3.1. Variation in total runoff
On the four slopes, total runoff under different vegetation covers was slow at first (0–5 mins), then increased rapidly (5–10 min), and then leveled off (10–30 mins) (Fig. 2). Based on these runoff data curves, total runoff under 0% vegetation cover was slightly greater than runoff under the other two vegetation covers at first, but by 30 mins runoff under 0% cover was similar or lower than 15% and 30%, suggesting that the effect of surface condition and infiltration of spatial heterogeneity on runoff was considerable.
[Insert Figure 2]
Slope and vegetation are the primary factors affecting runoff, and different slopes and vegetation covers can generate varying runoff. Fig. 3 shows that the features of mean runoff and runoff difference between different vegetation covers. Duration of scouring time, the mean runoff and total runoff showed significant differences between different vegetation covers on the 5° and 10° slope, while the difference was not significant on the 15° slope and 20° slope (Fig. 3).
[Insert Figure 3]