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Human activities have been a key driver of hydraulic erosion changes in northeastern China over the past 37 years
  • +2
  • Li Hua,
  • Qi Tang,
  • Chongfa Cai,
  • Long Jiang,
  • Chongfa Cai
Li Hua
Huazhong Agricultural University College of Resources and Environment

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Qi Tang
Huazhong Agricultural University College of Resources and Environment
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Chongfa Cai
Huazhong Agricultural University College of Resources and Environment
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Long Jiang
Huazhong Agricultural University College of Resources and Environment
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Chongfa Cai
Huazhong Agricultural University College of Resources and Environment
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Abstract

Northeast China is experiencing severe soil erosion, resulting in land degradation and nutrient loss. Among them, hydraulic erosion poses the greatest threat to food security. Combining various multi-source data, we applied the modified soil erosion equation (RUSLE) to evaluate hydraulic erosion modulus in Northeast China’s black soil region(1985–2021). We used the threshold segmentation and residual analysis method to quantify the relative roles of climate change and human activities on hydraulic erosion. The outcomes were presented below: (1) The yearly mean hydraulic erosion modulus was 804.78 t·km -2·a -1 and decreases significantly with a slope of -11.114 t·km -2·a -1. The area with significant growth in erosion modulus covered 23.77% of the overall area and was mainly spread in grassland and farmland. The areas with a significant decrease in erosion modulus covered 19.82% and were mainly spread in natural forests. (2) In areas with significant increases in erosion, 20.39% of the total area was attributed to anthropogenic factors and 3.38% of the total area was attributed to natural factors. In areas where soil erosion was significantly reduced, 17.67% and 2.15% were attributed to ecological restoration and natural factors, respectively. (3) Deforestation, grassland degradation, and unreasonable farming still exist. The area of sloping cropland (≥6°) increased by 133.9 km 2 per year, and sloping land erosion increased by 0.187 · 10 10 t per year. The focus of soil erosion prevention and control in northeast China is ecological restoration of grasslands, sloping land management, and conservation tillage.
06 Mar 2023Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
07 Mar 2023Submission Checks Completed
07 Mar 2023Assigned to Editor
08 Mar 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Mar 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
27 May 20231st Revision Received
30 May 2023Assigned to Editor
30 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
30 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Jul 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
01 Aug 20232nd Revision Received
01 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
01 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
02 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Accept