Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109857
Daniel Rodrigues de Lira , Antonio Carlos de Barros Corrêa , Drielly Naamma Fonsêca , José Danilo da Conceição Santos , Bruno de Azevedo Cavalcanti Tavares , Keyla Manuela Alencar da Silva Alves
This study examines surface coverings in the sub-middle sector of the São Francisco River, situated in the semi-arid core of northeastern Brazil, to reconstruct environmental changes from the Last Glacial Maximum through the Holocene. A morphostratigraphic approach integrated sedimentological, geochemical, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) analyses of colluvial, fluvial, fluvio-aeolian, and aeolian deposits. Geochemical results indicate predominantly felsic sediment sources and high degrees of chemical weathering, reflecting palaeoclimatic conditions wetter than at present, punctuated by periods of renewed severe semi-aridity. OSL ages spanning ∼20 ka to the Late Holocene reveal sedimentation pulses synchronous with major global climate events—including Heinrich stadials, the Bølling–Allerød, the Younger Dryas, and the Holocene Climatic Optimum—followed by progressive drying from the onset of the Late Holocene, with a return to aeolian deposition. Alternation between erosional and aggradational phases suggests strong regulation of the São Francisco's hydro-sedimentary regime by large-scale climatic teleconnections, with implications for understanding the resilience and vulnerability of semi-arid environments under future climate-change scenarios. The findings underscore the importance of Quaternary deposits as palaeoenvironmental archives and contribute to addressing key knowledge gaps on the geomorphological and palaeoclimatic dynamics of northeastern Brazil.
{"title":"Fluvial-aeolian interactions in northeastern South America: Implications for provenance and paleoenvironmental interpretations","authors":"Daniel Rodrigues de Lira , Antonio Carlos de Barros Corrêa , Drielly Naamma Fonsêca , José Danilo da Conceição Santos , Bruno de Azevedo Cavalcanti Tavares , Keyla Manuela Alencar da Silva Alves","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109857","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109857","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines surface coverings in the sub-middle sector of the São Francisco River, situated in the semi-arid core of northeastern Brazil, to reconstruct environmental changes from the Last Glacial Maximum through the Holocene. A morphostratigraphic approach integrated sedimentological, geochemical, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) analyses of colluvial, fluvial, fluvio-aeolian, and aeolian deposits. Geochemical results indicate predominantly felsic sediment sources and high degrees of chemical weathering, reflecting palaeoclimatic conditions wetter than at present, punctuated by periods of renewed severe semi-aridity. OSL ages spanning ∼20 ka to the Late Holocene reveal sedimentation pulses synchronous with major global climate events—including Heinrich stadials, the Bølling–Allerød, the Younger Dryas, and the Holocene Climatic Optimum—followed by progressive drying from the onset of the Late Holocene, with a return to aeolian deposition. Alternation between erosional and aggradational phases suggests strong regulation of the São Francisco's hydro-sedimentary regime by large-scale climatic teleconnections, with implications for understanding the resilience and vulnerability of semi-arid environments under future climate-change scenarios. The findings underscore the importance of Quaternary deposits as palaeoenvironmental archives and contribute to addressing key knowledge gaps on the geomorphological and palaeoclimatic dynamics of northeastern Brazil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109857"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076240","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}
Understanding past environmental and climate changes is essential for understanding their influence on human history and for predicting future trends. The Valley of Gobi Lake in Mongolia is highly sensitive to climate changes. We analyzed two sediment cores from Boontsagaan Lake, the largest in the Valley of Gobi Lakes and only permanent lake: a 111 cm core (East-20240226) close to the inflow river mouth and a 141 cm core (North-20240227) located 8 km away from the river mouth. Grain size differences between the cores indicate coarser material deposition near the river mouth (East-20240226) due to the density underflow, whereas the distant core (North-20240227) shows finer fluvial and aeolian inputs. The radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating methods applied to the North-20240227 core. Sandy layers below the lacustrine sediment sequence probably indicate dramatic lake level lowering between ∼300 CE and 1200 CE, corresponding dry phase in the region. A subsequent recovery of lake conditions, linked to the increased river inflow by the topographic shifts, marks a wetter phase after ∼1200 CE and coinciding with the expansion of the Mongolian empire. After ∼1400 CE, enhanced carbonate precipitation suggests another dry period, which potentially coincided with the decline of Mongolian empire. The high sediment rate and coarsening grain size in the North-20240227 core show intensified aeolian input due to continued lake shrinkage after ∼1850 CE. The sediment record from this permanent lake captures key environmental transitions over the last two millennia, regional climate changes and sociopolitical developments in Mongolian territory, including the rise and decline of the Mongolian Empire.
