Variability of splash and interrill erosion under simulated downward wind-driven rainfall

Kalehhouei, Mahin , Sadeghi, Seyed Hamidreza , Darvishan, Abdulvahed Khaledi

2026-08-01 SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH 2026   260(卷), null(期), (null页)

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Investigating changes in watershed systems requires a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence system behaviors. The effects of wind-driven rain (WDR) on splash and interrill erosion behavior under various conditions remain unquantified. This study investigates the impact of WDR in the Kojour Watershed in Mazandaran Province, Iran. The experiments were conducted with a rainfall intensity of 50 mm h(-1) for 30 min, in the absence of wind, and with two wind velocities (3 and 6 m s(-1)) at two slopes (12 and 30 %). The concurrent simulation of WDR was conducted on three plots (6 & times; 1 & times; 0.5 m) filled with sandy loam soil. According to the results, splash erosion on the 12 % and 30 % slopes ranged from 10 to 35 g m(-2) and from 15 to 45 g m(-2), respectively. With the slope increasing, the net splash downstream is greater than upstream. The runoff volume ranged from 103 to 187 L. The runoff coefficient varied from 95 % to 178 % under no wind conditions up to a wind velocity of 6 m s(-1) and a slope of 12 %. Likewise, for the 30 % slope, the runoff volume ranged from 115 to 188 L, and the coefficient ranged from 108 % to 180 %. The results of the interrill erosion indicated that the mean soil loss and sediment concentration on 12 % and 30 % slopes increased from 415 to 2013 and 1933-4115 g m(-2), and from 31 to 143 and 142-678 g L-1. The results revealed that wind had significant effects (P < 0.01) on runoff volume, runoff coefficient, soil loss, and sediment concentration. Furthermore, runoff volume, runoff coefficient, soil loss, and sediment concentration, with respective eta(2)(p) values of 0.38, 0.44, 0.21, and 0.13, were influenced more by slope than by wind velocity. Soil loss (eta(2)(p) = 0.61) was significantly impacted by the interaction between slope and wind velocity. Comparing the effect of slope and wind velocity, the slope had a more significant impact on the runoff coefficient (eta(2)(p) = 0.44). The results of this study will benefit experts by incorporating wind effects into soil erosion estimation and managers by enabling practical assessment of WDR soil erosion to prioritize vulnerable areas.