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The Soil Loss Estimation Model for Southern Africa (SLEMSA) model integrated with Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) was positively validated to spatially assess soil erosion risk in the Taung Watershed of Ramotswa Agricultural District during the period 2000 – 2020. The estimated annual soil erosion averaged 11.77 and 12.57 t/ha/year in 2000 and 2020, respectively. The Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and topography were found to be key determinants of high soil erosion risk when using SLEMSA. The soil erosion assessment tools enabled prioritization of high erosion prone areas in the study area for soil conservation planning and watershed management.

El estado de degradación del suelo en las áreas mediterráneas dificulta una actividad agrícola sostenible, especialmente en un contexto de cambio global, donde las tasas de pérdida de suelo se ven acrecentadas por las modificaciones en la dinámica plu-viométrica. Así, el territorio declarado como “Sistema Importantes del Patrimonio Agrícola Mundial” (SIPAM) dedicado a la uva pasa de la Axarquía (Málaga) se identifi-ca como un área de especial fragilidad frente a estos procesos. Esta investigación pretende, por un lado, determinar la susceptibilidad a la erosión del suelo y, especial-mente, conocer qué papel está jugando las Soluciones basadas en la Naturaleza (NbS) en la capacidad adaptativa de este territorio. Para ello, se ha analizado estadís-ticamente la dinámica pluviométrica, se han determinado las tasas de erosión del suelo a partir del modelo RUSLE y, por último, se ha desarrollado una metodología cualitativa para la evaluación de las NbS. Los resultados muestran un claro descenso de las precipitaciones anuales y una concentración de la lluvia en eventos de mayor intensidad, dando lugar a una mayor erosividad de la lluvia y a altas tasas de pérdida de suelo. No obstante, las prácticas agrícolas y las diferentes estructuras identifica-das son consideradas estrategias sostenibles de adaptación a este tipo de riesgos naturales, conformándose como NbS. Soil degradation conditions in mediterranean areas make sustainable agricultural activity difficult, especially in a context of global change, where soil loss rates are in-creased by changes in rainfall dynamics. Thus, the territory designated as an «Impor-tant Agricultural World Heritage System» (GIAHS) dedicated to raisins in Axarquía (Malaga) is identified as an area of special vulnerability to these processes. This re-search aims, on the one hand, to determine the susceptibility to soil erosion and, especially, to find out what role Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are playing in the adaptive capacity of this region. For this purpose, the rainfall dynamics have been statistically analysed, soil erosion rates have been determined using the RUSLE mod-el and, finally, a qualitative methodology for the evaluation of NbS has been devel-oped. The results show a clear decrease in annual rainfall and a concentration of rainfall in higher intensity events, leading to higher rainfall erosivity and high soil loss rates. Nevertheless, agricultural practices and the different structures identified are considered sustainable adaptation strategies to these types of natural risks, qualifying as NbS. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2019-104046RB-100

Soil erosion by water is a main form of land degradation worldwide. The problem has been addressed, among others, in the United Nations Sustainability Goals. However, for mitigation of erosion consequences and adequate management of affected areas, reliable information on the magnitude and spatial patterns of erosion is needed. Although such need is often addressed by erosion modelling, precise erosion monitoring is necessary for the calibration and validation of erosion models and to study erosion patterns in landscapes. Conventional methods for quantification of rill erosion are based on labour-intensive field measurements. In contrast, remote sensing techniques promise fast, non-invasive, systematic and larger-scale surveying. Thus, the main objective of this study was to develop and evaluate automated and transferable methodologies for mapping the spatial extent of erosion rills from a single acquisition of remote sensing data. Data collected by an uncrewed aerial vehicle was used to deliver a highly detailed digital elevation model (DEM) of the analysed area. Rills were classified by two methods with different settings. One approach was based on a series of decision rules applied on DEM-derived geomorphological terrain attributes. The second approach utilized the random forest machine learning algorithm. The methods were tested on three agricultural fields representing different erosion patterns and vegetation covers. Our study showed that the proposed methods can ensure recognition of rills with accuracies between 80 and 90% depending on rill characteristics. In some cases, however, the methods were sensitive to very small rill incisions and to similar geometry of rills to other features. Additionally, their performance was influenced by the vegetation structure and cover. Besides these challenges, the introduced approach was capable of mapping rills fully automatically at the field scale and can, therefore, support a fast and flexible assessment of erosion magnitudes.

Wildfire is a natural part of many ecosystems in the Four Corners region (Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Southwest Colorado, and Northwest New Mexico). However, after decades of fire suppression, the intensity and size of wildfires is increasing. This fact sheet is intended to help those in dry, monsoonal regions understand what happens to land after a wildfire and explains the processes of soil erosion. It outlines factors that influence how wildfire can affect soils and plants and provides suggestions for reducing soil erosion when necessary. The information presented is relevant to both private landowners and public lands managers whose landscapes have been affected by wildfire.

International audience; Drainage infrastructure is an important element of the agricultural landscape, influencing hydro-sedimentary transfers from plots to rivers. The objective of this article is to demonstrate how the description of the main characteristics of drainage networks allows a better understanding of sediment (dis)connectivity. This study focuses on an 8 km2 catchment in the Beaujolais vineyards (France) that is characterized by a complex drainage network. We applied methods using field surveys, a geographical information system and graph theory to map and analyse how such man-made infrastructures may act as barriers, buffers or shortcuts. The catchment shows dense and complex drainage networks characterized by sediment trapping strategies in the upper slopes, and flow concentration and export in the lower slopes. The results exemplify winegrowers’ strategies to disconnect sediments sources from the river to preserve soil resources.

Agricultural soils undergo periods of saturation followed by desiccation throughout the course of a growing season. It is believed that these periods of wetting and drying influence soil structure and may affect the rate of soil detachment. Thus, an experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of a disturbed soil (soil sieved to simulate tillage) subjected to various wetting and drying cycles, on soil bulk density and the resistance to soil detachment with runoff. Seven treatments consisting of wetting and drying cycles ranging from 0 to 6 cycles were evaluated under laboratory conditions using an experimental flume apparatus. A Richards growth model proposed for predicting the influence of wetting and drying on soil detachment was also evaluated. Results showed that the soil bulk density increased as the number of wetting and drying cycles increased. The soil detachment rate decreased as the number of wetting and drying cycles increased. Moreover, initial soil detachment (occurring as soon as runoff began) rates were high for 1 to 3 wetting and drying cycles, while the rate of initial detachment decreased after the third cycle. For example, soils with two and three wetting and drying cycles took 6.5 and 7 min to reach the maximum 1 cm souring depth, respectively, while the soils subjected to four or more wetting and drying cycles did not reach the maximum 1 cm depth during the 15 min runoff experiment. In addition, the proposed S-Shaped Richards growth model was a good predictor for estimating the soil detachment of soils experiencing various wetting and drying cycles. Findings from this study suggest that more attention should be given to the influence that soil wetting and drying have on the prediction of soil detachment. Information from this study is expected to be useful for improving soil management strategies for reducing soil erosion.