{"title":"Sedimentary and environmental changes of terminal lake in the arid region of Mongolia during the last two millennia","authors":"Shuukhaaz Ganbat , Noriko Hasebe , Davaadorj Davaasuren , Keisuke Fukushi , Shinya Ochiai , Kazumasa Miura , Akihiro Tamura , Baasansuren Gankhurel , Uyangaa Udaanjargal","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding past environmental and climate changes is essential for understanding their influence on human history and for predicting future trends. The Valley of Gobi Lake in Mongolia is highly sensitive to climate changes. We analyzed two sediment cores from Boontsagaan Lake, the largest in the Valley of Gobi Lakes and only permanent lake: a 111 cm core (East-20240226) close to the inflow river mouth and a 141 cm core (North-20240227) located 8 km away from the river mouth. Grain size differences between the cores indicate coarser material deposition near the river mouth (East-20240226) due to the density underflow, whereas the distant core (North-20240227) shows finer fluvial and aeolian inputs. The radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating methods applied to the North-20240227 core. Sandy layers below the lacustrine sediment sequence probably indicate dramatic lake level lowering between ∼300 CE and 1200 CE, corresponding dry phase in the region. A subsequent recovery of lake conditions, linked to the increased river inflow by the topographic shifts, marks a wetter phase after ∼1200 CE and coinciding with the expansion of the Mongolian empire. After ∼1400 CE, enhanced carbonate precipitation suggests another dry period, which potentially coincided with the decline of Mongolian empire. The high sediment rate and coarsening grain size in the North-20240227 core show intensified aeolian input due to continued lake shrinkage after ∼1850 CE. The sediment record from this permanent lake captures key environmental transitions over the last two millennia, regional climate changes and sociopolitical developments in Mongolian territory, including the rise and decline of the Mongolian Empire.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109872"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076241","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 : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109875
Tianming Zhang, Zhongmin Fan, Jia Shi, Yumei Peng, Xiang Wang
Soil erosion drives biogeochemical decoupling of nitrogen (N) transformation pathways via spatial segregation of microbial processing hotspots along toposequences. However, the mechanisms governing this decoupling are poorly understood. Therefore, erosion-mediated reorganization of N cycling processes was investigated using high-resolution quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based functional gene quantification, N fractions analysis, and temperature-gradient incubations. Soil samples were collected in early April from a black soil region in Northeast China. Total N (TN) and mineral N (NO3−-N and NH4+-N) were determined. Temperature-controlled incubations (15 °C vs. 25 °C) were performed to determine net N mineralization, and qPCR was used to quantify genes involved in N cycling. The results demonstrated that 50.40% of TN and 54.88% of mineral N were depleted in eroding soil compared with non-eroding soil, whereas N accumulated in deposition-enriched subsoil primarily through mineral-associated N accumulation, accounting for 80.22%–93.71% of TN. Functional gene analysis revealed that the denitrification potential was intensified in eroding topsoils, as evidenced by a 3.3-fold upregulation of nirK and a 4.6-fold upregulation of norB. In contrast, depositional sites exhibited preferential activation of nitrification pathways. The temperature sensitivity of N mineralization was spatially divergent; it was 13.3 times higher in eroding topsoil than in depositional sites. Deposition depressed depth-dependent temperature sensitivity. This spatial biogeochemical partitioning establishes a climate-sensitive feedback loopin which erosional hotspots sustain N losses mediated by denitrification, and depositional microsites amplify temperature-contingent nitrification. The functional divergence between nitrification (depositional sites) and denitrification (eroding sites) hotspots is thermally modulated, creating distinct microbial metabolic regimes. These findings demonstrate how erosion–deposition interfaces potentiate soil N-cycling in topsoil and subsoil along a sloping landscape, providing a theoretical basis for preserving soil microbial function and resilience of the soil nitrogen pool in response to erosion and climate warming.
