Global patterns and determinants of erosion-induced soil carbon translocation
Wei, Fangli ; Wang, Lanhui LU
; Jia, Lizhi
and Huang, Yuanyuan
(2025)
In Geography and Sustainability
6(5).
- Abstract
Soil erosion is a critical process influencing the global carbon cycle. However, erosion-induced carbon changes remain inadequately understood, particularly for soil inorganic carbon (SIC). There is also limited knowledge about the factors influencing soil carbon dynamics during erosion processes. Here we quantify the global translocation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and SIC due to soil erosion using data-driven global soil carbon estimates combined with a soil erosion map derived from the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Our analysis reveals that global SIC and SOC translocations from soil erosion are 107.1 Tg C yr−1 and 898.4 Tg C yr−1, respectively. These translocations exhibit distinct... (More)
Soil erosion is a critical process influencing the global carbon cycle. However, erosion-induced carbon changes remain inadequately understood, particularly for soil inorganic carbon (SIC). There is also limited knowledge about the factors influencing soil carbon dynamics during erosion processes. Here we quantify the global translocation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and SIC due to soil erosion using data-driven global soil carbon estimates combined with a soil erosion map derived from the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Our analysis reveals that global SIC and SOC translocations from soil erosion are 107.1 Tg C yr−1 and 898.4 Tg C yr−1, respectively. These translocations exhibit distinct patterns across aridity gradients and different biomes and soil types, with SIC translocation increasing while SOC translocation decreasing with aridity. Croplands exhibit significantly higher soil carbon translocation compared to natural vegetation, with SIC translocation being 2.41 times higher and SOC translocation 0.65 times higher than in forests. Topographic features (slope length and steepness) predominantly determine soil carbon translocation during erosion, with steeper and longer slopes exacerbating erosion and subsequent SIC/SOC translocation. Land use change, particularly agricultural practices, is also a critical driver. Our findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing SIC and SOC translocation, enhancing our understanding of the global patterns and determinants of erosion-induced soil carbon dynamics.
(Less)
- author
- Wei, Fangli
; Wang, Lanhui
LU
; Jia, Lizhi
and Huang, Yuanyuan
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-10
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Soil carbon loss, Soil carbon translocation, Soil erosion, Soil inorganic carbon, Soil organic carbon
- in
- Geography and Sustainability
- volume
- 6
- issue
- 5
- article number
- 100328
- publisher
- Beijing Normal University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105009487622
- ISSN
- 2096-7438
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.geosus.2025.100328
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025
- id
- 85425ef8-9013-4c87-9838-1b6502af778b
- date added to LUP
- 2025-07-25 19:21:24
- date last changed
- 2025-08-12 16:05:41
@article{85425ef8-9013-4c87-9838-1b6502af778b,
abstract = {{<p>Soil erosion is a critical process influencing the global carbon cycle. However, erosion-induced carbon changes remain inadequately understood, particularly for soil inorganic carbon (SIC). There is also limited knowledge about the factors influencing soil carbon dynamics during erosion processes. Here we quantify the global translocation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and SIC due to soil erosion using data-driven global soil carbon estimates combined with a soil erosion map derived from the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Our analysis reveals that global SIC and SOC translocations from soil erosion are 107.1 Tg C yr<sup>−1</sup> and 898.4 Tg C yr<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. These translocations exhibit distinct patterns across aridity gradients and different biomes and soil types, with SIC translocation increasing while SOC translocation decreasing with aridity. Croplands exhibit significantly higher soil carbon translocation compared to natural vegetation, with SIC translocation being 2.41 times higher and SOC translocation 0.65 times higher than in forests. Topographic features (slope length and steepness) predominantly determine soil carbon translocation during erosion, with steeper and longer slopes exacerbating erosion and subsequent SIC/SOC translocation. Land use change, particularly agricultural practices, is also a critical driver. Our findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing SIC and SOC translocation, enhancing our understanding of the global patterns and determinants of erosion-induced soil carbon dynamics.</p>}},
author = {{Wei, Fangli and Wang, Lanhui and Jia, Lizhi and Huang, Yuanyuan}},
issn = {{2096-7438}},
keywords = {{Soil carbon loss; Soil carbon translocation; Soil erosion; Soil inorganic carbon; Soil organic carbon}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{5}},
publisher = {{Beijing Normal University Press}},
series = {{Geography and Sustainability}},
title = {{Global patterns and determinants of erosion-induced soil carbon translocation}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2025.100328}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.geosus.2025.100328}},
volume = {{6}},
year = {{2025}},
}