Evaluation of soil erosion rates in the hilly-gully region of the Loess Plateau in China in the past 60 years using global fallout plutonium

• Widespread soil erosion occurred in the hilly-gully region of Loess Plateau. Reclamation and deforestation 1950–1970s caused severe erosion. The increased vegetation coverage since 1990s efficiently reduced Restoring forest is more appropriated measure for mitigation. Convex micro-topography mitigate loss sloping fields. Soil strongly threatens sustainability natural ecosystems over world, especially Plateau China, where has suffered along with extensive land reclamation from 1950s to 1970s. large-scale restoration practices are supposed be effective reducing erosion, but quantitative evaluation particularly response utilization types changes on mitigation degradation still not well understood. Plutonium isotopes cores collected forest, grassland slope, apple orchard, cornfield a typical watershed were analyzed estimate rates different land-use types. at 5.1–40.5 t/ha/yr. this past six decades was estimated. influences human activities decades, type utilization, level coverage, terrain discussed, accumulation eroded study sites explored. Different showed diverse (forest (slight) < (light) orchard ? (moderate)), indicating that rehabilitation, restoring high practically conservation control; convex fields critical alleviating by depositing soil.