Soil is a non-renewable resource whose excessive use can lead to erosion. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows assessing the susceptibility to erosion in a given area from which measures can be taken to minimize its adverse impact. In our study, we analyzed the susceptibility to erosion at the Administrative Post of Bilibiza, in Mozambique, through the use of GIS based on environmental variables that favor its occurrence. About 36.33% of the area has high to very high susceptibility to erosion due to the occurrence of sandy soils. The areas with very low to low susceptibility are 36.49% of the total extension, being influenced by the high vegetation cover, low slope and low altitude. GIS proved to be an excellent tool for assessing susceptibility to erosion in Bilibiza. O solo é um recurso não renovável cujo uso excessivo e desregrado pode conduzir à erosão. O uso dos Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG) permite avaliar a suscetibilidade à erosão em uma determinada área a partir da qual medidas poderão ser tomadas para minimizar seu impacto adverso. Neste trabalho foi analisada a suscetibilidade à erosão no Posto Administrativo de Bilibiza, em Moçambique, através do uso dos SIG a partir de variáveis ambientais que propiciam sua ocorrência. Foram gerados mapas de suscetibilidade à erosão em função dos fatores topografia, precipitação, tipos de solos, cobertura e ocupação do solo e geologia. Após, foi gerado o mapa de suscetibilidade global pela sobreposição de todas as variáveis, utilizando-se a análise multicriterial, mediante o grau de importância de cada fator na erosão. Cerca de 36,33% da área apresenta suscetibilidade alta a muito alta devido à ocorrência de solos arenosos. As áreas com suscetibilidade muito baixa à baixa ocupam 36,49% da extensão total, sendo influenciadas pela elevada cobertura vegetal, baixa declividade e baixa altitude. Os SIG se revelaram uma excelente ferramenta na avaliação da suscetibilidade à erosão em Bilibiza. Palavras-chave: erosão do solo; fatores ambientais; Sistemas de Informação Geográfica. Spatial analysis of susceptibility to erosion in the Administrative Post of Bilibiza, Mozambique ABSTRACT: Soil is a non-renewable resource whose excessive use can lead to erosion. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows assessing the susceptibility to erosion in a given area from which measures can be taken to minimize its adverse impact. In our study, we analyzed the susceptibility to erosion at the Administrative Post of Bilibiza, in Mozambique, through the use of GIS based on environmental variables that favor its occurrence. Erosion susceptibility maps were generated as a function of topography, precipitation, soil types, land cover and occupation and geology. Then, the global susceptibility map was generated by overlapping all variables, using multicriteria analysis, according to the degree of importance of each factor in erosion. About 36.33% of the area has high to very high susceptibility to erosion due to the occurrence of sandy soils. The areas with very low to low susceptibility are 36.49% of the total extension, being influenced by the high vegetation cover, low slope and low altitude. GIS proved to be an excellent tool for assessing susceptibility to erosion in Bilibiza. Keywords: soil erosion; environmental factors; Geographic Information Systems.

This study was conducted in two gewogs (blocks) of Jarey and Thangrong under Lhuentse and Mongar districts in Eastern Bhutan to assess the farmer’s perception on the soil erosion, its causes, and adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. A total of 47 and 90 respondents from Jarey and Thangrong respectively who participated in the implementation of SLM measures were interviewed. Field observations were made where necessary. Data was analyzed using descriptive and chi-square test at significance level of p

In the Czech Republic, the Universal Soil Loss Equation provides the basis for defining the soil protection strategy. Field rainfall simulators were used to define the actual cover-management factor values of the most extensively seeded crops in the Czech Republic. The second purpose was to assess rainfall-runoff ratio for different crops and management to contribute to the debate of water retention effectiveness during approaching climate change. The methodology focused on multi-seasonal measurements to cover the most important phenological phases. The rainfall intensity was 60 mm·h−1 for 30 min and a plot size of 16 m2. More than 380 rainfall simulation experiments provided data. Soil conservation techniques proved to have a significant effect on runoff reduction. Conventionally seeded maize can reduce the runoff ratio to around 50%. However, cover crops combined with reduced tillage or direct seeding can reduce the runoff ratio to 10–20% for ‘dry’ conditions and to 12–40% for ‘saturated’ conditions. Conventionally seeded maize on average loses 4.3 Mg·ha−1 per 30 min experiment. However, reduced tillage and direct seeding reduce soil loss to 0.6 and 0.16 Mg·ha−1, respectively. A comparison with the original USDA values for maize showed that it is desirable to redefine the crop cover factor.

Intensive soil management in vineyards makes them vulnerable to the degradation of physical characteristics and soil erosion. Sustainable management practices in young vineyards should be adopted to ensure soil longevity and ecosystem stability. The aim of this research was to compare the effects of grass-covering and straw-mulching on the mitigation of soil degradation through the reduction of chemical and physical soil degradation and initial soil erosion. The soil sampling and rainfall simulations were performed in an immature vineyard, which was established in Stagnosol, in a semi-humid climate in order to study the intrinsic relationships between soil properties and soil degradation/erosion. The grass-covering treatment significantly increased the values of soil organic matter, mean weight diameter, water-stable aggregates, ponding and runoff times, and significantly reduced the values of water runoff, sediment concentration, sediment loss, carbon loss, phosphorous loss and as a consequence, increased the available phosphorous, and soil water content. The opposite result was observed for the tilled treatment. Straw-mulching did not affect soil properties, however it decreased water, soil, and nutrient losses. Grass- covering is highlighted as the most sustainable soil management strategy as it mitigates water, sediment and nutrient losses in young vineyards.

Overland flow parameters play a pivotal role in soil erosion, which are affected by litter cover in forests. In this study, the litter layer of Pinus massoniana (Masson pine) was divided into non-decomposed and semi-decomposed layers. Seven litter coverage mass gradients, two slopes (5° and 10°), and two rainfall intensities (60 and 120 mm·h−1) were used for a systematic study of the effects of litter layer changes on overland flow dynamic characteristics. The objectives of this study were to explore the soil erosion process in litter different decomposition stages; to explore various relationships between hydraulic variables and litter characteristics. In the process of litter decomposition, overland flow patterns changed from transitional flow to laminar flow and from rapid flow to slow flow. The semi-decomposed layer’s Reynold’s number (Re), resistance coefficient (f), and soil separation rate ($${D}_{r}$$ D r ) were lower than that of the non-decomposed layer under the same conditions. Litter coverage, runoff and the diameter of the litter were major parameters that affected the Re, f, Fr, and Dr. Shrubs with wide leaves should be selected for understory vegetation replanting. The results of this study are helpful to understand the mechanisms of litter influencing erosion processes in different decomposition stages.

Purpose In this work, we study a land use impact model with the aim of obtaining spatially differentiated as opposed to default average characterisation factors. In particular, we study the application of LANCA®, a multi-indicator model with available country average characterisation factors expressing the alteration of the soil quality level of the current land use of one kind with respect to a reference situation. Method To this purpose, we use the LANCA® method documentation at a higher spatial resolution and apply all the required elemental steps. From a user perspective, we score the transparency of the method down to the basic methodological references and single out the source of errors that the user may incur when: (i) collecting the input data, (ii) selecting the appropriate soil/land classes and (iii) applying the individual calculation steps. For a greater insight, we couple the source of errors with a sensitivity analysis. Results In the comparison between a site-specific test area and the related country default values, we obtained relevant discrepancies regarding the erosion resistance and the physicochemical filtration of the soil. For example, we find that the erosion resistance potential is −1.06 * 10−3 kg m2 a−1 locally while the country default value is 13.1. We explain differences through the sensitivity analysis and having analysed in depth the underpinned soil erosion equation and the critical steps for its calibration. Together with systematic errors, we find that the method generally implies 9 scarcely guided steps out of 42, and one-third of the basic methodologies are not fully explained or accessible. These factors make the results related to Biotic Production, Mechanical Filtration, Physicochemical Filtration and Groundwater Regeneration user dependent and — in this sense — difficult to replicate. Conclusions From the analysis, we distil 7 main directions for improvement addressed to LANCA® and soil models especially in sight of a broader application of a regionalised life cycle impact assessment.

