Abstract
Subsurface water flow above the weakly permeable soil layer commonly occurs on purple soil slopes. However, it remains difficult to quantify the effect of subsurface water flow on the surface flow velocity. Laboratory experiments were performed to measure the rill flow velocity on purple soil slopes containing a subsurface water flow layer with the electrolyte tracer method considering 3 subsurface water flow depths (SWFDs: 5, 10, and 15 cm), 3 flow rates (FRs: 2, 4, and 8 L min−1), and 4 slope gradients (SGs: 5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°). As a result, the pulse boundary model fit the electrolyte transport processes very well under the different SWFDs. The measured rill flow velocities were 0.202 to 0.610 m s−1 under the various SWFDs. Stepwise regression results indicated a positive dependence of the flow velocity on the FR and SG but a negative dependence on the SWFD. The SWFD had notable effects on the rill flow velocity. Decreasing the SWFD from 15 to 5 cm increased the flow velocity. Moreover, the flow velocities under the 10- and 15-cm SWFDs were 89% and 86%, respectively, of that under the 5-cm SWFD. The flow velocity under the 5-, 10- and 15-cm SWFDs was decreased to 89%, 80%, and 77%, respectively, of that on saturated soil slopes. The results will enhance the understanding of rill flow hydrological processes under SWFD impact.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Angermann L, Krause S, Lewandowski J (2012) Application of heat pulse injections for investigating shallow hyporheic flow in a lowland river. Water Resour Res 48(12): W00P02. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012WR012564
Ban YY, Lei TW, Liu ZQ, et al. (2016) Comparison of rill flow velocity over frozen and thawed slopes with electrolyte tracer method. J Hydrol 534: 630–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.01.028
Bertolino A, Fernandes NF, Miranda J, et al. (2010) Effects of plough pan development on surface hydrology and on soil physical properties in Southeastern Brazilian plateau. J Hydrol 393(1–2): 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.07.038
Boizard H, Richard G, Roger-Estrade J, et al. (2002) Cumulative effects of cropping systems on the structure of the tilled layer in northern France. Soil Till Res 64(1–2): 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(01)00252-5
Chang J, Wang GX, Li CJ, et al. (2015) Seasonal dynamics of suprapermafrost groundwater and its response to the freeing-thawing processes of soil in the permafrost region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sci China (Earth Sci) 58(5): 727–738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-014-5009-y
Chen XY, Huang YH, Zhao Y, et al. (2015) Comparison of loess and purple rill erosions measured with volume replacement method. J Hydrol 530: 476–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.10.001
Chen XY, Zhao Y, Mi HX, et al. (2016) Estimating rill erosion process from eroded morphology in flume experiments by volume replacement method. Catena 136: 135–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2015.01.013
De Lima JLMP, Abrantes JRCB (2014) Using a thermal tracer to estimate overland and rill flow velocities. Earth Surf Proc Land 39: 1293–1300. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3523
Dong YQ, Zhuang XH, Lei TW, et al. (2014) A method for measuring erosive flow velocity with simulated rill. Geoderma 232–234: 556–562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2014.06.014
Feng R, Wang FX, Ban YY, et al. (2020) Method for estimating overland flow velocity on sandified slopes from measured solute transport process with bias errors. J Hydrol 589: 125116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125116
Fox GA, Chu-agor ML, Wilson GV (2007) Erosion of noncohesive sediment by ground water seepage: Lysimeter experiments and stability modeling. Soil Sci Soc Am J 71: 1822–1830. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2007.0090
Fox GA, Wilson GV, Periketi RK, et al. (2006) Sediment transport model for seepage erosion of streambank sediment. J Hydraul Eng 6: 603–611. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0699(2006)11:6(603)
Gabbard DS, Huang C, Norton LD, et al. (1998) Landscape position, surface hydraulic gradients and erosion processes. Earth Surf Proc Land 23(1): 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(199801)23:1<83::AID-ESP825>3.0.CO;2-Q
Gao Y, Zhu B, He NP, et al. (2014) Phosphorus and carbon competitive sorption-desorption and associated non-point loss respond to natural rainfall events. J Hydrol 517: 447–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.05.057.
