Land Degradation & Development最新文献

{"title":"Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Attribution Analysis of Multitemporal Runoff Patterns for Water Resources and Climate Security in Huaihe River Basin","authors":"Juan Chen, Duanxiang Cao, Weiguo Zhang, Feifei Sun, Yunling Li, Yu Hou, Rupesh Kumar, Mohammad Rafe Hatshan","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5641","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the spatiotemporal evolution and attribution of streamflow is critical for effective water resource management and climate security. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis of runoff dynamics across multiple temporal scales in the Huaihe River basin, which is a major hydrological region in China. By examining annual, interannual, and interdecadal trends, the research delineates tendencies, abrupt changes, and periodicity in runoff patterns. The double mass curve (DMC) method is applied to quantify runoff variations, incorporating influences of vegetation dynamics, anthropogenic water withdrawals, and climate change. The results reveal a highly uneven annual runoff distribution in the Huaihe River basin. Most hydrometric stations show statistically insignificant declining trends in annual, flood-season, and non-flood-season runoff, except for the Hengpaitou section. Significant mutation points are detected around 1990 and 2000 across all runoff series, along with periodic fluctuations featuring dominant about 30-year cycles. Attribution analysis indicates that human activities account for over 80% of the observed streamflow variations. In the upper basin, indirect anthropogenic factors (e.g., land use changes and vegetation dynamics) dominate, whereas direct human interventions have a stronger influence in the middle reaches. These findings enhance understanding of the interactions between natural processes and anthropogenic impacts on hydrology, providing a scientific basis for sustainable water resource management under climate change in the Huaihe River basin and similar regions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143926909","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":"Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential, Storage, and Influencing Mechanisms in China","authors":"Jinhua Cao, Zipeng Zhang, Jianli Ding, Liangyi Li, Junchen Ai, Yuanting Yang, Chuanmei Zhu, Xiangyu Ge, Jingzhe Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5636","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5636","url":null,"abstract":"The soil organic carbon sequestration potential (SOC_sp) has important implications for the global carbon cycle and responses to climate change. However, there is a dearth of spatial information specifically for China within this field, and our knowledge regarding the factors influencing SOC_sp remains somewhat limited. To solve this problem, this study utilized legacy soil data collected in the 1980s (1979–1984s), combined with climatic landscape zoning, and adopted digital soil mapping techniques to produce spatial prediction models of the density of soil carbon sequestration potential for five designated depths. The results showed that the accuracy of the top soil (0–30 cm) model was higher than that of the subsoil (30–100 cm) model. SOC_sp was highest in northwestern, northern, and eastern China and lowest in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and northeastern China. Scale- and location-specific effects of environmental factors on SOCs were observed, with two-factor effects being stronger than those of their one-factor counterparts. Spatial differentiation characteristics of drivers between topsoil and subsoil layers show significant climatic zonal differences. In the topsoil layer, climate and vegetation are the dominant factors in the arid zone, while the semi-arid zone is mainly regulated by vegetation and land use; in the subsoil layer, climate and land use together dominate SOC_sp in the arid and semi-arid zones. In this study, we provide data support for the SOC_sp pathway for climate change mitigation processes, while emphasizing the importance of in-depth studies on the mechanisms of SOC_sp dynamics through its driving mechanisms.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143926910","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":"A Multi-Objective Framework for Regional Ecological Planning: Restoration Prioritization Analysis","authors":"Juan He, Yao Li, Wei Zhou, Mingjie Qian, Enmao Zha, Xueyi Shi","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5591","url":null,"abstract":"Ecosystem management initiatives remain far from achieving sustainable development targets, with degraded ecosystems significantly limiting the protection efficiency. This study proposes a multi-objective framework for ecological restoration that complements existing protected areas and identifies priority areas for restoration to enhance effectiveness and sustainability within resource constraints. Focusing on a representative ecologically fragile county on the Loess Plateau, this study assessed ecosystem services (ESs) and applied the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) model to delineate targeted protection areas. Following this, restoration objectives were established based on regional conservation requirements, accompanied by the development of a multi-objective framework and corresponding scenarios. These scenarios aimed to maximize protection efficiency, improve ecological importance and landscape connectivity, while minimizing human activities impacts. Lastly, regional ecological security patterns were constructed to identify restoration sources, corridors, and barriers, as well as prioritize restoration areas into four levels. Key findings revealed that three scenarios offered the highest trade-off and protection efficiency, respectively, selected as targeted protection areas under the hypothetical objectives. Regions characterized by higher ESs and lower human activity, encompassing one-third of the total area, exhibited lower restoration costs. Restoration priorities covered 15.25%–26.83% of the study area, with 8–19 barriers identified in agricultural and construction zones, emphasizing the imperative for land-use conversion to forests or grasslands. These findings provide actionable strategies for harmonizing ecological conservation with socio-economic imperatives, highlighting the importance of tiered protection and targeted interventions to enhance restoration effectiveness.