Land Degradation & Development最新文献

{"title":"Do Forest Fires and Land Degradation Undermine Environmental Sustainability? Evidence From China","authors":"Ying Yang, Yan Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70855","url":null,"abstract":"Forest fires (FFs), land degradation (LD), and ineffective land use reduce carbon sinks, disrupt ecosystems, and increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, creating challenges for environmental sustainability (ES). Addressing these challenges through targeted green investments (GIs) and effective land reforms (LRs) aligns with sustainable development goals (SDGs), specifically Climate Action (SDG 13) and Life on Land (SDG 15), by endorsing resilient landscapes and emission reduction strategies crucial for a sustainable future. This study examines the interactions between LD, LRs, FFs, and ES in China using a quarterly dataset spanning from 2000Q1 to 2023Q4. Wavelet coherence and ordinary least square (OLS) analysis were employed to analyze the comovements and dynamic relationships between ES and the independent variables such as LD, LRs, number of FFs, GI, economic losses (ELs) associated with fires, and expenditures on research and development (R&D). The results show that increased fire events and associated ELs significantly contribute to environmental degradation, with a 1% rise in fires and ELs increasing emissions by 6.64% and 1.09%, respectively. These findings suggest that FF prevention, EL reduction, and land restoration are important for improving ES. The results also highlight the need to strengthen GI and R&D to support emission reduction and sustainable land management. Therefore, integrated policies focusing on forest management, land‐use improvement, and climate‐oriented investment can contribute to ES in China.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Higher NO 3 − ‐N Levels Under Mulberry ( Morus alba L.) Planting Enhanced CAZyme Abundance, Increasing Soil Carbon Stability","authors":"Zi Yang, Weiguo Zhao, Jinjin Yang, Zhenjiang Wang, Weijun Zhu, Changyu Qiu, Qiang Lin, Meina Zhu, Mengdi Zhao","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70881","url":null,"abstract":"Afforestation is widely advocated for boosting carbon (C) sequestration. However, the stability of soil C pools in economically and culturally significant mulberry plantations remains poorly understood. The soil organic C (SOC) contents in different aggregates and the oxidizable OC fractions were measured. We analyzed the mechanism of C pool stability change through a framework that incorporated soil nitrogen properties (ammonium nitrogen: NH <jats:sub>4</jats:sub> <jats:sup>+</jats:sup> ‐N, nitrate nitrogen: NO <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> <jats:sup>−</jats:sup> ‐N, alkali‐hydrolyzed nitrogen: AN, total nitrogen: TN), carbohydrate‐active enzyme (CAZyme) characteristics (reflecting the decomposition of plant‐ and microbial‐derived C), and climatic factors (mean annual temperature: MAT and mean annual precipitation: MAP). (1) Analysis of pooled data showed a 94.59% increase in the recalcitrant SOC (fraction‐4) content of mulberry soils relative to wasteland soils, accounting for 100.92% of the increase in total SOC (27%, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05; TSOC). For different aggregates, the increase in TSOC was primarily driven by the SOC content in macroaggregates (contributing 65.92%; Mac‐SOC), (2) Compared to wasteland soils, mulberry soils NO <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> <jats:sup>−</jats:sup> ‐N content increased by 107.29%, while NH <jats:sub>4</jats:sub> <jats:sup>+</jats:sup> ‐N content increased by 47.16% ( <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05); among the soil microbial CAZyme families responsible for degrading plant‐ and microbial‐derived C, 32 out of 50 showed significantly greater abundance, (3) In mulberry soils, MAP and MAT exerted an indirect positive influence on CAZymes abundance via soil TN, AN, and NO <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> <jats:sup>−</jats:sup> ‐N. Subsequently, CAZymes abundance exerted direct positive effects on fraction‐4, Mac‐SOC, and TSOC content, with a coefficient of 0.559. In wasteland soils, MAP and MAT indirectly increased CAZymes abundance via their effects on soil pH and EC. CAZymes strongly and directly increased labile SOC, SOC in silt + clay, and TSOC content (coefficient = 0.859). The findings of this research establish a practical framework for improving ecosystem C sequestration through the optimized management of mulberry planting systems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"128 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Future Soil Erosion Under Combined CMIP6 Climate Projections and Land Use/Land Cover