Evidence Platform
Effects of Revegetation on Soil Organic Carbon Storage and Erosion-Induced Carbon Loss under Extreme Rainstorms in the Hill and Gully Region of the Loess Plateau
Li, Y. J. et al., 2016. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Original research (primary data)View External Publication Link
Abstract
Background: The Loess Plateau, an ecologically vulnerable region, has long been suffering from serious soil erosion. Revegetation has been implemented to control soil erosion and improve ecosystems in the Loess Plateau region through a series of ecological recovery programs. However, the increasing atmospheric CO2 as a result of human intervention is affecting the climate by global warming, resulting in the greater frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as storms that may weaken the effectiveness of revegetation and cause severe soil erosion. Most research to date has evaluated the effectiveness of revegetation on soil properties and soil erosion of different land use or vegetation types. Here, we study the effect of revegetation on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and erosion-induced carbon loss related to different plant communities, particularly under extreme rainstorm events. Materials and methods: The erosion-pin method was used to quantify soil erosion, and soil samples were taken at soil depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm to determine the SOC content for 13 typical hillside revegetation communities in the year of 2013, which had the highest rainfall with broad range, long duration and high intensity since 1945, in the Yanhe watershed. Results and discussion: The SOC concentrations of all plant communities increased with soil depth when compared with slope cropland, and significant increases (p < 0.05) were observed for most shrub and forest communities, particularly for natural ones. Taking the natural secondary forest community as reference (i.e., soil loss and SOC loss were both 1.0), the relative soil loss and SOC loss of the other 12 plant communities in 2013 ranged from 1.5 to 9.4 and 0.30 to 1.73, respectively. Natural shrub and forest communities showed greater resistance to rainstorm erosion than grassland communities. The natural grassland communities with lower SOC content produced lower SOC loss even with higher soil loss, natural secondary forest communities produced higher SOC loss, primarily because of their higher SOC content, and the artificial R. pseudoacacia community with greater soil loss produced higher SOC loss. Conclusions: These results indicate that natural revegetation is more effective in enhancing SOC storage and reducing soil erosion than artificial vegetative recovery on hillsides. However, natural secondary forest communities, with higher SOC content and storage capacity, may also contribute to larger SOC loss under extreme rainstorms.
Case studies
Basic information
- Case ID: INT-211-5
- Intervention type: Restoration
- Intervention description:
Natural vegetation on abandoned land may begin the process of succession after the termination of human disturbance and gradually transform to secondary wild grassland or secondary forest communities [35,36]. In the hill and gully landscape of the Loess Plateau, inter-gullies are the primary location of croplands, and the abandonment of cropland is related to slope gradient, distance from the village, and soil and water conservation policies; as a result, plant communities with different successional stages have developed two natural shrubland communities of Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (SAS) and Syringa julianae ́ Carex lanceolata (SC)
- Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
-
Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures Soil erosion Unclear results absolute soil erosion (t/km2/y) - Approach implemented in the field: Yes
- Specific location:
The study area was located in the Yanhe watershed at N 36 ̋231–37 ̋171 and E 108 ̋451–110 ̋281 (Figure 1). The watershed that occupies 7687 km2 is the primary tributary in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and belongs to the hill-gully region of the Loess Plateau.
