Characteristics of flow production and sediment production of Pinus tabulaeformis through artificial rainfall simulation

Yuli Zhao, Jianzhi Niu, Jiao Li, Jingping Tan, Yini Han, Yinghu Zhang

College of Water and Soil Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China.

DOI: 10.4236/oje.2012.22009                

Abstract

In order to know well the relationship between vegetation and water in North China, especially Beijing, with exceptional water resources, we studied the characteristics of flow production and sediment production under different rainfall intensities by artificial rainfall simulation device. Results showed that increase of rainfall intensity would prolong the whole process of flow production, and vegetation on the slope would delay that process. Within the same duration, total runoff volume of each runoff plot and rainfall intensity had significant linear relationship. When vegetation kept unchanged, runoff velocity increased significantly with the increase of rainfall intensity, and owing to the formation of low permeable layer, the velocity increased fiercely during the early 3 minutes, reached stable at 10 - 15 minute. With the same rain intensity, total sediment yield decreased with rise of vegetation coverage, but increased obviously with rise of rain intensity and effectiveness of controlling sediment about 1 m x 1 m Pinus tabulaeformis stand decreased firstly and then increased, while that about 1.5 m x 1.5 m Pinus tabulaeformis stand kept decreasing. Since the tags with A, B and C for 0.42 mm/min, 0.83 mm/min, 1.29 mm/min, order of sediment concentration of wasteland plot was B > C > A, and 1 m x 1 m Pinus tabulaeformis plot B > A > C. Through this study, some suggestions were expected to be provided for water balance of Beijing area and certain basis for construction of shelter forest.

Keywords

Pinus tabulaeformis; Artificial Rainfall Simulation; Rainfall Intensity; Runoff Volume

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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