土壤侵蚀通过微生物加工热点沿拓扑序列的空间分离驱动氮转化途径的生物地球化学解耦。然而，人们对这种分离的机制知之甚少。因此，利用基于高分辨率定量PCR （qPCR）的功能基因定量、N组分分析和温度梯度孵育，研究了侵蚀介导的N循环过程重组。4月初在东北某黑土区采集土壤样品。测定了总氮（TN）和无机氮（NO3−-N和NH4+-N）。温度控制孵育（15°C vs. 25°C）测定净氮矿化，qPCR用于量化参与氮循环的基因。结果表明，与非侵蚀土壤相比，侵蚀土壤中总氮的50.40%和矿物氮的54.88%被耗尽，而富沉积土壤中的N主要通过矿物相关N积累，占总氮的80.22% ~ 93.71%。功能基因分析表明，侵蚀表层土壤的反硝化潜力增强，nirK上调3.3倍，norB上调4.6倍。相反，沉积位点表现出硝化途径的优先激活。氮矿化的温度敏感性具有空间发散性；侵蚀表层土比沉积表层土高13.3倍。沉积降低了与深度相关的温度敏感性。这种空间生物地球化学分区建立了一个气候敏感的反馈回路，其中侵蚀热点维持由反硝化介导的氮损失，而沉积微点则放大了随温度变化的硝化作用。硝化（沉积地点）和反硝化（侵蚀地点）热点之间的功能差异是热调节的，创造了不同的微生物代谢制度。这些发现揭示了侵蚀-沉积界面如何促进坡地表层土壤和底土的氮循环，为保护土壤微生物功能和土壤氮库对侵蚀和气候变暖的响应能力提供了理论基础。
{"title":"Microbial functional shifts amplify the temperature sensitivity of soil nitrogen across the erosion-deposition continuum","authors":"Tianming Zhang, Zhongmin Fan, Jia Shi, Yumei Peng, Xiang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion drives biogeochemical decoupling of nitrogen (N) transformation pathways via spatial segregation of microbial processing hotspots along toposequences. However, the mechanisms governing this decoupling are poorly understood. Therefore, erosion-mediated reorganization of N cycling processes was investigated using high-resolution quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based functional gene quantification, N fractions analysis, and temperature-gradient incubations. Soil samples were collected in early April from a black soil region in Northeast China. Total N (TN) and mineral N (NO<sup>3−</sup>-N and NH4<sup>+</sup>-N) were determined. Temperature-controlled incubations (15 °C vs. 25 °C) were performed to determine net N mineralization, and qPCR was used to quantify genes involved in N cycling. The results demonstrated that 50.40% of TN and 54.88% of mineral N were depleted in eroding soil compared with non-eroding soil, whereas N accumulated in deposition-enriched subsoil primarily through mineral-associated N accumulation, accounting for 80.22%–93.71% of TN. Functional gene analysis revealed that the denitrification potential was intensified in eroding topsoils, as evidenced by a 3.3-fold upregulation of <em>nirK</em> and a 4.6-fold upregulation of <em>norB</em>. In contrast, depositional sites exhibited preferential activation of nitrification pathways. The temperature sensitivity of N mineralization was spatially divergent; it was 13.3 times higher in eroding topsoil than in depositional sites. Deposition depressed depth-dependent temperature sensitivity. This spatial biogeochemical partitioning establishes a climate-sensitive feedback loopin which erosional hotspots sustain N losses mediated by denitrification, and depositional microsites amplify temperature-contingent nitrification. The functional divergence between nitrification (depositional sites) and denitrification (eroding sites) hotspots is thermally modulated, creating distinct microbial metabolic regimes. These findings demonstrate how erosion–deposition interfaces potentiate soil N-cycling in topsoil and subsoil along a sloping landscape, providing a theoretical basis for preserving soil microbial function and resilience of the soil nitrogen pool in response to erosion and climate warming.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109875"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076243","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 : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109864
Andrea Brenna , Simone Bizzi , Nicola Surian
This study investigates how a sequence of human impacts has profoundly altered suspended sediment yields in the Po River, the largest fluvial system in Italy, over the last 100 years. By integrating long-term data on suspended sediment transport with a detailed analysis of anthropogenic drivers—including land-use changes, in-channel mining, damming and river training works—we reconstruct the spatiotemporal trajectory of sediment dynamics across the river system. Results reveal a marked reduction in suspended sediment yields, occurring asynchronously along the Po River: declines of about −48% first emerged in the middle course during the 1920s–1940s, primarily due to dam construction in the western catchment, and later, with comparable intensity, in the lower course (1950s–1980s), largely driven by river training interventions, sediment deposition within the active channel, and sediment retention in flood detention basins along the Apennine tributaries. Considering the entire investigated time window (1924–2019), the river exhibits a substantial long-term reduction in annual suspended sediment yields, exceeding −72% at the catchment closure. These reductions in fine sediment transport have contributed to trigger substantial geomorphological transformations affecting the delta region. The findings underscore the complexity of interpreting sediment dynamics under overlapping anthropogenic pressures and highlight the need for integrated management strategies aimed at restoring sediment fluxes and connectivity. In particular, the partial reactivation of sediment deposits accumulated within anthropogenically induced traps along the main stem could represent a promising, though complex, strategy to mitigate sediment deficits and support more sustainable management of the delta.
