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Soil erosion is widely acknowledged as a global problem but attempts to measure and estimate its significance are frustrated by our inability to develop reliable, cheap and easy methods of assessment. The limitations of qualitative methods such as GLASOD, errors and inaccuracies inherent in modelling based on small-scale plot experiments, and problems with 137Cs approaches, mean that alternative strategies are required. For runoff-related erosion on arable land we propose the use of a well-tried estimation technique: volumetric measurement of rills, gullies and fans. Amounts of wash and interrill erosion can also be estimated. This approach allows for the estimation of erosion rates at the field scale, rather than relying on extrapolations from plot-based data. Measurements are based on sampling the population of rills and gullies and can be adapted to the aims of the project for 'broad-brush' or detailed data. Monitoring of large areas to produce regional assessments of erosion risk is frequently required and volumetric estimates provide these data. Thus predictions of the extent, frequency and amounts of erosion can be made and the vulnerability of particular crops becomes clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Open-access geodatabase and web-map has been created for soil erosion community. • Of the records held within the geodatabase (1566) 41.5% report presence of erosion. • Median erosion rate on arable land was 0 t ha−1 yr−1, maximum was 91.7 t ha−1 yr−1. • Existing data do not describe national-scale soil erosion rates due to biases in data. • Criteria presented for future replicable, comparable and robust studies. Accelerated soil erosion can result in substantial declines in soil fertility and has devastating environmental impacts. Consequently, understanding if rates of soil erosion are acceptable is of local and global importance. Herein we use empirical soil erosion observations collated into an open access geodatabase to identify the extent to which existing data and methodological approaches can be used to develop an empirically-derived understanding of soil erosion in the UK (by way of an example). The findings indicate that whilst mean erosion rates in the UK are low, relative to the rest of Europe for example, 16% of observations on arable land were greater than the supposedly tolerable rate of 1 t ha−1 yr−1 and maximum erosion rates were as high as 91.7 t ha−1 yr−1. However, the analysis highlights a skew in existing studies towards locations with a known erosion likelihood and methods that are biased towards single erosion pathways, rather than an all-inclusive study of erosion rates and processes. Accordingly, we suggest that future soil erosion research and policy must address these issues if an accurate assessment of soil erosion rates at the national-scale are to be established. The interactive geodatabase published alongside this paper offers a platform for the simultaneous development of soil erosion research, formulation of effective policy and better protection of soil resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]