Mapping spatiotemporal land cover changes offers opportunities to better understand trends and drivers of environmental change and helps to identify more sustainable land management strategies. This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns of changes in land covers, forest harvest areas and soil erosion rates in Nordic countries, namely Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. This region is highly sensitive to environmental changes, as it is experiencing high levels of human pressure and among the highest rates of global warming. An analysis that uses consistent land cover dataset to quantify and compares the recent spatiotemporal changes in land cover in the Nordic countries is missing. The recent products issued by the European Space Agency and the Copernicus Climate Change Service framework provide the possibility to investigate the historical land cover changes from 1992 to 2018 at 300 m resolution. These maps are then integrated with time series of forest harvest areas between 2004 and 2018 to study if and how forest management is represented in land cover products, and with soil erosion data to explore status and recent trends in agricultural land. Land cover changes typically involved from 4% to 9% of the total area in each country. Wetland showed the strongest reduction (11,003 km2, −11% of the wetland area in 1992), followed by forest (8,607 km2, −1%) and sparse vegetation (5,695 km2, −7%), while agriculture (15,884 km2, 16%) and settlement (3,582 km2, 84%) showed net increases. Wetland shrinkage dominated land cover changes in Norway (5,870 km2, −18%), followed by forest and grassland with a net gain of 3,441 km2 (3%) and 3, 435 km2 (10%), respectively. In Sweden, forest areas decreased 13,008 km2 (−4%), mainly due to agriculture expansion (9,211 km2, 29%). In Finland, agricultural areas increased by 5,982 km2 (24%), and wetland decreased by 6,698 km2 (−22%). Settlement had the largest net growth in Denmark (717 km2, 70%), mainly from conversion of agriculture land. Soil erosion rates in Nordic countries are lower than the global average, but they are exacerbating in several locations (especially western Norway). The integration of the land cover datasets with maps of forest harvest areas shows that the majority of the losses in forest cover due to forestry operations are largely undetected, but a non-negligible share of the forest-to-agriculture (up to 19%) or forest-to-grassland (up to 51%) transitions overlap with the harvested sites. Forestry activity in the study region primarily involves small-scale harvest events that are difficult to be detected at the 300 m resolution of the land cover dataset. An accurate representation of forest management remains a challenge for global datasets of land cover time series, and more interdisciplinary international efforts are needed to address this gap. Overall, this analysis provides a detailed overview of recent changes in land cover and forest management in Nordic countries as represented by state-of-the-art global datasets, and offers insights to future studies aiming to improve these data or apply them in land surface models, climate models, landscape ecology, or other applications.

The Andes Mountains stretch over about 8900 km and cross tropical, subtropical, temperate and arid latitudes. Very few, if any, of the diverse physiographic, climatic and biogeographic regions in the Andes have been preserved from human impact. Land use and management have significantly altered the magnitude and frequency of erosion events: deforestation and agricultural practices (such as soil tillage and cattle grazing) have modified erosion rates, river sediment loads and landslide occurrences.There is an urgent need to identify which soil conservation and management practices are most effective to combat soil erosion and to mitigate the on-site and off-site effects in the Andean region. Three large groups of water-related interventions can be identified: interventions based on land use and protective land cover including (1) restoration and protection of native ecosystems, such as montane forests or grasslands and (2) forestation with native or exotic species and (3) soil and water conservation measures including crop management, conservation tillage and slow-forming terraces and the implementation of linear elements such as vegetation strips and check dams. To expand the knowledge base on natural infrastructure for erosion mitigation in the Andes, it is necessary to move beyond case-by-case empirical studies to comprehensive assessments.This study reviews the state of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to mitigate soil erosion by water and is based on Andean case studies. Based on a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature involving more than 120 local case-studies from the Andes, this study addressed the following research questions: (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research?From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon of topsoil and soil loss rates at plot scale. The protection and conservation of natural vegetation has the strongest effect on soil quality, with 3.01 ± 0.893 times higher soil organic carbon content in the topsoil compared to control sites. Soil quality improvements are significant but lower for forestation and soil and water conservation measures. Soil and water conservation measures reduce soil erosion to 62.1 ± 9.2 %, even though erosion mitigation is highest when natural vegetation is maintained.The systematic review of the existing literature allowed us to identify critical gaps in knowledge and research. There is a need for future empirical work on soil quality, erosion and sediment yield before/after interventions in data-scarce regions, such as high elevations, regions with either low or high relief, and low to very low or very high precipitation. Besides, most erosion assessments are based on short-term measurements that tend to miss the impact of rare high-magnitude events. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

Soil erosion induced by rainfall is mainly due to the rainfall impact besides the consequent surface runoff. Rainfall kinetic energy is the most used variable to represent its erosivity. The latter represents the weathering attitude to erode soil and is a fundamental variable of the erosion process. Consequently, precise measurements of rainfall erosivity have to perform to develop a reliable prediction model of the erosive phenomenon. Currently, impact energy can be reliably measured only by disdrometers. These instruments measure the Drop Size Distribution (DSD) which, joined with the raindrop falling velocity, allow to calculate, by integration, the impact kinetic energy. However, disdrometers are expensive tools that imply to collect and process a remarkable amount of data, and for these reasons, they are not suitable for land large scale use. Without direct measurements, the rainfall impact energy is currently estimated using only the rainfall intensity, widely detected by the recording rain-gauge network operating all over the country. Recently, an innovative method to measure the rainfall energy, subject of a patent, has been proposed. This method is based on the simultaneous detection, in a given time interval, of the rainfall intensity and the number of raindrops that hit a specific surface. In this paper a theoretical analysis aimed at improving the reliability of this rainfall energy measurement is firstly presented. The developed analysis accounts for the detection of a further variable deriving from the momentum distribution. Then, the reliability of the proposed approach was tested using 44,695 DSDs recorded in Palermo in the period 2006-2014. Using the proposed approach, the reliability of the rainfall energy measurement can significantly improve.

This work was supported by the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum. Additional, sample collection was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the manuscript submitted to Global Biogeochemical Cycles Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (BB/M026620/01). NERC also supported the analysis within this project through the NERC Life Science Mass Spectrometry Facility (CEH_L_098_11_2015 and CEH_L-155-05-2018). The sediments within fjords are critical components of the mid- to high-latitude coastal carbon (C) cycle, trapping and storing more organic carbon (OC) per unit area than other marine sedimentary environments. Located at the land-ocean transition, fjord sediments receive OC from both marine and terrestrial environments; globally, it has been estimated that 55% to 62% of the OC held within modern fjord sediments originates from terrestrial environments. However, the mid-latitude fjords of the Northern Hemisphere have largely been omitted from these global compilations. Here we investigate the mechanism driving the distribution of OC originating from different sources within the sediments of 38 Scottish fjords. From an array of fjord characteristics, the tidal range and outer sill depth were identified as the main drivers governing the proportions of marine and terrestrial OC in the sediments. Utilizing this relationship, we estimate that on average 52 ± 10% of the OC held within the sediments of all Scotland’s fjords is terrestrial in origin. These findings show that the Scottish fjords hold equivalent quantities of terrestrial OC as other global fjord systems. However, the analysis also highlights that the sediments within 29 % of Scottish fjords are dominated by marine derived OC, which is driven by local fjord geomorphology and oceanography. Publisher PDF

The dynamic changes in socio-ecological system (SES) have exerted increasing pressures on the natural environment, leading to observable changes in terrestrial surface structure. Therefore, understanding the historical evolution mechanism of social ecosystems is crucial for the future sustainable management of karst regions. However, detailed quantitative analyses of karst socio-ecological system at a long-term scale are lacking. Here, we applied a comprehensive research framework for the SES of karst region to visually analyze the evolution of karst SES over the past 1000 years in Guizhou Province, defining five evolution stages of the karst SES. Concurrently, we characterized the interactive effects of drivers on karst socio-ecological system during every evolutionary stage, and then assess major influences between these stages. Despite rocky desertification as the main effect of karst SES driven by many indicators, the quantitative analysis indicated that human-dominated land-use change explained the expansion of rocky desertification. Although effective implementation of relevant policies partly compensated for increased environmental pressures, continued structure and function shifts in local ecosystem can challenge progress towards sustainability in karst region. Our findings provide scientific references for managers and policymakers to assist them to identify how environmental issues emerged in karst areas and how they should be addressed.

Wildfires can significantly affect mountain hillslopes through the combustion of trees and shrubs and changes in soil properties. The type and magnitude of the associated post-fire effects depend on several factors, including fire severity and soil physical–mechanical-hydraulic features that, coupled with climate and topographic conditions, may cause increased runoff, erosion, and slope instability as consequence of intense rainfall. The post-fire response of slopes is highly site-specific. Therefore, in situ surveys and laboratory tests are needed to quantify changes in key soil parameters. The present study documents the post-fire physical and hydromechanical properties of pyroclastic topsoil collected from three test sites that suffered wildfires and rainfall-induced post-fire events in 2019 and 2020 in the Sarno Mountains (Campania Region, southern Italy). The tested pyroclastic soils in burned conditions show (i) no significant changes in grain size distribution, soil organic matter, and specific gravity; (ii) a deterioration in shear strength in terms of decreased soil cohesion caused by the fire-induced weakening of root systems; and (iii) a decrease in hydraulic conductivity. Accordingly, it can be argued that the documented post-fire erosion responses were mainly caused by the reduced cohesion and hydraulic conductivity of the burned topsoil layer, as well as by the loss of vegetation cover and the deposition of fire residues. Although deserving further deepening, this study can represent the necessary background for understanding the initiation mechanism of post-fire erosion processes in the analyzed area and on several natural slopes under similar conditions.