Change: A RUSLE ‐Based Assessment of the Kampe Omi Dam Basin in Nigeria","authors":"Titus Adeyemi Alonge, Amos T. Kabo‐Bah, Lily Lisa Yevugah, Abdul‐Karim Iddrisu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70878","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70878","url":null,"abstract":"Soil erosion remains a major environmental challenge in Nigeria, driven by the combined effects of climate variability and land use/land cover (LULC) changes. Understanding future dynamics is essential for effective soil conservation planning. This study assessed future soil erosion in the Kampe Omi Dam Basin using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with Coupled Model Intercomparison Phase six (CMIP6) climate projections and simulated LULC scenarios for intermediate‐emission SSP2‐4.5 and high‐emission SSP5‐8.5 pathways for 2021–2040 and 2041–2060, relative to a 1995–2014 baseline. The results showed no statistically significant trend in annual precipitation, although rainfall erosivity exhibited spatial variability with a general declining tendency across scenarios. Cropland expansion and vegetation loss increased the cover‐management (C) factor, whereas improved conservation practices reduced the support practice (P) factor. The soil loss ranged from 0.00 to 7776.90 t/ha/yr. Despite increasing land‐use pressure, mean soil loss is projected to decline by over 50% in 2021–2040 and by more than 40% by 2041–2060 relative to the baseline (33.71 t/ha/yr), suggesting that reduced rainfall erosivity and improved management may offset erosion risks. Low erosion risk (0–10 t/ha/yr) dominated the basin (88.16%), although localised high‐risk hotspots persisted. Sensitivity analysis showed that while soil loss was most responsive to changes in the C‐factor under perturbed conditions, erosion outcomes were influenced by rainfall erosivity, LULC dynamics, and conservation practices, with the P‐factor exerting an important moderating effect. These findings support targeted watershed management to mitigate future erosion risks and soil conservation planning.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"105 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Establishing Monthly Benchmarks for Erosion Control and Vegetation Restoration Targets Across the Loess Plateau","authors":"Ye Wang, Haijing Shi, Xihua Yang, Rui Li, Hongming Zhang, Jiaqiong Zhang, Wenyi Sun, Yangyang Liu, Qinggaozi Zhu, Guang Yang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70847","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70847","url":null,"abstract":"Establishing scientifically grounded soil erosion control targets and feasible vegetation restoration strategies is crucial for high quality development of the Chinese Loess Plateau which is severely affected by soil erosion. Currently, the commonly used tolerable soil loss (TSL) is inadequate for addressing the spatial heterogeneity in topography and temporal variability in climatic conditions attributed to its static characteristics. This study developed a dynamic assessment framework using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to construct a monthly soil erosion rate raster dataset at a 500 m resolution for 2001–2024. Model validation was conducted through comparison with sediment yield data from 25 tributary hydrological stations. By analyzing the soil erosion rate and the prevailing climatic and land management factors, we established monthly erosion control targets (ECT) and the corresponding vegetation cover targets (VCT). Results showed that (1) the average erosion rate declined from 15.5 to 10.17 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> year <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> , with a mean of 10.53 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> year <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> , and peaks occurred in summer, especially July; (2) the estimated ECT values ranged from 13.4 to 8.9 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> year <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> , with a mean of 7.2 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> year <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> , peaking at 1.6 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> month <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in July; (3) the estimated VCT ranged from 43.4% to 66.6%, averaging 59.8%. Overall, 51.6% of the Loess Plateau has already met the VCT requirements necessary to sustain the ECT. These findings provide scientific guidance for soil and water conservation and vegetation restoration tailored to local conditions, with potential applicability to other erosion‐prone regions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Multitrophic Biodiversity, Co‐Occurrence Network and