Effects of land use types on soil erodibility in a small karst watershed in western Hubei

Abstract

Background Soil erosion is a severe problem in the karst watershed, and analysis of soil erosion at the watershed scale is urgently needed. Methods This study tried to estimate the soil erodibility factor (K-factor) using the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) nomograph and evaluate the spatial distribution of the predicted K-factor in a karst watershed. Soil properties and K-factors of five land use types (NF: natural mixed forest, CF: cypress forest, EF: economic forest, ST: stone dike terrace, VF: vegetable land) in the Xialaoxi small watershed were compared and key factors affecting erodibility were analyzed. Results Results showed that (1) The erodibility K-factor was unevenly distributed within different site types and strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities. The soil K-factors of sample sites subjected to frequent human disturbance (ST, VF) were high, ranging from 0.0480-0.0520 t hm2 h/(MJ mm hm2), while the soil K-factors of natural site types (NF, CF, and EF) were low, ranging from 0.0436-0.0448 t hm2 h/(MJ mm hm2). (2) The soil texture in the Xialaoxi watershed was mostly loamy, and that of the agricultural areas frequently disturbed by agricultural practices (ST, VF) was silty loam. (3) Soil carbon fractions were affected by land use types. Soil organic carbon storage of NF and CF had strong spatial heterogeneity. The soil organic carbon (SOC) and labile organic carbon (LOC) of the two were significantly higher than those of the disturbed EF and cultivated land soil. (4) There was a synergistic effect between the soil properties and the K-factor. K was significantly negatively related to sand fractions (2-0.05 mm) and non-capillary porosity, while positively related to silt content (0.05–0.002 mm). Overall, changes in bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), non-capillary porosity (NCP), texture, and organic matter content caused by natural restoration or anthropogenic disturbance were the main reasons for soil erodibility. Natural care (sealing) and construction of stone dike planting practices were effective ways to reduce soil erosion in small karst watershed areas of western Hubei.