{"title":"The great decline of suspended sediment load in the Po River (Italy) over the last 100 years","authors":"Andrea Brenna , Simone Bizzi , Nicola Surian","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how a sequence of human impacts has profoundly altered suspended sediment yields in the Po River, the largest fluvial system in Italy, over the last 100 years. By integrating long-term data on suspended sediment transport with a detailed analysis of anthropogenic drivers—including land-use changes, in-channel mining, damming and river training works—we reconstruct the spatiotemporal trajectory of sediment dynamics across the river system. Results reveal a marked reduction in suspended sediment yields, occurring asynchronously along the Po River: declines of about −48% first emerged in the middle course during the 1920s–1940s, primarily due to dam construction in the western catchment, and later, with comparable intensity, in the lower course (1950s–1980s), largely driven by river training interventions, sediment deposition within the active channel, and sediment retention in flood detention basins along the Apennine tributaries. Considering the entire investigated time window (1924–2019), the river exhibits a substantial long-term reduction in annual suspended sediment yields, exceeding −72% at the catchment closure. These reductions in fine sediment transport have contributed to trigger substantial geomorphological transformations affecting the delta region. The findings underscore the complexity of interpreting sediment dynamics under overlapping anthropogenic pressures and highlight the need for integrated management strategies aimed at restoring sediment fluxes and connectivity. In particular, the partial reactivation of sediment deposits accumulated within anthropogenically induced traps along the main stem could represent a promising, though complex, strategy to mitigate sediment deficits and support more sustainable management of the delta.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109864"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076299","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 : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109873
Victorine Koala , Samuel Olalekan Olajuyigbe , Blaise Ouedraogo , Kelvin C. Kamei , Kouamé Donald Kouman
Land degradation reduces soil fertility and alters ecosystem structure, leading to reduced productivity. This study analysed the spatial and temporal trends of factors driving land degradation in the Massili River Basin, Burkina Faso from 1992 to 2022. An integrated approach was applied by combining climatic (precipitation, temperature, aridity index), ecological (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Rain Use Efficiency (RUE)), and anthropogenic (Human Influence Index) indicators, using Landsat imagery, meteorological records, demographic and vector data. Results showed a significant increase in rainfall and slight cooling, which together have shifted the basin from predominantly semi-arid to semi-humid conditions. Despite the changes in climatic trends, vegetation recovery was uneven, with NDVI revealing persistent declines in the southern basin alongside localized greening in central and northern areas, while RUE decreased in several zones, due to the influence of non-climatic pressures. Land use and land cover analyses revealed marked expansions of farmland and settlements, with fluctuating savanna cover and riparian forest regeneration. The integrated land degradation map showed that 86.1% of the basin remained unaffected, while 9% was moderately degraded and 4.9% was severely degraded. Most hotspots were concentrated in the southern and southeastern zones under high human pressure. These findings demonstrate that although climate variability shapes vegetation dynamics, anthropogenic activities are the primary drivers of degradation. The study provided empirical evidence to guide restoration initiatives, support targeted interventions, and inform regional sustainable land management strategies aligned with SDG 15.3.1.
