces with only direct input of rainfall and dust depend heavily on rainfall characteristics. Annual rainfall amount can be similar (15-30 mm), but storm duration can drastically alter Reg soil properties in deserts. The cooler fall/winter and dry hot summers of the southern Negev Desert with a predominance brief (≤ 1 day) rainstorms result in gypsic-saline soils without any calcic soil horizon. Although the Namib Desert receives only 50-60% of the southern Negev annual rainfall, its rainstorm duration is commonly 2-4 days. This improves leaching of the top soil under even lower annual rainfall amount and results in weeks-long grass cover. The long-term cumulative effect of these rare rain-grass relationships produces a calcic-gypsic-saline soil. The development of these different kinds of desert soils highlights the importance of daily to seasonal rainfall characteristics in influencing soil-moisture regime in deserts, and has important implications for the use of key desert soil properties as proxies in paleoclimatology.     

Variation of debris flow/flood formation conditions at the watershed scale in the Wenchuan Earthquake area

A channelized debris flow/flood generally originates from initial gully erosion by superficial runoff that evolves rapidly into massive erosion of the channel bed. Knowledge of the formation conditions of such events is crucial for accurate forecasting, and determination of rainfall and runoff thresholds for such hazards is a primary concern following a strong earthquake. This work proposed a framework for debris flow/flood formation at the watershed scale in two watersheds (area: 2.4 and 32.4 km²) in the Wenchuan Earthquake area (China). The critical runoff and rainfall conditions required for debris flow/flood formation were simulated and their annual variations investigated. Ultimately, the runoff conditions required for debris flow/flood formation in the two studied watersheds were calculated on an annual basis and found to increase in time. Similarly, following consideration of three different rainfall types, critical rainfall conditions were proposed that also showed an increasing tendency. The increase of rainfall and runoff conditions for debris flow/flood formation is attributable to both the recovery of vegetation and the reduction of source materials. In comparison with actual monitored flow behaviors and previously proposed rainfall thresholds, the results showed strong consistency and high forecasting efficiency.

     

Relationship between soil physiochemistry and land degradation in the lower Heihe River basin of northwestern China

Monitoring of soil-water physiochemistry (pH, total salt content, ion types, and ion ratios) across the lower Heihe River basin of northwestern China indicated that the distribution of different soil hydrochemical types typically correlated with that of different levels of soil desertification, specifically: 1) lands with the potential for desertification showed a Cl⁻-SO₄²⁻-Na⁺-Mg²⁺ soil-water ion complement, 2) those under on-going desertification a SO₄²⁻-Cl⁻-Mg²⁺-Na⁺ ion complement, 3) those under severe desertification a HCO₃⁻-Cl⁻-Ca²⁺-Na⁺ ion complement, and 4) those under very severe desertification a Cl⁻-SO₄²⁻-Mg²⁺-Na⁺ ion complement. The total soil N, P, and K, pH and organic matter of desertified lands tend to be relatively spatially concentrated, whereas available N, P and K are scattered. Based on an analysis of the main nutrients, the cumulative percent contribution of total N, total P, organic matter, and available N reached 76.24% of ecosystem needs and basically reflect the level of soil fertility. According to a low-dimensional cluster analysis of principal components and the differentiation and alikeness of integrated nutrient gradients, the soils in the study region were classified into four types, which coincided spatially with the four desertification land types. With a decrease in the quantity of water exiting the upper and middle reaches of the Heihe River basin, the salinity of surface waters and shallow water table depth (WTD) in the lower reaches have significantly increased through evaporation. The changes in the hydrological process have caused an imbalance in water distribution across the basin, and altered the state of oasis-supporting water resources. The deterioration of soil water and expansion of desertification progress from non-salinized soils in the oasis, to soils slightly salinized through periodic salt accumulation, salinized Chao soils, and salinized forest shrub meadow soils along the riverbanks and on lake shores. These can then evolve into moderately to heavily salinized soils and eventually into alkali lands. All together, these degradative processes constitute the complex dynamics of oasis desertification, whereby the natural oases’ surface biotic productivity system is degraded, leading to oasis shrinkage, ecosystem deterioration, and land desertification. Consequently, there is an urgent need to extend the study of soil and surface water chemistry in the region.     

