Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration provides an opportunity to mitigate climate change impacts, since soils are the largest store of terrestrial carbon. Accurate estimates of SOC content across landscapes are therefore important to monitor and manage efficiently these SOC stocks. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy has been increasingly applied as a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate method for predictive

Permafrost regions store a large amount of soil organic carbon (SOC). Although permafrost degradation with climate warming can stimulate soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, it remains unknown that whether the permafrost existence benefits SOM preservation. Here, a boundary area of permafrost and non-permafrost zone was selected to test the hypothesis that SOM underlain by permafrost has been better

Star dune, the most complex type of single dune ever found, is known to be controlled by several natural factors including wind, topography, and sediment source. Anthropogenic impact of direct disturbance or modification on nearby land surface can also alter its shape and pattern over a longer timescale, but this factor is generally overlooked. Here, we present an integrated study of anthropogenic

The shear strength originating from the root system of vegetation that mechanically stabilizes a soil slope against shallow landslides is called “root cohesion”. The magnitude of the root cohesion depends on the root architecture and root tensile strength, which are well known to have high variability even from the same species. In this paper, a probabilistic framework is proposed to describe the intra-specific

In this study, a multidisciplinary approach was used for a detailed characterization of sediments from the archaeological site Vinča – Belo Brdo, Serbia, one of the most important Neolithic settlements in Europe. This research aimed to determine the paleoenvironmental conditions during Pleistocene and Early Holocene sedimentation prior to Early Neolithic settlement (~5800 cal BC) and provide novel

Assessment of soil erosion is crucial for any long-term soil conservation plan. Traditional in-situ measurements provide a precise amount of erosion rate; however, the procedure is costly and time-consuming when applied over an extensive area. This study aimed to investigate the use of erosion pins and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to assess the spatial distribution of annual soil erosion rates

The relationship between heavy metals and the expression of heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) in the active layer (AL) and the permafrost layer (PL) are not well understood, despite being closely linked to the impact of human activity on heavy metal levels and bacterial response to heavy metal stress. Herein, we conducted a metagenomics sequencing analysis to understand how bacteria adapt to such

The accrual of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) in grassland is an important management option to improve the ecosystem functions of grassland. However, how abiotic (such as grazing exclusion (GE)) and biotic factors influence SOC and N and their different fractions in Tibetan alpine meadows remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors

Litter decomposition is an important ecosystem process and a key determinant of nutrient turnover and carbon cycling in arid and semiarid regions. Sand burial is common in arid and semiarid regions and may strongly influence litter decomposition. However, the main factors influencing litter decomposition under sand burial conditions are uncertain. We performed a litter bag experiment over 3 years to

Long-term analyses of landslide patterns and triggering factors, covering several decades of continuous data, including periods of both acceleration and stability, are a key to understanding landslide activity, background, and variability. In this study, we analyse the long-term relationships between landslide activity and the triggering factors, precipitation, and low-magnitude earthquakes for three

The Loess Plateau covers about 6.6% of the total land area of China. Landslides are serious concerns in Loess Plateau of China, and the south Jingyang tableland on the Loess Plateau of China has received significant attention because of frequent occurrence of gradual retrogressive loess landslides (GRLL) there. However, the characteristics and mechanism of GRLL are largely unknown. In this study, three

Flow and the sediment regime affect water quality and nutrient delivery in all river systems and are fundamental in sustaining the river ecosystem. This study aims to identify the most relevant factors affecting the flow regime and the suspended sediment transport in two Mediterranean intermittent rivers: the Búger (Spain) and the Carapelle (Italy). A set of hydrological indicators were used to characterize

In recent years, the pocket penetrometer (PPT) test has been used to measure soil compaction and has gained attention due to its simplicity, high speed, and low cost. This study aimed to predict soil strength using a regression relationship between unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and PPT. We collected 45 large soil samples from a forest district in a part of the Hyrcanian Forest. In the laboratory

In this study, ensemble learning was applied to develop a classification model capable of accurately estimating slope stability. Two prominent ensemble techniques—parallel learning and sequential learning—were applied to implement the ensemble classifiers. Additionally, for comparison, eight versatile machine learning algorithms were utilized to formulate the single-learning classification models.

