Splash detachment and transport of loess aggregate fragments by raindrop action

• Published in: Catena (Giessen) 2017-03, Vol.150, p.154-160
• Main Authors: Fu, Yu, Li, Guang-lu, Zheng, Teng-hui, Li, Bai-qiao, Zhang, Teng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregate breakdown; Aggregate fragment; Distance interval; Loess plateau; Raindrop size; Splash detachment
• ISSN: 0341-8162; 1872-6887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2016.11.021

Splash erosion, which results from the bombardment of raindrops on soil, is the initial stage of soil erosion by water and is mainly responsible for the detachment and transport of soil aggregates. The objective of this study was to estimate the difference between the breakdown and dispersion of soil aggregates for two typical soils (Lou soil and Drab soil) of the Loess Plateau by raindrop action and to determine the relation between raindrop size and splash distance as well as soil aggregate detachment and transport in the loess area. Simulated tests were performed using a custom-made device to generate raindrops of six different sizes (2.67mm, 3.05mm, 3.39mm, 3.79mm, 4.05mm and 5.45mm) and to measure splash erosion at five distance intervals (0–10cm, 10–20cm, 20–30cm, 30–40cm and 40–50cm). The results indicated that the splash erosion was distributed at a splash distance of 0–20cm for the Lou soil and the Drab soil. Under the same type of raindrop, the splash volume of the Drab soil was higher than that of the Lou soil. For the Lou and Drab soils, the relation between the amount of splash and raindrop size increased linearly (r2=0.985 and 0.860, respectively, p