Ge S, Wu QB, Lu N, et al. (2008) Groundwater in the Tibet Plateau, western China. Geophys Res Lett 35(18): L18403. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL034809
Han Z, Chen XY, Huang YH, et al. (2020) Effect of slope gradient on the subsurface water flow velocity of sand layer profile. J Mt Sci 17(3): 641–652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-019-5644-z
Han Z, Chen XY, Li YH, et al. (2020) Quantifying the rill- detachment process along a saturated soil slope. Soil Till Res 204: 104726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104726
Howard AD, Mclane CF (1988) Erosion of cohesionless sediment by groundwater seepage. Water Resour Res 24: 1659–1674. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR024i010p01659
Huang CH, Laflen JM (1996) Seepage and soil erosion for a clay loam soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 60: 408–416. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1996.03615995006000020011x
Huang YH, Chen XY, Li FH, et al. (2018) Velocity of water flow along saturated loess slopes under erosion effects. J Hydrol 561: 304–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.03.070
Huang YH, Li FH, Wang W, et al. (2020) Rill erosion processes on a constantly saturated slope. Hydrol Process 34: 3955–3965. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13849
Lei TW, Xia WS, Zhao J, et al. (2005) Method for measuring velocity of shallow water flow for soil erosion with an electrolyte tracer. J Hydrol 301(1–4): 139–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.06.025
Lei TW, Chuo RY, Zhao J, et al. (2010) An improved method for shallow water flow velocity measurement with practical electrolyte inputs. J Hydrol 390(1–2): 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.029
Lei TW, Yan Y, Shi XN, et al. (2013) Measuring velocity of water flow within a gravel layer using an electrolyte tracer method with a pulse boundary model. J Hydrol 500: 37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.07.025
Li TY, He BH, Chen ZP, et al. (2017) Effects of gravel on concentrated flow hydraulics and erosion in simulated landslide deposits. Catena 156: 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.029
Li YH, Chen XY, Han Z, et al. (2021) Response of flow in rills to subsurface water flow in sediment transport capacity on purple soil. Acta Pedologica Sinica 58(3): 657–664. (in Chinese) https://doi.org/10.11766/trxb201910090461
Liu G, Zheng FL, Jia L, et al. (2019) Interactive effects of raindrop impact and groundwater seepage on soil erosion. J Hydrol 578: 124066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124066
Liu GC, Tian GL, Shu DC, et al. (2005) Characteristics of surface runoff and throughflow in a purple soil of Southwestern China under various rainfall events. Hydrol Process 19(9): 1883–1891. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.5654
Liu QJ, An J, Wang LZ, et al. (2015) Influence of ridge height, row grade, and field slope on soil erosion in contour ridging systems under seepage conditions. Soil Till Res 147: 50–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2014.11.008
Nouwakpo SK, Huang CH (2012) The role of subsurface hydrology in soil erosion and channel network development on a laboratory hillslope. Soil Sci Soc Am J 76(4): 1197–1211. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2012.0013
Nouwakpo SK, Huang CH, Bowling L, et al. (2010) Impact of vertical hydraulic gradient on rill erodibility and critical shear stress. Soil Sci Soc Am J 74(6): 1914–1921. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2009.0096
Owoputi LO, Stolte WJ (2001) The role of seepage in erodibility. Hydrol Process 15: 13–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.153
Pan C, Shangguan ZP, Ma L. (2016) Assessing the dye — tracer correction factor for documenting the mean velocity of sheet flow over smooth and grassed surfaces. Hydrol Process 29(26): 5369–5382. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10565
Planchon O, Silvera N, Gimenez R, et al. (2005) An automated salt-tracing gauge for flow-velocity measurement. Earth Surf Proc Land 30(7): 833–844. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1194
Rahma AE, Lei TW, Shi XN, et al. (2013) Measuring flow velocity under straw mulch using the improved electrolyte tracer method. J Hydrol 495: 121–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.04.049
Richardson SD, Willson CS, Rusch KA (2010) Use of Rhodamine water tracer in the marshland upwelling system. Ground Water 42(5): 678–688. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02722.x