{"title":"Mapping land degradation in the Massili River Basin, Burkina Faso: a spatio-temporal analysis of contributing factors","authors":"Victorine Koala , Samuel Olalekan Olajuyigbe , Blaise Ouedraogo , Kelvin C. Kamei , Kouamé Donald Kouman","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109873","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109873","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land degradation reduces soil fertility and alters ecosystem structure, leading to reduced productivity. This study analysed the spatial and temporal trends of factors driving land degradation in the Massili River Basin, Burkina Faso from 1992 to 2022. An integrated approach was applied by combining climatic (precipitation, temperature, aridity index), ecological (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Rain Use Efficiency (RUE)), and anthropogenic (Human Influence Index) indicators, using Landsat imagery, meteorological records, demographic and vector data. Results showed a significant increase in rainfall and slight cooling, which together have shifted the basin from predominantly semi-arid to semi-humid conditions. Despite the changes in climatic trends, vegetation recovery was uneven, with NDVI revealing persistent declines in the southern basin alongside localized greening in central and northern areas, while RUE decreased in several zones, due to the influence of non-climatic pressures. Land use and land cover analyses revealed marked expansions of farmland and settlements, with fluctuating savanna cover and riparian forest regeneration. The integrated land degradation map showed that 86.1% of the basin remained unaffected, while 9% was moderately degraded and 4.9% was severely degraded. Most hotspots were concentrated in the southern and southeastern zones under high human pressure. These findings demonstrate that although climate variability shapes vegetation dynamics, anthropogenic activities are the primary drivers of degradation. The study provided empirical evidence to guide restoration initiatives, support targeted interventions, and inform regional sustainable land management strategies aligned with SDG 15.3.1.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109873"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076295","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 : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109853
Mengting Chen , Jaime Catherine Schussler , Deb Mishra
The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its family of models have been used for soil loss prediction and erosion mitigation. These empirical models relied on precipitation data predating 1957 to calculate the Rainfall Erosivity (R-factor) value; however, the isoerodent map published in AH703 is still widely used in soil loss estimations today. Climatic and precipitation changes have presented questions about the validity and reliability of using these estimation methods. Additionally, instrumentation, precipitation gauging networks, and data availability have improved since the original publication of the AH703 isoerodent map. This study conducted a spatiotemporal analysis in the GIS environment to estimate modern rainfall erosivity across Oklahoma using high-resolution rainfall data. Average annual and monthly rainfall erosivity factors, R-factor and -factor, respectively, were estimated using 5-min interval rainfall data collected from 111 Oklahoma Mesonet sites. The sites had an average historical precipitation record of 28 years. Using new rainfall erosivity values, spatial variation was assessed within two geographical segments: a) NOAA-defined state climate divisions and b) EPA-defined Level III ecoregions. Temporal analysis revealed that rainfall erosivity occurring between April and October contributed 86% of the annual R-factor. This study also developed an updated isoerodent map for the state of Oklahoma. The updated R-factor significantly differed from the original AH703 isoerodent map. Specifically, comparing the isoerodent maps revealed that the R-factor changed between −20% and 112%. The reasons contribute to the discrepancies between the two maps are also discussed.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal analysis of rainfall erosivity in Oklahoma","authors":"Mengting Chen , Jaime Catherine Schussler , Deb Mishra","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109853","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109853","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and its family of models have been used for soil loss prediction and erosion mitigation. These empirical models relied on precipitation data predating 1957 to calculate the <em>Rainfall Erosivity (R-factor)</em> value; however, the isoerodent map published in AH703 is still widely used in soil loss estimations today. Climatic and precipitation changes have presented questions about the validity and reliability of using these estimation methods. Additionally, instrumentation, precipitation gauging networks, and data availability have improved since the original publication of the AH703 isoerodent map. This study conducted a spatiotemporal analysis in the GIS environment to estimate modern rainfall erosivity across Oklahoma using high-resolution rainfall data. Average annual and monthly rainfall erosivity factors, <em>R-factor</em> and <span><math><msub><mi>R</mi><mi>m</mi></msub></math></span><em>-factor</em>, respectively, were estimated using 5-min interval rainfall data collected from 111 Oklahoma Mesonet sites. The sites had an average historical precipitation record of 28 years. Using new rainfall erosivity values, spatial variation was assessed within two geographical segments: a) NOAA-defined state climate divisions and b) EPA-defined Level III ecoregions. Temporal analysis revealed that rainfall erosivity occurring between April and October contributed 86% of the annual R-factor. This study also developed an updated isoerodent map for the state of Oklahoma. The updated R-factor significantly differed from the original AH703 isoerodent map. Specifically, comparing the isoerodent maps revealed that the R-factor changed between −20% and 112%. The reasons contribute to the discrepancies between the two maps are also discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109853"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076193","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}
The microbial carbon pump (MCP) is essential for the turnover and long-term stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC). Fertilization (organic and inorganic) regulates soil microbial communities and associated functions, shaping the formation of soil carbon pools in croplands. However, the mechanisms by which straw incorporation promotes the microbial degradation of plant and microbial biomass for SOC stabilization in croplands remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a three-year field experiment with four fertilization practices to investigate how straw incorporation shapes microbial community composition, carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme), and extracellular enzyme activities, in order to track microbial-mediated SOC formation in croplands. Fertilization significantly altered microbial community composition and function and enhanced microbial respiration. Straw incorporation significantly expanded SOC stocks, which was closely associated with shifts in the fungal community. Fertilization, particularly straw incorporation, significantly increased the abundance of CAZyme genes involved in the degradation of lignocellulose (by 1.42%–182.93%), pectin/starch (by 67.05%–314.48%), bacterial-derived carbon (by 63.09%–170.94%), and fungal-derived carbon (β-glucan/chitin) (by 25.44%–115.44%), indicating enhanced utilization of organic carbon from diverse sources. The proportion of microbial CAZymes decomposing plant components (75.18%–83.29%) exceeded that of CAZymes degrading microbial components (16.71%–24.82%), suggesting a greater microbial capacity for the degradation of plant biomass in cropland soils. Furthermore, enzyme activity was significantly correlated with CAZyme gene abundance. In conclusion, shifts in CAZyme genes encoding the degradation of diverse carbon sources may facilitate the formation of SOC and its fractions in straw-incorporated soils via MCP regulation.
