Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-09-20DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.001
Yajing Zhang , Chunlai Zhang , Xuesong Wang , Wenping Li , Fanrui Bu , Qingguo Zheng , Jiaqi Zhao , Xinran Cui , Zhishan Xia , Xiaoyu Zhang , Xiaofeng Zuo
Sand-blocking and sand-fixing belts, located in desert-oasis ecotones, are vital ecological barriers for maintaining oasis stability and mitigating wind-blown sand hazards in arid regions. The existing belts consist of a shrub zone and tree shelterbelt at the oasis margins. In this study, we focused on the Hexi Corridor and conducted simultaneous field measurements of near-surface wind speed and sand flow along five representative transects across these belts. Based on these observations, we developed a predictive equation for sand transport within the belts. We found that the reduction in near-surface wind speed within the shrub zone and oasis interior primarily depended on the lateral cover of shrubs and structure of the shelterbelt. The shrub zone was dominated by aeolian deposition, with significant variations in sand transport among transects caused by differences in belt structure and integrity, leading to variable sand-blocking and sand-fixing efficiencies. When the shrub zone failed to weaken the aeolian activity, the overall protective efficiency dropped below 40%, resulting in sand deposition along the edges of the shelterbelts between the shrub zone and the oasis farmland. The accumulation advanced by nearly 1 m toward the oasis, posing a direct threat to its ecological security. Controlling mobile dunes, restoring shrub zones, and optimizing shelterbelt structures are essential for enhancing the functionality of sand-blocking and sand-fixing belts.
{"title":"Assessment of the aeolian transport characteristics and protection status of sand-blocking and sand-fixing belts in the Hexi Corridor, northwest China","authors":"Yajing Zhang , Chunlai Zhang , Xuesong Wang , Wenping Li , Fanrui Bu , Qingguo Zheng , Jiaqi Zhao , Xinran Cui , Zhishan Xia , Xiaoyu Zhang , Xiaofeng Zuo","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sand-blocking and sand-fixing belts, located in desert-oasis ecotones, are vital ecological barriers for maintaining oasis stability and mitigating wind-blown sand hazards in arid regions. The existing belts consist of a shrub zone and tree shelterbelt at the oasis margins. In this study, we focused on the Hexi Corridor and conducted simultaneous field measurements of near-surface wind speed and sand flow along five representative transects across these belts. Based on these observations, we developed a predictive equation for sand transport within the belts. We found that the reduction in near-surface wind speed within the shrub zone and oasis interior primarily depended on the lateral cover of shrubs and structure of the shelterbelt. The shrub zone was dominated by aeolian deposition, with significant variations in sand transport among transects caused by differences in belt structure and integrity, leading to variable sand-blocking and sand-fixing efficiencies. When the shrub zone failed to weaken the aeolian activity, the overall protective efficiency dropped below 40%, resulting in sand deposition along the edges of the shelterbelts between the shrub zone and the oasis farmland. The accumulation advanced by nearly 1 m toward the oasis, posing a direct threat to its ecological security. Controlling mobile dunes, restoring shrub zones, and optimizing shelterbelt structures are essential for enhancing the functionality of sand-blocking and sand-fixing belts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100569"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-08-08DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.004
Liang He , Du Lyu , Xiaoping Zhang , Baoyuan Liu , Rui Li , Xihua Yang , Jose A. Gomez
Accurate remote sensing retrieval of fractional vegetation cover (FVC) of photosynthetic vegetation (PV) and non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) is essential for assessing regional soil erosion. However, current linear spectral unmixing methods often ignore variability in endmember spectral indices, causing errors in FVC estimation. Using field-measured hyperspectral data and the derived indices of NDVI and the Cellulose Absorption Index (CAI), we analyzed the spectral properties of the endmembers across red, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared bands, examining their variability among different vegetation types and seasons. Furthermore, we identified optimal spectral indices and their combinations for retrieving PV, NPV, and bare soil (BS) fractions using MODIS imagery. Results showed that while endmember NDVI varied significantly with vegetation type (e.g., mean forest PV NDVI of 0.85 vs. 0.64 for grass) and season, the CAI demonstrated no significant variability under the same conditions. A three-component linear spectral unmixing model was developed and evaluated using MODIS-derived indices: NDVI, Enhanced VI (EVI), Kernel-NDVI (kNDVI), and two alternatives for CAI—Shortwave Infrared Ratio (SWIR32) and Dead Fuel Index (DFI). The kNDVI-SWIR32 and NDVI-SWIR32 combinations exhibited the highest predictive accuracy. Determination coefficients for FPV, FNPV, and FBS were 0.92, 0.74, and 0.70, respectively, with Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients of 0.90, 0.74, and 0.70, and RMSE values of 10.2 %, 16.6 %, and 13.5 %, respectively. This study provides a robust theoretical basis for high-precision retrieval of FPV and FNPV in the Loess Plateau and offers promising technical support for improving the accuracy of the cover and management factor in soil erosion models.
{"title":"Endmember spectral variability and index determination for retrieving fractional vegetation cover in the Loess Plateau","authors":"Liang He , Du Lyu , Xiaoping Zhang , Baoyuan Liu , Rui Li , Xihua Yang , Jose A. Gomez","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate remote sensing retrieval of fractional vegetation cover (FVC) of photosynthetic vegetation (PV) and non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) is essential for assessing regional soil erosion. However, current linear spectral unmixing methods often ignore variability in endmember spectral indices, causing errors in FVC estimation. Using field-measured hyperspectral data and the derived indices of NDVI and the Cellulose Absorption Index (CAI), we analyzed the spectral properties of the endmembers across red, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared bands, examining their variability among different vegetation types and seasons. Furthermore, we identified optimal spectral indices and their combinations for retrieving PV, NPV, and bare soil (BS) fractions using MODIS imagery. Results showed that while endmember NDVI varied significantly with vegetation type (e.g., mean forest PV NDVI of 0.85 vs. 0.64 for grass) and season, the CAI demonstrated no significant variability under the same conditions. A three-component linear spectral unmixing model was developed and evaluated using MODIS-derived indices: NDVI, Enhanced VI (EVI), Kernel-NDVI (kNDVI), and two alternatives for CAI—Shortwave Infrared Ratio (SWIR32) and Dead Fuel Index (DFI). The kNDVI-SWIR32 and NDVI-SWIR32 combinations exhibited the highest predictive accuracy. Determination coefficients for FPV, FNPV, and FBS were 0.92, 0.74, and 0.70, respectively, with Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients of 0.90, 0.74, and 0.70, and RMSE values of 10.2 %, 16.6 %, and 13.5 %, respectively. This study provides a robust theoretical basis for high-precision retrieval of FPV and FNPV in the Loess Plateau and offers promising technical support for improving the accuracy of the cover and management factor in soil erosion models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100561"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.003
Carlos Cantero-Martínez, Gonçalo Nascimento, Jesús Fernández-Ortega
This study evaluates yields and water use efficiency from a productive and economic perspective under different tillage systems in semiarid Mediterranean conditions. Three long-term experiments, initiated in 1987, 1990, and 2005, were conducted at three locations in the Ebro River Valley (northern Spain): Selvanera, Agramunt, and Peñalba, with increasing degrees of aridity. The tillage systems studied were intensive tillage (IT), reduced tillage (RT), and no tillage (NT). In Selvanera and Agramunt, conservation tillage systems (RT and NT) outperformed IT in 51 % and 57 % of the seasons, respectively, in terms of yields and water use efficiency (WUEy). In Peñalba, NT only exceeded IT in 2010. Results showed that economic water use efficiency (EWUE) was significantly affected by tillage systems at each location (p < 0.001). In Selvanera and Agramunt, conservation systems increased gross margins (GM) by 45 % and 185 %, respectively. In Peñalba, due to low yields, IT was economically unviable. Although conservation tillage systems can lead to initial economic losses due to unpredictable yields, long-term benefits were observed, highlighting their economic viability in water-scarce areas. This study confirms that conservation tillage systems improve both water use efficiency and profitability, especially in regions with water limitations.
