7.4 Results and Discussion
109
present. (2) Application of the distributed hydrologic models. The structures of distributed hydrologic models have become very mature, and the models have been
broadly applied in China. Yet, soil erosion is still very serious due to the broken
topography and intense rainfall on the Loess Plateau. Thus, it is urgent to choose a
suitable distributed hydrological model, and then develop it according to the characteristics of the region, in order to make the simulation results agree with the prototype
phenomenon as far as possible. (3) More efforts to develop management systems
favoring soil conservation and maintaining economic viability. It is worth planting
various cash crops on the dam farmland, for the farmland formed by check dams is
very suitable for planting in virtue of the fertile soil and abundant water.
7.5 Conclusions
This chapter presents the results of a catchment scale investigation on hydro-sediment
and nutrient for a period of 50 years undertaken in a representative catchment in the
Loess Mesa Ravine Region of the Loess Plateau, China, where various conservation
practices were constructed, leading to notable changes in soil and nutrient yield. Soil
erosion and nutrient losses had been greatly decreased, testifying that the conservation practices were effective in conserving the limited water resources and reducing
soil erosion which threatens the sustainable development in this area. The check dam
play a major role in controlling soil and water loss, for relatively small variations
in the area of check dam farmland can influence erosion behavior profoundly. On
the other hand, the TRE for water was much smaller than that for soil, indicating
that the conservation practices worked better in retaining sediment than in reducing
runoff on the Loess Plateau. Hence the negative effects of the conservation practices
on reducing water to the Yellow River were relatively slight.
References
Al-Seekh S H, Mohammad A G. 2009. The effect of water harvesting techniques on runoff,
sedimentation, and soil properties. Environmental Management, 44(1): 37–45.
Bouchnak H, Felfoul M S, Boussema M R, et al. 2009. Slope and rainfall effects on the volume
of sediment yield by gully erosion in the Souar lithologic formation (Tunisia). Catena, 78(2):
170–177.
Castillo V M, Martinez-Mena M, Albaladejo J. 1997. Runoff and soil loss response to vegetation
removal in a semiarid environment. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61(4): 1116–1121.
Chen L D, Wei W, Fu B J, et al. 2007. Soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau in China:
review and perspective. Progress in Physical Geography, 31(4): 389–403.
Fang H Y, Cai Q G, Chen H, et al. 2008. Effect of rainfall regime and slope on runoff in a gullied
loess region on the Loess Plateau in China. Environmental Management, 42(3): 402–411.
Fu B J, Meng Q H, Qiu Y, et al. 2004. Effects of land use on soil erosion and nitrogen loss in the
hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China. Land Degradation and Development, 15(1): 87–96.
109
present. (2) Application of the distributed hydrologic models. The structures of distributed hydrologic models have become very mature, and the models have been
broadly applied in China. Yet, soil erosion is still very serious due to the broken
topography and intense rainfall on the Loess Plateau. Thus, it is urgent to choose a
suitable distributed hydrological model, and then develop it according to the characteristics of the region, in order to make the simulation results agree with the prototype
phenomenon as far as possible. (3) More efforts to develop management systems
favoring soil conservation and maintaining economic viability. It is worth planting
various cash crops on the dam farmland, for the farmland formed by check dams is
very suitable for planting in virtue of the fertile soil and abundant water.
7.5 Conclusions
This chapter presents the results of a catchment scale investigation on hydro-sediment
and nutrient for a period of 50 years undertaken in a representative catchment in the
Loess Mesa Ravine Region of the Loess Plateau, China, where various conservation
practices were constructed, leading to notable changes in soil and nutrient yield. Soil
erosion and nutrient losses had been greatly decreased, testifying that the conservation practices were effective in conserving the limited water resources and reducing
soil erosion which threatens the sustainable development in this area. The check dam
play a major role in controlling soil and water loss, for relatively small variations
in the area of check dam farmland can influence erosion behavior profoundly. On
the other hand, the TRE for water was much smaller than that for soil, indicating
that the conservation practices worked better in retaining sediment than in reducing
runoff on the Loess Plateau. Hence the negative effects of the conservation practices
on reducing water to the Yellow River were relatively slight.
References
Al-Seekh S H, Mohammad A G. 2009. The effect of water harvesting techniques on runoff,
sedimentation, and soil properties. Environmental Management, 44(1): 37–45.
Bouchnak H, Felfoul M S, Boussema M R, et al. 2009. Slope and rainfall effects on the volume
of sediment yield by gully erosion in the Souar lithologic formation (Tunisia). Catena, 78(2):
170–177.
Castillo V M, Martinez-Mena M, Albaladejo J. 1997. Runoff and soil loss response to vegetation
removal in a semiarid environment. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61(4): 1116–1121.
Chen L D, Wei W, Fu B J, et al. 2007. Soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau in China:
review and perspective. Progress in Physical Geography, 31(4): 389–403.
Fang H Y, Cai Q G, Chen H, et al. 2008. Effect of rainfall regime and slope on runoff in a gullied
loess region on the Loess Plateau in China. Environmental Management, 42(3): 402–411.
Fu B J, Meng Q H, Qiu Y, et al. 2004. Effects of land use on soil erosion and nitrogen loss in the
hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China. Land Degradation and Development, 15(1): 87–96.