A comparison of measured 137Cs and excess 210Pb levels in the cultivated brown and cinnamon soils of the Yimeng Mountain area

This contribution analyzes the similarities and differences between the measured activities of 137Cs and excess 210pb （210Pbex） in the cultivated brown and cinnamon soils of the Yimeng Mountain area, discusses the influ- ence of soil texture on the measurement of 210Pbex, and presents differences between the two types of soils. Fields A and B were selected to represent the fields that contain cultivated brown and cinnamon soils, respectively. From either study field, one site of sectioned core and six bulk cores were collected to measure 137Cs levels, 210Pbex levels, and the particle-size composition of soil samples. Three undisturbed soil samples were collected to measure capillary and aeration porosities. The 137Cs inventories for the two study fields are very similar. The 137Cs is a man-made ra- dionuclide, which means that its measured levels for soils are unaffected by soil texture. In contrast, levels of the naturally occurring 210Pbex of soils from Field A were lower than those of Field B by about 50%. In contrast to aquatic sediments, levels of 210Pbex in terrestrial surface soils are affected by the emanation of 222Rn from the soils. It can be assumed that the coarser the soils, the greater the emanation of 222Rn; in addition, the lower the measured 210pbex, the greater the underestimate of this value. The cultivated brown soils in Field A are coarser than the culti- vated cinnamon soils in Field B. As a result, 222Rn in Field A will diffuse more easily into the atmosphere than that in Field B. As a consequence, the measured 210pbex in soils from Field A is much lower than the actual value, whereas the value measured for Field B is much closer to the actual value.     

几种土壤的细沟侵蚀过程及其影响因素

通过间隔为11h的二次人工模拟降雨和冲蚀槽试验研究了10种土壤的侵蚀过程,发现在第2次降雨中大多数土壤出现了细沟侵蚀形式。采样微形态观察发现,在第1次降雨中形成结皮的土壤在第2次降雨中出现了细沟侵蚀;产流产沙观测发现所有出现细沟侵蚀的土壤在第1次降雨中径流含沙量逐渐减少,而第2次降雨中有一个先剧增后减少的过程。土壤理化分析及多元逐步回归分析结果表明,土壤颗粒组成、有机质含量、铁铝含量等因素对细沟侵蚀的影响表现不明显,而与土壤团聚体有关结构指标、细沟侵蚀、产流产沙速率及总量呈显著相关关系。分析表明,团聚体分散度、崩解速率与渗透系数之比两个指标能较好地预测细沟侵蚀发生的可能性,同时也能很好地预测侵蚀产沙量。     

河套灌区耕地-荒地-海子系统间不同类型水分运移转化

为了探明耕地-荒地-海子系统中不同类型水分的运移转化规律,在2018-2019年典型时期对系统内具有代表性的采样点进行水样采集,分析了不同时期内不同水体的δ¹⁸O变化特征,并利用二端元混合模型和土壤水动力学方法计算了不同类型水分转化贡献率。结果发现：①在灌溉期,82%的灌溉水储存于1 m土体中,18%的灌溉水通过渗漏补给了耕地地下水,渠系灌溉水通过地下侧向径流给耕地地下水贡献了76%。②灌溉水和降雨对耕地地下水平均贡献率为94%和6%;耕地地下水和降雨对荒地地下水的平均贡献率为71%和29%;荒地地下水和降雨对海子的平均贡献率为43%和57%。③渠系灌溉水通过侧向径流贡献给耕地地下水的水量基本全部迁移给了荒地地下水,地下水迁移转化是由渠系水侧向径流触发的。④灌后5 d,耕荒地交界土层0~40 cm存在饱和-非饱和侧向补给;灌后15 d和30 d,耕地和耕荒地交界处的地下水向根区40~60 cm、土层80 cm以及100 cm补给水分;灌后30 d,耕地中的灌溉水水分消失。⑤在非灌溉期,荒地地下水和海子耗水较多,应给海子补给水分。     

Impact of nitrogenous fertiliser-induced proton release on cultivated soils with contrasting carbonate contents: A column experiment

An experimental study was carried out in order to evaluate the impact of nitrogen fertiliser-induced acidification in carbonated soils. Undisturbed soil columns containing different carbonate content were sampled in the field. Fertiliser spreading was simulated by NH₄Cl addition on top of the soil column. Soil solution composition (mainly nitrate and base cations) was studied at the soil column’s base. Nitrification occurred to a different extent depending on soil type. Higher nitrification rates were observed in calcareous soils. In all the soil types, strong correlations between leached base cation and nitrate concentrations were observed. Regression coefficients between base cations, nitrate and chloride were used to determine the dominant processes occurring following NH₄Cl spreading. In non-carbonated soils, nitrogen nitrification induced base cation leaching and soil acidification. In carbonated soils, no change of soil pH was observed. However, fertilisers induced a huge cation leaching. Carbonate mineral weathering led to the release of base cations, which replenished the soil exchangeable complex. Carbonated mineral weathering buffered acidification. Since direct weathering might have occurred without atmospheric CO₂ consumption, the use of nitrogen fertiliser on carbonated soil induces a change in the cation and carbon budgets. When the results of these experiments are extrapolated on a global scale to the surface of fertilised areas lying on carbonate, carbonated reactions with N fertilisers would imply an additional flux of 5.7 × 10¹² mol yr⁻¹ of Ca + Mg. The modifications of weathering reactions in cultivated catchments and the ability of nitrogen fertilisers to significantly modify the CO₂ budget should be included in carbon global cycle assessment.     