{"title":"An evaluation of conservation tillage based on long-term experiments in winter crop rotations in NE Spain","authors":"Carlos Cantero-Martínez, Gonçalo Nascimento, Jesús Fernández-Ortega","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates yields and water use efficiency from a productive and economic perspective under different tillage systems in semiarid Mediterranean conditions. Three long-term experiments, initiated in 1987, 1990, and 2005, were conducted at three locations in the Ebro River Valley (northern Spain): Selvanera, Agramunt, and Peñalba, with increasing degrees of aridity. The tillage systems studied were intensive tillage (IT), reduced tillage (RT), and no tillage (NT). In Selvanera and Agramunt, conservation tillage systems (RT and NT) outperformed IT in 51 % and 57 % of the seasons, respectively, in terms of yields and water use efficiency (WUE<sub>y</sub>). In Peñalba, NT only exceeded IT in 2010. Results showed that economic water use efficiency (EWUE) was significantly affected by tillage systems at each location (<em>p</em> < 0.001). In Selvanera and Agramunt, conservation systems increased gross margins (GM) by 45 % and 185 %, respectively. In Peñalba, due to low yields, IT was economically unviable. Although conservation tillage systems can lead to initial economic losses due to unpredictable yields, long-term benefits were observed, highlighting their economic viability in water-scarce areas. This study confirms that conservation tillage systems improve both water use efficiency and profitability, especially in regions with water limitations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100560"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.010
He Bian , Bing Wang , Yanfen Yang , Chengfang Li , Jing Wang , Jinlong Ma
A substantial area of abandoned sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau is undergoing natural vegetation succession, which significantly influences runoff and soil loss. However, the responses of soil erosion processes to vegetation and soil property changes driven by natural abandonment remain unclear due to the absence of long-term continuous observations. To address this, an eight-year continuous study was conducted to monitor rainfall, vegetation, soil properties, runoff, and also soil loss across six slope gradients (5°–30°). The first two years (2016 and 2017) represented tilled bare land, while the subsequent six years (2018–2023) represented abandoned land. The results showed that the runoff depth (RD) and soil loss rate (SLR) exhibited a decreasing trend as the duration of abandonment increased. Both RD and SLR initially increased and then decreased with slope gradient, with a critical slope angle identified at 25°. SLR increased linearly with RD from 2016 to 2023, and the slope of their fitted equation was higher before abandonment but fluctuated downward with the increase in abandonment years. The runoff coefficient and SLR significantly decreased with increasing plant density, litter biomass, moss crust cover, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and total porosity (p < 0.05). Additionally, threshold-dependent responses were observed in the relationship between rainfall and runoff. When the comprehensive rainfall index (CRI)—constructed using rainfall depth, duration, and intensity—exceeded 0.23, a significant correlation emerged between rainfall and runoff. Below this threshold, vegetation and soil properties exerted stronger influences, leading to a disordered rainfall–runoff response. Vegetation restoration also complicated the response of soil loss to runoff. A significant relationship between runoff and soil loss was only observed when runoff exceeded 0.46 mm; below this threshold, the relationship remained irregular. These findings from long-term field observations provide a scientific basis for improving soil erosion prediction models and support the development of sustainable and high-quality soil and water conservation measures on the Loess Plateau.
{"title":"Runoff and soil erosion influenced by abandonment of sloping land on the Loess Plateau: Insights from eight years of monitoring","authors":"He Bian , Bing Wang , Yanfen Yang , Chengfang Li , Jing Wang , Jinlong Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A substantial area of abandoned sloping farmland on the Loess Plateau is undergoing natural vegetation succession, which significantly influences runoff and soil loss. However, the responses of soil erosion processes to vegetation and soil property changes driven by natural abandonment remain unclear due to the absence of long-term continuous observations. To address this, an eight-year continuous study was conducted to monitor rainfall, vegetation, soil properties, runoff, and also soil loss across six slope gradients (5°–30°). The first two years (2016 and 2017) represented tilled bare land, while the subsequent six years (2018–2023) represented abandoned land. The results showed that the runoff depth (RD) and soil loss rate (SLR) exhibited a decreasing trend as the duration of abandonment increased. Both RD and SLR initially increased and then decreased with slope gradient, with a critical slope angle identified at 25°. SLR increased linearly with RD from 2016 to 2023, and the slope of their fitted equation was higher before abandonment but fluctuated downward with the increase in abandonment years. The runoff coefficient and SLR significantly decreased with increasing plant density, litter biomass, moss crust cover, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and total porosity (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Additionally, threshold-dependent responses were observed in the relationship between rainfall and runoff. When the comprehensive rainfall index (CRI)—constructed using rainfall depth, duration, and intensity—exceeded 0.23, a significant correlation emerged between rainfall and runoff. Below this threshold, vegetation and soil properties exerted stronger influences, leading to a disordered rainfall–runoff response. Vegetation restoration also complicated the response of soil loss to runoff. A significant relationship between runoff and soil loss was only observed when runoff exceeded 0.46 mm; below this threshold, the relationship remained irregular. These findings from long-term field observations provide a scientific basis for improving soil erosion prediction models and support the development of sustainable and high-quality soil and water conservation measures on the Loess Plateau.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100578"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-06-04DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.06.003
