Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relating Sediment Yield Estimations to the Wet Front Term Using Rainfall Simulator Field Experiments

  • Published:
Water Resources Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Depth to wet front is generally considered as the amount of water that penetrates into soil and wets the internal soil layer. This is an important variable especially in applications such as runoff generation and sediment yield estimation. This variable in some cases is used in the hydrological science, in the form of a proxy for infiltration as an important factor in soil erosion processes. This work deals with estimating event-based suspended sediment yield in relation to depth to wet front to capture the significance of the depth to wet front in Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE). In this field study, a rainfall simulator equipped with drip systems installed over an experimental hillslope plot was used to generate rainfall with intensities of 45, 60, and 70 mm/h over three slopes 10, 20, and 30% with three repetitions. The coefficient of determination (R2) and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (ECNS) were applied as performance metrics for the model. The results revealed that storm rainfall energy or Erosivity Index (EI30) itself was not suitable for estimating the sediment yield. On the other hand, incorporating both EI30 and rainfall-runoff resulted in higher model efficiency. Upon addition of the depth to wet factor into MUSLE model, a greater efficiency was obtained. Further, the results of event-based simulated and observed sediment indicated that they closely corresponded to a straight line (푅2 = 0.94 and NSE = 0.93). Thus, the depth to wet front was a useful variable in sediment yield simulation. The Nash efficiency coefficient and correlation factor for the estimation total sediment yield were obtained (R2 = 0.93; NSE : 0.92) for both calibration and (R2 = 0.93; NSE : 0.86) validation stages. The result suggests that consideration of the depth to wet front in MUSLE model may lead to improved hydrological and sediment applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbaspour KC, Rouholahnejad E, Vaghefi SR, Srinivasan R, Yang H, Kløve B (2015) A continental-scale hydrology and water quality model for Europe: calibration and uncertainty of a high-resolution large-scale SWAT model. J Hydrol 524:733–752

    Google Scholar 

  • Agassi M, Ben-Hur M (1991) Effect of slope length, aspect and phosphogypsum on runoff and erosion from steep slopes. Soil Res 29:197–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Aksoy H, Unal NE, Cokgor S, Gedikli A, Yoon J, Koca K, Inci SB, Eris E (2012) A rainfall simulator for laboratory-scale assessment of rainfall-runoff-sediment transport processes over a two-dimensional flume. Catena 98:63–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Alkharabsheh MM, Alexandridis TK, Bilas G, Misopolinos N, Silleos N (2013) Impact of land cover change on soil erosion hazard in northern Jordan using remote sensing and GIS. Procedia Environ Sci 19:912–921

    Google Scholar 

  • Bombino G, Denisi P, Gómez JA, Zema DA (2019) Water infiltration and surface runoff in steep clayey soils of olive groves under different management practices. Water 11:240

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulange J, Malhat F, Jaikaew P, Nanko K, Watanabe H (2019) Portable rainfall simulator for plot-scale investigation of rainfall-runoff, and transport of sediment and pollutants. Int J Sediment Res 34:38–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Chuenchum P, Xu M, Tang W (2020) Estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Lancang–Mekong River using the modified revised universal soil loss equation and GIS techniques. Water 12(1):135

    Google Scholar 

  • Comino JR, Sinoga JR, González JS, Guerra-Merchán A, Seeger M, Ries J (2016) High variability of soil erosion and hydrological processes in Mediterranean hillslope vineyards (Montes de Málaga, Spain). Catena 145:274–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Da Silva RM, Santos CAG, dos Santos JYG (2018) Evaluation and modeling of runoff and sediment yield for different land covers under simulated rain in a semiarid region of Brazil. Int J Sediment Res 33:117–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Defersha MB, Melesse AM (2012) Effect of rainfall intensity, slope and antecedent moisture content on sediment concentration and sediment enrichment ratio. Catena 90:47–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Eynard A, Schumacher T, Lindstrom M, Malo D, Kohl R (2006) Effects of aggregate structure and organic C on wettability of Ustolls. Soil Tillage Res 88:205–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Fistikoglu O, Harmancioglu NB (2002) Integration of GIS with USLE in assessment of soil erosion. Water Resour Manag 16:447–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster GR, Meyer LD, Onstad CA (1977) A runoff erosivity factor and variable slope length exponents for soil loss estimates. Transactions of the ASAE 20(4):0683–0687

  • Gupta HV, Sorooshian S, Yapo PO (1999) Status of automatic calibration for hydrologic models: comparison with multilevel expert calibration. J Hydrol Eng 4:135–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayek M (2016) Analytical solution to transient Richards' equation with realistic water profiles for vertical infiltration and parameter estimation. Water Resour Res 52:4438–4457

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillel D (2003) Introduction to environmental soil physics. Elsevier, Co Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hrissanthou V (2005) Estimate of sediment yield in a basin without sediment data. Catena 64:333–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang Z, Ouyang Z, Li F, Zheng H, Wang X (2010) Response of runoff and soil loss to reforestation and rainfall type in red soil region of southern China. J Environ Sci 22:1765–1773