Zinc adsorption–desorption isotherms: possible effects on the calcareous vertisol soils from Jordan

Calcareous vertisol soil is the dominant agricultural soil type and covers over 80% of the agricultural cultivated land in Jordan. This type of soil is characterized by its high pH and CaCO₃ content, which made the heavy metals including Zn to be oxidized and adsorbed onto soil. Therefore, this type of soil is regarded as potentially Zn deficient. The effect of Zn initial concentration and average rainfall on the Zn adsorption and desorption from three types of calcareous vertisol soils has been examined. The amount of Zn adsorbed and desorbed at equilibrium increased with increasing Zn initial concentration for each of the three investigated soils. However, the percentage of adsorption and desorption decreased as the initial concentration of Zn ions increased. Moreover, results showed that rainfall has no influence on the behavior of Zn in the calcareous vertisol soils. Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models provide the best representation of the experimental data, followed by the Langmuir model.     

Nitric oxide emissions from soils: a case study with temperate soils from Saxony, Germany

Nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) are involved in acid rain and ozone formation, as well as destruction. NO _x are climate-relevant trace gases in the atmosphere. Atmospheric NO _x originate from anthropogenic emissions (mainly combustion processes). NO from natural processes derives from thunderstorms and soil microbial processes. They may play a crucial role in soil?Catmosphere feedback processes. This study aims to investigate NO _x -emissions from soils under different land use, geographical and meteorological conditions. NO _x -emissions were quantified in both field and laboratory experiments with a closed static chamber. Disturbed soil samples have been used for laboratory experiments. A climate chamber was used to regulate soil temperature of the samples. Field experiments showed that NO-soil emissions strongly depend on soil temperature. NO-emissions from a soil under meadow showed significant daily variations, unlike soil below spruce forest. Peak emission values were 18???g NO?CN?m^?2?h^?1 above meadow and 1.3???g NO?CN?m^?2?h^?1 under forest canopy. In addition, NO-emissions of meadow and forest soil were studied in a climate chamber, enhanced by an additional experiment with agricultural soil. These experiments revealed strong exponential correlations of NO-emissions and soil temperature. Maximum values reached above 400???g NO?CN?m^?2?h^?1 from agricultural soils at soil temperatures above 50°C. This study shows that soil NO-emissions strongly depend on temperature, vegetation type and geographical position. Consequently, NO-emissions may have a positive feedback effect on climate change.     

Determination of potential runoff coefficient for Al-Baha Region,Saudi Arabia using GIS

The curve number (CN) is a hydrologic parameter used to describe the stormwater runoff potential for drainage areas, and it is a function of land use, soil type, and soil moisture. This study was conducted to estimate the potential runoff coefficient (PRC) using geographic information system (GIS) based on the area’s hydrologic soil group, land use, and slope and to determine the runoff volume. The soil map for the study area was developed using GPS data carried on to identify the soil texture to be used in building a soil hydrological groups map. Unsupervised and supervised classifications were done to Landsat 5/7 TM/ETM image to generate land-use and land-cover map. This map was reclassified into four main classes (forest, grass and shrub, cropland, and bare soil). Slope map for Al-Baha was generated from a 30-m digital elevation model. The GIS technique was used to combine the previous three maps into one map to generate PRC map. Annual runoff depth is derived based on the annual rainfall surplus and runoff coefficient per pixel using raster calculator tool in ArcGIS. An indication that in the absence of reliable ground measurements of rainfall product, it can satisfactorily be applied to estimate the spatial rainfall distribution based on values of R and R ² (0.9998) obtained. Annual runoff generation from the study area ranged from 0 to 82 % of the total rainfall. Rainfall distribution in the study area shows the wise use of identifying suitable sites for rainwater harvesting, where most of the constructed dams are located in the higher rainfall areas.     

