Abstract:Artificial rainfall experiments were carried out on a simulated Karst bare slope in a steel tank, where the slope and degree of underground holes (cracks) could be adjusted, to study the production processes of runoff and sediment in these environments. During experiments, the tank was filled with soils and rocks. Results indicated that rainfall intensity, slope and degree of underground holes (cracks) had obvious influences on runoff and sediment production processes. (1) Sediment was produced from the soil surface when the actual rainfall intensity was greater than the critical rainfall intensity of 50-80 mm/h. Runoff and sediment yield changed with varied rainfall intensities, and the order of the runoff yield for three rainfall intensities was 50 > 30 > 80 mm/h, and the order of the sediment yield for three rainfall intensities was 50 > 30 > 80 mm/h, respectively. (2) The underground sediment transport modulus decreased with increased slope, and the order of the sediment transport modulus for four slopes was 10° < 15° < 20° < 25°. In the same rainfall event, we noted that the smaller the slope, the greater the sediment transport modulus reduction per unit time, and the order of the sediment transport modulus for the four slopes was 10° > 15° > 20° > 25°. (3) The degree of underground holes (cracks) had a significant effect on underground runoff and sediment yields. An increase in the degree of underground holes (cracks) led to increased underground soil erosion. Underground runoff and sediment yields increased with an increase in the degree of underground holes (cracks), and the order of underground runoff and sediment yields for three underground hole degrees was 1% < 3% < 5%. This study provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of soil erosion in Karst slope habitats and provides a theoretical basis for the management of rocky desertification control and ecological restoration.