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussein M, Awad M, Abdul-Jabbar A (1994) Predicting rainfall-runoff erosivity for single storms in northern Iraq. Hydrol Sci J 39:535–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Iserloh T, Ries JB, Arnáez J, Boix-Fayos C, Butzen V, Cerdà A, Echeverría MT, Fernández-Gálvez J, Fister W, Geißler C, Gómez JA (2013) European small portable rainfall simulators: a comparison of rainfall characteristics. Catena 110:100–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Isidoro JM, de Lima JL (2015) Hydraulic system to ensure constant rainfall intensity (over time) when using nozzle rainfall simulators. Hydrol Res 46:705–710

    Google Scholar 

  • Khaleghi MR (2017) The influence of deforestation and anthropogenic activities on runoff generation. J For Sci 63:245–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinnell P (2010) Event soil loss, runoff and the universal soil loss equation family of models: a review. J Hydrol 385:384–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinnell PI (2019) A review of the science and logic associated with approach used in the universal soil loss equation family of models. Soil Systems 3:62. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3040062

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaergaard C, De Jonge LW, Moldrup P, Schjønning P (2004) Water-dispersible colloids. Vadose Zone J 3:403–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Lei T, Zhao J, Yuan C, Fan Y, Qu L (2011) Effects of rainfall intensity and antecedent soil water content on soil infiltrability under rainfall conditions using the run off-on-out method. J Hydrol 396:24–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu D, She D, Shao G, Chen D (2015) Rainfall intensity and slope gradient effects on sediment losses and splash from a saline–sodic soil under coastal reclamation. Catena 128:54–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamedov A, Levy G, Huang C (2015) Soil structural stability and erosion in a semi-arid agro-ecosystem. Biogeosystem Technique 3:232–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Masoudi M, Patwardhan AM, Gore SD (2006) Risk assessment ofwater erosion for the QarehAghajsubbasin, southern Iran. Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 21:15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • McCool D, Brown L, Foster G, Mutchler C, Meyer L (1987) Revised slope steepness factor for the universal soil loss equation. Trans ASAE 30:1387–1396

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohamadi MA, Kavian A (2015) Effects of rainfall patterns on runoff and soil erosion in field plots. ISWCR 3:273–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Montenegro AD, Abrantes JR, De Lima JL, Singh VP, Santos TE (2013) Impact of mulching on soil and water dynamics under intermittent simulated rainfall. Catena 109:139–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan RPC (2009) Soil erosion and conservation. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Moriasi DN, Arnold JG, Van Liew MW, Bingner RL, Harmel RD, Veith TL (2007) Model evaluation guidelines for systematic quantification of accuracy in watershed simulations. Trans ASABE 50:885–900

    Google Scholar 

  • Moriasi DN, Gitau MW, Pai N, Daggupati P (2015) Hydrologic and water quality models: performance measures and evaluation criteria. Trans ASABE 58:1763–1785

    Google Scholar 

  • Nash JE, Sutcliffe JV (1970) River flow forecasting through conceptual models part I—a discussion of principles. J Hydrol 10:282–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Nearing MA, Xie Y, Liu B, Ye Y (2017) Natural and anthropogenic rates of soil erosion. ISWCR 5:77–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Novotny V, Olem H (1994) Water quality: prevention, identification, and management of diffuse pollution. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira PTS, Wendland E, Nearing MA (2013) Rainfall erosivity in Brazil: a review. Catena 100:139–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Onstad C, Foster G (1975) Erosion modeling on a watershed. Trans ASAE 18:288–0292

    Google Scholar 

  • Panagos P, Borrelli P, Meusburger K, Yu B, Klik A, Lim KJ et al (2017) Global rainfall erosivity assessment based on high-temporal resolution rainfall records. Sci Rep 7:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey A, Chowdary VM, Mal BC (2009) Sediment yield modelling of an agricultural watershed using MUSLE, remote sensing and GIS. J Paddy Water Environ (Springer) 7:105–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Parisay Z, Sheikh V, Bahremand A, Komaki CB, Abdollahi K (2019) An approach for estimating monthly curve number based on remotely-sensed MODIS leaf area index products. Water Resour Manag 33:2955–2972

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter I. A. Kinnell, (2005) Alternative approaches for determining the USLE-M slope length factor for grid cells. Soil Science Society of America Journal 69(3):674–680

  • Pham TG, Degener J, Kappas M (2018) Integrated universal soil loss equation (USLE) and geographical information system (GIS) for soil erosion estimation in a sap basin: Central Vietnam. Int Soil Water Conse 6:99–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosdocimi M, Cerdà A, Tarolli P (2016) Soil water erosion on Mediterranean vineyards: a review. Catena 141:1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Rangsiwanichpong P, Kazama S, Gunawardhana L (2018) Assessment of sediment yield in Thailand using revised universal soil loss equation and geographic information system techniques. River Res Appl 34:1113–1122

    Google Scholar 

  • Rienzi E, Fox J, Grove J, Matocha C (2013) Interrill erosion in soils with different land uses: the kinetic energy wetting effect on temporal particle size distribution. Catena 107:130–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi SH, Mizuyama T (2007) Applicability of the modified universal soil loss equation for prediction of sediment yield in Khanmirza watershed, Iran. Hydrolog Sci J 52:1068–1075

