The suitability of using leaf area index to quantify soil loss under vegetation cover |
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| Authors: | Wentai Zhang Dongsheng Yu Xuezheng Shi Hongjie Wang Zhujun Gu Xiangyan Zhang Manzhi Tan |
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| Institution: | (1) University of Minnesota Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Initiative, 200 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA |
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| Abstract: | Soil erosion by water under forest cover is a serious problem in southern China. A comparative study was carried out on the
use of leaf area index (LAI) and vegetation fractional coverage (VFC) in quantifying soil loss under vegetation cover. Five
types of vegetation with varied LAI and VFC under field conditions were exposed to two rainfall rates (40 mm h−1 and 54 mm h−1) using a portable rainfall simulator. Runoff rate, sediment concentration and soil loss rate were measured at relatively
runoff stable state. Significant negative exponential relationship (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.83) and linear relationship (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.84) were obtained between LAI and sediment concentration, while no significant relationship existed between VFC and sediment
concentration. The mechanism by which vegetation canopy prevents soil loss was by reducing rainfall kinetic energy and sediment
concentration. LAI could better quantify such a role than VFC. However, neither LAI nor VFC could explain runoff rate or soil
loss rate. Caution must be taken when using LAI to quantify the role of certain vegetation in soil and water conservation. |
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