Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China

Soil degradation in croplands caused by water erosion significantly threatens food security. However, quantitative effects of current and future water erosion on soil productivity in croplands remain uncertain. Herein, we used 2473 soil series profiles across China to develop a quantitative method t...

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Main Authors: Yang Xue, Duan Xingwu, Liu Baoyuan, Xie Yun, Siemann Evan, Wang Hongna, Zhang Enwei, Rong Li, Li Yawen, Feng Detai, Lv Huanxu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Press 2025-03-01
Series:National Science Open
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Online Access:https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.1360/nso/20240050
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author Yang Xue
Duan Xingwu
Liu Baoyuan
Xie Yun
Siemann Evan
Wang Hongna
Zhang Enwei
Rong Li
Li Yawen
Feng Detai
Lv Huanxu
author_facet Yang Xue
Duan Xingwu
Liu Baoyuan
Xie Yun
Siemann Evan
Wang Hongna
Zhang Enwei
Rong Li
Li Yawen
Feng Detai
Lv Huanxu
author_sort Yang Xue
collection DOAJ
description Soil degradation in croplands caused by water erosion significantly threatens food security. However, quantitative effects of current and future water erosion on soil productivity in croplands remain uncertain. Herein, we used 2473 soil series profiles across China to develop a quantitative method to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of soil productivity affected by water erosion. Results showed that the productivity of 90.5% of typical soil series in China notably decreased due to water erosion. The current annual variation rate in soil productivity due to water erosion averages 10%, with a maximum of up to 33%. The Northeast Black Soil area, the Loess Plateau, and the Southwest Red Soil mountainous area face the highest risk of soil productivity degradation due to future water erosion. These high-risk regions coincide with China’s demographic dividing line (Hu Line). This study highlights the urgent need for targeted soil conservation strategies in these high-risk regions to prevent soil productivity loss and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2097-1168
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Science Press
record_format Article
series National Science Open
spelling doaj-art-a36b6eabd48444faad0709108bfefc9f2025-08-20T03:50:54ZengScience PressNational Science Open2097-11682025-03-01410.1360/nso/20240050eb33e642Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in ChinaYang Xue0Duan Xingwu1Liu Baoyuan2Xie Yun3Siemann Evan4Wang Hongna5Zhang Enwei6Rong Li7Li Yawen8Feng Detai9Lv Huanxu10["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China"]["State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China","Department of Geographic Science, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China"]["Biosciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]["Yunnan Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion Prevention and Green Development, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China"]Soil degradation in croplands caused by water erosion significantly threatens food security. However, quantitative effects of current and future water erosion on soil productivity in croplands remain uncertain. Herein, we used 2473 soil series profiles across China to develop a quantitative method to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of soil productivity affected by water erosion. Results showed that the productivity of 90.5% of typical soil series in China notably decreased due to water erosion. The current annual variation rate in soil productivity due to water erosion averages 10%, with a maximum of up to 33%. The Northeast Black Soil area, the Loess Plateau, and the Southwest Red Soil mountainous area face the highest risk of soil productivity degradation due to future water erosion. These high-risk regions coincide with China’s demographic dividing line (Hu Line). This study highlights the urgent need for targeted soil conservation strategies in these high-risk regions to prevent soil productivity loss and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.1360/nso/20240050soil productivity degradationwater erosioncroplandquantitative assessment
spellingShingle Yang Xue
Duan Xingwu
Liu Baoyuan
Xie Yun
Siemann Evan
Wang Hongna
Zhang Enwei
Rong Li
Li Yawen
Feng Detai
Lv Huanxu
Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China
National Science Open
soil productivity degradation
water erosion
cropland
quantitative assessment
title Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China
title_full Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China
title_fullStr Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China
title_short Quantifying water erosion’s impact on soil productivity of croplands in China
title_sort quantifying water erosion s impact on soil productivity of croplands in china
topic soil productivity degradation
water erosion
cropland
quantitative assessment
url https://www.sciengine.com/doi/10.1360/nso/20240050
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