Abstract
Litter layers and topsoil have important effects on surface runoff. To investigate these effects at the plot scale, artificial rainfall experiments were conducted on micro-runoff plots in Guizhou Province, China. Three types of plots were selected, the thin litter layer with low soil bulk density type (T-L type), the thick litter layer with high soil bulk density type (T-H type), and the moderate litter depth and soil bulk density type (M type), and three artificial rainfall intensities (30 mm/h, 70 mm/h, 120 mm/h) were used. The runoff volume was largest in the T-H type plot at different rainfall intensities and durations. Runoff in the M type plot had characteristics of both the T-L and T-H type plots. The runoff yielding speed was significantly higher and the runoff yielding time was significantly lower in the T-H type plot. In general, the runoff coefficient was the smallest in the T-L type plot and largest in the T-H type plot. The variations in the runoff coefficient were 15.6%, 19.3%, and 5.8% for the T-L, T-H, and M type plots respectively. The results of this study can improve the understanding of surface runoff processes at the plot scale under different litter and surface soil conditions.
Highlights
A litter layer is typically composed of dead leaves, twigs, small branches, and other fragmented organic material, and influences the hydrological processes that operate in forested watersheds [1].The regulation of the litter layer includes the interception, throughfall, and stemflow, which regulate soil evaporation, increase permeability, reduce overland flow, and create a rapid-flow component within the litter layer [2,3,4]
The litter layer and the topsoil has a notable impact on hydrological processes
There were some differences in the variation of the runoff coefficient at different sites
Summary
A litter layer is typically composed of dead leaves, twigs, small branches, and other fragmented organic material, and influences the hydrological processes that operate in forested watersheds [1].The regulation of the litter layer includes the interception, throughfall, and stemflow, which regulate soil evaporation, increase permeability, reduce overland flow, and create a rapid-flow component within the litter layer [2,3,4]. A litter layer is typically composed of dead leaves, twigs, small branches, and other fragmented organic material, and influences the hydrological processes that operate in forested watersheds [1]. The simultaneous operation of these processes causes the litter layer to affect both short-term runoff and long-term water balance within a hydrological cycle. The litter layer and the topsoil has a notable impact on hydrological processes. The topsoil state regarding water movement into the soil mass may affect evaporation, infiltration, and distribution of topsoil [5]. Various runoff generating processes (saturation excess overland flow, infiltration excess overland flow, and return flow) are highly regulated by the topsoil state [6,7]
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