Objective To elucidate the spatiotemporal variation patterns of soil moisture on Benggang slopes and its controlling mechanisms on the stability of Benggang walls. Methods A typical granite Benggang in Tongcheng County, Hubei Province, was selected as the study site. The volumetric soil moisture content was monitored at four slope positions (upslope, midslope, downslope, and Benggang wall) and at four different depths over eight consecutive years. During this period, four large-scale Benggang wall collapse events occurred. Results The soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity of the Benggang slope decreased with increasing soil depth, which resulted in a vertical profile of soil moisture content characterized by higher values in the shallow layers than in the deep layers. The volumetric soil moisture content at different slope positions showed significant differences and exhibited dry and wet seasonal variations throughout the year. However, rainfall event characteristics alone were insufficient to predict Benggang. The increase in volumetric soil moisture content in the deep sand layer resulted in a high level of water storage in the Benggang wall soil, which constituted a necessary condition for the occurrence of Benggang. The cumulative rainfall in the preceding 30 days was sufficiently high (≥170.0 mm), the volumetric soil moisture content exceeded the field capacity by 0.018-0.033 cm3/cm3, and a single heavy rainfall event was a sufficient and necessary condition to cause Benggang. Conclusion The research findings indicate that Benggang wall collapse is driven by the combined effect of reduced strength in deep soil layers and gravitational pull on the shallower soil mass. This study provides critical thresholds and a theoretical basis for early warning of Benggang erosion and the stabilization of the Benggang wall.
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