Global river systems are experiencing rapid changes in sediment transport under growing anthropogenic and climatic stresses. However, the response of sediment discharge to the coupled influence of anthropogenic and natural factors and the associated impacts on the fluvial geomorphology in the Yangtze and Mekong rivers are not comprehensively assessed. Here, we recalibrated a seamless retrieval algorithm of the total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations using in situ data and concurrent satellite data sets to analyze spatiotemporal patterns of the TSS concentrations in the lower Yangtze and Mekong rivers. Combined with soil erosion rates estimated by the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation for the past 20 years, we examined the contributions of different factors to TSS trends. The results show that TSS concentrations in the Yangtze River decreased from 0.47 g L-1 in 2000 to 0.23 g L-1 in 2018 due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), especially in the Jingjiang reach, with a declining magnitude of 0.3 g L-1 (similar to 56%) since the TGD began operating. The Mekong River experienced increasing TSS concentration trends upstream and decreasing trends downstream from 2000 to 2018, possibly attributed to increased upstream soil erosion and decreased downstream water discharge. Declining TSS concentrations in both rivers have driven varying degrees of river channel erosion over the past two decades. This study investigated long-term changes in the TSS concentrations and soil erosion in the Yangtze and Mekong rivers, and the results provide baseline information for the sustainable development of river sediment delivery.

International audience; To truly understand the hydrologic and erosive processes that occur at the catchment scale regarding land use and soil management changes, intensive monitoring is required over a long period. Variables such as precipitation, flow rate, and suspended sediment concentration are the fundamentals needed to estimate sediment yield. However, in order to shed more light on the effects of soil management changes on sediment yield, traditional hydrologic monitoring techniques can be paired with sediment tracing to identify sediment sources. In addition, mathematical models that predict erosion and sediment yield can also help understand the dynamics of erosion and deposition between the hillslope and stream channel. Given the above, this paper provides an overview of almost 20 years of monitoring (2002-2021) in the Arvorezinha experimental catchment (1.23 km 2) located on the edge of the Brazilian meridional plateau in southern Brazil, which is subject to extreme erosion due to a combination of factors related to intensive agriculture and steep slopes. The catchment was selected as a study site to evaluate the effects of land-use changes and soil conservation management on hydrology and sediment yield. The text reviews the history of the study, synthesizes the main results, and describes the evolution of the monitoring techniques used while giving special attention to the fingerprinting approach. In addition, the article discusses the importance of catchment-scale studies for teaching, generating technical-scientific knowledge, and fostering collaboration between national and international research groups.

The estimation of hydraulic parameters is the basis for establishing soil erosion models. However, the underlying surfaces greatly influence the hydraulic parameters of the overland flow. Since sediment flow and slope surface resistance interact, exploring the mechanism of overland flow movement in relation to different underlying surfaces is essential. A potential relationship between hydrodynamic parameters and slope gradient and flow discharge was investigated by carrying out overland flow experiments, which used four types of non-erosion slope surfaces (stem cover, brown soil, frozen soil, and organic glass), four slope gradients (3°, 6°, 9°, and 12°), and four flow discharges (0.35, 0.45, 0.55, and 0.65 L s–1). The results showed that the hydraulic parameters (i.e., mean flow velocity, flow depth, Froude number, Reynolds number, shear stress, drag coefficient, stream power, and unit stream power) differed with the increased slope gradients and flow discharges. The mean flow velocity of the stem cover slope was lower than that of the frozen soil slope, brown soil slope, and organic glass slope by 33%, 40%, and 50%, respectively. The stem cover slope drag coefficient was higher than the frozen soil slope, brown soil slope, and organic glass slope by 201%, 323%, and 630%, respectively. The critical flow states of the underlying surface were different under different slope gradients and flow discharge conditions. The flow on frozen soil slopes was mainly laminar and transitional, while the other three were transitional. These results help us understand the hydrodynamic mechanisms of the sediment transport process during overland flow. The results of the study provide a scientific basis for understanding the hydrodynamic mechanism of the dynamic changes of the sediment transport on the slope, deepening the understanding of the soil erosion mechanism and improving the prediction accuracy of the soil erosion process model.

The management of Mediterranean Agroecosystems is crucial to prevent or mitigate sediment-related threats like soil erosion, water quality issues, and reservoir sedimentation. Hence, the identification of type, extent, and location of sediment sources and sinks, in relation to geological and landscape features, is a key prerequisite for identifying erosion hot spot areas and assessing sediment dynamics at catchment scale. This study was carried out in the upper Val d'Arda catchment (Northern Apennines, Italy). We applied geomorphological field mapping together with multi-temporal photointerpretation, GIS-based hydrological modelling, terrain analysis and photogrammetry. Our approach was aimed at exploring the main landscape features, as well as identifying the variety of processes influencing sediment dynamics. In this poorly studied area, we identified a high heterogeneity in terms of type and extent of sediment sources and related processes. Landslides are the most common processes contributing to the sediment yield. Their morphogenesis, extent and location are controlled mainly by lithology and topography. Large ancient earthflows have been the most important geomorphic factor in shaping the landscape, strongly influencing the surficial drainage pattern and the morphological evolution of the main fluvial systems. Upland rill-interrill erosion is another main sediment source, particularly on arable lands. Piping and gullying locally contribute to the development of badlands, and have a high potential for soil loss and sediment production. Finally, fluvial processes significantly contribute to the sediment yield with several active fluvial erosion scarps and bank erosion source areas. Alluvial sediments are locally stored in transient landforms such as bars or more permanent sinks such as floodplains or river terraces. Our study shows that an integrated methodology based on fieldwork, geomorphological mapping, GIS applications and proximal sensing methods is an effective approach to characterize complex geomorphic systems in the Northern Apennines.

In this article, regulations on land and soil protection are studied in a chronological sequence and in the historical and legal contexts. The main factors responsible for the deterioration of the quality of land resources and the soil environment are identified. The modern regulatory framework providing legal support to land and soil protection is analyzed. Among the current problems is the improper land-use triggered by inadequate legal regulation concerning pollution, depletion, degradation, and reduced fertility of soil. Appropriate legal protection to the ecological functions of the soil is absent. Further legal framework addressing rational use and protection of land resources (including soil) in Ukraine should be developed integrating environmental interests of society and ecological tenets of sustainable development.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs) to reduce soil erosion in Gumara watershed of the Abbay (Upper Blue Nile) Basin using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The model was calibrated (1995–2002) and validated (2003–2007) using the SWAT-CUP based on observed streamflow and sediment yield data at the watershed outlet. The study evaluated four individual BMP Scenarios; namely, filter strips (FS), stone/soil bunds (SSB), grassed waterways (GW) and reforestation of croplands (RC), and three blended BMP Scenarios, which combines individual BMPS of FS and RC (FS & RC), GW and RC (GW & RC), and SSB and GW (SSB & GW). Mean annual sediment yield at the baseline conditions was estimated at 19.7 t ha−1yr−1, which was reduced by 13.7, 30.5, 16.2 and 25.9% in the FS, SSB, GW, and RC Scenarios, respectively at the watershed scale. The highest reduction efficiency of 34% was achieved through the implementations of the SSB & GW Scenario. The GW & RC, and FS & RC Scenarios reduced the baseline sediment yield by 32% and 29.9%, respectively. The study therefore concluded that the combined Scenarios mainly SSB & GW, and GW & RC can be applied to reduce the high soil erosion in the Gumera watershed, and similar agro-ecological watersheds in Ethiopia. In cases where applying the combined scenarios is not possible, the SSB Scenario can yield significant soil erosion reduction.