{"title":"Straw incorporation affects soil organic carbon pools by modulating microbial communities and associated metabolic activities","authors":"Lingxu Meng , Jieyun Guo , Jing He , Yunxiang Cheng , Huhe","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The microbial carbon pump (MCP) is essential for the turnover and long-term stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC). Fertilization (organic and inorganic) regulates soil microbial communities and associated functions, shaping the formation of soil carbon pools in croplands. However, the mechanisms by which straw incorporation promotes the microbial degradation of plant and microbial biomass for SOC stabilization in croplands remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a three-year field experiment with four fertilization practices to investigate how straw incorporation shapes microbial community composition, carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme), and extracellular enzyme activities, in order to track microbial-mediated SOC formation in croplands. Fertilization significantly altered microbial community composition and function and enhanced microbial respiration. Straw incorporation significantly expanded SOC stocks, which was closely associated with shifts in the fungal community. Fertilization, particularly straw incorporation, significantly increased the abundance of CAZyme genes involved in the degradation of lignocellulose (by 1.42%–182.93%), pectin/starch (by 67.05%–314.48%), bacterial-derived carbon (by 63.09%–170.94%), and fungal-derived carbon (β-glucan/chitin) (by 25.44%–115.44%), indicating enhanced utilization of organic carbon from diverse sources. The proportion of microbial CAZymes decomposing plant components (75.18%–83.29%) exceeded that of CAZymes degrading microbial components (16.71%–24.82%), suggesting a greater microbial capacity for the degradation of plant biomass in cropland soils. Furthermore, enzyme activity was significantly correlated with CAZyme gene abundance. In conclusion, shifts in CAZyme genes encoding the degradation of diverse carbon sources may facilitate the formation of SOC and its fractions in straw-incorporated soils via MCP regulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109871"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076195","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 : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109865
Xinge Li , Wenbo Zhu , Lianqi Zhu , Weimin Song , Peiguang Li , Xiaojie Wang , Guangxuan Han
Intensified precipitation variability profoundly affects saline wetland hydrological dynamics, potentially interfering with key carbon processes within ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying how precipitation changes affect ecosystems carbon processes in saline wetland remain unclear. Moreover, whether seasonal flooding influences wetland ecosystems' carbon processes response to precipitation changes is still poorly understood. Based on a six-year field precipitation experiment including five precipitation levels (−60%, −40%, +0%, +40%, and + 60% of ambient precipitation) in the Yellow River Delta wetlands, we examined how seasonal flooding regulated ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE), gross ecosystem production (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) response to precipitation changes. Over three years, ecosystem carbon fluxes exhibited a positive asymmetric response along the precipitation gradient, with the increment under wet treatments exceeding the reduction under dry treatments. Compared with the control, the −60% treatment significantly reduced GEP and ER by 9.7% and 9.3% respectively; whereas the +40% and + 60% treatments significantly increased GEP, ER, and NEE by 18.0%, 23.5%, 15.4%, 19.4%, 22.1%, and 29.0% respectively. Moreover, the observed positive asymmetry in ecosystem carbon flux arose because, under reduced precipitation, vegetation coverage and total biomass were less affected by high soil salinity. Additionally, plants coverage responded differently to flooding under precipitation treatments: saline plants were most affected under reduced precipitation, while gramineous plants showed no significant difference. Our results demonstrated that acclimation of vegetation to salinization leads to the asymmetric response of ecosystem carbon exchange along the precipitation gradient, while seasonal flooding may amplify the positive asymmetric response by affecting vegetation community composition in saline wetlands. The findings underscore the importance of seasonal flooding in modulating wetland ecosystem responses within global change manipulation experiments.
{"title":"Seasonal flooding amplifies the positive asymmetric response of ecosystem carbon exchange along the precipitation gradient in saline wetlands","authors":"Xinge Li , Wenbo Zhu , Lianqi Zhu , Weimin Song , Peiguang Li , Xiaojie Wang , Guangxuan Han","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensified precipitation variability profoundly affects saline wetland hydrological dynamics, potentially interfering with key carbon processes within ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying how precipitation changes affect ecosystems carbon processes in saline wetland remain unclear. Moreover, whether seasonal flooding influences wetland ecosystems' carbon processes response to precipitation changes is still poorly understood. Based on a six-year field precipitation experiment including five precipitation levels (−60%, −40%, +0%, +40%, and + 60% of ambient precipitation) in the Yellow River Delta wetlands, we examined how seasonal flooding regulated ecosystem CO<sub>2</sub> exchange (NEE), gross ecosystem production (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) response to precipitation changes. Over three years, ecosystem carbon fluxes exhibited a positive asymmetric response along the precipitation gradient, with the increment under wet treatments exceeding the reduction under dry treatments. Compared with the control, the −60% treatment significantly reduced GEP and ER by 9.7% and 9.3% respectively; whereas the +40% and + 60% treatments significantly increased GEP, ER, and NEE by 18.0%, 23.5%, 15.4%, 19.4%, 22.1%, and 29.0% respectively. Moreover, the observed positive asymmetry in ecosystem carbon flux arose because, under reduced precipitation, vegetation coverage and total biomass were less affected by high soil salinity. Additionally, plants coverage responded differently to flooding under precipitation treatments: saline plants were most affected under reduced precipitation, while gramineous plants showed no significant difference. Our results demonstrated that acclimation of vegetation to salinization leads to the asymmetric response of ecosystem carbon exchange along the precipitation gradient, while seasonal flooding may amplify the positive asymmetric response by affecting vegetation community composition in saline wetlands. The findings underscore the importance of seasonal flooding in modulating wetland ecosystem responses within global change manipulation experiments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109865"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076246","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 : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109841
Jana Eichel , Maarten Zwarts , Maarten G. Kleinhans , Leon Duurkoop , Stef van der Horst , Florine Kooij , Marcel C.G. van Maarseveen , Isa Meirink , Annemarie de Putter , Connor Smith
Soil erosion strongly affects high mountain slopes, such as deglaciating moraines and hiking trails. Plants can decrease soil erosion through adapted plant functional traits, such as high leaf densities or dense root systems. However, due to trait trade-offs, a plant species cannot excel in all beneficial traits at once. Thus, to successfully protect and restore eroding mountain slopes, quantification of effects of common alpine trait combinations on soil erosion dynamics and patterns is needed. We used a semi-natural experiment in the Utrecht Botanic Gardens to test how five alpine plant species with contrasting trait combinations affect soil erosion dynamics and patterns over two growing seasons, combining sediment collection with structure-from-motion techniques. Our results show that trait combinations of key architectural, mechanical and life-history traits ranged from fast growth with high flexibility to slow, stiff and dense growth. Based on trait combinations, we identified five soil erosion plant strategies with distinct effects on sediment yields (SYs) and deposition patterns developing over time. Two quickly growing species (“opportunist”, “conqueror”) swiftly reduced SYs in the first year (up to 70%), storing sediment in-plant or a low terrace. Two more slowly growing species with stiff, dense stems (“blocker”, “builder”) significantly decreased SYs (up to 97%) in the second year, building cm-high, up to 40 cm long terraces. A fifth single stem species (“intensifier”) increased SYs by up to 250%. Our plant strategies create a key link between plant functional ecology and soil erosion research to improve nature-based solutions on eroding hillslopes across mountain regions.
