caa a22 4500 606217894 CHVBK 20210128101110.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150401xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s11104-014-2362-8 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s11104-014-2362-8 Linking fine root and understory vegetation to channel erosion in forested hillslopes of southwestern China [Elektronische Daten] [Y. Li, H. Yu, N. Zhou, G. Tian, J. Poesen, Z. Zhang] Aims: The forestland understory vegetation reduces concentrated overland flow through infiltration improvement by roots and raindrop interception by surface cover. However, little has been done to quantify the linkages between understory vegetation cover, roots, and channel erosion, and such information can help assessing the role of the reforestation in soil erosion control. In this study, we evaluated the relationships between channel density, root density, and vegetation cover in forested hillslopes of southwestern China. Methods: Twelve locations (four slopes and three positions) of forested hillslopes with a wide range of understory degradation due to litterfall extraction and livestock grazing were selected for the study. Channel density as a measure of rill and (small) gully erosion, root density of different diameter classes, and vegetation cover of all types were determined using field measuring, soil coring and the line transect method, respectively. Soil loss rates were estimated using the caesium-137 (137Cs) technique. Results: Rills (depth < 0.3m) with a width of 0.05-0.1m were the dominate channel erosion in all hillslopes with understory-degradation, and small gullies (depth > 0.3m) with a width 0.5-1.0m were found at the locations of hillslopes with high understory-degradation. Channel density and soil loss rate increased with the increase in understory-degradation in the forested hillslopes. Simple correlation analysis indicated that channel density was negatively correlated with fine root density (diameter < 1mm and 1-2mm) and grass and shrub covers, but not with coarse roots (diam. 2-5mm and 5-10mm) and mulch and tree covers. The principal component regression revealed fine root density (diam. <1mm), shrub and grass covers were the most important predictors for channel density in the forested hillslopes. Tree cover, mulch cover and coarse root density were found to have much less influence on channel density. For the model established from this study using principle component regression, vegetation variables could explain 82% variance of channel density. Conclusions: We conclude that fine root density and grass and shrub covers are the most important factors in controlling soil erosions in forested hillslopes. These parameters should be taken into consideration in assessing reforestation for soil erosion control in hilly areas such as that in southwestern China or other similar regions. The Author(s), 2014 Channel density nationallicence Fine root nationallicence Rill and gully erosion nationallicence Grass and shrub cover nationallicence Forest hillslope nationallicence China nationallicence Li Y. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut Yu H. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut Zhou N. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut Tian G. Environmental Monitoring and Research Division, Monitoring and Research Department, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Lue-Hing R&D Complex, 6001W. Pershing Road, 60804, Cicero, IL, USA aut Poesen J. Physical and Regional Geography Research Unit, Catholic University Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, 3000, Leuven, Belgium aut Zhang Z. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut Plant and Soil Springer International Publishing 389/1-2(2015-04-01), 323-334 0032-079X 389:1-2<323 2015 389 11104 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2362-8 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2362-8 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Li Y. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Yu H. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Zhou N. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Tian G. Environmental Monitoring and Research Division, Monitoring and Research Department, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Lue-Hing R&D Complex, 6001W. Pershing Road, 60804, Cicero, IL, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Poesen J. Physical and Regional Geography Research Unit, Catholic University Leuven, Redingenstraat 16, 3000, Leuven, Belgium aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Zhang Z. Agricultural Clean Watershed Research Group, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 100081, Beijing, China aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Plant and Soil Springer International Publishing 389/1-2(2015-04-01), 323-334 0032-079X 389:1-2<323 2015 389 11104