Soil erosion has serious threats to agricultural production, hydraulic structures, and the world’s ecosystem. The objective of this study is the delineation of soil erosion susceptibility zones in the Chitral district using spatial analyst tool in conjunction with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This district is highly vulnerable to soil erosion due to the mountainous topography. For the sustainability of agricultural land use as well as regional and local development, it is necessary to find out soil erosion probability zones and soil loss at the watershed scale. Eleven different factors; lithology, slope, elevation, plain curvature, lineaments, land cover, aspect, rainfall, drainage density, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) are considered in this study. Weights have been assigned to each factor, and maps have been generated through GIS (Geographic Information System) tools. The final map from the combination of all maps shows intensities of soil erosion in five different classes including very high, high, medium, low and very low. Very high and high erosion is observed in 13% and 18% of the total study area respectively, which shows that area is under serious danger of soil erosion. Elevation, slope, curvature, NDWI, and rainfall are found to be the dominant factors influencing soil erosion process. This study highlighted areas at risk of severe erosion which will be helpful for researchers and planners to plan for control of soil erosion.

We present a new approach for calculating the C-factor of RUSLE considering the effect of low-reflectance vegetation cover areas on the reduction of the effects on erosion caused by rainfall seasonality. For this, we propose the coefficients Cr2 (rescaled 2) and C-PC (Precipitation Correction), which represent the C-factor, and an adaptation in NDVI calculation, according to the seasonality of precipitation (NDVI-PC). The Cr2 factor is used when there is no seasonal effect of rainfall on vegetation, while the C-PC factor is calculated for localities under the influence of seasonality, from NDVI-PC. The proposed approaches were tested using different satellites images in the Palmares-Ribeirao do Saco watershed, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The values of Cr2 and C-PC factors were compared to the Cr factor (rescaled) and to mean values from the literature for different land covers. Our results indicated that the Cr2 factor represents an improvement in accuracy in relation to Cr by considering specific values of the studied area to normalize the data without generalizations. Furthermore, the C-PC factor is able to simulate the effect of seasonality, providing more realistics values of soil loss by the RUSLE as a function of the proportion of area affected by the rainfall seasonality obtained from NDVI-PC. We conclude that both Cr2 and C-PC factors generate values similar of the C-factor observed in the literature, and therefore are able to provide better soil loss estimation than that using the Cr factor.

Suspended sediment transport in montane headwaters is important to water quality and nutrient balances. However, predictions of sediment source and transport can be difficult, in part, because of a changing climate and increasing frequencies of disturbances. We used observations from 10 headwater streams in water year (WY; starting on 1st October ending on 30th September) 2007–2009 and 2013–2018 to determine the potential impacts of climate and forest management on suspended sediment delivery. We analysed hysteretic responses of suspended sediment for 76 events in five headwater catchments within a snow-dominated site and another five within a lower-elevation, rain-snow transition site, in the mixed-conifer zone of California's Sierra Nevada. Hysteresis patterns were predominantly clockwise at both sites, suggesting localized sediment sources such as streambeds and banks. The warmer, transition site exhibited a lower proportion of clockwise-loop events, faster transport speed and higher peak sediment concentrations than the snow-dominated site. This suggests extended sediment sources and increases in transport can occur as currently snow-dominated areas become rain-snow transitional. Over the nine water years, we observed similar hysteresis effects amongst years under drought, near-average, and extremely wet conditions. Hence, fluctuations in precipitation amounts across years may not influence sediment source area substantially. Furthermore, we compared hysteresis metrics between the control, thin only, burn only and thin combined with burn catchments during the posttreatment period (WY 2013– 2018). Hysteresis effects remained unchanged amongst treatments, which may be attributed to the combinations of low-intensity operations implemented with best management practises combined with a four-year drought (WY 2013–2016). Taken together, sediment sources in small headwater catchments will probably remain localized with changing precipitation levels and low-intensity management operations, but it may be extended and potentially lead to higher sediment yields as the main hydrologic input shifts from primarily snow to a mix of rain and snow.

Odisha's coastline supports various development activities that are critical to the state and national economy, such as oil and gas, ports and harbors, power plants, fishing, tourism, and mining that continues to not only detriment the coastal ecology but also affect the overall shoreline morphodynamics. The morphological changes are complicated processes involving both natural and human-induced drivers, but it is critical to understand how recent development activities further impact beach morphodynamics and shoreline dynamicity. The study analyzes the overall shoreline morphodynamics in response to the recent development of port and other related infrastructure for annual and decadal scale using two-dimensional (2-D) shoreline changes along with detailed 3-D beach profile volumetric changes for different studied zones along the Gopalpur coast. The results reveal that nearly all studied zones of the Gopalpur shoreline, Zone-4 (EPR = -05.64 m a

As an essential form of material migration on the surface of the earth, soil erosion is one of the primary causes of soil fertility reduction and environmental degradation. Quantifying soil erosion rate is the precondition and foundation for regional soil erosion control. The Pu isotopes produced by atmospheric nuclear tests have a long half-life after settling into the soil and could be easily adsorbed by clay minerals and organic matter. In recent years, Pu isotopes have become principal trace elements in the quantitative studies of soil erosion rate, especially with the development of mass spectrometry technique. The measurement time of Pu isotopes has been shortened, and the sensitivity of Pu isotopes has been improved, both of which help improve the radionuclide tracing technology for soil erosion. Here, we summarized the distribution characteristics as well as the adsorption and migration behavior of Pu isotopes in soil. We described the basic principles for the application of Pu isotopes in tracing soil erosion, and elaborated the research progress concerning relevant applications. Moreover, we compared the applicability of Pu isotope and土壤侵蚀是地球表面物质迁移的重要形式,也是造成土壤肥力下降和生态环境退化的重要诱因之一,对土壤侵蚀速率的定量研究是进行区域土壤侵蚀治理的前提和基础。大气核试验产生的Pu同位素具有较长的半衰期,其沉降到土壤中易被土壤中的黏土矿物和有机质吸附,近年来被认为是定量研究土壤侵蚀速率的重要示踪元素,尤其是质谱技术的发展,缩短了Pu同位素的测量时间并提高了其测量灵敏度,大力推动了土壤侵蚀核素示踪技术的发展。本文在梳理已有相关研究的基础上,总结土壤中Pu同位素的分布特征及吸附与迁移行为,阐述了应用Pu同位素示踪土壤侵蚀的基本原理和应用研究进展,并对Pu同位素和

Land degradation is a serious environmental problem in Ethiopia. To address the problem, soil and water conservation practices were implemented through campaign. This study was conducted at Workamba watershed Debark district, North Ethiopia to assess the effect of campaign soil and water conservation (SWC) practice on selected soil properties. Composite soil samples from 1.5 meters above the soil bunds, at the center and 1.5 meters below the soil bunds between the two consecutive structures were collected. The soil samples were analyzed following standard laboratory procedures. Results showed bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), calcium (Ca2+), and sodium (Na+) were not significantly affected by slope gradient and terrace position and their interaction. But pH was significantly influenced by the interaction effect. Cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable potassium (K+), and clay content were significantly changed with both slope gradient and terrace position. Whereas, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av-P), and magnesium (Mg2+), and soil organic carbon (SOC) were significantly affected with terrace position and slope gradient, respectively. Because of the conservation barrier, most soil properties were better at the bottom terrace position and gentle slope gradient.

The effects of different land-use types on physicochemical properties and erodibility indices in suitable utilization of soil are the most important issue to be investigated. That’s why the current study was carried out to investigate changes in physical, chemical soil properties and erodibility indexes under different land-use types i.e., larch-fir forests, adjacent pasture, and riparian areas. Soil samples were collected from different land use in the Meydan Pond micro-basin. Five subsamples were taken at the 0–10 cm depth at five different sampling spots in each one of the three land-use systems (i.e., forest, pasture, and riparian areas). Results showed that silt content was around 38% higher in the forest soils over pasture and the riparian areas. Dispersion rate (80%) and erosion ratio (11%) were significantly higher in riparian areas over the pasture. In conclusion, pasture soils are resistant to erosion due to the higher amount of clay percentage (95%) and aggregation rate (38%) as compared to riparian areas that are more erodible. It is concluded that the river basin should be arranged according to the land capability classes’ principles to protect the soil's fertile layer from erosion to achieve the maximum productivity of crops.

