Spatial analysis and assessment of soil erosion in the southern Western Ghats region in India.

Soil erosion is expected to worsen in the future as a result of climate change, growing population demands, improper land use, and excessive exploitation of natural resources in India. Due to the growing population and changes in land use, it has become increasingly crucial to map and quantitatively assess soil for the purpose of sustainable agricultural usage and planning conservation efforts. The problem of soil erosion is mainly on steeper slopes with intense rainfall in parts of Western Ghats. The 20.17% of geographical area have been converted into wasteland due to soil erosion. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a highly prevalent and effective technique utilized for estimating soil loss in order to facilitate the planning of erosion control measures. Despite the fact that RUSLE is accurately estimate sediment yields from gully erosion, it is an effective tool in estimating sheet and rill erosions losses from diverse land uses like agricultural to construction sites. The current study is mainly about combining the RUSLE model with GIS (Geographic Information System) to find out how much soil is being lost, particularly in Noyyal and Sanganur watersheds which is located in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. This analysis is based on the soil order, with a significant proportion of alfisols and inceptisols being considered. The obtained outcome is contrasted with the established soil loss tolerance threshold, leading to the identification of the areas with the highest susceptibility to erosion. Within the narrower and more inclined section of the watershed, yearly soil loss scales from 0 to 5455 tonnes/ha/year, with an average annual loss of soil of 2.44 tonnes/ha. The severe soil erosion of 100 to 5455 tonnes/ha/year is found along the steep and greater slope length. The generated soil map was classified into six categories: very slight, slight, moderate, high, severe, and very severe. These classifications, respectively, occupied 6.23%, 14.88%, 10.56%, 15.70%, 7.73%, and 6.63% of the basin area. Based on the results of cross-validation, the estimated result of the present study was found to be very high compared to past studies conducted 0 to 368.12 tonnes/ha/year especially in very severe erosion zones. But very slight to severe erosion zones nearly matched with same level of soil loss. To protect the soil in the study area from erosion, more specific actions should be taken. These include micro-catchment, broad bed furrows, up-and-down farming, soil amendment with coconut coir pith composition, streambank stabilization with vegetation, and micro-water harvesting with abandoned well recharge. These actions should be carried out over time to make sure to work.

Effect of mineral and organic fertilizer on N dynamics upon erosion-induced topsoil dilution.

Erosion-induced topsoil dilution strongly affects cropland biogeochemistry and is associated with a negative effect on soil health and crop productivity. While its impact on soil C cycling has been widely recognized, there is little information about its impact on soil N cycling and N fertilizer dynamics. Here, we studied three factors potentially influencing N cycling and N fertilizer dynamics in cropping systems, namely: 1.) soil type, 2.) erosion-induced topsoil dilution and 3.) N fertilizer form, in a full-factorial pot experiment using canola plants. We studied three erosion affected soil types (Luvisol, eroded Luvisol, calcaric Regosol) and performed topsoil dilution in all three soils by admixing 20 % of the respective subsoil into its topsoil. N fertilizer dynamics were investigated using either mineral (calcium ammonium nitrate) or organic (biogas digestate) fertilizer, labeled with 15N. The fertilizer 15N recovery and the distribution of the fertilizer N in different soil fractions was quantified after plant maturity. Fertilizer N dynamics and utilization were influenced by all three factors investigated. 15N recovery in the plant-soil system was higher and fertilizer N utilization was lower in the treatments with diluted topsoil than in the non-diluted controls. Similarly, plants of the organic fertilizer N treatments took up significantly less fertilizer N in comparison to mineral fertilizer treatments. Both topsoil dilution and organic fertilizer application promoted 15N recovery and N accumulation in the soil fractions, with strong differences between soil types. Our study reveals an innovative insight: topsoil dilution due to soil erosion has a negligible impact on N cycling and dynamics in the plant-soil system. The crucial factors influencing these processes are found to be the choice of fertilizer form and the specific soil type. Recognizing these aspects is essential for a precise and comprehensive assessment of the environmental continuum, emphasizing the novelty of our findings.

Changes in soil water repellency and soil erosion resistance as affected by land uses in karst environments.