- Country: China
- Habitat/Biome type: Temperate grasslands |
- Issue specific term: Not applicable
Evidence
- Notes on intervention effectivness: to determine effectiveness, measure soil loss after a severe rainstorm event. However, only compare erosion to different NBS intervention types and therefore code 'unclear' because no comparator for mitigation outcomes however, compare to cropland as a reference (comparator because the revegetation interventions are assumed to have taken place on abandoned cropland) therefore can code positive for these outcomes
- Is the assessment original?: Yes
- Broadtype of intervention considered: Another NbS
- Compare effectivness?: No
- Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
- Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: Yes
- Impacts on GHG: Positive
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
- Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
- Ecosystem measures:
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
- Impacts for people: Not reported
- People measures:
- Considers economic costs: No
- Economic appraisal conducted: No
- Economic appraisal described:
- Economic costs of alternative considered: No
- Compared to an alternative: Not reported
Evaluation methodology
- Type of data: Quantitative
- Is it experimental: No
- Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
- Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
- Study is systematic:
Basic information
- Case ID: INT-211-4
- Intervention type: Restoration
- Intervention description:
Natural vegetation on abandoned land may begin the process of succession after the termination of human disturbance and gradually transform to secondary wild grassland or secondary forest communities [35,36]. In the hill and gully landscape of the Loess Plateau, inter-gullies are the primary location of croplands, and the abandonment of cropland is related to slope gradient, distance from the village, and soil and water conservation policies; as a result, plant communities with different successional stages have developed There were four grassland communities of Artemisia scoparia (A),Stipa bungeana + Lespedeza davurica (SL), Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (AS) and Artemisia gmelinii Artemisia giralaii+Bothriochloa ischaemum(AAB)
- Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
-
Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures Soil erosion Unclear results absolute soil erosion and relative soil erosion (erosion relative to the natural forest) (t/km2/y) - Approach implemented in the field: Yes
- Specific location:
The study area was located in the Yanhe watershed at N 36 ̋231–37 ̋171 and E 108 ̋451–110 ̋281 (Figure 1). The watershed that occupies 7687 km2 is the primary tributary in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and belongs to the hill-gully region of the Loess Plateau.
- Country: China
- Habitat/Biome type: Temperate grasslands |
- Issue specific term: Not applicable
Evidence
- Notes on intervention effectivness: to determine effectiveness, measure soil loss after a severe rainstorm event. However, only compare erosion to different NBS intervention types and therefore code 'unclear' because no comparator for mitigation outcomes however, compare to cropland as a reference (comparator because the revegetation interventions are assumed to have taken place on abandoned cropland) therefore can code positive for these outcomes
- Is the assessment original?: Yes
- Broadtype of intervention considered: Another NbS
- Compare effectivness?: No
- Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
- Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: Yes
- Impacts on GHG: Positive
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
- Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
- Ecosystem measures:
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
- Impacts for people: Not reported
- People measures:
- Considers economic costs: No
- Economic appraisal conducted: No
- Economic appraisal described:
- Economic costs of alternative considered: No
- Compared to an alternative: Not reported
Evaluation methodology
- Type of data: Quantitative
- Is it experimental: No
- Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
- Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
- Study is systematic:
Basic information
- Case ID: INT-211-3
- Intervention type: Restoration
- Intervention description:
Natural vegetation on abandoned land may begin the process of succession after the termination of human disturbance and gradually transform to secondary wild grassland or secondary forest communities [35,36]. In the hill and gully landscape of the Loess Plateau, inter-gullies are the primary location of croplands, and the abandonment of cropland is related to slope gradient, distance from the village, and soil and water conservation policies; as a result, plant communities with different successional stages have developed two natural forestland communities of Quercus liaotungensis − Syringa julianae − Carex lanceolata (QSC) and Acer buergerianum ́ Syringa julianae ́ Carex lanceolata (ASC)
- Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
-
Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures Soil erosion Unclear results absolute soil erosion (t/km2/y) - Approach implemented in the field: Yes
- Specific location:
The study area was located in the Yanhe watershed at N 36 ̋231–37 ̋171 and E 108 ̋451–110 ̋281 (Figure 1). The watershed that occupies 7687 km2 is the primary tributary in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and belongs to the hill-gully region of the Loess Plateau.
- Country: China
- Habitat/Biome type: Temperate forests |
- Issue specific term: Not applicable
Evidence
- Notes on intervention effectivness: to determine effectiveness, measure soil loss after a severe rainstorm event. However, only compare erosion to different NBS intervention types and therefore code 'unclear' because no comparator for mitigation outcomes however, compare to cropland as a reference (comparator because the revegetation interventions are assumed to have taken place on abandoned cropland) therefore can code positive for these outcomes
- Is the assessment original?: Yes
- Broadtype of intervention considered: Another NbS
- Compare effectivness?: No
- Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
- Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: Yes
- Impacts on GHG: Positive
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
- Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
- Ecosystem measures:
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
- Impacts for people: Not reported
- People measures:
- Considers economic costs: No
- Economic appraisal conducted: No
- Economic appraisal described:
- Economic costs of alternative considered: No
- Compared to an alternative: Not reported
Evaluation methodology
- Type of data: Quantitative
- Is it experimental: No
- Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
- Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
- Study is systematic:
Basic information
- Case ID: INT-211-2
- Intervention type: Created habitats
- Intervention description:
To implement ecological restoration and soil erosion control, a series of revegetation measures have been conducted since the 1950s in the Loess Plateau, in particular the “Grain for Green” project (GFG) in 1999. This project promoted the conversion of slope arable land to forest or grassland. three artificial forest communities of Armeniaca sibirica ́ Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (AAS), 6–8 years Robinia pseudoacacia ́ Artemisia gmelinii + of Armeniaca sibirica − Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (AAS), 6–8 years Robinia pseudoacacia − Stipa bungeana (RAS1) and 15 years Robinia pseudoacacia ́ Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (RAS2).
- Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
-
Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures Soil erosion Unclear results absolute soil erosion and relative soil erosion (erosion relative to the natural forest) (t/km2/y) - Approach implemented in the field: Yes
- Specific location:
The study area was located in the Yanhe watershed at N 36 ̋231–37 ̋171 and E 108 ̋451–110 ̋281 (Figure 1). The watershed that occupies 7687 km2 is the primary tributary in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and belongs to the hill-gully region of the Loess Plateau.
- Country: China
- Habitat/Biome type: Created forest |
- Issue specific term: Not applicable
Evidence
- Notes on intervention effectivness: to determine effectiveness, measure soil loss after a severe rainstorm event. However, only compare erosion to different NBS intervention types and therefore code 'unclear' because no comparator for mitigation outcomes however, compare to cropland as a reference (comparator because the revegetation interventions are assumed to have taken place on abandoned cropland) therefore can code positive for these outcomes
- Is the assessment original?: Yes
- Broadtype of intervention considered: Another NbS
- Compare effectivness?: No
- Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
- Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: Yes
- Impacts on GHG: Positive
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
- Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
- Ecosystem measures:
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
- Impacts for people: Not reported
- People measures:
- Considers economic costs: No
- Economic appraisal conducted: No
- Economic appraisal described:
- Economic costs of alternative considered: No
- Compared to an alternative: Not reported
Evaluation methodology
- Type of data: Quantitative
- Is it experimental: No
- Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
- Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
- Study is systematic:
Basic information
- Case ID: INT-211-1
- Intervention type: Created habitats
- Intervention description:
To implement ecological restoration and soil erosion control, a series of revegetation measures have been conducted since the 1950s in the Loess Plateau, in particular the “Grain for Green” project (GFG) in 1999. This project promoted the conversion of slope arable land to forest or grassland. two artificial shrubland communities of Hippophae rhamnoides ́ Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (HAS) and Caragana intermedia and Artemisia gmelinii + Stipa bungeana (CAS)
- Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
-
Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures Soil erosion Unclear results absolute soil erosion and relative soil erosion (erosion relative to the natural forest) (t/km2/y) - Approach implemented in the field: Yes
- Specific location:
The study area was located in the Yanhe watershed at N 36 ̋231–37 ̋171 and E 108 ̋451–110 ̋281 (Figure 1). The watershed that occupies 7687 km2 is the primary tributary in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and belongs to the hill-gully region of the Loess Plateau.
- Country: China
- Habitat/Biome type: Created other |
- Issue specific term: Not applicable
Evidence
- Notes on intervention effectivness: to determine effectiveness, measure soil loss after a severe rainstorm event. However, only compare erosion to different NBS intervention types and therefore code 'unclear' because no comparator for mitigation outcomes however, compare to cropland as a reference (comparator because the revegetation interventions are assumed to have taken place on abandoned cropland) therefore can code positive for these outcomes
- Is the assessment original?: Yes
- Broadtype of intervention considered: Another NbS
- Compare effectivness?: No
- Compared to the non-NBS approach: Not applicable
- Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: Yes
- Impacts on GHG: Positive
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: No
- Impacts for the ecosystem: Not reported
- Ecosystem measures:
- Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
- Impacts for people: Not reported
- People measures:
- Considers economic costs: No
- Economic appraisal conducted: No
- Economic appraisal described:
- Economic costs of alternative considered: No
- Compared to an alternative: Not reported
Evaluation methodology
- Type of data: Quantitative
- Is it experimental: No
- Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
- Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
- Study is systematic: