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...

a r t i c l e i n f o Fragipans are dense subsurface soil layers that severely restrict water flow and root penetration. They are considered a pedogenic horizon, but their exact genesis is not well understood. In Soil Taxonomy (2010) a fragipan is defined as a layer that is at least 15 cm thick, contains a coarse structure, and is reversibly cemented. We examined 362 pedons with fragipans in th...

In many regions in China there is a wide distribution of dead-weight collapsible loess that experience frequent disasters resulting in enormous losses to national property. Loess collapsibility is the leading cause of disasters in loess areas. Many international scholars are working collaboratively to avoid property losses and human casualties caused by the collapsible loess. Loess collapsibili...

To elucidate the influence of airborne materials on the ecosystem of Japan's Yakushima Island, we determined the elemental compositions and Sr and Nd isotope ratios in streamwater, soils, vegetation, and rocks. Streamwater had high Na and Cl contents, low Ca and HCO(3) contents, and Na/Cl and Mg/Cl ratios close to those of seawater, but it had low pH (5.4 to 7.1), a higher Ca/Cl ratio than seaw...

In designed experiments, different sources of variability and an adequate scale measurement need to be considered, but not all approaches in common usage are equally valid. order elucidate the importance choice scale, we conducted experiment where effects biochar slurry applications on soil properties related fertility were studied for designs: (a) a field-scale sampling design with either mode...

The Zmajevac loess-palaeosol succession (LPS) of the northeastern Baranja loess plateau is exposed along the southern slope of Bansko Brdo, on the western bank of the Danube River. The investigated 17.5-m-thick section shows 4 palaeosol, 1 loess-like and 6 loess horizons. Their integrative palaeoenvironmental analysis combines quantified data from the mollusc record, magnetic susceptibility, gr...

The conterminous United States contains an extensive and generally well-studied record of Last Glacial loess. The loess occurs in diverse physiographic provinces, and under a wide range of climatic and ecological conditions. Both glacial and non-glacial loess sources are present, and many properties of the loess vary systematically with distance from loess sources. United States’ midcontinent L...

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...

Usually, soils with mainly fine grain-sized content, as loess, are considered to have low liquefaction potential. Regardless of this, many researchers analyzed and presented much field evidence that silty soil (in particular loess) occurred under certain conditions. In Bulgaria, the first loess river terrace (T1) within Danube River lowland areas is covered by plasticity a thickness 10–12 m. ?h...