Effect of Rock Fragments on Soil Water and Nutrient - a Case Study in Rocky Mountain Area of North China

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven

Rock fragments significantly affect soil hydrological processes and nutrient content, yet their specific link on engineered hillslopes remains unclear. This study compares a fish-scale pit slope with a natural slope lacking fish-scale pits, dividing each into top, middle, and bottom positions. Grid sampling quantified soil water content, total soil carbon, and nitrogen, alongside rock fragment content and cover by size classes. Results show decreasing rock fragment cover and content downslope, while soil water and nutrients increase. No relationship appears on the fish-scale pit slope, but on the natural slope <75 mm fragments strongly influence patterns, with coverage thresholds at 10%, 4%, and 15%. Influence weakens with land preparation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background on rock fragments (RF)

Importance of soil water and nutrients

Materials and Methods

Study slopes and sampling design

Measurements: soil water, carbon, nitrogen, and RF metrics

Results

Spatial trends along slope positions

Relationships between RF and soil water/nutrients by slope type

Threshold effects of RF coverage

Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2024) 24:716–731 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01578-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01578-9) Effect of Rock Fragments on Soil Water and Nutrient: a Case Study in Rocky Mountain Area of North China Chenyu Niu1,2,3 · Yuefeng Shi4 · Guoqiang Fan1,3 · Youliang Ye5 · Jinsong Zhang2,6 · Yuqiang Sang1,2 · Zhi‑Hua Zhang1,2,3 Received: 11 April 2023 / Accepted: 6 December 2023 / Published online: 13 December 2023 © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedad Chilena de la Ciencia del Suelo 2023 Abstract Rock fragments have a significant impact on soil hydrological processes and nutrient content. However, the specific relationship between them has not been studied on hillslopes engineered by fish-scale pits on rocky mountains. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the effects of rock fragments on soil water and nutrients content, as well as to assess the influence of artificial slope measures, in particular, the fish-scale pits on this relationship. A fish-scale pit slope (with fish-scale pits) and a natural slope (without fish-scale pits) are selected for the investigation. Each slope was further divided into top, middle, and bottom positions. Soil samples were collected using a grid sampling method. These samples were then analyzed to determine soil water content, total soil carbon, and nitrogen. Additionally, the assessment of rock fragments content and cover was conducted at the same sampling locations. The rock fragments were categorized into three groups based on rock fragments sizes: small rock fragments (5–20 mm), medium rock fragments (20–75 mm), and large rock fragments (> 75 mm) . On both slopes, there is a consistent decrease in the mean coverage and content of rock fragments from the top to the bottom. In contrast, the mean soil water and nutrient content show an increase from the top to the bottom on both slopes. No significant relationship between the rock fragments and soil water is observed on the fish-scale pit slope. However, on the natural slope, rock fragments measuring less than 75 mm have a significant impact on the distribution of soil water and nutrients. As the content of rock fragments increases on the natural slope, there is a decrease in soil water and nutrient levels. There are specific thresholds for the influence of rock fragment coverage on soil water and nutrients. These thresholds are 10%, 4%, and 15% for small, medium, and total rock fragment coverage, respectively. When the rock fragment coverage is below the threshold, there is a decrease in soil water and nutrient levels as the coverage increases. Conversely, when the rock fragment coverage exceeds the threshold, there is an increase in soil water and nutrient levels with the coverage. Our conclusion is that the characteristics of rock fragments (such as size, content, coverage, and quantity) have an impact on the distributions of soil water and nutrients, but this influence is primarily observed on the natural slope. The effects of rock fragments on soil water and nutrients are weakened due to land preparation. Keywords Rock fragment content · Rock fragment coverage · Soil water · Soil nutrients · Fish-scale pits Chenyu Niu and Yuefeng Shi are shared first authors. * Zhi-Hua Zhang [zhangzh@henau.edu.cn](zhangzh@henau.edu.cn) 1 College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China 2 Henan Xiaolangdi Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Jiyuan 454650, China 3 Institute of Paulownia, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China 4 Yellow River Institute of Eco-Environmental Research, Zhengzhou 450000, China 5 College of Resources and Environment, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China 6 Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China 1 Introduction

FAQs

What research question does the study address about rock fragments?

It examines how rock fragments affect soil water content and nutrient levels, and whether artificial slope measures (fish-scale pits) change that relationship on rocky mountains in North China.

How were the two slope types designed for comparison?

A fish-scale pit slope (with fish-scale pits) and a natural slope (without fish-scale pits) were selected, and each slope was partitioned into top, middle, and bottom positions for sampling.

What did the study find regarding the relationship between rock fragments and soil water/nutrients?

On the fish-scale pit slope, no significant relationship was observed. On the natural slope, especially rock fragments smaller than 75 mm, significantly influenced soil water and nutrient distribution, including coverage thresholds.

Aug 25, 2026

Uploaded by Jiven