Abstract:
Two radionuclide tracers (i.e., 137Cs and 210Pbex) were used in combined with GIS technique to investigate the impact of shelterbelts on soil erosion and sediment deposition at a catchment with area of 28.5 hm2 in the typical black soil region, northeastern China, and some meaningful conclusions were drawn. The two shelterbelts in the catchment could reduce soil loss at a certain degree, and sediment deposition usually occurred before and behind the shelterbelts, leading to less erosion intensity before the shelterbelts. Inversely, erosion became severe behind the shelterbelts at a certain distance. In comparison to the lower shelterbelt, the upper shelterbelt with local gentle topography and less angle between the shelterbelt and the contours had higher sediment trap efficiency. Impacted by the two lines of shelterbelts and the earth bank at the catchment outlet, the catchment presented an erosion-deposition-erosion-deposition pattern. In recent 50 and 100 years, the sediment amounts annually deposited along the shelterbelts at distances of 30 and 60 meters occupied 18.8% and 7% of the total deposited sediment in the catchment, respectively. The sediment delivery ratios derived by 137Cs and 210Pbex methods were 53% and 78%, respectively. Factors influencing sediment trap efficiency of shelterbelts are multiple, further study is urgently required to further discuss the impact of shelterbelts on soil erosion which affected by multiple factors.