Soil water repellency (SWR) exists in various soil ecosystems and can interrupt water infiltration and cause soil erosion. Anthropogenic land-use change can cause shifts in SWR and soil erosion resistance (SER) in sensitive soils. However, the direction and magnitude of these shifts in SWR and SER and their interrelations remain largely unclear. This study examined the changes in SWR, soil erodibility (K), and aggregate fractions in different land uses of a karst trough valley in southwest China. Soil samples were gathered from five land uses: cropland (CL), orchard (OP), secondary forest (SF), grassland (GL), and riverbank (RB), using a 1000 m × 1000 m grid, resulting in 210 sampling sites. Results showed that the water drop penetration time was significantly higher by 86.43%, 68.85%, and 71.47% in the SF, OP, and RB than in the CL, respectively (p < 0.05). The soil organic carbon (SOC) was the greatest in the SF and the lowest in the GL and CL (p < 0.05). The 1000-250 µm aggregate fraction, mean weight diameter (MWD), and geometric mean diameter (GMD) varied markedly among the different land uses (p < 0.05). The silt content, fractal dimension (D), and K were markedly lower in the RB than in the CL, OP, SF and GL (p < 0.05). The SWR had pronouncedly positive correlations with the SOC and 1000-250 µm aggregate fraction (p < 0.05). The K displayed a negative correlation with the GMD but a positive correlation with the D (p < 0.05). The structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the SOC was affected positively by the silt content and the 1000-250 µm aggregate fraction and negatively by the K. These factors directly regulated the SWR. Our results shed light on the mechanisms of land use changes impacting the SWR, SER and other soil properties in karst environments.

Plutonium isotopes can be used to model soil erosion in Kenya.

Climate change poses an immediate threat to tropical soils with changes in rainfall patterns resulting in accelerated land degradation processes. To ensure the future sustainability of arable land, it is essential to improve our understanding of the factors that influence soil erosion processes. This work aimed to evaluate patterns of soil erosion using the activity of plutonium isotopes (Pu) at sites with different land use and clearance scale in the Winam Gulf catchment of Lake Victoria in Kenya. Erosion rates were modelled at potential erosive sites using the MODERN model to understand small-scale erosion processes and the effect of different management practices. The lowest soil redistribution rates for arable land were 0.10 Mg ha-1 yr-1 showing overall deposition, resulting from community-led bottom-up mitigation practices. In contrast erosion rates of 8.93 Mg ha-1 yr-1 were found in areas where steep terraces have been formed. This demonstrates the significance of community-led participation in effectively managing land degradation processes. Another key factor identified in the acceleration of soil erosion rates was the clearance of land with an increased rate of erosion over three years reported (0.45 to 0.82 Mg ha-1 yr-1) underlining the importance vegetation cover plays in limiting soil erosion processes. This novel application of fallout plutonium as a tracer, highlights its potential to inform the understanding of how soil erosion processes respond to land management, which will better support implementation of effective mitigation strategies.

Hydro-climatic extremes shift the hydrologic sensitivity regime in a cold basin.

Escalating climate extreme events disrupt hydrological processes by affecting both water availability and sediment dynamics. However, the interconnection between hydrological variability and climatic extremes remains underexplored, particularly in cold regions under a changing climate. Here, we develop a yield-based dichotomy framework to examine the impact of shifted climatic extreme patterns on hydrological regimes in the Ishikari River Basin (IRB), Hokkaido, Japan, which is a crucial area for local agriculture and urban development. Utilizing a modified Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) integrated with downscaled CMIP6-GCM climate projections under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios, we identified significant annual variability in water and sediment yields associated with extreme climate events. Hot-dry conditions correlate with lower water and sediment yields, whereas increased cold extremes may result in higher sediment yields across the IRB. Our findings also indicate that hotter and drier patterns interact with hydrological processes, potentially establishing new hydrologic regimes and shifting climatic extremes-induced thresholds for yield classification within the IRB. Notably, under SSP585, both water availability and sediment transport are projected to intensify, increasing flood risks and exacerbating sedimentation challenges. Our study highlights the urgent need for adaptive water management strategies to address these anticipated changes in hydrological regimes in response to global climate change.

The recent genetic modification techniques for improve soil conservation, nutrient uptake and utilization.

