Effects of Different Land Uses and Slope on Runoff and Soil Loss on the Loess Plateau of China

ABSTRACT The Loess Plateau has one of the most serious areas of soil erosion in China; therefore, studying the effect of soil and water conservation measures on the erosion of loess soil slopes is important for land management and agricultural development. This study is based on 5 years of field runoff observations and rainfall data from 2015 to 2019. Correlation and regression analyses were used to study the runoff and sediment production of loess soil and its relationship with rainfall, slope and land use. The results show that > 80% of the erosive rainfall occurs mainly in July to August in the area. Runoff and soil loss from the plots differed substantially, depending on land use, soil conservation measures and slope degree. Bare plots experienced the highest soil loss rate of over 27 t/ha with higher runoff depth, followed by cultivated plots (4.55 t/ha), grass plots (0.43 t/ha), shrub plots (0.35 t/ha) and forest plots (0.13 t/ha). Among the four soil and water conservation measures, the runoff and sediment reduction benefits of forest and shrub plots were the highest. The runoff reduction benefit fluctuated at approximately 0.8, and the benefit of sediment reduction was ≈1. The overall performance was forest > shrubland > grassland > cultivated land > bare land, and the benefits of sediment reduction were greater than those of runoff reduction. Forests had the highest soil retention capacity on slopes from 5° to 25°, and forests on gentle slopes had the best water storage capacity. Shrub plots had the best water storage capacity when they were on steep slopes. Rainfall erosion forces were significantly and positively correlated ( p < 0.01) with runoff depth and soil loss, making it the most significant rainfall indicator of sediment production. Under the same rainfall conditions, soil and water conservation measures are still required on bare slopes, land use is the main control factor for slope sediment production, and appropriate land use can greatly reduce the threat of slopes in terms of soil erosion. This study shows that soil and water conservation measures are imperative to prevent runoff and soil loss, especially for bare land without any measures; on steep slopes, a vegetation combination primarily featuring shrubs is expected to achieve greater benefits in reducing runoff and sediment. This study can provide a scientific basis for the management of vegetation measures and the implementation of soil and water conservation measures on loess soil slopes.