Influences of climate change and human activities on Tarim River runoffs in China over the past half century

The changes in annual runoff of the three original rivers and the mainstream of Tarim River were analyzed by the non-parametric tests based on the hydrologic data during the period of 50 years. Using hydrologic data, meteorological data and the fitted equation, the impacts of climate change and human activities on annual runoff of the mainstream were assessed. Based on the analysis, the following conclusions can be drawn: (1) headstream runoff has increased in the past 50 years, and has sharply jumped after 1990; (2) mainstream runoff decreased progressively in the past 50 years, which indicated that interference from human activities was the main cause for the decreasing runoff. This had greater negative influence than positive influence, which caused the mainstream average runoff to decrease by 5.4 × 10⁸ m³ from 1990 to 2008 as compared to 1957–2008; (3) if human activities remained at pre-1990 levels, climate change alone would have caused the runoff of mainstream of Tarim River to increase by 5.4 × 10⁸ m³ annually in the past 20 years; (4) if the climate had remained at pre-1990 conditions, human activities alone would have caused the runoff of mainstream of Tarim River to increase by 5.4 × 10⁸ m³ annually over the past 20 years. However, mainstream average runoff was 42.6 × 10⁸ m³ from 1990 to 2008 with the negative effects of human activities masked by the larger, positive effect of climate changes. The results in this paper provide a scientific basis for conservation strategies, sustainable management, and ecological restoration of the Tarim River Basin.     

喀斯特裸坡土壤侵蚀模拟研究

文章通过人工模拟降雨试验,研究不同地下孔（裂）隙度、基岩裸露率和雨强对地表、地下产流、产沙的影响,其结果表明:（1）土壤侵蚀与地下孔（裂）隙度具有较高相关性,地表产流、产沙随地下孔（裂）隙度的增大而减小,而地下则相反;（2）坡面径流刚产生时,雨滴击溅和薄层水流冲刷,土壤细小颗粒堵塞其毛管空隙,渗漏率减小,而地表径流量增大,土壤团聚体被破坏、分散和迁移,降水与土壤渗漏率增大,地表径流量减小,雨滴击溅增强,如此循环,降水与土壤渗漏率呈波动性变化;总体而言,地表、地下悬移质均随降雨历时呈下降趋势,而地表推移质则相反,地表、地下产流量变幅较小,趋于平行;（3）地表产流、产沙量随基岩裸露率增大呈波动性变化,总体呈下降趋势;而地下产流、产沙量随基岩裸露率增大呈波动性变化,总体呈增大趋势;（4）在较小雨强30 mm/h时,地表只产生悬移质流失,没有产生推移质流失;地表、地下产流、产沙都是随雨强增大而增大;雨强由30 mm/h增大到150 mm/h,地表累积产流量为538.5 L,累积产沙量为2 393.81 g,地下累积产流量为207.8 L,累积产沙量为687.73 g,累积产沙量的递增速率比累积产流量的递增速率要大,地表产流、产沙的递增速率大于地下产流、产沙的递增速率;（5）各因子与土壤侵蚀间相关程度为:降雨历时>雨强>地下孔（裂）隙度>基岩裸露率。该实验有助于为喀斯特地区的水土流失研究、评价及制订石漠化治理措施提供理论依据。      

河套灌区耕地-荒地-海子系统间不同类型水分运移转化

为了探明耕地-荒地-海子系统中不同类型水分的运移转化规律,在2018-2019年典型时期对系统内具有代表性的采样点进行水样采集,分析了不同时期内不同水体的δ18O变化特征,并利用二端元混合模型和土壤水动力学方法计算了不同类型水分转化贡献率。结果发现:①在灌溉期,82%的灌溉水储存于1 m土体中,18%的灌溉水通过渗漏补给了耕地地下水,渠系灌溉水通过地下侧向径流给耕地地下水贡献了76%。②灌溉水和降雨对耕地地下水平均贡献率为94%和6%;耕地地下水和降雨对荒地地下水的平均贡献率为71%和29%;荒地地下水和降雨对海子的平均贡献率为43%和57%。③渠系灌溉水通过侧向径流贡献给耕地地下水的水量基本全部迁移给了荒地地下水,地下水迁移转化是由渠系水侧向径流触发的。④灌后5 d,耕荒地交界土层0~40 cm存在饱和-非饱和侧向补给;灌后15 d和30 d,耕地和耕荒地交界处的地下水向根区40~60 cm、土层80 cm以及100 cm补给水分;灌后30 d,耕地中的灌溉水水分消失。⑤在非灌溉期,荒地地下水和海子耗水较多,应给海子补给水分。     

