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The influence of water content on soil erosion in the desertification area of Guizhou, China

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Abstract

Rocky desertification of karst in Southwest China has seriously influenced the normal life of local people. Soil erosion is the key process for inducing rocky desertification. This paper analyzes the stability and variation of shear strength under different of water contents of the brownish clay soil in carbonate rock area Chenqi of Puding in Guizhou province. Results show that the cracking of brownish clay soil aggregates occurs in the early soaked stage. The lower the initial water content of soil aggregates, the faster and more completely large particles disintegrate. Stability of soil aggregates is stronger with higher water content, but the entire shear strength decreases significantly; it will collapse entirely in the rainy season. Therefore, for desertification prevention and control in carbonate rock areas, greater attention should be given to effective protection measures during the rainy periods after long-term dry weather. The control during this period is essential in the whole process of desertification mitigation.

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Acknowledgments

This investigation is supported by the Chinese National Basic Research Program (an offshoot of the project of Rocky desertification and adaptive ecosystem regulation in Karst mountain region, Southwest China, Process of soil erosion and evaluation of hazard degree of soil and water loss in Karst mountain region, Southwest China), Kwang-Hua Fund for College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Project No. 2006CB403203, Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project, Project No. B308.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering, Tongji University, Ministry of Education, 200092, Shanghai, China

    Yi-qun Tang, Ping Yang & Jian-xiu Wang

  2. Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China

    Jie Zhou, Yi-qun Tang, Xiao-hui Zhang, Tian-yu She, Ping Yang & Jian-xiu Wang

  3. United Research Center for Urban Environment and Sustainable Development, The Ministry of Education, 200092, Shanghai, China

    Yi-qun Tang, Ping Yang & Jian-xiu Wang

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  1. Jie Zhou
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  2. Yi-qun Tang
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  3. Xiao-hui Zhang
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  4. Tian-yu She
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Correspondence to Jie Zhou.

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Zhou, J., Tang, Yq., Zhang, Xh. et al. The influence of water content on soil erosion in the desertification area of Guizhou, China. Carbonates Evaporites 27, 185–192 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-012-0104-7

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