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith SJ, Williams JR, Menzel RG, Coleman GA (1984) Prediction of sediment yield from Southern Plains grasslands with the modified universal soil loss equation. J Range Manag 4:295–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Santhi C, Arnold JG, Williams JR, Dugas WA, Srinivasan R, Hauck LM (2001) Validation of the swat model on a large RWER basin with point and nonpoint sources. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 37(5):1169–1188

  • Chamizo S, Rodríguez-Caballero E, José Raúl Román, Yolanda Cantón, (2017) Effects of biocrust on soil erosion and organic carbon losses under natural rainfall. CATENA 148:117–125

  • Sousa Júnior SF, Mendes TA, Siqueira EQ (2017) Development and calibration of a rainfall simulator for hydrological studies. RBRH 22. https://doi.org/10.1590/2318-0331.0217170015

  • Thuy HT, Lee G (2017) Soil loss vulnerability assessment in the Mekong River basin. J Korea Geo-Environ Soc 18:37–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi MP, Panda RK, Pradhan S, Das RK (2001) Estimation of sediment yield form a small watershed using MUSLE and GIS. J Inst Eng I 82:40–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaezi AR, Ahmadi M, Cerdà A (2017) Contribution of raindrop impact to the change of soil physical properties and water erosion under semi-arid rainfalls. Sci Total Environ 583:382–392

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Liew MW, Arnold JG, Garbrecht JD (2003) Hydrologic simulation on agricultural watersheds: choosing between two models. Transactions of the ASAE 46(6):1539–1551

  • Varvani J, Khaleghi MR (2019) A performance evaluation of neuro-fuzzy and regression methods in estimation of sediment load of selective rivers. Acta Geophysica 67:205–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Varvani J, Khaleghi MR, Gholami V (2019) Investigation of the relationship between sediment graph and hydrograph of flood events (case study: Gharachay River tributaries, Arak, Iran). Water Resour 46:883–893

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Hapuarachchi P, Ishidaira H, Kiem AS, Takeuchi K (2009) Estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield during individual rainstorms at catchment scale. Water Resour Manag 23:1447–1465

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei W, Chen L, Yang L, Fu B, Sun R (2012) Spatial scale effects of water erosion dynamics: complexities, variabilities, and uncertainties. Chinese Geogr Sci 22:127–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells R, Römkens M, Parlange J-Y, DiCarlo DA, Steenhuis T, Prasad S (2007) A simple technique for measuring wetting front depths for selected soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 71:669–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams J (1995) The EPIC model in: Singh (ed) computer models of watershed hydrology, 5th edn. Water Resources Publication, Colorado, pp 909–1000

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams JR, Berndt HD (1977) Sediment yield prediction based on watershed hydrology. Trans ASAE 6:1100–1104

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams J, Jones C, Dyke PT (1984) A modeling approach to determining the relationships between erosion and soil productivity. Trans ASAE 27:129–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams J, Izaurralde R, Steglich EM (2008) Agricultural policy/environmental extender model theoretical documantation. Texas, Blackland Research and Extension Center

    Google Scholar 

  • Wischmeier WH, Smith DD (1978) Predicting rainfall erosion losses: a guide to conservation planning. The USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 537, Maryland

  • Wu L, Jiang J, Li GX, Ma XY (2018) Characteristics of pulsed runoff-erosion events under typical rainstorms in a small watershed on the loess plateau of China. Sci Rep 8:1–2. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-22045-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Zhang X, Gong W, Ye Y, Yang Y (2019) Soil erosion and corn yield in a cultivated catchment of the Chinese Mollisol region. PloS One 14:0221553. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0221553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XC (2019) Determining and modeling dominant processes of interrill soil erosion. Water Resour Res 55:4–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Wei J, Yang Q, Baartman JE, Gai L, Yang X, Li S, Yu J, Ritsema CJ, Geissen V (2017) An improved method for calculating slope length (λ) and the LS parameters of the revised universal soil loss equation for large watersheds. Geoderma. 308:36–45

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The principal author would like to thank Eng. Mahmoudi, Sadeghi- Alikelayeh, Derakhshan, Saeidi, Bahrami, Mansouri for their assistance in conducting the experiment and data collection, Mr. Nasiri (Tractor driver and water tank provider), Mr. Jahanbakhsh and Mirbani as drivers for transferring equipment. Also, we highly appreciate Mr. Akbari in General Affairs at the Shahrekord University for his kind assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Science, Department of Natural Engineering, Shahrekord Unversity, Shahrekord, Iran

    Akbar Norouzi-Shokrlu, Mehdi Pajouhesh & Khodayar Abdollahi

Authors
  1. Akbar Norouzi-Shokrlu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mehdi Pajouhesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khodayar Abdollahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehdi Pajouhesh.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Norouzi-Shokrlu, A., Pajouhesh, M. & Abdollahi, K. Relating Sediment Yield Estimations to the Wet Front Term Using Rainfall Simulator Field Experiments. Water Resour Manage 34, 4181–4196 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-020-02664-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-020-02664-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation