Quantification of Soil Erosion and Sediment Transport in Basins (Second Edition)

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 789

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor

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Guest Editor
Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146 Rome, Italy
Interests: catchment hydrology; soil erosion; sediment transport; reservoir sedimentation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil erosion in basins is mainly caused by rainfall and runoff. Soil erosion products are transported by runoff into the streams of the basin considered and through the streams to the basin outlet, which may also be the inlet of a natural or artificial lake. The quantification of the physical processes of soil erosion and sediment transport can be achieved by mathematical modeling including empirical, conceptual and physically based relationships. Field measurements, laboratory experiments, and satellite monitoring can be used for the verification of computational results. In recent years, quantification of stream sediment transport has been implemented by means of machine learning methods. Additionally, the uncertainty resulting from parameters included in sediment transport equations is visualized by fuzzy logic analysis. Intense and frequent rainfalls on basins have catastrophic consequences for both rural and urban settlements, namely the transport of large amounts of suspended sediment in the streams, mud floods, the removal of fertile soil, and the acceleration of reservoir sedimentation. The final aim of the computations mentioned above is the dimensioning of structures against soil erosion and stream sediment transport, e.g., check dams and retention basins. Management measures such as land use change and contour tilling can reduce soil erosion effects on cultivated land.

List of topics:

  • Mathematical modeling of soil erosion in basins due to rainfall and runoff;
  • Mathematical modeling of stream sediment transport;
  • Verification of computational results by means of field measurements;
  • Verification of computational results by means of laboratory measurements;
  • Application of machine learning methods to sediment transport problems;
  • Application of fuzzy regression analysis to sediment transport formulas;
  • Constructive and management measures against soil erosion and sediment transport.

Prof. Dr. Vlassios Hrissanthou
Dr. Konstantinos Kaffas
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • soil erosion
  • stream sediment transport
  • field measurements
  • laboratory measurements
  • machine learning methods
  • fuzzy logic
  • constructive and management measures

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Research

24 pages, 4377 KB  
Article
Effects of Stratified Vegetation Volume on Understory Erosion and Soil Coarsening in the Red Soil Region of Southern China
by Yanzi He, Zhujun Gu, Qinghua Fu, Hui Yue, Gengen Lin, Jiasheng Wu, Guanghui Liao and Fei Wang
Land 2026, 15(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15010143 - 10 Jan 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Severe erosion persists in the red soil region of southern China despite dense vegetation. Stratified vegetation volume (SVV), which integrates horizontal and vertical vegetation density, better captures understory structure than fractional cover. Here, we established and surveyed 75 forest stands (10 m × [...] Read more.
Severe erosion persists in the red soil region of southern China despite dense vegetation. Stratified vegetation volume (SVV), which integrates horizontal and vertical vegetation density, better captures understory structure than fractional cover. Here, we established and surveyed 75 forest stands (10 m × 10 m) spanning an erosion-intensity gradient in Changting County, Fujian Province, China. Within each stand, soil was sampled by depth (0–20 cm), and living and dead vegetation volumes in the canopy, shrub–herb, and litter layers were quantified to derive SVV. Relative to slightly eroded soils, moderate and severe erosion reduced the soil water content by 38–41% and soil organic matter by 19–34%, while increasing bulk density by 25–30% and pH by 6–8%. Severe erosion increased the sand content by 20–31% and decreased the gravel content by ≤15%. SVV declined sharply with erosion, with the largest loss in the shrub–herb layer (66–97%). Erosion was most strongly associated with shrub–herb SVV, soil water content, organic matter, and bulk density (r = 0.5–0.6, p < 0.05). The shrub–herb layer was the key component resisting surface erosion. Overall, understory degradation accelerates erosion and soil coarsening, reinforcing a constrained vegetation–soil system; restoring native shrubs and grasses, coupled with targeted canopy thinning, may improve soil and water conservation. Full article
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