Vegetation affects gully headcut erosion processes by regulating runoff hydrodynamics in the Loess tableland region

Vegetation plays an important role in gully headcut erosion processes. However, it is still unclear how vegetation in the upstream area affects gully headcut erosion processes by changing the hydraulics. A series of in situ inflow scouring experiments were conducted on bare land plots and vegetation plots (including the upstream area, headwall, and gully bed) planted with Bothriochloa ischaemum (BI), Agropyron cristatum (AC), and Medicago sativa (MS) with clustered stems and Artemisia gmelinii (AG) with erect stems to investigate the influence of vegetation on the hydrodynamic parameters involved in gully headcut erosion processes. The results showed that, compared with bare land, vegetation increased the Manning roughness coefficient (n) and Darcy-Weisbach friction factor (f) in the upstream area by 0.2-2.5 times and 0.9-9.6 times, respectively, but reduced the runoff velocity in the upstream area and gully brink. However, the jet flow velocity at entry into the plunge pool increased rapidly after passing through the gully head. The influence of vegetation with clustered stems on roughness and runoff velocity was greater than that of vegetation with branched stems. At 3.6 m3/h inflow discharge, vegetation can increase the runoff shear stress of the upstream area. The energy consumption of the gully head, upstream area, and gully bed accounted for 74 to 76 %, 19 to 21 %, and 4 to 7 % of the total energy consumption, respectively. The four vegetation treatments reduced the gully headcut soil loss by 31 to 81 %, among which MS exhibited the highest reduction. The soil loss rate was positively correlated with the jet flow velocity and its kinetic energy, and the correlation was the best (R2 of 0.934 and 0.935, respectively, P < 0.01), presenting a logarithmic trend. These results are helpful to deepen the understanding of the roles of vegetation in regulating runoff hydraulic action during gully headcut erosion.

Automated summary

Vegetation plays a significant role in the hydraulics of gully headcut erosion processes. The study shows that vegetation increases the roughness coefficient and friction factor in the upstream area, reducing the runoff velocity. However, the jet flow velocity increases rapidly after passing through the gully head. Vegetation can also significantly reduce soil loss in the gully headcut erosion process, with Medicago sativa exhibiting the highest reduction.