Wenhai Shi , Jiachi Bao , Miaomiao Wang , Zhongming Chen , Jinle Yu , Hongjun Chen , Wenyi Song , Yan Xin
Vegetation plays a fundamental role in reducing soil erosion by shielding the soil surface from raindrop impact and runoff erosion, promoting water infiltration to decrease runoff, and enhancing soil stability. Beyond the extent of vegetation cover, its spatial distribution is critical for optimizing erosion control and ensuring long-term ecological sustainability. Existing soil erosion models, such as the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE), predominantly focus on vegetation type and coverage while neglecting the spatial configuration of vegetation. This oversight can introduce uncertainties in predicting soil erosion. To overcome this shortcoming, this study proposes a new method by integrating vegetation spatial pattern indices, with particular emphasis on the mean flow path length index (MFLI), into the conventional CSLE framework. The MFLI effectively captures the positional distribution and spatial arrangement of vegetation, providing a more refined analysis of erosion dynamics at the slope scale. Using this index, a revised biological control factor (B) was developed. The proposed method was validated with data from 52 experimental plots across China and further tested with optimized parameters on five additional representative sites. Results demonstrated that the new approach substantially outperformed the conventional storm-based CSLE model, achieving model efficiencies of 0.686 and 0.636 during calibration and validation, respectively. In summary, the proposed method offers a more accurate and reliable prediction of soil erosion under diverse vegetation pattern conditions at the slope scale. By integrating spatial distribution characteristics of vegetation, it provides an improved tool for soil and water conservation, supporting more precise erosion prediction and mitigation strategies.
{"title":"A modified CSLE for soil loss prediction under different vegetation patterns at slope scale in China","authors":"Wenhai Shi , Jiachi Bao , Miaomiao Wang , Zhongming Chen , Jinle Yu , Hongjun Chen , Wenyi Song , Yan Xin","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vegetation plays a fundamental role in reducing soil erosion by shielding the soil surface from raindrop impact and runoff erosion, promoting water infiltration to decrease runoff, and enhancing soil stability. Beyond the extent of vegetation cover, its spatial distribution is critical for optimizing erosion control and ensuring long-term ecological sustainability. Existing soil erosion models, such as the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE), predominantly focus on vegetation type and coverage while neglecting the spatial configuration of vegetation. This oversight can introduce uncertainties in predicting soil erosion. To overcome this shortcoming, this study proposes a new method by integrating vegetation spatial pattern indices, with particular emphasis on the mean flow path length index (<em>MFLI</em>), into the conventional CSLE framework. The <em>MFLI</em> effectively captures the positional distribution and spatial arrangement of vegetation, providing a more refined analysis of erosion dynamics at the slope scale. Using this index, a revised biological control factor (<em>B</em>) was developed. The proposed method was validated with data from 52 experimental plots across China and further tested with optimized parameters on five additional representative sites. Results demonstrated that the new approach substantially outperformed the conventional storm-based CSLE model, achieving model efficiencies of 0.686 and 0.636 during calibration and validation, respectively. In summary, the proposed method offers a more accurate and reliable prediction of soil erosion under diverse vegetation pattern conditions at the slope scale. By integrating spatial distribution characteristics of vegetation, it provides an improved tool for soil and water conservation, supporting more precise erosion prediction and mitigation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100540"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.004
Yixian Chen , Sofie De Geeter , Jean Poesen , Francis Matthews , Benjamin Campforts , Pasquale Borrelli , Panos Panagos , Matthias Vanmaercke
Gully formation is a significant driver of soil erosion and land degradation worldwide and often leads to important downstream impacts. Nonetheless, our understanding of the global patterns and the factors controlling this process remains limited. Here, we present the first global assessment of gully density's spatial patterns. Using mapped observations from over 17,000 representative study sites worldwide, we trained random forest models that simulate both the susceptibility to gullying at a 1 km2 resolution and the corresponding gully head density (GHD). Through an interpretable machine learning framework, we demonstrate that global GHD patterns result from a combination of environmental factors with non-linear interactions, leading to significant regional variations in the dominant factors controlling GHD. We distinguish between gully hotspots driven primarily by natural factors such as topography, geomorphology, tectonics, pedology or climate and those where land use and land cover play a dominant role. Based on these insights, we identified critical global areas of gully erosion, i.e., hotspots where gully occurrence is likely highly sensitive to anthropogenic drivers. These include the Chinese Loess Plateau, the Ethiopian Highlands, and large parts of the Mediterranean and Sahel regions. Also desert regions are often characterized by high GHDs. However, in these cases, their occurrence is mainly driven by natural factors. The insights we provide are valuable to inform land management and targeted erosion mitigation strategies.
