Articles | Volume 13, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4735-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-4735-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
23 Aug 2016
Research article |
| 23 Aug 2016
Moderate topsoil erosion rates constrain the magnitude of the erosion-induced carbon sink and agricultural productivity losses on the Chinese Loess Plateau
Jianlin Zhao
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Division of Geography, Department of Earth and Environmental
Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
School of Environmental
Sciences and Spatial informatics, China University of Mining and
Technology,
221006 Xuzhou, China
Kristof Van Oost
Earth and Life Institute, Universite
Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Longqian Chen
School of Environmental
Sciences and Spatial informatics, China University of Mining and
Technology,
221006 Xuzhou, China
Gerard Govers
Division of Geography, Department of Earth and Environmental
Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Cited
36 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Exploring the Potential of Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Climate Resilience in Burkina Faso C. Naba et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187995
- Climate oscillations and erosional processes in the Ordos tectonic block and implications for sediment supply to the Yellow River Y. Zhong et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118233
- Predicting gully erosion susceptibility in South Africa by integrating literature directives with regional spatial data G. Olivier et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5653
- Soil lifespans and how they can be extended by land use and management change D. Evans et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba2fd
- Characterizing soil losses in China using data of 137Cs inventories and erosion plots Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105296
- Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover and Driving Forces in the Yan River Basin, Loess Plateau Z. He et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15174240
- Improving Soil Moisture Estimation by Identification of NDVI Thresholds Optimization: An Application to the Chinese Loess Plateau L. Yuan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13040589
- Prioritization of Watershed Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System D. Kumar et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169456
- Evaluation and classification of landscape functions: A case of Pengyang County on the Loess Plateau Z. Ai et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109221
- Reducing topsoil depth decreases the yield and nutrient uptake of maize and soybean grown in a glacial till L. Guo et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3868
- Modeling Soil Moisture from Multisource Data by Stepwise Multilinear Regression: An Application to the Chinese Loess Plateau L. Yuan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10040233
- Vegetation cover and topography rather than human disturbance control gully density and sediment production on the Chinese Loess Plateau J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.09.022
- How soil erosion and runoff are related to land use, topography and annual precipitation: Insights from a meta-analysis of erosion plots in China J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149665
- Reconciling the paradox of soil organic carbon erosion by water K. Van Oost & J. Six https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-635-2023
- Known and Unknown Environmental Impacts Related to Climate Changes in Pakistan: An Under-Recognized Risk to Local Communities M. Adnan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146108
- Micro-topographic assessment of rill morphology highlights the shortcomings of current protective measures in loess landscapes P. Kou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139721
- Decrease in Erosion‐Induced Soil Organic Carbon as a Result of Vegetation Restoration in the Loess Plateau, China F. Gou et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006917
- Modeling global anthropogenic erosion in the Holocene Z. Wang & K. Van Oost https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683618816499
- Effects of human activities on soil organic carbon redistribution at an agricultural watershed scale on the Chinese Loess Plateau Y. Zeng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107112
- On-site soil dislocation and localized CNP degradation: the real erosion risk faced by sloped cropland in northeastern China Y. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107088
- RUSLE model insights for soil conservation and sustainable land use in semiarid environments B. Zerouali et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00664-3
- Temporal effects of soil organic carbon mineralization during the formation of a siltation body produced by erosion Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108030
- Estimation of Soil Erosion in the Chaohu Lake Basin through Modified Soil Erodibility Combined with Gravel Content in the RUSLE Model S. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091806
- Substantial role of check dams in sediment trapping and carbon sequestration on the Chinese Loess Plateau N. Fang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00728-2
- Effective soil erosion control represents a significant net carbon sequestration L. Ran et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30497-4
- Effects of soil conservation measures on soil erosion in the Yunnan Plateau, southwest China X. Duan et al. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.2.131
- Soil and water conservation measures reduce soil and water losses in China but not down to background levels: Evidence from erosion plot data J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.023
- High-resolution monitoring of diffuse (sheet or interrill) erosion using structure-from-motion B. Cândido et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114477
- Increased Lateral Transfer of Soil Organic Carbon Induced by Climate and Vegetation Changes Over the Southeast Coastal Region of China Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JG005406
- Characterizing dissolved organic matter in eroded sediments from a loess hilly catchment using fluorescence EEM-PARAFAC and UV–Visible absorption: Insights from source identification and carbon cycling C. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.029
- Large-scale extraction of check dams and silted fields on the Chinese loess plateau using ensemble learning models Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2023.09.005
- Global soil organic carbon removal by water erosion under climate change and land use change during AD 1850–2005 V. Naipal et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4459-2018
- Soil conservation in the 21st century: why we need smart agricultural intensification G. Govers et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-3-45-2017
- Multiple drivers of low soil carbon sequestration efficiency in croplands of the eastern Loess Plateau X. Su et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jia.2026.04.009
- Effect of mineral and organic fertilizer on N dynamics upon erosion-induced topsoil dilution I. Zentgraf et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34822
