Soil erosion is a primary cause of soil degradation in the typical black soil region in Northeast China, yet the mechanisms and key driving factors are still not well-known. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of erosion-induced degradation, quantify the contributions of contextual factors and anthropogenic interventions, and identify the key driving factors. Our models indicated that climate showed the strongest statistical association with regional-scale patterns of erosion indicators (A-horizon thickness and gully density) and chemical properties, with path coefficients of 0.81 and −0.67, respectively (p < 0.01). The underlying surface (slope gradient and length) was found to exert a significant indirect influence on erosion indicators and soil properties through anthropogenic factors (ridge-slope angle and total porosity) via mechanical ridging (creating wheel-compacted rutting strips and subsurface compaction zones) and its associated soil compaction. At the plot scale, slope gradient, total porosity, mean annual temperature, and ridge-slope angle made comparable contributions to explaining the variance in A-horizon thickness. Furthermore, the primary statistical influence of precipitation on gully density was contingent on slope gradient and ridge-slope angle. Given the intensified gully density observed where low-RSA ridging meets steep slopes, we recommend adopting precision contour farming on steep slopes to disrupt runoff concentration at its inception, alongside conservation tillage to eliminate compaction-induced porosity loss. By decoupling climate - erosion linkages through targeted terrain management, such practices offer a means to reconcile regional climatic constraints with local controllability.
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