Advances in genetic modification (GM) techniques have generated huge interest in improving nutrient utilization, maximizing nutrient uptake, and conserving soil in the pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Unfortunately, little is still known about the recent advancements in the application of GM tactics to enhance each of these areas. This review explores the latest GM strategies intended to support soil conservation, maximize nutrient uptake, and improve nutrient utilization in farming, highlighting the critical roles that soil health and nutrient management play in sustainable farming. GM strategies such as improving the efficiency of nutrient uptake through enhanced root systems and increased nutrient transport mechanisms are well discussed. This study suggests that addressing potential obstacles, such as ethical and regulatory concerns, is a necessity for long-term sustainability applications of GM technologies to raise agricultural yields.

Development of a Device for Monitoring Erosion in the Field.

Monitoring erosion is an important part of understanding the causes of this geotechnical and geological phenomenon. In order to monitor them, it is necessary to develop equipment that is sophisticated enough to resist the sun and water without damage, that is self-mechanized, and that can support the amount of data collected. This article introduces a rain-triggered field erosion monitoring device composed of three main modules: control, capture, and sensing. The control module comprises both hardware and firmware with embedded software. The capture module integrates a camera for recording, while the sensing module includes rain sensors. By filming experimental soil samples under simulated rain events, the device demonstrated satisfactory performance in terms of activation and deactivation programming times, daytime image quality without artificial lighting, and equipment protection. The great differences about this monitoring device are its ease of use, low cost, and the quality it offers. These results suggest its potential effectiveness in capturing the progression of field erosive processes.

Impacts of farmland decontamination on 137Cs transfers in rivers after Fukushima nuclear accident: Evidence from a retrospective sediment core study.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in March 2011, the Japanese government initiated an unprecedented decontamination programme to remediate 137Cs-contaminated soils and allow population return. This programme involved the removal of topsoil under farmland and residential land, and its replacement with "fresh soil" composed of granitic saprolite. However, decontamination was limited to these two land uses, without remediating forests, which cover 70 % of the surface area in the affected region. In this unprecedented context, the specific impact of this unique decontamination programme on 137Cs transfers in river systems remains to be quantified at the catchment scale. In this study, based on the analysis of a sediment core collected in June 2021 in the Mano Dam reservoir draining a decontaminated catchment, the effects of soil decontamination on particle-bound 137Cs dynamics and sediment source contributions in response to a succession of extreme precipitation events were retrospectively assessed. The sequence of sediment layer deposition and its chronology were reconstructed through the analysis of several diagnostic properties (organic matter, elemental geochemistry, visible colourimetry, granulometry) and contextual information. During abandonment (2011-2016), cropland contribution decreased (31 %). Concurrently, 137Cs activity and deposition flux decreased (19 and 29%year-1, respectively). Following decontamination (2017), sediment transfer increased (270 %) in response to increased contributions from decontaminated cropland and "fresh soil" (625 % and 180 % respectively). Meanwhile, forest contributions remained stable. In contrast, 137Cs activity dropped (65 %), although 137Cs deposition flux remained constant. Forests acted as a stable source of 137Cs. Accordingly, 137Cs deposition flux after decontamination (2016-2021) was similar to that observed during the 5-years period of land abandonment (2011-2016), as a result of the regrowth of spontaneous vegetation over farmland, protecting soil against erosion. Future research should further investigate the impact of longer land abandonment that prevailed in some regions decontaminated lately on the 137Cs fluxes in the rivers.

Evaluating the impact of soil erosion on soil quality in an agricultural land, northeastern China.

The impact of soil erosion on soil quality is still not systematically understood. The purpose of this study was thus to quantify the impact of soil erosion on soil quality and its change with slope morphology in an agricultural field, northeastern China based on radionuclide 137Cs, unmanned aerial vehicle derived high resolution digital elevation model, and soil sampling. 137Cs method yielded an average soil erosion rate of - 275 t km-2 yr-1 ranging from - 1870 to 1557 t km-2 yr-1. The soil quality index derived from total dataset (SQI_TDS) can be well explained by that derived from minimum data set (SQI_MDS) with a determination coefficient R2 of 0.874. SOM, sand, and cation exchange capacity in the MDS play more important roles than other soil indicators. Soil quality was significantly affected by soil erosion, with Adj. R2 of 0.29 and 0.33 for SQI_TDS and SQI_MDS, respectively. The spatial variations of soil erosion and soil quality were both affected by slope topography. Soil erosion must be controlled according to topographic and erosion characteristics in northeastern China.