{"title":"Global patterns of gully occurrence and their sensitivity to environmental changes","authors":"Yixian Chen , Sofie De Geeter , Jean Poesen , Francis Matthews , Benjamin Campforts , Pasquale Borrelli , Panos Panagos , Matthias Vanmaercke","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gully formation is a significant driver of soil erosion and land degradation worldwide and often leads to important downstream impacts. Nonetheless, our understanding of the global patterns and the factors controlling this process remains limited. Here, we present the first global assessment of gully density's spatial patterns. Using mapped observations from over 17,000 representative study sites worldwide, we trained random forest models that simulate both the susceptibility to gullying at a 1 km<sup>2</sup> resolution and the corresponding gully head density (GHD). Through an interpretable machine learning framework, we demonstrate that global GHD patterns result from a combination of environmental factors with non-linear interactions, leading to significant regional variations in the dominant factors controlling GHD. We distinguish between gully hotspots driven primarily by natural factors such as topography, geomorphology, tectonics, pedology or climate and those where land use and land cover play a dominant role. Based on these insights, we identified critical global areas of gully erosion, i.e., hotspots where gully occurrence is likely highly sensitive to anthropogenic drivers. These include the Chinese Loess Plateau, the Ethiopian Highlands, and large parts of the Mediterranean and Sahel regions. Also desert regions are often characterized by high GHDs. However, in these cases, their occurrence is mainly driven by natural factors. The insights we provide are valuable to inform land management and targeted erosion mitigation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100572"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.002
Azlan Shah Nerwan Shah , Nor Shahidah Mohd Nazer , Mohd Hariri Arifin
Soil erosion, primarily driven by water in tropical regions, poses significant environmental challenges. While previous research has highlighted the influence of soil properties and hydrodynamic parameters on erosion dynamics, the role of dispersion—especially in soils with varying clay mineral compositions—remains inadequately understood. This study investigates the effects of dispersion on soil detachment by overland flow, specifically focusing on desiccated cracking scenarios through flume simulations. Eleven (11) soil samples categorized based on dispersion degree: highly dispersive, intermediate dispersive, and non-dispersive underwent 3 cycles of wetting-drying (W-D cycles; repeated periods of soil saturation with water followed by drying) at constant water flow. Results indicate that detachment rate of soils were increased with increasing of W-D cycles. Dispersive soils particularly those rich in expanding clay mineral (montmorillonite) exhibit heightened erosion susceptibility under desiccation and wetting conditions at 0.00025 ± 4.7 × 10−5 kg/m2/s (W-D 1), 0.00032 ± 4.9 × 10−5 (W-D 2), and 0.00038 ± 3.9 × 10−5 kg/m2/s (W-D 3) with minimal difference ratio of 1.40–1.56 (intermediate dispersive) and 4.17–4.57 (non-dispersive). The critical hydraulic parameters (critical shear stress and critical stream power) of dispersive soils decrease with an increase in W-D cycles ranging from 0.43 Pa to 0.67 Pa, and 0.0011–0.0022 kg/s3, respectively, signifying a decreasing in the soil's resistance to detachment. However, the erosion coefficient exhibits fluctuations owing to the augmented flow through crack apertures in comparison to surface run off. The formation of cracks reduces the overall cohesion of the soil and create preferential pathways for water infiltration, thereby increasing the potential for soil detachment during subsequent wetting phases. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that key factors influencing soil detachment govern by hydraulic parameters (flow shear stress, stream power and flow velocity) and dispersion effect. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing effective erosion control strategies, particularly in tropical environments that susceptible to severe erosion.