Soil erosion is a main problem in sloping vineyards, which can dramatically affect soil quality and fertility. The present study aimed to evaluate the spatial patterns of selected physico-chemical soil characteristics and the soil’s potentially toxic element (PTE) contents in the context of erosion. The study was conducted in a 0.4 ha vineyard plot on a steep slope in Tállya, part of the wine-growing region of Tokaj-Hegyalja (Hungary). A total of 20 topsoil samples (0-10 cm) were collected and analysed for PTEs (B, Co, Ba, Sr, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Cu), soil pH (deionized water and KCl solution), particle-size distribution, soil organic matter (SOM), (nitrate+nitrite)-N, P2O5, and carbonate content. Among the selected PTEs, only Cu (125±27 mg/kg) exceeds the Hungarian standards set for soils and sediments (75 mg/kg) due to the long-term use of Cu-based pesticides in the vineyard. Examined PTEs are negatively correlated with the sand content of the topsoil, except for Mn, while the significant positive relationship with the clay content shows the role of clay in retaining PTEs in soil. SOM seems to play a minor role in binding PTEs, as Cu is the only element for which a significant correlation with the SOM content can be detected. The spatial distribution maps prepared by inverse distance weighting (IDW) and lognormal kriging (LK) methods show higher PTE contents at the summit and the shoulder of the hillslope and lower contents at the backslope and the footslope zones. The low slope gradients (0-5 degree) and the high contents of the coarse fraction (> 35%) likely protect the soil at the summit and the hillslope’s shoulder from excessive erosion-induced losses. While the reraising PTE contents at the toeslope are likely due to the deposition of fine soil particles (silt and clay). The highest SOM contents at the summit and the toeslope areas, and increased contents of the coarse fraction at the backslope, confirm the effects of soil erosion on the spatial distribution patterns of main soil quality indicators. Overall, the LK outperformed the IDW method in predicting the soil parameters in unsampled areas.

The information about different morphometric parameters of any watershed is necessary for better watershed management and planning. This study aimed to investigate morphometric characteristics, to assess the soil erosion risk, and to prioritize different sub-watersheds of the Koyna River basin, India, with two different approaches using geospatial technology. Different linear, shape, and relief parameters of the basin were estimated and analyzed. The linear and shape parameters indicated that the basin has less flood hazard. The relief parameters indicated that the basin has moderate roughness and unevenness. The parallel drainage pattern is dominant inside the basin due to the highly elongated nature of the basin. The bifurcation ratio (Rb) indicated lithological and geological variations inside the basin. Two different approaches namely morphometric analysis and empirical Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) method were applied for prioritization of different sub-watersheds. Rainfall, soil, digital elevation model (DEM), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data were used for identifying erosion-prone zones with RUSLE analysis. Based on RUSLE analysis, the entire study area was divided into five soil erosion risk classes namely very slight (80.43 %), slight (14.94 %), moderate (3.21 %), severe (0.79 %), and very severe (0.63%), respectively. Most of the study area was found to be under a very slight soil erosion vulnerability class based on the RUSLE approach. The conservation practices should be carried out as per the priority ranking of different sub-watershed based on soil erosion rates. The results found in this study can surely assist in the implementation of soil conservation planning and management practices to reduce soil loss in the Koyna River basin of India.

[Abstract] Soil erosion and suspended sediment transport understanding is an important issue in terms of soil and water resources management in the critical zone. In mesoscale watersheds (>10 km2) the spatial distribution of potential sediment sources within the catchment associated with rainfall dynamics is considered to be the main factor in the observed suspended sediment flux variability within and between runoff events. Given the high spatial heterogeneity that can exist for such scales of interest, distributed physically based models of soil erosion and sediment transport are powerful tools to distinguish the specific effect of structural and functional connectivity on suspended sediment flux dynamics. As the spatial discretization of a model and its parameterization can crucially influence how the structural connectivity of the catchment is represented in the model, this study analyzed the impact of modeling choices in terms of the contributing drainage area (CDA) threshold to define the river network and of Manning's roughness parameter (n) on the sediment flux variability at the outlet of two geomorphologically distinct watersheds. While the modeled liquid and solid discharges were found to be sensitive to these choices, the patterns of the modeled source contributions remained relatively similar when the CDA threshold was restricted to the range of 15 to 50 ha, with n restricted to the range 0.4–0.8 on the hillslopes and to 0.025–0.075 in the river. The comparison of the two catchments showed that the actual location of sediment sources was more important than the choices made during discretization and parameterization of the model. Among the various structural connectivity indicators used to describe the geological sources, the mean distance to the stream was the most relevant proxy for the temporal characteristics of the modeled sedigraphs. Francia. Agence Nationale de la Recherche; ANR-11-EQPX-0011 This research has been supported by the Draix Bléone and OHMCV long-term observatories, funded by the National Institute of Science of the Universe, for access to datasets and the OZCAR research infrastructure (grant no. ANR-11-EQPX-0011).

Slopy agricultural lands are more susceptible to soil erosion and hence are priority sites for the application of protective soil management practices. A conservation agriculture field experiment was established at a 6% field slope in 2011 at the ICAR-IISWC Research Farm, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, which is situated in the Northwestern Himalayan Region, India. The objective of this study was to experimentally determine the long-term effects of tillage practices on runoff and soil erosion. The tillage practices opted for were conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and zero tillage (ZT). Event-based runoff and soil loss were monitored during three monsoon seasons (June to September) from 2018 to 2020. Results showed lower runoff and soil loss in the ZT plot than in CT and MT plots. CT produced 1.51 and 2.53 times higher runoff than MT and ZT, respectively. Moreover, this increased runoff generated 1.84 and 5.10 times higher soil erosion in CT than in MT and ZT, respectively. The extreme rainfall events being less than 10% generated 54.93%, 57.35%, and 63.43% of the total runoff volume which resulted in 82.08%, 85.49%, and 91.00% of the total soil loss in CT, MT, and ZT plots, respectively. For the same amount of rainfall, the reduction in soil loss was 39% and 68% in the CT and ZT plots, respectively, at the highest growth stage in comparison to the initial crop growth stage. The values of runoff reduction benefit (RRB) and sediment reduction benefit (SRB) showed a reduction in runoff (63.53%) and soil loss (80.39%) in the CT. Results concluded that conservation tillage reduced runoff and soil loss significantly even in extreme rainfall events.

Degraded bald patches have been active influencing factors in recent years, leading to meadow degradation and soil erosion in the Yellow River source area. In this study, we aimed to quantify the soil water erosion patterns and the hydrodynamic characteristics of degraded bald patches under different vegetation coverage (10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90%) and slope (10°, 20° and 30°) combination treatments through simulated rainfall experiments, and to investigate the influence of rodent activities on meadow degradation and soil erosion using zokor mound bare ground as a control. The results show that rodent activity exacerbates erosion problems and that soil erosion rates are negatively correlated with the degree of meadow degradation as an exponential function (p < 0.01). All slope flows are laminar; Reynolds and Froude numbers decrease as a function of vegetation coverage exponentially and linearly (p < 0.01), respectively, and are positively correlated with slope. Flow resistance increases with increasing vegetation coverage and decreasing slope, and vegetation coverage and slope are significant factors affecting flow resistance (p < 0.05). Runoff shear stress was found to range from 1.71 to 5.27 N m−2 in the study area and is positively correlated with vegetation coverage and slope, with a much greater influence of slope than vegetation coverage (p < 0.05). Based on the Pearson correlation and grey correlation method analysis, we concluded that runoff rate, flow velocity, Reynolds number and the Froude number can all describe the hydraulic erosion state under the action of soil erosion on slopes. The Reynolds number was tentatively judged to be the best hydrodynamic parameter to describe the soil erosion process. We conclude that developing degraded bald patches reduces flow resistance and increases surface runoff capacity and soil erodibility by reducing vegetation coverage. The reasonable control of rodent activity can effectively combat erosion on degraded bald patches.

