Effect of suspended sediment grain size on channel sedimentation in the lower Yellow River and some implications

Based on the data of suspended sediment transport and channel sedimentation in various grain size fractions in the period of 1962–1985, the relationship between channel sedimentation in the lower Yellow River and sediment input has been plotted with respect to each grain size fraction. Several fill-scour thresholds in sediment input have been identified from these graphs. It was found that the fill-scour threshold in sediment input decreases with the increase in fraction grain size. The correlation coefficient between channel sedimentation and sediment input becomes larger with the increasing fraction grain size, indicating that channel sedimentation depends more on coarser grain size fractions than on smaller ones. The fraction channel sedimentation induced by unit change of fraction sediment input increases with grain size. Of the input of sediment larger than 0.025 mm, 43.73% was deposited on the channel, and for inputs of sediments larger than 0.05 mm and larger than 0.10 mm, 76.61% and 97.68% were deposited on the channel, respectively. Thus, for reduction of each ton of sediment larger than 0.10 mm from the drainage basin, the resultant reduction in channel sedimentation in the lower Yellow River would be 1.275 times that for the sediment larger than 0.10 mm, and 2.234 times that for the sediment larger than 0.025 mm. Therefore, if the erosion and sediment control measures are enforced in the areas where >0.05 or >0.10 mm sediment is produced, then the best beneficial will be achieved in reducing sedimentation in the lower Yellow River. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50725930) and Chinese Ministry for Science and Technology (Grant No. 2006BA06B03)