Human impacts overwhelmed climate as the dominant factor controlling lacustrine organic matter accumulation in Erhai Lake 2000 years ago, Southwest China.

Climate and human activity are two important factors in regulating organic matter (OM) accumulation in the lake environment. However, when and how anthropogenic impacts have affected lacustrine OM accumulation in southwest China during the late Holocene have not yet been well defined. Here, a 16.3-kyr n-alkane record derived from Erhai Lake was used to trace OM sources and explore their connections to climate and human activity. The n-alkane distributions indicated that the dominant sediment sources shifted from terrestrial and aquatic plants to algae in the late Holocene. OM accumulation was closely related to catchment soil erosion, sediment transport, and deposition processes regulated by climate conditions before 5.0 cal. kyr B.P., following the patterns that stronger monsoon precipitation favoured more terrestrial and less aquatic OM input, and vice versa. From 5.0 to 2.0 cal. kyr B.P., the synchronous downwards trends in terrestrial OM input and precipitation intensity indicated that climate remained a major driving force for OM accumulation. However, sediment sources experienced large-magnitude and centennial-scale oscillations between allochthonous and autochthonous inputs, reflecting early human impacts appeared and lake ecosystems retained the self-regulated ability to recover from the basin-wide early moderate human disturbances. Afterwards, the increased (decreased) OM contributions from terrestrial (aquatic) plants contradicted the weakening monsoon precipitation since 2.0 cal. kyr B.P., indicating a dominant effect of human activities on OM accumulation. This change was accompanied by highly improved algae productivity and gradually elevated lacustrine trophic status, and the lake ecosystem eventually shifted into another state largely deviating from its climate-driven background due to intensified deforestation and agricultural cultivation. Regional comparison indicated that anthropogenic disturbances have temporal differences in southwest China. This study will further improve our understanding of past climate-human-environment interactions in southwest China.

Topsoil dilution by subsoil admixture had less impact on soil organic carbon stock development than fertilizer form and erosion state.

Enhancing the agroecosystems carbon (C) sink function for climate mitigation faced challenges, particularly with traditional measures with limited suitability for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Inducing a SOC undersaturation in the topsoil by abrupt subsoil admixture is a way to create an additional C sink. However, the deep tillage traditionally used for this topsoil dilution was not always successful. It was due to a lack of knowledge and suitable approaches to record the effect of all relevant factors in SOC recovery, including soil conditions and fertilizer forms. We addressed these problems by establishing a three-factorial experiment: I) "moderate topsoil dilution," II) "N fertilization form," and III) "soil erosion state," representing three soil types in the hummocky ground moraine landscape of NE Germany. SOC dynamics were determined over a year of winter rye cropping using a novel robotic chamber system capable of measuring CO2 exchange on 36 experimental plots with a reduced methodological bias than previous measuring systems. The averaged net ecosystem carbon balance, a proxy for SOC stock change, indicated that topsoil dilution only reduced further SOC losses. The N fertilizer form had a significantly stronger and more differentiated effect. While the mineral N fertilization consistently produced only C sources, the organic fertilization, in combination with the diluted topsoil, led to a C sink. This C-sink function was, however, more pronounced in the eroded soil than in the non-eroded soil. Overall, the results have made clear that the impact of topsoil dilution on the further development of the SOC stock is only possible if the effect of other relevant factors, such as N fertilizer form and erosion state, are taken into account.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal interactions bridge the support of root-associated microbiota for slope multifunctionality in an erosion-prone ecosystem.

