Effects of rainfall intensity and land use on soil and water loss in loess hilly region

An experimental research on the effects of rainfall intensity and land use on soil and water loss was carried out under simulated rainfall to master the regularity and mechanism in five different rainfall intensities and four land use modes in loess hilly region. The results showed that rainfall intensity was positively correlated with runoff and sediment yields. The function was power between the average surface runoff or sediment and rainfall in four land use modes. The order of average surface runoff yield was forest lands >fallow cultivated lands>cultivated grasslands>grasslands. And the order of sediment yield was fallow cultivated lands>cultivated grasslands>grasslands>forest lands. There was no complete correspondence between runoff and sediment. If there is no intercepting, retarding and reducing of rainfall by canopy, shrub and litter layer, the runoff of forestry is larger than that of other land use patterns. Findings also show that the forestry has a good effect on soil conservation, and the grassland has a good effect on soil and water conservation as well.