Assembly Mechanisms Under Typical Vegetation Restoration Patterns in Karst Region","authors":"Xiang Zhang, Yingliang Liu, Yao Kai, Lihong Lu, Aoli Zhang, Zhaoxia Zeng, Fuping Zeng, Xunyang He, Hao Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70884","url":null,"abstract":"Previous studies often overlooked the dynamic effects of karst vegetation restoration on soil multi‐trophic biodiversity and the underlying community‐assembly mechanisms. To fill this gap, we performed a seasonal comparative analysis of soil biodiversity, co‐occurrence network architecture, and assembly processes across three representative karst restoration patterns (grass, forest‐grass, and forest). During the wet season, the grass pattern exhibited significantly lower biodiversity than both the forest‐grass and forest patterns by 17%–49%. In the dry season, the forest pattern achieved the highest biodiversity indices and displayed minimal seasonal fluctuation. Vegetation type and season jointly shaped soil biotic co‐occurrence networks: the forest–grass pattern generated the greatest network complexity and connectivity, whereas the dry season fostered tighter network structures. The bacterial community was predominantly driven by heterogeneous selection with a relatively high contribution in the wet season, whereas it was dominated by dispersal limitation in the dry season. In contrast, the fungal community was largely influenced by dispersal limitation across seasons. As for the protist and nematode communities, undominated accounted for a relatively high contribution in the wet season, while dispersal limitation became the dominant driver in the dry season. Moreover, soil moisture, nutrient status, biodiversity, and network properties emerged as the principal drivers of assembly, with their pathways varying by taxon and season. Collectively, our reveal integrated regulation of soil biotic communities by restoration pattern and seasonal dynamics in karst ecosystems, offering a robust theoretical basis for soil‐biota recovery.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forest Landscape Changes and Ecological Restoration for Sustainable Land Systems","authors":"Tianzhai Li,&nbsp;Yinan Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70751","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70751","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates forest landscape changes and ecological restoration in Sichuan Province, China, to assess their contribution to sustainable land systems under climate stress. A theory-guided multistage framework was applied to link Landsat-based change detection, landscape metrics, habitat quality assessment, soil-retention analysis, GeoDetector, Spatial Durbin modeling, and scenario simulation for 2000–2023. The Sustainable Land System Restoration Index was constructed from vegetation recovery, habitat condition, soil-retention performance, and landscape integrity. The results show that forest area increased from 178,400 to 192,300 km², while fragmentation declined and landscape connectivity improved. The Sustainable Land System Restoration Index rose from 0.462 to 0.612, indicating substantial ecological recovery in both structural and functional terms. Driver analysis revealed that temperature anomaly, evapotranspiration pressure, fragmentation, and road density reduced restoration performance, whereas forest recovery intensity and restoration policy support produced significant positive effects, including spatial spillovers. Scenario analysis further showed that a restoration-priority pathway would generate the strongest gains by 2035, while climate stress would weaken restoration benefits. The findings highlight the need for climate-adaptive, quality-oriented, and spatially coordinated restoration strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 14","pages":"10035-10052"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70751","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148364948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Arsenic in Rice Across a Climate Gradient in Vietnam","authors":"Anh T. Q. Nguyen,&nbsp;Van M. Dinh,&nbsp;Anh M. Nguyen,&nbsp;Ngan T. Nguyen,&nbsp;Hoan T. Dao,&nbsp;Quan T. Dang,&nbsp;Trung Q. Lai,&nbsp;Eden Halpert,&nbsp;Tu N. Nguyen,&nbsp;Trang T. H. Nguyen,&nbsp;Than T. N. Dam,&nbsp;Lan Nguyen-Thanh,&nbsp;Nghia K. Nguyen,&nbsp;Ngoc T. M. Nguyen,&nbsp;Thanh Ngo-Duc,&nbsp;Marcos Paradelo,&nbsp;Kazunori Minamikawa,&nbsp;Benjamin C. Bostick,&nbsp;Stefan Dultz,&nbsp;Minh N. Nguyen","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70748","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70748","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Arsenic (As) accumulation in rice poses a significant, worldwide threat to food safety. Arsenic uptake is highly sensitive to climate