{"title":"Understanding dispersion effects on soil detachment by overland flow: Insights from desiccated cracks flume simulations","authors":"Azlan Shah Nerwan Shah , Nor Shahidah Mohd Nazer , Mohd Hariri Arifin","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion, primarily driven by water in tropical regions, poses significant environmental challenges. While previous research has highlighted the influence of soil properties and hydrodynamic parameters on erosion dynamics, the role of dispersion—especially in soils with varying clay mineral compositions—remains inadequately understood. This study investigates the effects of dispersion on soil detachment by overland flow, specifically focusing on desiccated cracking scenarios through flume simulations. Eleven (11) soil samples categorized based on dispersion degree: highly dispersive, intermediate dispersive, and non-dispersive underwent 3 cycles of wetting-drying (W-D cycles; repeated periods of soil saturation with water followed by drying) at constant water flow. Results indicate that detachment rate of soils were increased with increasing of W-D cycles. Dispersive soils particularly those rich in expanding clay mineral (montmorillonite) exhibit heightened erosion susceptibility under desiccation and wetting conditions at 0.00025 ± 4.7 × 10<sup>−5</sup> kg/m<sup>2</sup>/s (W-D 1), 0.00032 ± 4.9 × 10<sup>−5</sup> (W-D 2), and 0.00038 ± 3.9 × 10<sup>−5</sup> kg/m<sup>2</sup>/s (W-D 3) with minimal difference ratio of 1.40–1.56 (intermediate dispersive) and 4.17–4.57 (non-dispersive). The critical hydraulic parameters (critical shear stress and critical stream power) of dispersive soils decrease with an increase in W-D cycles ranging from 0.43 Pa to 0.67 Pa, and 0.0011–0.0022 kg/s<sup>3</sup>, respectively, signifying a decreasing in the soil's resistance to detachment. However, the erosion coefficient exhibits fluctuations owing to the augmented flow through crack apertures in comparison to surface run off. The formation of cracks reduces the overall cohesion of the soil and create preferential pathways for water infiltration, thereby increasing the potential for soil detachment during subsequent wetting phases. The principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that key factors influencing soil detachment govern by hydraulic parameters (flow shear stress, stream power and flow velocity) and dispersion effect. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing effective erosion control strategies, particularly in tropical environments that susceptible to severe erosion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100559"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.11.005
Alex McBratney , Budiman Minasny , Amin Sharififar , Pasquale Borrelli , Sandra J. Evangelista , Julia Feeth , Damien Field , Nicolas Francos , Irene Heuser , Anilkumar Hunakunti , Daniel Irving , Thilini Jayasekara , Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira , Cristine L.S. Morgan , Wartini Ng , Julio C.Pachón Maldonado , Mercedes Román Dobarco , Quentin Styc , Mara Thiene , David Watt , Jae E. Yang
The concept of peak soil, the hypothetical point at which global soil productivity enters a sustained decline, has emerged as a metaphor for soil degradation. However, there is currently no globally accepted framework for assessing and communicating the status of soil degradation. In addition, the peak soil concept has not been critically analysed. This paper addresses this gap by critically evaluating the conceptual and scientific robustness of the peak soil metaphor, particularly in relation to soil capacity, condition, and socio-economic management. We contrast this metaphor with the soil security framework, which integrates five dimensions: capacity, condition, capital, connectivity, and codification. Drawing on a review of scientific literature and case studies, we argue that while peak soil serves as a powerful tool for raising public and policy awareness, it lacks scientific precision, particularly in assessing soil condition and capacity. The concept is ambiguous and overlooks the regenerative nature of soil systems. In contrast, the soil security assessment framework offers analytical rigour, enabling scientific evaluation while incorporating socio-economic and governance factors critical for sustainable soil management. We conclude by recommending enhancements to the peak soil concept, including suggestions for the development of clear, regionally adapted metrics. Furthermore, we propose integrating its communicative strengths with the multidimensional soil security concept to better inform policy and guide effective action.