The role of diverse soil microbiota in restoring erosion-induced degraded lands is well recognized. Yet, the facilitative interactions among symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, rhizobia, and heterotrophic bacteria, which underpin multiple functions in eroded ecosystems, remain unclear. Here, we utilized quantitative microbiota profiling and ecological network analyses to explore the interplay between the diversity and biotic associations of root-associated microbiota and multifunctionality across an eroded slope of a Robinia pseudoacacia plantation on the Loess Plateau. We found explicit variations in slope multifunctionality across different slope positions, associated with shifts in limiting resources, including soil phosphorus (P) and moisture. To cope with P limitation, AM fungi were recruited by R. pseudoacacia, assuming pivotal roles as keystones and connectors within cross-kingdom networks. Furthermore, AM fungi facilitated the assembly and composition of bacterial and rhizobial communities, collectively driving slope multifunctionality. The symbiotic association among R. pseudoacacia, AM fungi, and rhizobia promoted slope multifunctionality through enhanced decomposition of recalcitrant compounds, improved P mineralization potential, and optimized microbial metabolism. Overall, our findings highlight the crucial role of AM fungal-centered microbiota associated with R. pseudoacacia in functional delivery within eroded landscapes, providing valuable insights for the sustainable restoration of degraded ecosystems in erosion-prone regions.

Assessment of soil erosion in the Upper Citarum watershed for sustainability of the Saguling reservoir: unmixing model approach.

The Citarum watershed and the Saguling reservoir are vital natural resources in Indonesia, affecting the livelihood of West Java and the DKI Jakarta population. This study aimed to assess the soil erosion in the Upper Citarum watershed and identify its source. The study used the fallout radionuclide technique, geochemical tracers, and an unmixing model to measure soil erosion and the contribution of suspended sediment sources due to erosion. Soil bulk transects and surface soil were sampled using a coring tool on the Ciwidey and Cisangkuy sub-watersheds. Riverbank and suspended sediment samples were collected from tributaries and rivers. With 137Cs, 40% of the samples had values below the minimum detectable activity, and vice versa for 210Pbex, all samples are detectable. For mitigation, bare land needs to be recovered due to its erosion (25.6 t ha-1 year-1) exceeding the tolerance erosion value (17 t ha-1 year-1). Statistically, Mg and Na were the most appropriate composite tracers for suspended sediment contribution. The unmixing model predicted the sediment contributors from bare land (58%), the riverbank (32.7%), and plantation land (9.3%). Proper land conservation could reduce sediment supply by almost 14.7% and extend the reservoir's life. This is the first study to report the feasibility of the unmixing model in Indonesia.

Relationship between human activities and environmental changes in the southern Tibetan Plateau since the Little Ice Age.

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is one of the most challenging areas for human long-term settlement due to its extreme living environment. Understanding the relationship between human activities and environmental changes in this extreme environment is important and can provide a historical reference for adapting to future climate change. In this study, we took the Angren Basin in the southern TP as a case study to elucidate the relationship since Little Ice Age (LIA). Using fecal stanol in feces, lake and river surface sediments, surface soils, and sediment core, we found that specific indices S1 and S2 from the composition of coprostanol, epicoprostanol, 5ß-ethylcoprostanol and 5ß-ethylepicoprostanol can reflect changes in human population and herbivores, respectively. Through the comparison between environmental changes determined by grain size, elements, sedimentation rate, and other climate records, the relationship between human activities and environmental changes was interpreted. Our results indicate that: (i) during 1480-1820 CE, the fecal stanols in lake sediments mainly originated from livestock, and the human population was low. In contrast, during 1820-2021 CE, the proportion and flux of S1 have been continuously increasing, indicating significant population growth. (ii) During the middle LIA, the cold-dry climate inhibited the development of agriculture and farming. However, the increased precipitation during the late LIA promoted that development, resulting in an increase in human population and livestock in a short term. (iii) Since 1951, people have reclaimed wasteland and developed husbandry, leading to increased soil erosion. (iv) Over the past 40 years, with a warm-humid climate and good policy support, human activities, such as agriculture and husbandry, have rapidly increased, but soil erosion has declined in the recent 20 years due to good soil-water conservation efforts. This study sheds light on the relationship between human activities and environmental changes and provides insights into future climate change responses.

Cost-effectiveness of erosion mitigation to meet water clarity targets in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region of New Zealand.