{"title":"Alpine plant trait combinations shape soil erosion dynamics and patterns","authors":"Jana Eichel , Maarten Zwarts , Maarten G. Kleinhans , Leon Duurkoop , Stef van der Horst , Florine Kooij , Marcel C.G. van Maarseveen , Isa Meirink , Annemarie de Putter , Connor Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109841","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109841","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion strongly affects high mountain slopes, such as deglaciating moraines and hiking trails. Plants can decrease soil erosion through adapted plant functional traits, such as high leaf densities or dense root systems. However, due to trait trade-offs, a plant species cannot excel in all beneficial traits at once. Thus, to successfully protect and restore eroding mountain slopes, quantification of effects of common alpine trait combinations on soil erosion dynamics and patterns is needed. We used a semi-natural experiment in the Utrecht Botanic Gardens to test how five alpine plant species with contrasting trait combinations affect soil erosion dynamics and patterns over two growing seasons, combining sediment collection with structure-from-motion techniques. Our results show that trait combinations of key architectural, mechanical and life-history traits ranged from fast growth with high flexibility to slow, stiff and dense growth. Based on trait combinations, we identified five soil erosion plant strategies with distinct effects on sediment yields (SYs) and deposition patterns developing over time. Two quickly growing species (“opportunist”, “conqueror”) swiftly reduced SYs in the first year (up to 70%), storing sediment in-plant or a low terrace. Two more slowly growing species with stiff, dense stems (“blocker”, “builder”) significantly decreased SYs (up to 97%) in the second year, building cm-high, up to 40 cm long terraces. A fifth single stem species (“intensifier”) increased SYs by up to 250%. Our plant strategies create a key link between plant functional ecology and soil erosion research to improve nature-based solutions on eroding hillslopes across mountain regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109841"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076247","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 : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2026.109810
Zhenghu Ge , Hongchao Dun , Rezaali Pakzad , Guang Li , Ning Huang
Energy balance serves as a critical benchmark for validating land-atmosphere interaction models. Extreme snowfall events profoundly alter snowpack dynamics and disrupt shallow soil energy partitioning during freeze-thaw cycles, yet remain inadequately characterized. We established meteorological stations near Namtso Lake in the alpine grasslands, monitoring air and soil parameters (temperature, moisture), radiation fluxes, and snow depth to quantify energy budget perturbations under extreme conditions. The study phase successfully captured rare extreme snowfall events and concurrent surface freeze-thaw processes, providing pivotal observational data. Novel computational approaches were subsequently developed to quantify individual energy fluxes, enabling rigorous assessment of energy balance within this complex environment. Extreme snowfall exerts dominant control over energy partitioning during soil freeze-thaw cycles, significantly modifying surface energy fluxes despite diminishing effects on closure rate with increasing snow depth. Our findings reveal that: (1) Individual energy fluxes maintain diurnal cyclicity independent of snow cover; (2) Energy closure is enhanced during snowfall phases relative to snowmelt phases; (3) The Energy Closure Ratio (CR) during snowfall exhibits a concave relationship with snow depth (initial decrease followed by increase), while CR during snowmelt demonstrates monotonic decline. This study advances our understanding of snow-permafrost interactions in mid-latitude, high-elevation regions, providing a mechanistic framework for analyzing extreme snow events.
{"title":"Energy balance effects of extreme snow events on shallow frozen and thawed surfaces in highland pastoral areas","authors":"Zhenghu Ge , Hongchao Dun , Rezaali Pakzad , Guang Li , Ning Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.catena.2026.109810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy balance serves as a critical benchmark for validating land-atmosphere interaction models. Extreme snowfall events profoundly alter snowpack dynamics and disrupt shallow soil energy partitioning during freeze-thaw cycles, yet remain inadequately characterized. We established meteorological stations near Namtso Lake in the alpine grasslands, monitoring air and soil parameters (temperature, moisture), radiation fluxes, and snow depth to quantify energy budget perturbations under extreme conditions. The study phase successfully captured rare extreme snowfall events and concurrent surface freeze-thaw processes, providing pivotal observational data. Novel computational approaches were subsequently developed to quantify individual energy fluxes, enabling rigorous assessment of energy balance within this complex environment. Extreme snowfall exerts dominant control over energy partitioning during soil freeze-thaw cycles, significantly modifying surface energy fluxes despite diminishing effects on closure rate with increasing snow depth. Our findings reveal that: (1) Individual energy fluxes maintain diurnal cyclicity independent of snow cover; (2) Energy closure is enhanced during snowfall phases relative to snowmelt phases; (3) The Energy Closure Ratio (CR) during snowfall exhibits a concave relationship with snow depth (initial decrease followed by increase), while CR during snowmelt demonstrates monotonic decline. This study advances our understanding of snow-permafrost interactions in mid-latitude, high-elevation regions, providing a mechanistic framework for analyzing extreme snow events.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9801,"journal":{"name":"Catena","volume":"265 ","pages":"Article 109810"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076239","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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