Search

Data on soil erosion is scarce for the Napahai Catchment in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Specifically, greater information on soil erosion under effects of different plant cover types within this region is required for soil and water conservation as well as to initiate sustainable land use resource practices in Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province, China. This study investigated five representative plant cover types in Napahai Catchment to observe surface runoff and sediment yield. These included barren land, 1-year revegetated plot, three-year revegetated plot, grassland, and pine forestland. They were subsequently analyzed to determine their effects on soil erosion. Results showed that surface runoff and sediment yield were reduced with an increase in plant cover. However, different plant cover types produced significantly different results in surface runoff and sediment yield. Surface runoff volume followed the order barren land > 3-year revegetated plot > pine forestland > 1-year revegetated plot > grassland, whereas sediment yield volume followed the order barren land > 1-year revegetated plot > 3-year revegetated plot > pine forestland > grassland. In addition, soil organic matter and plant cover were closely correlated to surface runoff and soil loss in the Napahai Catchment. Grassland revegetation, in particular, would be a good initial step to take to prevent and control surface runoff and sediment yield during ecological restoration of the Napahai Catchment. This is owing to its natural advantages in soil and water conservation. Field observations could also be helpful to collect much needed information on the region that can subsequently act to prevent and protect against soil erosion, preventing the Napahai Wetland from deteriorating further while simultaneously improving land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigated the nutrients and heavy metal contents in water body and sediment of the Napahai Wetland during summer through fluorescence spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer analysis. Results indicated that most of the heavy metal contents in water body are derived from municipal sewage when the stream passes through the town center. The primary organic compounds in the water body of the Nachi River and the Napahai Wetland were hydrophobic acid, fulvic acid, and aromatic protein-like compounds. Cr, Ni, Cd, As, Pb, and V contents in wetland sediments significantly differ from sampling sites and depths, and varied in the following order: V > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Cd. Principal component analysis showed that the distribution of heavy metals was primarily affected by urbanization and secondarily affected by other abiotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]