Soil erosion is a significant environmental issue worldwide. It affects water quality, biodiversity, and land productivity. New Zealand government agencies and regional councils work to mitigate soil erosion through policies, management programmes, and funding for soil conservation projects. Information about cost-effectiveness is crucial for planning, targeting, and implementing erosion mitigation to achieve improvements in sediment-related water quality. While there is a good understanding of the costs of erosion mitigation measures, there is a dearth of literature on their cost-effectiveness in reducing sediment loads and improving water quality at the catchment level. In this study, we estimate the cost-effectiveness of erosion mitigation measures in meeting visual water clarity targets. The analysis utilizes the spatially explicit SedNetNZ erosion process and sediment budget modelling in the Manawatu-Whanganui Region and region-specific mitigation costs. The erosion mitigation measures considered in the analysis include afforestation, bush retirement, riparian retirement, space-planted trees, and gully tree planting. We modelled two scenarios with on-farm erosion mitigation implemented across the region from 2021 to 2100, resulting in a 48% and 60% reduction of total sediment load. We estimate the marginal costs to achieve the visual national bottom line for water clarity, as assessed by the length of waterways that meet the clarity targets. We also estimate the marginal costs of improving average water clarity, which can be linked with non-market valuation studies when conducting a cost-benefit analysis. We find that gully tree planting and space-planted trees are the most cost-effective mitigation measures and that riparian retirement is the least cost-effective. Moreover, cost-effectiveness is highly dependent on current land use and the biophysical features of the landscape. Our estimates can be used in cost-benefit analysis to plan and prioritize soil erosion mitigation at the catchment and regional levels.

Assessing spatiotemporal risks of nonpoint source pollution via soil erosion: a coastal case in the Yellow River Delta, China.

Nonpoint source pollution (NPSP) has always been the dominant threat to regional waters. Based on empirical models of the revised universal soil loss equation and the phosphorus index, an NPSP risk assessment model denoted as SL-NPSRI was developed. The surface soil pollutant loss was estimated by simulating the rain-runoff topographic process, and the influence of path attenuation was quantified. A case study in the Yellow River Delta and corresponding field surveys of soil pollutants and water quality showed that the established model can be applied to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity of NPSP. NPSP usually occurs during high-intensity rainfall periods and in larger estuaries. Summer rainfall increased pollutant transport into the sea from late July to mid-August and caused estuarine dilution. Higher NPSP risks often correspond to coastal areas with lower vegetation coverage, higher soil erodibility, and higher soil pollutant concentrations. Agricultural NPSP originating from cropland significantly increase the pollutant fluxes. Therefore, area-specific land use management and vegetation coverage improvement, and temporal-specific strategies can be explored for NPSP control during source-transport hydrological processes. This research provides a novel insight for coastal NPSP simulations by comprehensively analyzing the soil erosion process and its associated pollutant loss effects, which can be useful for targeted spatiotemporal solutions.

How does cultivated land fragmentation affect soil erosion: Evidence from the Yangtze River Basin in China.

Reducing soil erosion (SE) is crucial for achieving harmony between human society and the ecological environment. The cultivated land fragmentation (CLF), directly or indirectly, alters soil structure, diminishes its water-holding capacity, and escalates the risk of SE. Scientific assessment of the effect of CLF on SE can provide new insights into controlling of SE across watersheds in China. However, few studies have quantified the effect of CLF on SE. Therefore, we utilized land use change data in the Yangtze River basin from 2000 to 2020, measuring the levels of CLF and SE using Fragstats and InVEST models. The bivariate spatial autocorrelation model was employed to reveal the spatial relationship between CLF and SE. Additionally, we constructed a spatial Durbin model and introduced the geographically and temporally weighted regression model to analyze the role of CLF on SE. The south bank of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River basin exhibited high CLF and SE. The bivariate spatial autocorrelation results showed a significant positive spatial correlation between CLF and SE. The spatial Durbin model results showed that CLF had a spatial spillover effect and time lag on SE, and the effect of CLF on SE had an inverted "N" curve. The study also confirmed that last SE and neighboring SE areas influenced local SE. Currently, CLF had a negative effect on SE in the Sichuan Basin, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and the middle and lower Yangtze River Plain, and positively in Qinghai, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces. These findings suggest that the government should enhance cross-regional and cross-sectoral cooperation and monitoring of cultivated land changes to prevent and control SE effectively.

Mitigation of Soil Erosion and Enhancement of Slope Stability through the Utilization of Lignin Biopolymer.

Human activities have had a profound impact on the environment, particularly in relation to surface erosion and landslides. These processes, which are natural phenomena, have been exacerbated by human actions, leading to detrimental consequences for ecosystems, communities, and the overall health of the planet. The use of lignin (LIG) as a biopolymer soil additive material is regarded as an eco-friendly solution against soil erosion and slope failure which holds immense promise. However, significant research gaps currently hinder a comprehensive understanding of its mechanisms and effectiveness. Experimental studies offer a robust platform to address these gaps by providing controlled conditions for assessing soil stability, exploring mechanisms, and evaluating adaptability. Bridging these research gaps will contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable strategies for mitigating soil erosion and preventing slope failure, thereby promoting environmental resilience and resource conservation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the LIG biopolymer on mitigation of soil erosion, slope failure and the enhancement of soil strength by conducting laboratory tests (UU triaxial, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and soaking) as well as flume experiments under uniform rainfall events. The alterations in the engineering characteristics and erosion resistance of silty soil mixed with a LIG additive at concentrations of 1% and 3.0% by weight have been examined. The results show that the LIG-treated samples demonstrated an enhanced resistance to surface erosion and an enhanced prevention of slope failure, as well as improved shear stress, cohesion, stiffness, and resistance to water infiltration.

Integrating portable X-ray fluorescence site survey and ArcGIS models for rapid risk assessment and mitigation strategies at an abandoned arsenic mine site: a case study.

Australia's metalliferous abandoned mine sites (MAMSs), pose tangible threats to the environment and human health. To address these concerns, our study utilised state-of-the-art handheld XRF technology to conduct a real-time assessment of the Mole River arsenic mine site. The data revealed notably elevated levels of arsenic and manganese, with the southeast corner of the site identified as a contaminant hotspot. We used a tiered risk assessment approach to compare the detected contaminant concentrations to the Australian health investigation levels (tier 1). This led us to a broader examination of erosion vulnerabilities and the potential migration of contaminants (tier 2). Further, a hydrological assessment (tier 3) identified significant erosion in southern regions, indicating the potential for contaminants to be transported off-site through surface water runoff to Sam's Creek and Mole River. The proximity of a reservoir to these runoff pathways brought forth additional challenges, especially during heavy rainfall events. Subsequent laboratory analysis of water samples reinforced our findings, as they confirmed heightened arsenic concentrations in Mole River downstream, accentuating the potential risks to ecosystems and human health. By integrating the XRF contour map and erosion assessment with the RUSLE model, valuable insights are gained into critical hotspots with high contamination and erosion potential. By directing rehabilitation efforts towards critical hotspots, resources can be allocated more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Simultaneous stabilization of particulate and bioavailable arsenic in soils from the realgar mining area by polyacrylamide, nano-SiO2, and ferrihydrite composite materials.

Arsenic (As) contamination in realgar mining areas poses a severe environmental and health risk, highlighting the critical need for effective strategies to manage As migration, particularly in its particulate and bioavailable states. Soil erosion and water leaching serve as significant pathways for spreading As, emphasizing the imperative to curtail its mobility. In the present study, we proposed an effective strategy that combines the utilization of polyacrylamide (PAM), nano-SiO2 (NS), and ferrihydrite (Fh) to elevate the stability of As in soils from a realgar mining area. The results show that this composite material demonstrates the capability to concurrently regulate soil erosion and mitigate the leaching of bioavailable As. The combination of the three materials in the proportion of 0.5 % PAM +0.1 % NS + 1.0 % Fh can reduce the soil particulate and bioavailable As content by 99.11 % and 93.98 %, respectively. The unconfined compressive strength of the soil can be increased by about 30 % under this condition. The SEM analyses show that the addition of PAM and NS can significantly enhance the aggregation of soil particles and then reduce the soil erosion rate. These findings highlight the significant potential of the proposed approach in mitigating As contamination in soil within mining environments. The approach offers a sustainable and comprehensive solution to address the transport of heavy metal contaminants in both particulate and bioavailable states in mining areas.