and environmental factors; however, a comprehensive understanding of how diverse climatic conditions influence As dynamics and subsequent grain accumulation remains elusive. To fill this gap, we investigated As in soil and rice grain across 243 floodplain paddy sites along a ~2000 km longitudinal transect in Vietnam (8° N to 22° N), which is part of the world's largest rice-growing belt in Asia. The median levels of As in soils ranged from 8.3 to 9.9 mg kg⁻¹, and the consequent median levels of As in straw and grain were 0.85 mg kg⁻¹ and 163.5 μg kg⁻¹, respectively. Our findings reveal a clear tendency for rice grain As accumulation to vary with climate and cropping season. Particularly, data from contrasting seasons show that warmer temperatures promote higher As uptake in rice grains and enhance the accumulation of inorganic As species. These results underscore an urgent need to establish new, proactive mitigation strategies and sustainable land management practices in response to accelerating global warming to safeguard the global rice supply.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 14","pages":"9999-10008"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148704375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From Knowledge to Practice: Information Access, Smallholders' Behavior, and the Adoption of Climate-Resilient Soil Management Practices in Coastal Cameroon","authors":"Ayat Ullah,&nbsp;Vladimir Verner,&nbsp;Zdenek Oprsal,&nbsp;Mustapha Yakubu Madaki,&nbsp;William Nkomoki,&nbsp;Miroslava Bavorova","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70750","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70750","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Smallholder farmers in coastal Cameroon face accelerating soil degradation and climate variability. However, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) remains uneven. This study examines how information behavior and motivational objectives shape SAP adoption in the Tiko municipality using a cross-sectional survey of 122 household heads and a multivariate logistic framework. Adoption rates are high for inorganic fertilizers (69.7%), animal manure (68.9%), and contour ridges (65.6%), but lower for reduced tillage (51.6%) and mulching (23.8%). Male farmers are more likely to use animal manure and less likely to apply mineral fertilizer. Older farmers are less likely to adopt reduced tillage, while farming experience increases fertilizer use. Access to technology facilitates manure adoption, while extension services promote reduced tillage. Soil fertility concerns drive the use of contour ridges, whereas climate adaptation concerns are negatively associated with manure use. These results highlight that adaptation is not purely a technical matter. Rather, information access, perceptions, and objectives mediate adoption decisions. Strengthening extension, farmer-to-farmer learning, and access to inputs can help translate knowledge into action and align short-term productivity with long-term soil health.</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 14","pages":"10022-10034"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70750","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148704491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response of Soil Erodibility Property to Ephemeral Gully Development in Long Gentle Cropland of Northeast China","authors":"Jun Jing,&nbsp;Guanghui Zhang,&nbsp;Rongchang Zeng,&nbsp;Shukun Xing","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70735","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70735","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ephemeral gully development (EGD) drives substantial land degradation, profoundly altering soil erodibility properties in cropland. Despite its importance, the spatial patterns of soil erodibility properties within degraded areas, as well as the underlying controlling factors, remain poorly understood. This study quantitatively assessed the spatial heterogeneity of eight soil erodibility indicators in cropland degraded by EGD in the Mollisol region of Northeast China. An improved construction procedure based on network analysis was employed to integrate these indicators into a comprehensive soil erodibility index (CSEI_NA), while the dominant factors and underlying pathways governing the index were identified. The results indicated that structural stability index, penetration resistance, soil cohesion, mean number of raindrop impacts and mean weight diameter progressively decreased from original cropland to gully floor, with average decreases ranging from 2.6% to 12.0%. From contribution area to lower slope, these indicators followed a decrease–increase pattern, with variation ranges of −43.4% to −4.9% and 10.3% to 117.3%. In contrast, erodibility factor, saturated hydraulic conductivity and slaking rate exhibited opposite trends. CSEI_NA provided a more effective characterization of soil erodibility and better captured its spatial variability. In the ephemeral gully system, the CSEI_NA peaked at the gully floor and middle slope, which should be prioritized for erosion risk management. Clay content, sand content, physical crust thickness, organic matter content, root mass density, and straw mass density were identified as the dominant factors influencing CSEI_NA, jointly explaining 92.5% of its variability. These findings offer essential theoretical and methodological insights for managing soil erodibility in erosion-degraded cropland.