{"title":"Peak soil: Is it a useful concept?","authors":"Alex McBratney , Budiman Minasny , Amin Sharififar , Pasquale Borrelli , Sandra J. Evangelista , Julia Feeth , Damien Field , Nicolas Francos , Irene Heuser , Anilkumar Hunakunti , Daniel Irving , Thilini Jayasekara , Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira , Cristine L.S. Morgan , Wartini Ng , Julio C.Pachón Maldonado , Mercedes Román Dobarco , Quentin Styc , Mara Thiene , David Watt , Jae E. Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The concept of <em>peak soil</em>, the hypothetical point at which global soil productivity enters a sustained decline, has emerged as a metaphor for soil degradation. However, there is currently no globally accepted framework for assessing and communicating the status of soil degradation. In addition, the <em>peak soil</em> concept has not been critically analysed. This paper addresses this gap by critically evaluating the conceptual and scientific robustness of the <em>peak soil</em> metaphor, particularly in relation to soil capacity, condition, and socio-economic management. We contrast this metaphor with the soil security framework, which integrates five dimensions: capacity, condition, capital, connectivity, and codification. Drawing on a review of scientific literature and case studies, we argue that while <em>peak soil</em> serves as a powerful tool for raising public and policy awareness, it lacks scientific precision, particularly in assessing soil condition and capacity. The concept is ambiguous and overlooks the regenerative nature of soil systems. In contrast, the soil security assessment framework offers analytical rigour, enabling scientific evaluation while incorporating socio-economic and governance factors critical for sustainable soil management. We conclude by recommending enhancements to the <em>peak soil</em> concept, including suggestions for the development of clear, regionally adapted metrics. Furthermore, we propose integrating its communicative strengths with the multidimensional soil security concept to better inform policy and guide effective action.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100597"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Following implementation of the Grain to Green Project (GTGP), various studies have attempted to analyze the impact of renaturation on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and regional C sequestration, but the effect of GTGP on SOC in various soil types is still vague. We analyzed the effects of land-use change on SOC according to soil properties and climate following the GTGP on the Loess Plateau from 1999 to 2020, based on the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) and China's high-resolution National Soil Information Network. The results indicated that renaturation significantly increased SOC in the 0–30 cm soil layer on the Loess Plateau (Tg) by 122 Tg. This was due to the positive effects of afforestation, which contributed to an additional 260 Tg. However, grassland renaturation often decreased SOC (−57 Tg) primarily in the northwest with lower precipitation (<450 mm). The greatest SOC (Tg) increases occurred in Cambisols (+2.8) and Luvisols (+0.7) following cropland conversion to forest, whereas the greatest decreases occurred in Kastanozems (−3.7), and Anthrosols (−1.4) following conversion to grassland. Conversion of grassland to forest showed a strong increase in SOC density (kg m−2) increase (+1.34) compared to that of cropland conversion to forest (1.0) and grassland (0.1). The SOC in Kastanozems (−39 Tg) in natural grassland was the most vulnerable to degradation, whereas that in Cambisols in natural forest increased (+104 Tg). The SOC in Anthrosols (−33 Tg) in unchanged cropland degraded the most, however, that in Cambisols (+24 Tg) increased the most. In conclusion, to increase SOC via renaturation on the Loess Plateau, afforestation appears to be a more promising strategy, and climate and soil properties should be considered. Furthermore, this study establishes a foundation for future studies employing higher-resolution soil maps to conduct more detailed analyzes.
{"title":"Renaturation on the Loess Plateau: significant increase in soil organic carbon under different soil types over two decades","authors":"Wenwen Li , Yinku Liang , Kazem Zamanian , Xiaoning Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Following implementation of the Grain to Green Project (GTGP), various studies have attempted to analyze the impact of renaturation on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and regional C sequestration, but the effect of GTGP on SOC in various soil types is still vague. We analyzed the effects of land-use change on SOC according to soil properties and climate following the GTGP on the Loess Plateau from 1999 to 2020, based on the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) and China's high-resolution National Soil Information Network. The results indicated that renaturation significantly increased SOC in the 0–30 cm soil layer on the Loess Plateau (Tg) by 122 Tg. This was due to the positive effects of afforestation, which contributed to an additional 260 Tg. However, grassland renaturation often decreased SOC (−57 Tg) primarily in the northwest with lower precipitation (<450 mm). The greatest SOC (Tg) increases occurred in Cambisols (+2.8) and Luvisols (+0.7) following cropland conversion to forest, whereas the greatest decreases occurred in Kastanozems (−3.7), and Anthrosols (−1.4) following conversion to grassland. Conversion of grassland to forest showed a strong increase in SOC density (kg m<sup>−2</sup>) increase (+1.34) compared to that of cropland conversion to forest (1.0) and grassland (0.1). The SOC in Kastanozems (−39 Tg) in natural grassland was the most vulnerable to degradation, whereas that in Cambisols in natural forest increased (+104 Tg). The SOC in Anthrosols (−33 Tg) in unchanged cropland degraded the most, however, that in Cambisols (+24 Tg) increased the most. In conclusion, to increase SOC via renaturation on the Loess Plateau, afforestation appears to be a more promising strategy, and climate and soil properties should be considered. Furthermore, this study establishes a foundation for future studies employing higher-resolution soil maps to conduct more detailed analyzes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100562"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.011
Zhuodong Zhang , Yuxin Feng , Rui Xu , Ting Xu , Jianyong Luo , Bo Chen , Yifan Dong , Keli Zhang , Zhiqiang Wang , Yongqiu Wu
Gully erosion is a severe form of soil erosion but has not been studied adequately as other types like interrill and rill erosion. Commonly used remote sensing approaches can only deal with the areal characteristics of gullies while the gully erosion rates rely on the determination of the volume changes. In this study, RTK (Real Time Kinematic) GPS was used to measure seven typical gullies over a period of 13 years in the black soil region of Northeast China to spatial-explicitly quantify the erosion rates and identify the main influencing factors. Results showed that six of the seven gullies were seriously eroded, and the average volume increased 1911.35 m3 which is 42 % of the gullies. Four gullies elongated by 35–57m, averaging 44 m, due to gully headcut retreat. Larger drainage areas facilitate gully erosion. A significant positive correlation exists between erosion rate and slope gradient. Headcut retreat is most active in farmland, and erosion is most severe in gullies along with roads. Gully conservation measures show diverse effects. Check dam as an engineering measure can conserve soils but can also exacerbate erosion when the construction is damaged by extreme events. Vegetation measures can effectively inhibit the deterioration on gully development. This emphasizes the importance of integrating ecological conservation strategies to control gully erosion in the black soil region. These findings rely on the reliable volume data of the gullies over a long time span which highlights the merits of the long-term RTK GPS survey. Such long-term efforts should be strengthened in future studies to improve erosion assessment and support effective conservation strategies.