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"116 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143915719","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":"Effects of Diaspore Traits and Vegetation Structures on Wind Dispersal of Solanum rostratum Using Wind Tunnel Simulations","authors":"Yan Jiang, Quanlai Zhou, Wei Cao, Yue Zhang, Yuhang Su, Xiangrong Li, Zhimin Liu, Jiaqi Zhang, Hang Yu, Zhiming Xin, Yongcui Wang, Lixin Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5634","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5634","url":null,"abstract":"The effects of diaspore traits and vegetation structure (VS) on the wind-dispersal processes of an invasive alien tumbleweed <i>Solanum rostratum</i> are not well understood. In this study, we used a wind tunnel to determine the wind velocity required for stem breakage of the plant. VSs of bare ground, desert steppe, typical steppe, and meadow steppe were simulated to determine the threshold wind velocity (TWV) of the plant (diaspore) and to measure diaspore velocity (DV) at wind velocities of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 m s⁻¹. The results showed that the stem of the plant did not break, even at a wind velocity of 14 m s⁻¹. The TWV is so high (&gt; 6 m s⁻¹ on bare ground) that the diaspore could not move on the meadow steppe at a wind velocity of 14 m s⁻¹. Diaspore morphological traits and VS were key factors affecting the TWV, contributing 40.6% and 40.5%, respectively. Wind velocity, VS, and diaspore traits were the significant factors affecting DV, contributing 70.6%, 13.5%, and 6.6%, respectively. The DV significantly decreased from bare ground, desert steppe to typical steppe, and even remained still at a wind velocity of 14 m s⁻¹ on the meadow steppe. Therefore, the diaspore adopts an anti-long-distance wind-dispersal strategy when the plant stem does not break, or the diaspore adopts a non-long-distance wind-dispersal strategy once the plant stem breaks. Understanding the wind-dispersal mechanism of <i>S. rostratum</i> is of practical significance for predicting its distribution, controlling its spread range, and promoting the restoration of degraded vegetation.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143915511","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":"Indirect Prediction Based on Machine Learning and Remote Sensing of Ecological Stoichiometric Ratio Superior to Direct Prediction","authors":"Zehao Zhang, Yuan Chi, Zhanyong Fu, Tian Li, Rui Hu, Yao Zhang, Zhaohua Lu, Jingkuan Sun","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5627","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5627","url":null,"abstract":"Exploring carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents as well as dynamic balances in soil are important for understanding ecological characteristics and stability. However, the substantial costs associated with soil surveys limited the possibility of large-scale surveys. The accurate predictive capability of machine learning (ML) supported this possibility. In this study, ML models (Random Forest, RF; support vector machine, SVM; Extreme Gradient Boosting, XGboost; Gradient Boosting Decision Tree, GBDT) and remote sensing data were used to predict soil C, N, and P as well as ecological stoichiometric ratio (ESR) in the Yellow River Delta (YRD). The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of four MLs in predicting soil C, N, and P as well as ESRs and to assess the performance of indirect and direct predictions in ESRs. The results showed that RF and SVM have higher accuracy than XGboost and GBDT. The model was the main factor affecting accuracy, and there were differences in the applicability of different elements to the model. The ESR prediction performance was weaker than that of total elements due to the fact that ESR is controlled by two elements. In the localized prediction of farmland and wetland vegetation, the performance of the models was substantially enhanced compared to the global prediction. The predictive performance of total elements was higher and the predictive performance of ESRs was poorer in soil in farmland. However, this pattern was reversed in wetland vegetated soil. The prediction followed by calculation method improved the prediction accuracy of ESRs. Although not generalizable, this approach still offered a possibility for accurate prediction of multi-element variables such as ESRs. Land-use type had a significant effect on soil C, N, and P as well as ESRs. The mean values of TC, TN, and TP in the study area were 17.730 ± 2.395, 0.710 ± 0.253, and 0.691 ± 0.089 g/kg, respectively. The highest TC was found in farmland and wetland vegetation soils with mean values of 18.228 and 18.138 g/kg, respectively. The Yellow River as well as its old channel had a significant effect on the spatial distribution of C, N, P, and ESRs. This study clarified the spatial distribution pattern of soil C, N, and P as well as ESR in the YRD. In addition, this study provided an indirect prediction method for the prediction of multi-element variables that improved the prediction accuracy.