Rockwell DL (2002) The influence of groundwater on surface flow erosion processes during a rainstorm. Earth Surf Proc Land 27(5): 495–514. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.323
Simon A, Collison AJC (2001) Pore-water pressure effects on the detachment of cohesive streambeds: Seepage forces and matric suction. Earth Surf Proc Land 26: 1421–1442. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.287
Shi XN, Lei TW, Yan Y, et al. (2016) Determination and impact factor analysis of hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient within a gravel layer using an electrolyte tracer method. Int Soil Water Conse 4(2): 87–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2016.05.001
Takken I, Govers G, Jetten VG, et al. (2005) The influence of both process descriptions and runoff patterns on predictions from a spatially distributed soil erosion model. Earth Surf Proc Land 30(2): 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1176
Tang JLL, Zhu B, Wang T, et al. (2012) Subsurface flow processes in sloping cropland of purple soil. J Mt Sci 9(1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-012-2199-7
Tao TT, Chen XY, Chen SQ, et al. (2021) Hydraulic characteristics of rills of non-eroded and eroding on saturated purple soil. Acta Pedologica Sinica. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.11766/trxb202005280259
Tauro F, Pagano C, Porfiri M, et al. (2012) Tracing of shallow water flows through buoyant fluorescent particles. Flow Measurement. Instrumentation 26: 93–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2012.03.007
Vervoort RW, Dabney SM, RÖMkens MJM (2001) Tillage and row position effects on water and solute infiltration characteristics. Soil Sci Soc Am J 65(4): 1227–1234. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2001.6541227x
Ventura EJ, Nearing MA, Norton LD (2001) Developing a magnetic tracer to study soil erosion. Catena 43(4): 277–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0341-8162(00)00149-1
Wang CF, Wang B, Wang YJ, et al. (2020) Rare earth elements tracing interrill erosion processes as affected by near-surface hydraulic gradients. Soil Till Res 202: 104673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104673
Wang CF, Wang B, Wang YQ, et al. (2020) Improved interrill erosion prediction by considering the impact of the near-surface hydraulic gradient. Soil Till Res 203: 104687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104687
Wilson GV, Periketi RK, Fox GA, et al. (2007) Soil properties controlling seepage erosion contributions to streambank failure. Earth Surf Proc Land 32: 447–459. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1405
Xing H, Huang YH, Chen XY, et al. (2018) Comparative study of soil erodibility and critical shear stress between loess and purple soils. J Hydrol 558(3): 625–631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.060
Yan DC, Wang YF, Wen AB, et al. (2011) Configuration evolvement of rill development on purple slope land. Mt Sci 29(4):469–473. (In Chinese) https://doi.org/10.16089/j.cnki.1008-2786.2011.04.007
Zhang GH, Hu JJ (2019) Effects of patchy distributed Artemisia capillaris on overland flow hydrodynamic characteristics. Int Soil Water Conse 7(1): 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2018.12.003
Zhang GH, Luo RT, Cao Y, et al. (2010) Correction factor to dye-measured flow velocity under varying water and sediment discharges. J Hydrol 389(1–2): 205–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.05.050
Zheng FL, Huang CH, Norton LD (2000) Vertical Hydraulic gradient and run-on water and sediment effects on erosion processes and sediment regimes. Soil Sci Soc Am J 64(1): 4–11. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2000.6414
Zhou SQ, Kang SC, Feng C, et al. (2013) Water balance observations reveal significant subsurface water seepage from Lake Nam Co, south-central Tibetan Plateau. J Hydrol 491(1): 89–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.03.030
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41571265 and 42177314), the Key Research and Development Project of Social Livelihood in Chongqing (cstc2018jscx-mszdX0061), and the Foundation of Graduate Research and Innovation in Chongqing (CYS21114).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tao, Tt., Chen, Sq. & Chen, Xy. Rill flow velocity affected by the subsurface water flow depth of purple soil in Southwest China. J. Mt. Sci. 19, 704–714 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-021-7252-y
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-021-7252-y