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Soil Erosion Characteristics and Scenario Analysis in the Yellow River Basin Based on PLUS and RUSLE Models

Author

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  • Yanyan Li

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Jinbing Zhang

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Hui Zhu

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Zhimin Zhou

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
    Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
    Regional Planning and Development Center, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Shan Jiang

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Shuangyan He

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Ying Zhang

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Yicheng Huang

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Mengfan Li

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Guangrui Xing

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

  • Guanghui Li

    (College of Geography and Environmental Science, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China)

Abstract

Soil erosion is an important global environmental issue that severely affects regional ecological environment and socio-economic development. The Yellow River (YR) is China’s second largest river and the fifth largest one worldwide. Its watershed is key to China’s economic growth and environmental security. In this study, six impact factors, including rainfall erosivity (R), soil erosivity (K), slope length (L), slope steepness (S), cover management (C), and protective measures (P), were used. Based on the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model, and combined with a geographic information system (GIS), the temporal and spatial distribution of soil erosion (SE) in the YR from 2000 to 2020 was estimated. The patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model was used to simulate the land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) under two scenarios (natural development and ecological protection) in 2040; the RUSLE factor P was found to be associated with LUCC in 2040, and soil erosion in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in 2040 under the two scenarios were predicted and evaluated. This method has great advantages in land-use simulation, but soil erosion is greatly affected by rainfall and slope, and it only focuses on the link between land-usage alteration and SE. Therefore, this method has certain limitations in assessing soil erosion by simulating and predicting land-use change. We found that there is generally slight soil erosivity in the YRB, with the most serious soil erosion occurring in 2000. Areas with serious SE are predominantly situated in the upper reaches (URs), followed by the middle reaches (MRs), and soil erosion is less severe in the lower reaches. Soil erosion in the YRB decreased 11.92% from 2000 to 2020; thus, soil erosion has gradually reduced in this area over time. Based on the GIS statistics, land-use change strongly influences SE, while an increase in woodland area has an important positive effect in reducing soil erosion. By predicting land-use changes in 2040, compared to the natural development scenario, woodland and grassland under the ecological protection scenario can be increased by 1978 km 2 and 2407 km 2 , respectively. Soil erosion can be decreased by 6.24%, indicating the implementation of woodland and grassland protection will help reduce soil erosion. Policies such as forest protection and grassland restoration should be further developed and implemented on the MRs and URs of the YR. Our research results possess important trend-setting significance for soil erosion control protocols and ecological environmental protection in other large river basins worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Yanyan Li & Jinbing Zhang & Hui Zhu & Zhimin Zhou & Shan Jiang & Shuangyan He & Ying Zhang & Yicheng Huang & Mengfan Li & Guangrui Xing & Guanghui Li, 2023. "Soil Erosion Characteristics and Scenario Analysis in the Yellow River Basin Based on PLUS and RUSLE Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-19, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1222-:d:1030771
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Semih Ediş & Özgür Burhan Timur & Gamze Tuttu & İbrahim Aytaş & Ceyhun Göl & Ali Uğur Özcan, 2023. "Assessing the Impact of Engineering Measures and Vegetation Restoration on Soil Erosion: A Case Study in Osmancık, Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Huihui Wang & Hanyu Xue & Yunsong Yang & Wanlin He & Suru Liu & Yuhao Zhong & Xiaoyong Gao & Tingting Xu, 2024. "Multi-Scenario Simulation and Eco-Environmental Effects Analysis of Land Use/Cover Change in China by an Integrated Cellular Automata and Markov Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-29, April.

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