Establishing Monthly Benchmarks for Erosion Control and Vegetation Restoration Targets Across the Loess Plateau

ABSTRACT

Establishing scientifically grounded soil erosion control targets and feasible vegetation restoration strategies is crucial for high quality development of the Chinese Loess Plateau which is severely affected by soil erosion. Currently, the commonly used tolerable soil loss (TSL) is inadequate for addressing the spatial heterogeneity in topography and temporal variability in climatic conditions attributed to its static characteristics. This study developed a dynamic assessment framework using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to construct a monthly soil erosion rate raster dataset at a 500 m resolution for 2001–2024. Model validation was conducted through comparison with sediment yield data from 25 tributary hydrological stations. By analyzing the soil erosion rate and the prevailing climatic and land management factors, we established monthly erosion control targets (ECT) and the corresponding vegetation cover targets (VCT). Results showed that (1) the average erosion rate declined from 15.5 to 10.17 t ha ⁻¹  year ⁻¹ , with a mean of 10.53 t ha ⁻¹  year ⁻¹ , and peaks occurred in summer, especially July; (2) the estimated ECT values ranged from 13.4 to 8.9 t ha ⁻¹  year ⁻¹ , with a mean of 7.2 t ha ⁻¹  year ⁻¹ , peaking at 1.6 t ha ⁻¹  month ⁻¹ in July; (3) the estimated VCT ranged from 43.4% to 66.6%, averaging 59.8%. Overall, 51.6% of the Loess Plateau has already met the VCT requirements necessary to sustain the ECT. These findings provide scientific guidance for soil and water conservation and vegetation restoration tailored to local conditions, with potential applicability to other erosion‐prone regions.