The impact of vegetation changes on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau

Soil erosion mainly occurs in the Loess Plateau region of China, and the implementation of large-scale vegetation restoration measures further affects the soil erosion situation on the Loess Plateau. Analyzing the impact of vegetation changes on soil erosion can provide theoretical guidance for the ecological environment management of the Loess Plateau watershed. Based on the Chinese soil loss equation (CSLE) and multivariate data, this study conducts a comprehensive analysis of vegetation coverage, soil erosion, and their interactions on the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2018. The results show that: ① The vegetation coverage of the Loess Plateau gradually decreases from southeast to northwest, and the vegetation coverage shows a stable upward trend over 19 years, with significant improvement in large-scale vegetation; ② The average soil erosion modulus on the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2018 was 2526.27 t·(km²·a)^-1, which was positively correlated with rainfall. The degree of erosion was strong in hills, plateaus, and undulating mountains; ③ The area with vegetation coverage ranging from 45% to 75% in the Loess Plateau has a strong degree of erosion. When the vegetation coverage increases by more than 40%, it directly causes the intensification of erosion. However, when the vegetation coverage decreases or increases by no more than 30%, the change in rainfall is the dominant factor for the intensification or weakening of erosion. This study can provide reference for the comprehensive prevention and control of soil erosion and the improvement of ecological environment quality in the Loess Plateau watershed.