Understanding soil erosion in the northeastern area of China with black soil is vital for protecting the natural environment and preserving food security. Although spatial and temporal studies of soil erosion have been conducted, further research is needed on the correlation between soil erosion and land use type changes. In this study, the soil erosion modulus is computed using RUSLE. The model that is most suitable to the research area was produced by contrasting three different approaches to estimating the rainfall erosion factor. The RUSLE based on the multi-year continuous high-density hourly average precipitation had the best performance of the bunch, with a MAPE of 15.49%, RMSPE of 7.99%, and R2 of 0.99. Based on this model, simulated soil erosion trends in the study region from 1980 to 2020 were examined, along with the link between soil erosion and land use change. The results showed that 40.47% of the overall erosion area is made up of cultivated land, and 97.83% of it is low erosion. The most severe soil erosion occurred on unused land, with moderate and above soil erosion occupying 48.93%. Since 2000, there has been an increase in the erosion of soil in the study region, which is primarily spatially represented in the rise in the soil erosion of forests in the central and northern mountainous areas. The study’s findings serve as a guide for land planning and the development of sustainable agriculture.

Soil erosion triggered by water and wind pose a great threat to the sustainable development of Pakistan. In this study, a combination of geographic information systems (GISs) and machine learning approaches were used to predict soil water erosion rates. The Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ) model was used to evaluate soil wind erosion, map erosion factors, and analyze the soil erosion rates for each land use type. Finally, the maps of soil water and wind erosion were spatially integrated to identify erosion risk regions and recommend land use management in Pakistan. According to our estimates, the Potohar Plateau and its surrounding regions were mostly impacted by water erosion and have a soil erosion rate of 2500–5000 t·km−2·a−1; on the other hand, wind erosion predominated the Kharan Desert and the Thar Desert, with a soil erosion rate exceeding 15,000 t·km−2·a−1. The Sulaiman and Kirthar Mountain Ranges were susceptible to wind–water compound erosion, which was more than 8000 t·km−2·a−1. This study offers new perspectives on the geographic pattern of individual and integrated water–wind erosion threats in Pakistan and provides high-precision data and a scientific foundation for designing rational soil and water conservation practices.

Intensifying agricultural activity associated with rapid population growth in rural western Uganda exerts immense pressure on natural resources, threatening not only soil fertility in the uplands but also water quality of the region’s many small crater lakes. To assess the relative risk of excess sediment and nutrient loading to individual lakes due to (inter) rill erosion within the catchments, we used the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and sediment delivery distributed model (SEDD) to estimate soil loss and sedimentation in 75 crater-lake catchments with diverse types and intensities of land use, including 17 catchments situated partly or entirely in national parks. We found that variation in potential soil loss (Ap) among all studied catchments was strongly related to differences in mean slope within each catchment. We also found substantial seasonal variation in vegetation cover, and thus, estimated actual soil loss (Am), on both cultivated land and protected savanna grassland, whereas the vegetation cover of protected semi-deciduous tropical forest was seasonally stable. Lacking detailed field data to validate model output, we used the ratio between estimated actual soil loss (Am) and potential soil loss (Ap) to evaluate the relative influences of land-use intensity and type, as well as the impact of protective measures. Our results showed that due to their characteristically steep slopes (21% on average), all crater catchments were highly susceptible to soil loss, and because most of them were small (203 ha on average), a large portion of the eroded material was transported to and deposited in the lakes. Given the strong dependence of the local population on these crater lakes as source of water and fish protein, and on the surrounding land for crop production, increased effort by environmental planners and managers is required to safeguard or restore the long-term availability of these natural resources. Avoiding bare soil conditions by restoring natural vegetation or employing agricultural techniques that provide high vegetation cover throughout the year are likely to result in considerable improvements.

This paper describes the data gathered for a paper published in Earth-Science Reviews (DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104339) to address the problem of studies using incorrect equations to calculate rainfall erosivity (R factor), which can lead to issues related to land degradation, soil productivity loss, and biodiversity loss. The aim was to locate articles containing the incorrect equations and create a relational database that could be used to perform an in-depth analysis of the errors. Because the search target is an equation, it is impossible to directly query any literature database for the articles that contain the incorrect R equations. Therefore, a manual search of multiple databases was conducted. Subsequently, the literature search was broadened to identify the origin of the misuse of the R equations, and SQL (Structured Query Language) queries were formulated to understand why the errors continued to persist for a minimum of 33 years. The resulting entity-relationship-based Microsoft Access database was determined to be a valuable tool for performing in-depth analysis. It can be used to add incorrect studies and perform further analysis. It is suggested that further research should be conducted to determine the extent of the impact of these errors on soil erosion, ecosystems, and the environment.

Identifying the feedback relationship between soil erosion and vegetation growth would contribute to sustainable watershed management. In order to study the long-term interaction between soil erosion and vegetation change, a comprehensive modeling framework was proposed by combining the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model. The Huangfuchuan Watershed was taken as an example area due to serious erosion and large-scale conversion of farmland to forest. Based on long-term variation analyses from 1956 to 2020, the effect of land cover change on runoff and sediment discharge was quantified using SWAT to create scenario simulations, and then environmental stresses factors (i.e., soil water content, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents) output by SWAT were input into EPIC to evaluate effects of soil erosion on potential biomass of vegetation. Results showed that the annual runoff reduction was 32.5 million m3 and the annual sediment reduction was 15 million t during the past 65 years. The scenario we created using the SWAT simulation showed that both forest and grassland reduced water yield, while bare land increased water yield by 10%. In addition, grassland and forest reduced soil erosion by 20% and 18%, respectively, while bare land increased sand production by 210%. The EPIC model results exhibited a negative correlation between the potential for vegetation biomass and erosion intensity. The average annual potential biomass of forest and grass under micro-erosion was 585.7 kg/ha and 485.9 kg/ha, respectively, and was 297.9 kg/ha and 154.6 kg/ha, respectively, under the extremely strong erosion. The results of this study add to the body of information regarding how soil erosion and vegetation biomass interact with each other. The proposed coupled SWAT-EPIC strategy may provide a way for further investigating the quantitative relationship between soil erosion and vegetation cover.

The research was conducted to assess the pace of sediment loss in deserted 3-, 5- and 10-year-fallow traditional farmlands, as well as cultivated farmlands, in a remote forested zone in southern Nigeria. During the 2012 rainy and cropping season, field measurements of sediment and runoff caused by rainfall were carried out. Pearson’s correlation revealed that crown cover positively and significantly correlated with runoff on the cultivated farmland (r = 0.652, p < 0.01). The results showed that the vegetation characteristics assessed on the different fallows explained 73.1%, 89.9%, 53.7% and 86.7% of the runoff variations. In addition, Pearson’s correlation demonstrated that girth explained sediment loss on the 5-year fallow (r = 0.807, p

Soil erodibility is one of the most crucial factors used to estimate soil erosion by applying modeling techniques. Soil data from soil maps are commonly used to create maps of soil erodibility for soil conservation planning. This study analyzed the spatial variability of soil erodibility by using a digital elevation model (DTM) and surface soil sample data at the Rhirane catchment (Algeria). A total of 132 soil samples were collected of up to 20 cm in depth. The spatial distributions of the K-value and soil physical properties (permeability, organic matter, and texture) were used to elaborate ordinary Kriging interpolation maps. Results showed that mean values of soil organic matter content were statistically different between Chromic Cambisols (M = 3.4%) vs. Calcic Cambisols (M = 2.2%). The analysis of variance of the organic matter provided a tool for identifying significant differences when comparing means between the soil types. The soil granulometry is mainly composed of silt and fine sand. The soil erodibility showed values varying between 0.012 and 0.077 with an average of 0.034, which was greater in soils with calcic horizons. Statistical evaluation by using Pearson’s correlation revealed positive correlations between erodibility and silt (0.63%), and negative correlations with sand (−0.16%), clay (−0.56%), organic matter (−0.32%), permeability (−0.41%), soil structure (−0.40%), and the soil stability index (−0.26%). The variability analysis of the K-factor showed moderate spatial dependency with the soil erodibility map indicating moderate to highly erodible risk in cropland and sparse grassland land uses. Overall, the study provides scientific support for soil conservation management and appropriate agricultural food practices for food supply.

