Influence of Precipitation Effects Induced by Large-Scale Irrigation in Northwest China on Soil Erosion in the Yellow River Basin

Large-scale irrigation can alter the regional water cycle process, which changes the structure and spatiotemporal distribution of local and downwind precipitation, impacting soil erosion in both the irrigated areas and the surrounding regions. However, the effects of large-scale irrigation on soil erosion in downwind vulnerable areas have not been investigated. The study used the high-resolution regional climate model (RegCM4) and the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) to examine the effects of irrigation-induced precipitation in Northwest China on the frequency, distribution, and intensity of precipitation in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) under different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). The response characteristics of soil erosion to the irrigation-induced precipitation effects and its relationship with slope, elevation, and land use type were analyzed as well. The results indicate that soil erosion in most regions of the YRB is below moderate, covering 84.57% of the basin. Irrigation leads to a 10% increase in summer precipitation indices (e.g., total wet-day precipitation, consecutive wet days, number of wet days with precipitation >= 1 mm, and number of heavy precipitation days with precipitation >= 12 mm) in the northwest of the basin. Irrigation also leads to a change in local circulation, resulting in reduced precipitation in the southeast of the basin, particularly under the RCP8.5 scenario. The transformation of erosion intensity between low-grade and high-grade erosion is relatively stable and small under the influence of precipitation. However, soil erosion changes display strong spatial heterogeneity, inter-annual and intra-annual fluctuations, and uncertainties. The findings of this study can be helpful for policymakers and water resource managers to better understand the impacts of large-scale irrigation on the environment and to develop sustainable water management strategies.