Evaluation of sediment yield and soil loss by the MPSIAC model using GIS at Golestan watershed, northeast of Iran

Watershed degradation due to soil erosion and sedimentation is considered to be one of the major environmental problems in Iran. In order to address the critical conditions of watershed degradation in arid and semiarid regions, a study based on the Modified Pacific Southwest Inter-Agency Committee (MPSIAC) model was carried out at Golestan watershed, northeast of Iran. The model information layers comprising nine effective factors in erosion and sedimentation at the watershed site were obtained by digitalization and spatial interpolation of the basic information data in a GIS program. These factors are geology, soil, climate, runoff, topography, land cover, land use, channel, and upland erosion. The source data for the model were obtained from available records on rainfall and river discharge and sediment, topography, land use, geology, and soil maps as well as field surveys and laboratory analysis. The results of the MPSIAC model indicated that 60.75 % (194.4 km²) and 54.97 % (175.9 km²) of the total watershed area were classified in the heavy sedimentation and erosion classes, and the total basin sediment yield and erosion were calculated as 4,171.1 and 17,813.4 m³ km^?2 year^?1, respectively. In the sensitivity analysis, it was found that the most sensitive parameters of the model in order of importance were topography (slope), land cover and use, runoff, and channel erosion (R ²?=?0.92–0.94), while geology, climate (rainfall), soil, and upland erosion factors were found to have moderate effect to the model output (R ²?=?0.74–0.59).     

Modified method for estimating the organic carbon density of discontinuous soils in peak-karst regions in southwest China

Precise estimation of soil organic carbon storage is essential to assess carbon sequestration in soils at a regional scale. However, there is great uncertainty regarding such estimations for discontinuous soils, especially in peak-karst regions where soil is distributed between horizontal cracks and vertical fissures. In this study, a modified method was developed to estimate the soil organic carbon density (SOCD) in peak-karst regions in southwest China, and four typical sites were selected to evaluate this methodology. Compared with the conventional method, additional soil distribution characters, such as the average depth and the proportions of the ground surface area represented by continuous soil, soil in cracks and fissures, soil on rocks, and rocky soil, were considered in the estimation. The SOCD under each vegetation type was calculated by totaling the SOCD values for the various types of soil surfaces, and the SOCD for a site was then totaled using the weighted mean method based on vegetation. Using the modified method, the SOCD values were estimated for the four typical sites selected. The estimation results demonstrated that the SOCD values for the karst sites (6.39, 7.52, and 9.22?kg?m^?2) were lower than that for the red soil site (10.01?kg?m^?2). The SOCD values estimated for the karst sites using the proposed method ranged from 24.3 to 89.6% of the estimates obtained using the conventional method, reflecting previous overestimations. The differences in the estimated SOCD values were mainly due to soil distribution characters.     

Remote sensing- and GIS-based runoff modeling with the effect of land-use changes (a case study of Cochin corporation)

A study was conducted to estimate the runoff in urbanized zone using Soil Conservation Services Curve Number (SCS-CN) method through remote sensing and GIS techniques. In this study, the region was identified as Cochin Corporation (Kerala State, India) with an aerial extent of 96.44 km². The spatial and non-spatial data were collected from different sources, and the thematic layers of soil hydrologic group and land-use maps were prepared and overlaid with one other. The overlaid output results were assigned by curve numbers with respect to soil and land-use categories, and the CN map was prepared with the help of Visual Basic (VB) language in ArcGIS platform. Through supervised classifications, 13 different land-use classes were identified from Quickbird data for the year of 2005 and 2010. The most prominent land-use classes were water bodies, residential, mixed crops, commercial and industrial, and 3 types of soil hydrologic groups were identified namely A, B, and C categories. The B group is most prominent occupying 60 km² of the study area. The CN map shows the ranges that 92–100 is the major CN area with high runoff potential zone of the study region. At the final stage, the runoff was estimated by the maximum successive rainfall received in this study area in two different years—2005 and 2010 along with their land-use pattern. The runoff model is applied for temporal variation in land-use change, and impact of runoff was studied. The study area showed significant changes in land-use pattern between 2005 and 2010 particularly in the land-use change from agricultural into industrial, commercial, and residential (high density). The area covered by the highest runoff depth with the range of 92–100 CN values increased from 43.87 to 45.32 km² from 2005 to 2010. The volume of runoff was increased from 135.56 to 141.49 Mm³ from 2005 to 2010 due to the land-use change pattern.