- Assessing the Effect of Spatial Variation in Soils on Sediment Loads in Yazoo River Watershed V. Venishetty et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10030062
36 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Exploring the Potential of Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Climate Resilience in Burkina Faso C. Naba et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187995
- Climate oscillations and erosional processes in the Ordos tectonic block and implications for sediment supply to the Yellow River Y. Zhong et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118233
- Predicting gully erosion susceptibility in South Africa by integrating literature directives with regional spatial data G. Olivier et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5653
- Soil lifespans and how they can be extended by land use and management change D. Evans et al. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aba2fd
- Characterizing soil losses in China using data of 137Cs inventories and erosion plots Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105296
- Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover and Driving Forces in the Yan River Basin, Loess Plateau Z. He et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15174240
- Improving Soil Moisture Estimation by Identification of NDVI Thresholds Optimization: An Application to the Chinese Loess Plateau L. Yuan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13040589
- Prioritization of Watershed Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System D. Kumar et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169456
- Evaluation and classification of landscape functions: A case of Pengyang County on the Loess Plateau Z. Ai et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109221
- Reducing topsoil depth decreases the yield and nutrient uptake of maize and soybean grown in a glacial till L. Guo et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3868
- Modeling Soil Moisture from Multisource Data by Stepwise Multilinear Regression: An Application to the Chinese Loess Plateau L. Yuan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10040233
- Vegetation cover and topography rather than human disturbance control gully density and sediment production on the Chinese Loess Plateau J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.09.022
- How soil erosion and runoff are related to land use, topography and annual precipitation: Insights from a meta-analysis of erosion plots in China J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149665
- Reconciling the paradox of soil organic carbon erosion by water K. Van Oost & J. Six https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-635-2023
- Known and Unknown Environmental Impacts Related to Climate Changes in Pakistan: An Under-Recognized Risk to Local Communities M. Adnan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146108
- Micro-topographic assessment of rill morphology highlights the shortcomings of current protective measures in loess landscapes P. Kou et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139721
- Decrease in Erosion‐Induced Soil Organic Carbon as a Result of Vegetation Restoration in the Loess Plateau, China F. Gou et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006917
- Modeling global anthropogenic erosion in the Holocene Z. Wang & K. Van Oost https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683618816499
- Effects of human activities on soil organic carbon redistribution at an agricultural watershed scale on the Chinese Loess Plateau Y. Zeng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107112
- On-site soil dislocation and localized CNP degradation: the real erosion risk faced by sloped cropland in northeastern China Y. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107088
- RUSLE model insights for soil conservation and sustainable land use in semiarid environments B. Zerouali et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00664-3
- Temporal effects of soil organic carbon mineralization during the formation of a siltation body produced by erosion Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2024.108030
- Estimation of Soil Erosion in the Chaohu Lake Basin through Modified Soil Erodibility Combined with Gravel Content in the RUSLE Model S. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091806
- Substantial role of check dams in sediment trapping and carbon sequestration on the Chinese Loess Plateau N. Fang et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00728-2
- Effective soil erosion control represents a significant net carbon sequestration L. Ran et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30497-4
- Effects of soil conservation measures on soil erosion in the Yunnan Plateau, southwest China X. Duan et al. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.2.131
- Soil and water conservation measures reduce soil and water losses in China but not down to background levels: Evidence from erosion plot data J. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.10.023
- High-resolution monitoring of diffuse (sheet or interrill) erosion using structure-from-motion B. Cândido et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114477
- Increased Lateral Transfer of Soil Organic Carbon Induced by Climate and Vegetation Changes Over the Southeast Coastal Region of China Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JG005406
- Characterizing dissolved organic matter in eroded sediments from a loess hilly catchment using fluorescence EEM-PARAFAC and UV–Visible absorption: Insights from source identification and carbon cycling C. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.029
- Large-scale extraction of check dams and silted fields on the Chinese loess plateau using ensemble learning models Y. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2023.09.005
- Global soil organic carbon removal by water erosion under climate change and land use change during AD 1850–2005 V. Naipal et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-4459-2018
- Soil conservation in the 21st century: why we need smart agricultural intensification G. Govers et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-3-45-2017
- Multiple drivers of low soil carbon sequestration efficiency in croplands of the eastern Loess Plateau X. Su et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jia.2026.04.009
- Effect of mineral and organic fertilizer on N dynamics upon erosion-induced topsoil dilution I. Zentgraf et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34822
- Assessing the Effect of Spatial Variation in Soils on Sediment Loads in Yazoo River Watershed V. Venishetty et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10030062
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 27 Sep 2026
Short summary
We used a novel approach to reassess erosion rates on the CLP. We found that both current average topsoil erosion rates and the maximum magnitude of the erosion-induced carbon sink are overestimated on the CLP. Although average topsoil losses on the CLP are still high, a major increase in agricultural productivity occurred since 1980. Hence, erosion is currently not a direct threat to agricultural productivity on the CLP but the long-term effects of erosion on soil quality remain important.
We used a novel approach to reassess erosion rates on the CLP. We found that both current...
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