This study presents a successful combination of different remote sensing data used in a long-term retrospective investigation of a large and destructive deep-seated, slow-moving landslide reactivated on 16 July 2015 in Devrek District (Zonguldak, Turkey). To this aim, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data were used for Interferometric SAR (InSAR) time-series analysis together with unmanned aerial vehicle

In upland areas, paved farm roads (PFRs) change surface hydrological characteristics and may affect soil erosion. The effect of runoff from PFR (hereafter, road runoff) on soil erosion at the road shoulder edge was investigated at two rainfall intensities (50 and 75 mm/h) under laboratory conditions. Two road shoulder edges (i.e., acute angle (AA) and right angle (RA) intersections between the road

Paleosol-sedimentary sequences encountered in the settlements with long occupation history could provide a unique insight into the trends of landscape development and human-environment interaction over long time scales. We studied paleosols exposed by the excavations in the Kremlin of Zaraysk (Central European Russia) which were formed during the late Pleistocene and the Holocene and contain archaeological

In recent years the concept of connectivity has emerged in sediment management to describe transfer of sediment from different sections of landscapes at various spatial and temporal scales. The sediment connectivity concept has two distinct components: structural and functional. Structural and functional sediment connectivities have a hard and soft nature, respectively, in which the former relates

The bedrock dip angle is a critical factor for nutrient leakage loss on karst trough valley slopes. This study aimed to a) reveal the effects of the bedrock dip angle on the characteristics of nutrient leakage loss on dip-parallel/dip-perpendicular slopes and b) determine the bedrock dip angle threshold for nutrient leakage loss in karst trough valleys. To achieve this objective, the geographical structure

Long-term geomorphic evolution of rivers depends both on the amount of sediment supply and on the river’s ability to transport that sediment. Climate change is anticipated to change flow frequency distributions and sediment yield and could thus alter the geomorphic trajectory of many regulated rivers. We aim to examine the possible geomorphic response of the upper Godavari River, India, to climate

Climatic, topographical and soil conditions are the main drivers of soil potassium (K) variations in terrestrial ecosystem. Although theoretical and empirical studies have explored the single effect of these factors on the variations of soil K, the complex interactions and relative importance of these factors is scarce worldwide and virtually absent for China agricultural ecosystem. Here, the complex

The soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) in the Yunnan Province, southwestern China, is related to the complex topography and multiple vegetation zones. However, the variation in SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks under different vegetation types and altitudes in the mountainous regions in Yunnan is still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of SOC and TN stocks affected

Land use and land use change are factors that affect carbon and nutrient stocks in ecosystems. The aim of this research was to determine the effects of forest land use types on carbon pools and soil and forest floor features. This study was conducted in areas afforested with black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana Lamb. Holmboe) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and on adjacent bare land

Organic amendments are a recyclable resource and can improve soil quality and carbon (C) sequestration, however, the difference in their effects on soil aggregate formation and C sequestration in saline-alkaline soils are less studied. We examined the effects of organic amendments to saline rice paddy fields with 4 treatments: (i) basal paddy soil (CK) lacking amendments (ii) organic fertilizer (OF)

Landscape position may impact soil detachment capacity (Dc) by overland flow through the imposing influences on soil properties and plant roots. Nonetheless, little knowledge existed with regard to the response of Dc to landscape position. Therefore, this study was conducted to detect the response of Dc to landscape positions and identify the primary influencing factors in hilly and gully regions of

To understand vegetation dynamics and their response to climate changes and sea-level rise (SLR) on the northern coast of the Bohai Sea during a marine transgression period (8.2–7.0 cal ka BP), we obtained two sedimentary cores (HG01 and HG02) with high-resolution accelerator mass spectrometry carbon-14 (14C) data from the coastal plain of Bohai Bay in northeastern China. A general warming and wetting

The stable carbon isotope composition of total organic matter (δ13Corg) in loess deposits has been widely used as a valuable proxy for reconstructing terrestrial paleovegetation. Aeolian loess is widely distributed on the high Tibetan Plateau (TP); however, little is known about the variability and paleoenvironmental implications of the δ13Corg of Tibetan loess. We conducted detailed δ13Corg and total

Soil degradation continues to be of the major threats for sustainable development and human well-being. Despite the advances in research, there is still a gap between research and effective conservation. To fill this gap, a change is needed in the paradigm of soil conservation research. Therefore, this paper aims to: (i) introduce the concept of Eco-Holistic- Soil Conservation (EHSC) to support the

Globally, but especially in China, landslides are considered to be one of the most severe and significant natural hazards. In this study, bivariate statistical-based kernel logistic regression (KLR) models with different kernel functions (Polynomial, PUK, and Radial Basis Function), named the PLKLR, PUKLR, and RBFKLR models, were proposed for landslide susceptibility evaluation in Zichang City, China

Rhythmic nature of tufa deposits and analysis of hydrochemical proxies offer the potential to reconstruct the history of regional palaeo-hydrological and palaeo-climatic change. This paper investigates the tufa deposits of Sparkling Lake in the Jiuzhaigou gully of the eastern Tibetan Plateau (ETP). Detailed analysis of mineral composition, major elements and stable isotope (δ13C, δ18O) distinguished

Soil erosion by water is one of the most severe soil degradation processes. Splash erosion is the initial stage of soil erosion by water, resulting from the destructive force of rain drops acting on soil surface aggregates. Apart from rainfall properties, constant soil physical properties (texture and soil organic matter) are crucial in understanding the splash erosion. However, there is lack of information

