Objective To explore the spatial distribution and differences in erodibility between sediment and in-situ soil in the water-level fluctuation zone (WLFZ) of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Methods The soil-based WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir was selected as the study area. Sediment and in-situ soil samples were collected separately, and their particle composition and total organic carbon content were tested. The volume dimension (Dv) of particle composition, structural stability index (SSI), and erodibility factor (K) were calculated. The spatial distribution of erodibility and differences between types were analyzed. Results 1) The average SSI and K values of sediment in the WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir were 26.26% and 0.046 65 (t·hm²·h)/(MJ·mm·hm²), respectively, both significantly higher than those of the in-situ soil, which were 15.06% (p<0.01) and 0.045 90 (t·hm²·h)/(MJ·mm·hm²) (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in Dv between sediment and in-situ soil, which were 2.74 and 2.73, respectively. 2) Along the longitudinal direction of the reservoir (from the tail to the dam front), the SSI values of both sediment and in-situ soil showed fluctuating changes, while the variation trends of the K values differed between the two. Among them, the K value of sediment had no obvious trend, while the K value of in-situ soil showed a decreasing trend in the upstream and downstream of Fengjie (FJ), with significantly higher values downstream than upstream. 3) Along the elevation gradient of the WLFZ, the SSI value of sediment increased significantly with the increase of elevation (p<0.05), while the variation trend of K value was not obvious. In contrast, the SSI of in-situ soil first increased and then decreased with the increase of elevation, while K exhibited no evident elevation-dependent differentiation. 4) The correlation between the erodibility and physicochemical properties of sediment was higher than that of in-situ soil in the WLFZ. Conclusion Significant differences in erodibility were observed between sediments and in-situ soil in the WLFZ of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The research findings can provide a theoretical basis for soil and water conservation and ecological protection in the WLFZ.
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