Influence of vegetation coverage on nitrogen and phosphorus losses on slopes of engineering deposits in large-scale water resources allocation projects
Objective This study aims to explore the correlations between runoff volume, concentrations and loss rates of TN and TP under varying vegetation coverage levels, so as to address the nitrogen and phosphorus loss issue on slopes of engineering deposit pertaining to large-scale water resources allocation projects. Methods Taking the engineering deposit of the Yijia Courtyard large-scale water resources allocation project in Yongchuan, Chongqing as the research object, this study conducted field artificial water scouring experiments on slopes with three vegetation coverage levels: low (4%), medium (12%), and high (50%) through field investigations, and investigated the characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus loss under different vegetation coverage on the slopes of engineering deposits in large-scale water resources allocation projects. Results Under low and high vegetation coverage, the runoff rate exhibited a fluctuating increasing trend with the scouring duration, while under medium vegetation coverage, it showed a fluctuating trend of first decreasing and then increasing. There was no significant difference in the average runoff rate among the three vegetation coverage levels (p>0.05). The average concentrations and average loss rates of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) all showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase in vegetation coverage. Under the three vegetation coverage levels, the concentrations and loss rates of TN and TP presented a fluctuating decreasing trend with the scouring duration. The average concentrations and average loss rates of TN and TP under medium coverage were significantly higher than those under low and high coverage (p<0.05), with increases of 56.38%, 60.21% and 57.62%, 54.50%, respectively. The nitrogen and phosphorus loss rates were mainly driven by concentration. Conclusion Under different vegetation coverage levels, the runoff rate exhibits a fluctuating increasing trend; the nitrogen and phosphorus loss rate is the highest under medium vegetation coverage, while low and high vegetation coverage can effectively reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus loss rate on engineering deposit slopes.
LouY B, ShiD M, JiangP, et al. Hydrological characteristics and soil reconstruction of different geomorphic units in the urbanization process of the purple hilly region[J]. Acta Pedologica Sinica, 2018,55(3):650-663.
He B H, Guo T, Yao J, Characteristics of N and P losses in sediment of purple soil on sloping farmland with different fertilization levels[J]. Journal of Southwest University: Natural Science Edition, 2012,34(7):1-8.
ZhangJ M, XieY L, ZuoH P, et al. Ecological restoration of discarded soil field based on foreign soil planting technology[J]. Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2015,9(1):495-500.
LuW L, XiaY, HuangM, et al. Impact of straw return and optimized fertilization on nitrogen and phosphorus loss in the rice-wheat rotation system in the middle reaches of the Hanjiang River basin[J]. Journal of Agricultural Resources and Environment, 2025,42(2):340-348.
Huang L L, Wang Z F, Gao M, Study on phosphorus loss characteristies from different slopes in purple soil sloping upland of three gorges reservoir region[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2011,25(1):30-33.
[11]
YuanZ, LiaoY, ZhengM, et al. Relationships of nitrogen losses, phosphorus losses, and sediment under simulated rainfall conditions[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2020,75(2):231-241.
WangT, XiaoW F, HuangZ L, et al. Characteristies of typical rainstorm-runoff nitrogen and phosphorus loss on purple soil slope in three gorges reservoir area[J]. Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment, 2022,38(3):367-374.
YanL, WuT X, ZhaoS Y, et al. Effects of rainfall intensity and sowing method on nitrogen and phosphorus losses by surface runoff from wheat field in Taihu Lake Region[J]. Soils, 2022,54(2):358-364.
ChenY, YuK Y, YaoX, et al. Redistribution characteristics of rainfall interception and the modified gash model based simulation of Pinus massoniana in southern soil erosion area[J]. Journal of Northwest Forestry University, 2022,37(4):50-56.
ChenS Y, HuangY Q, WuX B. Study on the effect of soil′s antierision capacitty Pinus eliottii Engelm. root systems[J]. Journal of Southwest Agricultural University, 2000(5):468-471.
LiX N, ZhangG F, WuM J, et al. Interception ways and effects of grass filter strips on sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural runoff[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2017,31(3):39-44,50.
WeiX Y, XiaoC Y, LiM, et al. A study on the effects of urban Festuca arundinacea grassland on the regulation of runoff and sediment[J]. Soil and Water Conservation, 2017,31(3):45-50.
ChenS Y, GuW, DaiY Q. Experimental study on the use of engineering spoil for plant growth substrate[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2012,19(3):129-135.
[28]
LiT Y, HeB H, ChenZ P, et al. Effects of gravel on concentrated flow hydraulics and erosion in simulated landslide deposits[J]. Catena, 2017,156:197-204.
[29]
重庆市永川区统计局.永川统计年鉴[DB/OL].[2011—2024].
[30]
Statistics Bureau of Yongchuan District, CityChongqing. Yongchuan statistical yearbook[DB/OL].[2011—2024].
[31]
MetzgerJ C, WutzlerT, Dalla ValleN, et al. Vegetation impacts soil water content patterns by shaping canopy water fluxes and soil properties[J]. Hydrological Processes, 2017,31(22):3783-3795.
[32]
SinghN K, EmanuelR E, McGlynnB L, et al. Soil moisture responses to rainfall: implications for runoff generation[J]. Water Resources Research, 2021,57(9): e2020WR028827.
YanS Q, LiuJ E, ZhouZ C, et al. Variation characteristics of hydrological connectivity under different slope cover patterns[J]. Soil and Water Conservation, 2021,35(6):228-234,242.
YanD M, WengB S, SongX S, et al. Effect of grassland cover change on rainfall and runoff yield in Naqu Watershed[J]. Water Resources Protection, 2019,35(6):44-51.
WangZ Y, TangW P, LiuB R, et al. Effects of vegetation blanket cover on the ecological stoichiometry and enzymatic activity of opencast coal mine soils in arid areas[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2022,38(15):124-132.
ZhongC Q, WangJ X, XingW, et al. Effects of vegetation and hydrological conditions on the profile characteristics of TN, TP and OM in coastal salt marshes in northern Jiangsu Province[J]. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2010,32(3):186-190.
LiG, HuangG B. Effects of rainfall intensity and land use on soil and water loss in loess hilly region[J]. Transactions of the CSAE, 2009,25(11):85-90.
YanS J, DuanJ, ShenF X, et al. Effects of interplanting medicinal herbs on runoff, sediment and nitrogen and phosphorus losses in young oil tea plantation on red soil sloping field[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2024,38(6):70-78.
[49]
SchleussP M, WiddigM, Heintz-BuschartA, et al. Interactions of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling promote P acquisition and explain synergistic plant-growth respo-nses [J]. Ecology, 2020,101(5):e03003.
[50]
LiaoL R, WangJ, DijkstraF A, et al. Nitrogen enrichment stimulates rhizosphere multi-element cycling genes via mediating plant biomass and root exudates[J]. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2024,190:109306.
WuX Y, LiT Y, HeB H. Characteristics of runoff-related total nitrogen and phosphorus losses under long-term fertilization and cultivation on purple soil sloping croplands[J]. Environmental Science, 2021,42(6):2810-2816.
MinJ, JiR T, WangX, et al. Changes in planting structure and nitrogen and phosphorus loss loads of farmland in Taihu Lake region[J]. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2020,28(8):1230-1238.