沟侵蚀是一种严重的土壤侵蚀形式，但与沟间侵蚀和沟间侵蚀等其他类型的土壤侵蚀一样，尚未得到充分的研究。常用的遥感方法只能处理沟槽的面积特征，而沟槽侵蚀速率依赖于体积变化的确定。利用RTK (Real Time Kinematic) GPS对东北黑土区7个典型沟槽进行了13年的测量，对侵蚀速率进行了空间量化，并识别了侵蚀速率的主要影响因素。结果表明，7条沟槽中有6条受到严重侵蚀，平均增加了1911.35 m3，占沟槽总量的42%。4条沟壑因沟壑迎头后退而拉长35 - 57米，平均44米。较大的排水面积有利于沟壑侵蚀。侵蚀速率与坡度呈显著正相关。农田中削头撤退最为活跃，沟壑与道路的侵蚀最为严重。沟壑保护措施表现出不同的效果。挡土坝作为一种工程措施，虽然具有保护土壤的作用，但在极端情况下，挡土坝会加剧土壤侵蚀。植被措施能有效抑制沟壑发育的恶化。这强调了综合生态保护策略对黑土区沟蚀治理的重要性。这些发现依赖于长时间跨度的沟槽可靠的体积数据，这突出了长期RTK GPS调查的优点。在今后的研究中应加强这种长期努力，以改进侵蚀评估和支持有效的保护战略。
{"title":"Quantifying gully erosion in the black soil region of Northeast China by long-term RTK GPS survey","authors":"Zhuodong Zhang , Yuxin Feng , Rui Xu , Ting Xu , Jianyong Luo , Bo Chen , Yifan Dong , Keli Zhang , Zhiqiang Wang , Yongqiu Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.iswcr.2025.09.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gully erosion is a severe form of soil erosion but has not been studied adequately as other types like interrill and rill erosion. Commonly used remote sensing approaches can only deal with the areal characteristics of gullies while the gully erosion rates rely on the determination of the volume changes. In this study, RTK (Real Time Kinematic) GPS was used to measure seven typical gullies over a period of 13 years in the black soil region of Northeast China to spatial-explicitly quantify the erosion rates and identify the main influencing factors. Results showed that six of the seven gullies were seriously eroded, and the average volume increased 1911.35 m<sup>3</sup> which is 42 % of the gullies. Four gullies elongated by 35–57m, averaging 44 m, due to gully headcut retreat. Larger drainage areas facilitate gully erosion. A significant positive correlation exists between erosion rate and slope gradient. Headcut retreat is most active in farmland, and erosion is most severe in gullies along with roads. Gully conservation measures show diverse effects. Check dam as an engineering measure can conserve soils but can also exacerbate erosion when the construction is damaged by extreme events. Vegetation measures can effectively inhibit the deterioration on gully development. This emphasizes the importance of integrating ecological conservation strategies to control gully erosion in the black soil region. These findings rely on the reliable volume data of the gullies over a long time span which highlights the merits of the long-term RTK GPS survey. Such long-term efforts should be strengthened in future studies to improve erosion assessment and support effective conservation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48622,"journal":{"name":"International Soil and Water Conservation Research","volume":"14 1","pages":"Article 100579"},"PeriodicalIF":7.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147410053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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