Effects of Crop Rotation and Topography on Soil Erosion and Nutrient Loss under Natural Rainfall Conditions on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Erosive rainfall results in the loss of both soil and nutrients, which indirectly triggers deterioration a reduction land productivity. However, how affects runoff, erosion, nutrient under different crop rotation patterns topographic factors remains unclear. This experiment observed nine runoff-erosion plots on Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) from 2019 to 2020 determine effects type, pattern, slope gradient length loss. Runoff, were highest for fallow plots; values these variables spring corn winter wheat not significantly different. Crop generated greater compared non-rotation. Soil erosion associated increased, but significantly, with gradients 0.5°, 1°, 3°, while runoff did increase. In addition, lengths 20 m vs. 50 m. A structural equation model showed characteristics impacted subsequently affected study increases understanding cropland gentle slopes CLP.