Effects of temporal conservation measures on water erosion processes of disturbed soil accumulation in construction projects

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 319; p. 128612
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhihua, Xu, Wensheng, Li, Li, Huang, Jinquan, Deng, Lingmin, Wang, Qian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.10.2021
• Subjects: Disturbed soil accumulation; Reduction efficiency; Rill; Sediment yield; Temporal conservation measures; Sediment yield; Rill; Reduction efficiency; Temporal conservation measures; Disturbed soil accumulation
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128612

Soil erosion on disturbed soil accumulations that are formed during construction activities, is recognized as a new and severe environmental threat to the social-ecological systems. Much more attentions were given to the vegetation restoration on disturbed soil accumulation, while Temporal Conservation Measures (TCMs), which are required before vegetation measures reach to its maximum functions, are less reported. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficiencies of six combinations of TCMs, including dust screen cover with coverage ratio of 100% (C100%), blocking dam (B), B + C100% (BC100%), B + C75% (BC75%), B + C50 (BC50%), and B + C25% (BC25%). Bare slopes were setup as controls. Artificial rainfalls (90, 150, 200 mm/h) were simulated on soil tanks under a constant slope gradient (20°), with measurements of accumulative runoff, accumulative sediment yield, and surface flow velocity during rainfall process. Results showed that: 1) all the investigated TCMs were more efficient for reducing sediment than for runoff reduction with sediment and runoff reduction efficiencies of 34.15%–96.20% and 2.46%–42.15%, respectively; 2) blocking, C100%, and BC100% were effective on reducing runoff when the rainfall intensity was up to 90 mm/h, while TCMs somehow promoted the runoff generation when rainfall intensities were increased to 150 mm/h or 200 mm/h; 3) temporal cover could effectively reduce sediment yield, that an amount of tiny sediment mounds were generated on the dust screen, which could also reduce the surface flow velocity; 4) the effective order of TCMs for soil and water conservation could be displayed as BC100% > BC75% > C100% > BC50% > BC25% > blocking. The results reported in the present study would guide the erosion control practices for disturbed soil accumulation in the future. •Blocking dam can effectively reduce sediment yield because sediment is trapped behind the dam.•Temporal cover with dust screen can reduce sediment yield and mitigate the rill development.•Temporal cover and blocking measures are more efficient in sediment reduction than runoff reduction.•BC75% is recommended as temporal practice for construction project in the future.•The effective order of TCMs can be displayed as BC100% > BC75% > C100% > BC50% > BC25% > blocking.