The non-parametric Mann-Kendall method and Sliding t-test were applied in this study to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of trends of the precipitation in the Loess Plateau from 1958 to 2007. The main trends of the precipitation in this region is downward, only four upward time series have not reach the significant level. Most of the abrupt changes happened in northeast of Loess Platea...

Check-dams are the most common structures for controlling soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. However, the effect of check-dams on carbon sequestration, along with sediment transport and deposition, has not been assessed over large areas. In this study, we evaluated the carbon sequestration function of check-dams in the Loess Plateau. The results indicate that there were approximately 11 000 che...

The Ordos Basin of China encompasses the Mu Us Desert in the northwest and the Chinese Loess Plateau to the south and east. The boundary between the mostly internally drained Mu Us Desert and fluvially incised Loess Plateau is an erosional escarpment, up to 400 m in relief, composed of Quaternary loess. Linear ridges, with lengths of ~102–103 m, are formed in Cretaceous–Quaternary strata throug...

The Loess Plateau lies in the North of China and is one of the most serious regions of soil erosion in the world. Severe loss of soil and water not only has its devastating effect on farming, forestry, stock-breeding and ecological environment of the area concerned, but also is the root of poverty for local people. The Loess Plateau has a long cultivation history, hence population growth, veget...

The Loess Plateau (34°–40°N, 103°–114°E) is situated in the northern part of Central China (Fig. 2.1). It borders on North China Plain in the east, adjoins Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the west, stands in the north of Qinling Mountains, and neighbors Inner Mongolia Plateau in the north. The Loess Plateau is a part of the dryland region in northwest China, with its altitude in the range of 800–3000 ...

The Loess Plateau of China is a unique geographical unit characterized by extensive loess distribution, serious soil erosion, low vegetation coverage and high soil carbonate content. Since the 1950s, the Chinese government has made great efforts to control soil erosion and restore vegetation, including large-scale tree plantation in the 1970s, integrated soil erosion control in the 1980s and 19...

Analyzing spatiotemporal variation of tree cover could enhance understanding of the environment and promote a sustainable resource use of ecosystems. This study investigated the variation in tree cover in the Loess Plateau after an ecological restoration effort called the ‘Grain for Green Project’ (GGP). The results show that the proportion of tree covered area in the Loess Plateau changed from...

The Loess Plateau of China has the highest soil erosion rate in the world where billion tons of soil is annually washed into Yellow River. In recent decades this region has experienced significant climate change and policy-driven land conversion. However, it has not yet been well investigated how these changes in climate and land use have affected soil organic carbon (SOC) storage on the Loess ...

The Loess Plateau is well known for its deep loess deposits and serious soil erosion. This paper analyses the characteristic of soil erosion on the Plateau and reviews the small watershed management and ecosystem rehabilitation practice and development in the future. In the last 30 years, the government has paid great attention on the integrated small watershed management and restoration of the...

A key part of the strategy to manage the problems of flooding and sedimentation of the lower Yellow River in China is the control of soil erosion on the loess plateau. Land use practices are assumed to be the root cause of the high sediment yield and therefore able to be controlled. An analysis of the geomorphology of the loess plateau region shows that there are natural causes of high sediment...