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"70 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143905441","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 Edaphic Factors Shaping Floral Diversity Patterns and Vegetation Structure of Treeline Ecotones in Kumaun Himalaya","authors":"Vandana Bisht, Subrat Sharma, Surendra Singh Bargali, Archana Fartyal","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5633","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5633","url":null,"abstract":"Treeline ecotones are ecologically sensitive ecosystems that are increasingly vulnerable to recent global warming and land degradation processes such as soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and organic matter loss. However, little is known about how floral diversity in treeline ecotones responds to changing environmental factors, particularly in the high Himalayan treeline ecotones. The present study examined the potential effects of topographic and edaphic factors on the vegetation structure of treeline ecotones of two mountain summits in Kumaun Himalaya. Using line transects, plots, and quadrats, we recorded 96 plant species from 72 genera and 36 families. Jaccard similarity coefficients revealed varying degrees of similarity in species composition between different aspects and elevations. Beta diversity analysis indicated nestedness as a dominant driver of community composition. Vegetation assessments showed shifts in tree density (ranging from 12.50 to 227.50 individuals per hectare), basal area (ranging from 0.138 to 9.855 square meters per hectare), and dispersion patterns along the elevational gradient. The dominant tree species across all treeline ecotone plots was <jats:italic>Rhododendron arboreum</jats:italic>. Regeneration was evident, with 69% of trees in smaller girth classes, indicating active recruitment. In addition to vegetation distribution, this study analysed soil characteristics across the treeline ecotones to assess potential land degradation trends. Soil temperature, pH, moisture, and water holding capacity decreased with elevation. South and east aspects had higher temperatures, pH, and phosphorus, while north and west aspects had higher moisture, organic carbon, and nitrogen. Results indicate that decreasing soil moisture, increasing bulk density, and declining total organic carbon at higher elevations and exposed aspects are indicative of degradation processes that may impact long‐term vegetation stability. The significant relationships between soil parameters and species distribution highlight the importance of understanding degradation dynamics in shaping floristic patterns. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed distinct clusters of treeline plots based on environmental variables (stress value: 0.17), while canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrated strong species‐environment correlations, explaining 83.08% of the total inertia. Given the observed soil degradation trends, conservation strategies should prioritize soil stabilization, erosion control, and nutrient depletion to mitigate the risks of ecosystem degradation. This research provides key insights into ecosystem resilience and serves as a foundation for monitoring treeline ecotones under changing environmental conditions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143901230","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":"Stoichiometry Influences on Microbial Necromass Carbon Contributions to Soil Organic Carbon in A Chinese Fir Plantation Under a 7‐Year Litter Manipulation","authors":"Qiao Liu, Fangchao Wang, Zhigao Liao, Chao Liang, Yiqi Luo, Wenjuan Huang, Huimin Wang, Shengnan Wang, Fu‐Sheng Chen","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5642","url":null,"abstract":"Microbial necromass is microbial assimilation metabolites that are important for soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. Stoichiometric ratios reflect the relative abundances of various elements in forest ecosystems, and the proportions of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in an organism affect its metabolic capacity, biomass, and final necromass yield. However, the mechanism by which soil stoichiometry regulates microbial necromass is unclear. The effect of soil stoichiometry on microbial necromass was investigated using a 7‐year field manipulation experiment in a subtropical Chinese fir (<jats:italic>Cunninghamia lanceolata</jats:italic>) plantation with aboveground litter addition and removal. We measured microbial necromass C contributions to SOC (MNC/SOC) and the stoichiometric ratios of total and available nutrients, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities. MNC/SOC at the 0–10 cm soil layer was significantly increased by litter addition rather than litter removal. The stoichiometric ratios of available nutrients (31%) and enzymatic activities (15%) explained the variations in the MNC/SOC. The fungal MNC/SOC was positively correlated with the C/N ratios of microbial biomass and enzyme activities, whereas the bacterial MNC/SOC was only correlated with the C/P and N/P ratios of available nutrients and enzyme activities, which indicated that the relationship between fungal and bacterial MNC/SOC and stoichiometry ratios was not exactly the same. However, the MNC/SOC and stoichiometric ratios did not have significant correlations below the 20 cm soil layers, which indicated that the relationship was decoupled with increasing soil depth. Our results provide a holistic understanding of soil stoichiometry to elucidate the mechanisms of MNC accumulation and contribution along the soil profile in a subtropical forest, providing new insights and research directions for enhancing C sequestration and improving soil quality.