ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Influence of Microtopographies on Seed
Removal by Water Erosion on Loess Slope
Ning Wang1,4, Ju-Ying Jiao1,2, Dong Lei3, Yu Chen2, Dong-Li Wang2
1Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources,
Yangling 712100, China
2Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
3Henan Building Materials Research and Design Institute Co. Ltd., Zhengzhou 450000, China
4Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Yangling 712100, China
2Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
3Henan Building Materials Research and Design Institute Co. Ltd., Zhengzhou 450000, China
4Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2013;22(3):925–932
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
We tested the seed loss of five dominant species in the Loess Plateau region under varied rainfall intensity
and soil surface conditions. The runoff rate, sediment yield, seed loss rate, and seed displacement distance
were investigated. The result indicated that the seed loss rate increases with rain intensity enhanced, or the
rainfall duration prolonged even with low intensity. The grass, and grass and hoof prints on the slope can
reduce seed loss under high rainfall intensity. The spotted individual grass and the hoof prints can enhance soil
erosion by changing the path of overland flow and increasing seed loss at the low rainfall intensity compared
with the bare slope.
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