The review study conducted by Brychta et al. (2022) is very informative. It provides an excellent overview of the approaches that can be used for the spatio-temporal assessment of rainfall erosivity. The authors also emphasized the importance of applying regression equations to the physio-geographic conditions for which they were developed. However, the study’s authors incorrectly cited the source of one of the empirical equations shown in Table 1. In addition, only a portion of the original equations was presented. Consequently, applying this particular equation with insufficient information could result in estimations of rainfall erosivity that are erroneous or biased. Hence, researchers should always double-check the applied equations in the original sources.

The relevant erosive effects of extraordinary rainfall events due to climate change require establishing soil conservation strategies to prevent damages due to hydrogeological instability. The “tolerable” soil loss, i.e., the maximum soil loss compatible with sustainable soil use, represents a quantitative target to establish the effectiveness of actions to control soil erosion. In this paper, a new approach to defining the condition corresponding to a tolerable soil loss is proposed. At first, using the statistical analysis of the measured annual values of the rainfall erosivity factor, the cover and management factor CT, for which the maximum tolerable soil loss is equal to the annual soil loss of given return period T, is defined. Then, for the Sicilian region, a relationship between the CT factor obtained for T = 1000 years and the mean annual value of the rainfall erosivity factor, R, is established. For a given value C of the cover and management factor, this relationship allows for the establishment of the corresponding mean annual rainfall erosivity factor, named Rland-use. The result C ≤ CT for T = 1000 years is obtained for areas with R ≤ Rland-use, and the compliance with soil loss tolerance is then assured. Conversely, for areas characterized by R > Rland-use, the reduction of C to a value less than CT for T = 1000 years is required to obtain a tolerable soil loss condition. Finally, for the Sicilian region, the overlay between the C spatial distribution for arable lands (mainly cereals and legumes) and areas covered by vineyards, derived from the land use map, and the CT spatial distribution allowed to define areas in which tolerable soil loss conditions occur or soil conservation strategies are required.

Erosion by water reduces soil quality and hence crop yield. Understanding the response of crop yields to soil erosion is vital in assessing agriculture’s vulnerability to erosion. However, these effects are difficult to quantify. The study presents a quantitative relationship between soil erosion and soil quality and productivity of rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum) by comparing field plots with different degrees of erosion in some sub-tropical alfisols in the Doon Valley region of India. By comparing the topsoil depth with the reference site as the control, erosion severity was classified into different phases such as slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. A quantitative, weighted additive model was used to evaluate soil quality for different phases of erosion using soil clay content, water holding capacity, soil aggregate, soil organic carbon, pH, CEC, total N, available P, and available K. The synthesis of long-term experimental data revealed that the mean soil erosion rate varied from 5.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in slightly eroded plots to 33.4 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in very severely eroded plots. Compared with the reference forest, the soil organic carbon (SOC) declined by 81.4% and water holding capacity by 31% in severely eroded soils. A substantial loss of total N, extractable P, and available K was also observed. Water stable aggregates (WSA) decreased from 86% to 12.6%, and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) from 25 to 12.6 c mol(+) kg−1. The soil quality index was 0.7 in slightly eroded compared with 0.4 in severely eroded soil. Similarly, the sustainable yield index for wheat was 0.9 and 0.6 for slightly and severely eroded soils, respectively. Thus, there is a strong need to identify land management systems that reduce erosion risks, restore eroded soils, and enhance soil quality.

Soil erosion often leads to land degradation, agricultural production reduction, and environmental deterioration, which seriously restricts the sustainable development of regions. Clarifying the driving factors of soil erosion is the premise of preventing soil erosion. Given the lack of current research on the driving factors/force changes of soil erosion in different regions or under different erosion intensity grades, this paper pioneered to use machine learning methods to address this problem. Firstly, the widely used (Revised) Universal Soil Loss Equation ((R)USLE) framework was applied to simulate the spatial distribution of soil erosion. Then, the K-fold algorithm was used to evaluate the accuracy and stability of five machine learning algorithms for fitting soil erosion. The random forest (RF) method performed best, with average accuracy reaching 86.35%. Then, the Permutation Importance (PI) and the Partial Dependence Plot (PDP) methods based on RF were introduced to quantitatively analyze the main driving factors under different geological conditions and the driving force changes of each factor under different erosion intensity grades, respectively. Results showed that the main drivers of soil erosion in Chongqing and Guizhou were cover management factors (PI: 0.4672, 0.4788), while that in Sichuan was slope length and slope factor (PI: 0.6165). Under different erosion intensity grades, the driving force of each factor shows nonlinear and complex inhibitory or promoting effects with factor value changing. These findings can provide scientific guidance for the refined management of soil erosion, which is significant for halting or reversing land degradation and achieving sustainable use of land resources.

Global efforts to restore the world’s degraded croplands require knowledge on the degree and extent of accelerated soil organic carbon (SOC) loss induced by soil erosion. However, the methods for assessing where and to what extent erosion takes place are still inadequate for precise detection of erosion hotspots at high spatial resolution. Drawing on recent advances in multitemporal Sentinel-2 remote sensing to create a bare soil composite that reflects erosion-induced variations in soil spectral signatures, this study attempted to develop a spectra-based soil erosion mapping approach to pinpoint eroded hotspots in a typical catchment located in the black soil region of northeast China as characterized by undulating landscapes. We built a ground-truth dataset consisting of three classes of soils representing Severe, Moderate and Low erosion intensity because of their inter-class contrasts in estimated erosion rates from 137Cs tracing. The spectral separability of different erosion classes was first tested by a combined principal component and linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) against laboratory hyperspectral data and then validated against Sentinel-2-derived broadband spectra. The results show that PCA-LDA produced excellent classification accuracy (Kappa coefficient > 0.9) for both data sources and even more so for Sentinel-2 spectra, highlighting the effectiveness of the multitemporal approach to extract bare soil pixels. Further investigations into the spectral curves enabled identification of distinctive spectral features representative of shifting soil albedo and biochemical composition due to erosion-induced SOC mobilization. A classification scheme comprising the spectral features was applied to the Sentinel-2 bare soil composite for pixel-wise soil erosion mapping, in which 15.9% of the cropland area was detected as erosion hotspots, while the Moderate class occupied 65.4%. Comparing the erosion map to a NDVI map demonstrated the negative impact of soil erosion on crop growth from a spatial perspective, highlighting the potential of the proposed approach to aid targeted cropland management for food security and climate.

Canada is known for its massive and fertile landscape, and one of the biggest industries in Canada is crop production, which is responsible for contributing to the national economy as well as the global food supply. Soil erosion is considered the top challenge facing Canadian farmers in the 21st century. This study aims to evaluate soil erosion’s impact on Canadian crop production, assessed based on the integration of soil erosion analysis and multitemporal crop market values from 1971 to 2015. Soil Erosion Risk Indicator models were used to assess soil erosion’s impact on crop productivity using the relationship of soil organic carbon with crop yield gain/loss. The total soil erosion cost of yield losses in the 44 years leading up to 2015 is estimated to be CAD 33.51 billion. 2013 was found to show the highest loss, with CAD 1.93 billion. Oilseeds, small grains, and potatoes were the major crop commodities that were impacted by yield loss as a direct result of soil erosion, the costs being 41%, 37%, and 15%, respectively. Ontario and Saskatchewan were the most impacted provinces, with costs of 45.25% and 22.50%, respectively. Four eras were detected in this research, each having unique soil erosion costs, which reflect different agriculture policy and soil conservation efforts: Era 1 (1971–1988), Era 2 (1989–1995), Era 3 (1996–2007), and Era 4 (2008–2015). This research is the beginning of exploring the cost of the environmental impacts on agriculture sustainability in Canada and supporting decision makers in adopting effective soil conservation strategies to mitigate these impacts.