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"277 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143901231","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":"Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Vegetation Net Primary Productivity and Its Drivers in China's Three Eco-Zones and Four Shelterbelts Region","authors":"Yonghuan Ma, Mengke Zhao, Linlin Lu, Yuhe Ji, Qingting Li, Jihua Meng, Xuting Liu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5629","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5629","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation carbon stocks in ecologically functional areas and identifying their driving factors remain crucial for informing ecosystem protection and restoration efforts. The three eco-zones and four shelterbelts (TEFS) region encompasses critical ecological barriers and functional zones in China. Utilizing MODIS NDVI data, alongside climatic and topographic variables, we developed regionally optimized models to estimate net primary productivity (NPP) across the TEFS region from 2000 to 2023. Subsequently, the spatiotemporal variability of vegetation NPP and its associated drivers were explored using trend analysis, correlation, and residual analysis. The results revealed a significant NPP increase in approximately 90% of the TEFS region between 2000 and 2023, with an average annual increase rate of 3.46 gC m⁻² yr⁻¹. The most rapid increases occurred in ecological zones along the Yellow River basin. NPP changes were driven by the combined effects of climate change (CC) and human activities (HA) over the 24-year period. While CC contributed positively to NPP changes in 67.9% of the total area, HA had a positive impact in 75.4% of the region. Notably, HA dominated as the primary driver in western regions, whereas CC exerted a stronger influence in many eastern areas. Enhanced efforts in desertification control and protection of coastal wetland ecosystems are recommended to improve carbon sequestration potential.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143901817","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":"Artificial Reseeding Promotes Biodiversity Restoration in Alpine Sandy Meadow of the Eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau","authors":"Wen Yang, Jingxue Zhao, Lihua Tian, Gao-Lin Wu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5632","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5632","url":null,"abstract":"Alpine grasslands have undergone severe desertification due to climate warming and overgrazing. Artificial reseeding has been widely employed for the restoration of these alpine sandy grasslands. However, its effectiveness in enhancing biodiversity remains unclear, particularly regarding the consistency of responses between aboveground plant diversity and belowground microbial diversity. To investigate the impacts of artificial reseeding on plant and microbial diversity of sandy meadows, we conducted field investigations in alpine grasslands of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that had undergone artificial reseeding, natural restoration, or remained as sandy meadows. The findings revealed that artificial reseeding yields inconsistent restoration outcomes for aboveground plant communities and belowground soil microbial communities in sandy meadows, thereby altering the typical relationships between above- and belowground biodiversity. Artificial reseeding significantly promoted plant diversity in sandy meadows, with the Shannon-Wiener index of restored meadow communities increased by 67% (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), while its impact on restoring soil microbial diversity was less pronounced. Introducing new plant species through reseeding improved vegetation cover, plant diversity, and fungal richness. In addition, artificial reseeding altered soil properties, reducing soil pH by 0.35 units and altering soil nutrient content, which in turn influenced the composition and structure of plant and microbial communities. These results have essential implications for regional ecological security and the sustainable development of alpine meadows.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"47 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143893754","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":"The Effect of Soybean Growth on the Seasonal Variation of Hillslopes Erosion in Gently Sloping Farmland on the Loess Plateau","authors":"Chong Yao, Songzhu Ye, Siyuan Chen, Mingjun Zhang, Ming Zhu, Faqi Wu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5611","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5611","url":null,"abstract":"Changes in near soil‐surface traits with crop growth can strongly influence erosion processes during rainfall events and provide valuable insights for farmland management. This study explored how crop growth‐induced variations in near soil‐surface traits affect soil erosion on gently sloping farmlands. A rainfall simulation experiment with a rainfall intensity of 80 mm h<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> was carried out in runoff plots (5 m × 1.4 m) filled with clay loam with slope gradients of 5.24% and 8.75% at five soybean growth stages (G1‐seeding, G2‐jointing, G3‐final flowering, G4‐grain forming, and G5‐ripening). Near soil‐surface traits were measured, and runoff and sediment samples were collected and measured. The results indicated that the variation in near soil‐surface traits was time‐dependent and showed weak to strong temporal variations. Overall, the measured runoff and sediment rates showed temporal variations, first decreasing and then increasing with crop growth during the growing season. The mean runoff rate, sediment rate, and sediment concentration decreased by 8%–75%, 13%–92%, and 5%–73%, respectively, in comparison with the bare soil. Seasonal variations in the runoff rate, sediment rate, total runoff volume, and total sediment yield were closely related to changes in near soil‐surface traits related to crop growth. Linear or exponential functional relationships were found between the runoff volume and near soil‐surface traits. This study reflects the positive impact of crop growth on reducing soil erosion and provides theoretical guidance for soil and water conservation in sloping farmlands.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143893502","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}