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 14","pages":"9818-9833"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148289953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Topographic and Climatic Determinants of Soil Organic Carbon Across Landscapes: A Meta‐Analysis","authors":"Vishal Sharma, Syed Hujjat ul Baligah, Tajamul Islam Shah, Shahid Shuja Shafai, Owais Bashir, Syed Sheraz Madhi, S. Naresh Kumar, Ayyandar Arunachalam, Shabir Ahmed Bangroo","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70880","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70880","url":null,"abstract":"The soil is the greatest natural store of organic carbon, holding between 1500 to 1550 Pg C of organic carbon at the top 100 cm of the soil globally—roughly twice the carbon pool in the atmosphere. The spatial distribution of this stock is controlled by a complex chain of controls: topographic position regulates the hydrological redistribution, microclimate and erosion at the landscape scale and climatic variables, such as mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), aridity index and seasonality of precipitation, determine the envelope of the topographic effects at the regional and continental scale. Although the primary literature is growing at a very fast rate, no quantitative synthesis has to date concurrently evaluated the complete set of topographic variables, such as slope gradient, aspect, elevation, topographic curvature and the topographic wetness index (TWI), alongside the influences of climate and processes of soil carbon fractionation. This meta‐analysis screened 1339 peer‐reviewed studies (1964–2024) following PRISMA 2020 guidelines; of these, 26 reported extractable correlation coefficients and were included in the quantitative meta‐analysis (slope: &lt;jats:italic&gt;k&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 15; elevation: &lt;jats:italic&gt;k&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 11). The study addresses the following questions: (i) to quantify the mean effect sizes and between‐study heterogeneity of topographic and climatic controls on SOC; (ii) to specify the moderating variables that justify the extreme heterogeneity ( &lt;jats:italic&gt;I&lt;/jats:italic&gt; &lt;jats:sup&gt;2&lt;/jats:sup&gt; &gt; 98%) and (iii) to define the critical gaps in the research. Fisher &lt;jats:italic&gt;r&lt;/jats:italic&gt; ‐to‐ &lt;jats:italic&gt;z&lt;/jats:italic&gt; meta‐analysis showed that slope gradient has a borderline‐significant positive mean effect on SOC ( &lt;jats:italic&gt;μ̂&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.238; 95% CI: 0.001–0.474; &lt;jats:italic&gt;k&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 15; &lt;jats:italic&gt;I&lt;/jats:italic&gt; &lt;jats:sup&gt;2&lt;/jats:sup&gt; = 98.1%; &lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.049) and a non‐significant effect of altitude on SOC ( &lt;jats:italic&gt;μ̂&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.130; 95% CI: −0.178–0.437; &lt;jats:italic&gt;k&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 11; &lt;jats:italic&gt;I&lt;/jats:italic&gt; &lt;jats:sup&gt;2&lt;/jats:sup&gt; = 98.7%; &lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.409). Wide heterogeneity of the two analyses indicates dominant expression of moderating roles of ecosystem type, land use, soil texture and mineralogy. The topographic aspect has the strongest topographical dominance: the northward slopes accrete 1.9–3.2 times more SOC compared to southward counterparts at the same altitude. TWI—an index that combines terrain location stance and hydrological connection—emerges as the most effective terrain predictor of SOC in digital soil mapping (DSM) models and explains 15%–38% of the landscape‐scale variance in SOC. The current particulate organic carbon (POC) versus mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) fractionation model shows that erosional summit locations selectively lose labile POC and deposition","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"291 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}