Cai Qiangguo, K. F. Andrew Lo
Institute of Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing, China
E-mail: caiqg@mx.cei.gov.cn

Rainfall runoff and sediment reduction effect by hedgerows plants on purple soil slopeland were studied based on natural precipitation observations and simulated rainfall experiments. Measurement data revealed that hedge plants grown on 25 degrees slopeland can reduce runoff by 22-43 percent and sediment yield by 94-98 percent. These substantial decreases can be achieved at a cost of only 10-20 percent of the stone ridge horizontal terraces. Hence, it is an effective way to control runoff and soil loss in ameliorating slopeland utilization in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas of Yangtze River, China.