Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 62-68.DOI: 10.11988/ckyyb.20231235

• SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Influence of Bottom Soil Layer Permeability and Slope Gradient on Runoff and Sediment Yield Characteristics

LIU Ji-gen1,2(), LU Liang-wei1,2, TONG Xiao-xia1,2, CHEN Jin-yang1,2, GUO Yu-hui1,2   

  1. 1 Soil and Water Conservation Department,Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute,Wuhan 430010,China
    2 Research Center on Mountain Torrent & Geologic Disaster Prevention,Ministry of Water Resources,Wuhan 430010, China
  • Received:2023-11-14 Revised:2024-03-19 Published:2025-02-01 Online:2025-02-01

Abstract:

Understanding the runoff and sediment yield processes on slopes are of crucial significance in enhancing the research on rainstorm and flood dynamics in mountainous areas. To examine the effects of slope soil permeability and gradient on runoff and sediment yield characteristics in mountainous terrain, an indoor artificial simulated continuous rainfall experiment was conducted. The experiment was conducted on a soil trough with shallow upper section and deep lower section using soil samples from the Guanshan River Basin. The study aimed to investigate and summarize the variations in runoff and soil erosion with different slope gradients. Findings reveal that 1) At 5° and 25° slopes, surface runoff rates increased with escalating rainfall intensity, with higher rates observed on slopes featuring impermeable bottom layers compared to those with permeable layers. At a 15° slope, however, runoff increased with notable fluctuations, and differences in runoff rates between impermeable and permeable bottom layers were not statistically significant. 2) Interflow rates escalated over time during each rainfall simulation, displaying significant variations across different slope gradients. Generally, interflow rates were higher on slopes with impermeable bottom layers than on those with permeable layers. Notably, the relationship between interflow rate and surface runoff rate was negatively correlated at 5° slopes and positively correlated at 25° slopes. 3) Surface runoff velocities increased with rising rainfall intensity. At 5° and 15° slopes, velocities were significantly higher on impermeable bottom layers compared to permeable ones, whereas at 25°, no significant differences were observed. 4) Soil erosion was most pronounced during the second and third rainfall simulations across different slope gradients. Erosion rates were higher on impermeable bottom layers compared to permeable ones at 5° and 25° slopes, but showed fluctuations at 15° slopes.

Key words: rainfall intensity, slope gradient, bedrock permeability, runoff and sediment yield, continuous rainfall

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