Sand dunes represent unique environments that increase the biodiversity, geodiversity, or ecosystem services of landscapes. The knowledge of past sand dune development is crucial for realizing their effective protection. Dendrogeomorphic methods represent an effective tool for the reconstruction of geomorphic processes, but their application in aeolian geomorphology is limited. This state can be caused

There are various hypotheses on the relative importance of the individual soil-forming factors of Jenny’s (1941) functional-factorial approach. The quantitative influence of each soil-forming factor on the expression and rates of soil-forming processes, and in particular the influence of the different factors in combination, have not yet been fully explored. The aim of this study was thus to quantify

The benefits of the Taguchi method have been demonstrated in diverse fields. However, its applicability to soil erosion experiments at the slope scale under various conditions remains unclear. Using 6 published datasets that included the dependent variables of erosion rate (D), runoff rate (R), sediment concentration (C), flow velocity (V) and transport capacity (Tc), we compared the results from the

As an important component of global change, plant invasion threaten the sustainability of global ecosystems and may alter the carbon dynamics in the invaded area. Knowledge of the effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) stocks and their profile distribution is limited in coastal salt marshes, which are referred as important “blue carbon”

NaCl and Na2SO4 are the key factors affecting nitrogen (N) mineralization in the soil of estuarine wetlands. However, it remains unclear how N mineralization responses to NaCl and Na2SO4. In the present study, samples of topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil (10–20 cm) were collected in three marshes, including a Phragmites australis marsh (Pa-marsh), a Suaeda salsa marsh (Ss-marsh) and a mudflat marsh (Mu-marsh)

Vegetation type and topographic characteristics are important factors that affect the amount and spatial distribution of the forest floor and the soil carbon cycling. However, the relationships among vegetation type, topographic characteristics, forest floor properties, soil properties and soil labile organic carbon (LOC) fractions remain to be elucidated. Here, we conducted a field observational study

Knowledge of nutrient traits, especially carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), is essential for understanding the biogeochemical cycle and ecosystem functioning. However, spatial patterns in soil and plant tissues stoichiometry in the arid and semiarid forest ecosystem are not yet fully understood. Here, a regional-scale study was conducted on the Qilian Mountains to illustrate the macroecological

“Black soils” recently proposed by the FAO Global Soil Partnership, include fertile soils, characterized by a thick, dark-colored soil horizon rich in organic matter. This study addressed the proposed concept of “black soils”, in terms of taxonomic relationship of their corresponding soil types of existing soil classifications. Similarity studies were based on the calculation of taxonomic distances

A soil map (1:50,000 scale) was recently produced in Sardinia (Italy) using a cost-effective GIS approach. In this study we aimed to verify, in two pilot areas and by means of statistical analysis, the effectiveness of the adopted methodology in representing and predicting the spatial distribution of soil types and properties. We focused on evaluation of 1) the influence of landforms and parent materials

Aggregate stability, playing a key role in resistance to soil erosion, has been greatly impacted by hydrological stresses. Yet, the mechanism of soil aggregate stabilization has been rarely clarified under hydrological stress regimes. In this study, soils across the water-level-fluctuating riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) were investigated to identify how the hydrological stresses

In this study we investigated different age carbonate coatings in the surface steppe and forest-steppe soils and paleosols of the Baikal region and its relationship with environmental fluctuations of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The 14C age of thin pedogenic carbonate laminae indicate four periods of coating formation: the second half of MIS-3 (24.1–23.3 and ~34.0–35.0 kyr BP), from the warm

Purple soils, developing from rapid physical weathering of nutrient rich sedimentary rock and classified as Inceptisols or Entisols in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Taxonomy, are the most important agricultural soils in the Sichuan basin of southwestern China. A portion of purple soils has been acidified and the acidification risk of these soils need further understanding. Here, electrodialysis

Estimation of the α and n van Genuchten (1980) parameters and the saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, of undisturbed soil samples is critical for realistic water flow simulations in the vadose zone. Given the Latorre and Moret-Fernández (2019) method, which allows estimating Ks, α and n from the inverse analysis of a single upward infiltration, the objective of this work is to advance on the theoretical

The effects of cropland abandonment on soil enzyme activity and soil organic carbon (SOC) stability, along with the driving factors, are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to systematically and comprehensively evaluate soil enzyme activity, SOC stability, and the associated driving factors in different vegetation zones after cropland abandonment on the Loess Plateau, China. We selected grasslands with

Typical aeolian landforms have developed in China’s Yarlung Zangbo River valley, which is on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Fully understanding the grain size characteristics of these dunefields is the first step to reveal the region’s aeolian dynamics. We selected three distinctive dunefields for grain size analysis: the Maquan, Shannan, and Mainling valley dunefields. At the scale of individual dunes