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Restoration and Development of the Degraded Loess Plateau, China pp 77–92Cite as

Soil Erosion in the Loess Plateau Region of China

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Part of the book series: Ecological Research Monographs ((ECOLOGICAL))

Abstract

The Loess Plateau region has experienced severe soil erosion since the Ming Dynasty, and has become one of the most severe soil erosion regions in the world because of complex landforms, high soil erodibility, concentrated and high-intensity rainfall, and long-term human activity. This chapter outlines the general situation and regional distribution of soil erosion in the region. The soil erosion characteristics are described in detail, including water erosion, wind erosion and wind–water coupling erosion. This chapter also highlights the driving factors of water erosion, wind erosion and dust storms, including climate, soil and parent materials, topography and landforms, vegetation, and human activity. Finally, there is a brief treatment of sediment delivery to the Yellow River and its main tributaries.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

    Fenli Zheng

  2. College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

    Bin Wang

Authors
  1. Fenli Zheng
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  2. Bin Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fenli Zheng .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan

    Atsushi Tsunekawa

  2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China, People's Republic

    Guobin Liu

  3. Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan

    Norikazu Yamanaka

  4. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China, People's Republic

    Sheng Du

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Zheng, F., Wang, B. (2014). Soil Erosion in the Loess Plateau Region of China. In: Tsunekawa, A., Liu, G., Yamanaka, N., Du, S. (eds) Restoration and Development of the Degraded Loess Plateau, China. Ecological Research Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54481-4_6

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