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Soil Systems
Special Issues
Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms
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Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms

A Special Issue of Soil Systems (ISSN 2571-8789).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 7872

Editors

Prof. Dr. Antônio José Teixeira Guerra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, Institute of Geosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-916, Brazil
Interests: soil erosion; mass movements; monitoring; modeling; land recuperation
Prof. Dr. Antonio Carlos de Barros Correa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ciências Geográficas, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife 50740-550, Brazil
Interests: climatic geomorphology; morphostratigraphy; quaternary; semi-arid environments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue seeks to gather original contributions that focus on soil erosion, mass movements, and pedoclimatic disequilibrium in aggradational landforms. These themes are central to addressing the critical environmental challenges of the 21st century, with far-reaching implications for both rural and urban sustainability, ecosystem health, and the protection of human lives and material assets. The accelerating pace of surface processes driven by rapid environmental change presents complex challenges due to their unpredictable nature and substantial contributions to soil loss and land degradation. In particular, soil covers in tropical regions are often remnants of ecological conditions that differ from the current landscape, making them particularly prone to destabilization under contemporary socio-environmental pressures, especially in the context of large-scale commercial agriculture encroachment.

This Special Issue will deal with the pivotal role of soil erosion, recognized as one of the leading causes of land degradation through the removal of the fertile topsoil at alarming rates. The conversion of original vegetation for agricultural purposes serves as a primary triggering factor. We invite contributions that explore the various forms of erosion—such as sheet, rill, and gully erosion—supported by case studies from diverse global landscapes. We also welcome discussions on the responses of soil covers formed on quaternary aggradational landforms to extreme meteorological events, highlighting the need for adaptive management strategies.

Mass movements, or mass wasting, represent the gravitational movement of soil and rock materials, often occurring independently from the influences of water or ice. The dynamics of mass wasting are significantly affected by human activities that alter hillslope stability in both rural and urban settings. Recent shifts in precipitation patterns further exacerbate these challenges, making it urgent to understand and address their implications. Moreover, soil imbalances arising from altered precipitation patterns, rising temperatures, and carbon cycling changes can severely impact soil structure, function, fertility, and plant growth, with direct consequences for food production systems.

This Special Issue will also address how contemporary conditions, including increasing temperatures and intensified precipitation, affect soil covers on aggradational landforms inherited from past environmental and landscape arrangements, such as dunes, sand sheets, paleo-alluvial plains, and colluvial hillslopes. Such insights are vital for predicting landscape changes, assessing land degradation, and implementing sustainable practices for mitigation and reclamation.

We invite submissions that comprehensively address soil erosion, mass movements, and pedoclimatic disequilibrium in depositional landforms, encompassing their causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Potential topics may include, but are not limited to, surveying, monitoring, modeling, assessment, prognosis, land reclamation, mitigation strategies, and instrumentation, applicable in both field and laboratory settings. We look forward to your valuable contributions.

Prof. Dr. Antônio José Teixeira Guerra
Prof. Dr. Antonio Carlos de Barros Correa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Soil Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil erosion
  • mass movements
  • sheet erosion
  • rill erosion
  • gully erosion
  • alluvium
  • colluvium
  • land reclamation
  • climate change
  • modeling

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 111677 KB  
Article
Micromorphological Features of Carbonate Soils Threatened by Desertification in Northeastern Brazil
by Marcio Lima Rios, Fábio Soares de Oliveira, Vilma Lucia Macagnan Carvalho, Marcos Gervásio Pereira and Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer
Soil Syst. 2026, 10(9), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10090103 - 9 Sep 2026
Abstract
Desertification is a major environmental problem in drylands, resulting from the interaction between climatic and anthropogenic factors and involving processes such as vegetation loss and soil erosion. In northeastern Brazil, long-term land-use pressure has intensified the vulnerability of semi-arid landscapes, leading to severe [...] Read more.
Desertification is a major environmental problem in drylands, resulting from the interaction between climatic and anthropogenic factors and involving processes such as vegetation loss and soil erosion. In northeastern Brazil, long-term land-use pressure has intensified the vulnerability of semi-arid landscapes, leading to severe degradation and reduced environmental resilience. Within this context, the Salitre River Basin (Bahia State) represents a particularly relevant area for investigating desertification, as it combines a history of intense human pressure and soil degradation with arid climatic conditions recently recognized through climatological assessments. This study investigates the micromorphological organization, hillslope dynamics, and environmental degradation of carbonate soils of the Salitre river basin, aiming to reconstruct pedogeomorphological evolution and identify indicators of desertification. A toposequence-based approach was applied using ten soil profiles distributed across sectors with contrasting erosion intensity. Soil horizons were characterized through field descriptions, physical and chemical analyses, and micromorphological observations of thin sections. Soils are predominantly eutrophic, carbonate-rich, shallow Calcisols, with very high CaCO3 contents (500–900 g kg−1), alkaline pH, and low total organic carbon. The spatial organization of profiles results from strong lithological and geomorphological controls, with well-developed horizons in stable sectors, whereas truncated and homogeneous profiles occur in areas affected by severe erosion. Micromorphological features, including planar and moldic voids, Fe–Mn nodules, calcite coatings, and needle calcite infillings, indicate active carbonate dissolution/redistribution processes under increasing seasonality and aridity (calcification). The coexistence of inherited dissolution and recent precipitation features suggests polyphasic pedogenesis linked to Holocene climatic oscillations. The preservation of well-developed needle-fiber calcite is consistent with prolonged water-deficit conditions, although its precise chronological significance remains unconstrained in the absence of direct dating. At landscape scale, these processes are associated with hillslope retreat and dense networks of linear erosion, defining a scenario of severe land degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms)
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20 pages, 9867 KB  
Article
Soil Development and Properties Under the Canopy of Calligonum aphyllum Across Different Geomorphological Conditions: A Case Study of the Balkhash Region, Kazakhstan
by Assiya Myltykbayeva, Akmaral Nurmakhanova, Murat Toktar, Sultan Bazarbayev, Serzhan Mombekov, Aigul Akhmetova, Saule Atabayeva, Moldyr Dyusebaeva, Bagila Abdullayeva, Zhazira Zhunusbayeva, Dzhumadil Childibaev, Umit Oshakbay, Shadiiyam Turailova, Aitolkyn Muratbayeva and Ünal Murat
Soil Syst. 2026, 10(7), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10070078 - 14 Jul 2026
Viewed by 667
Abstract
Sandy desert ecosystems of Central Asia are highly vulnerable to climate change, land degradation, and increasing anthropogenic pressure, yet the soil conditions supporting native desert vegetation remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigates soil development and physicochemical properties under the canopy of Calligonum aphyllum [...] Read more.
Sandy desert ecosystems of Central Asia are highly vulnerable to climate change, land degradation, and increasing anthropogenic pressure, yet the soil conditions supporting native desert vegetation remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigates soil development and physicochemical properties under the canopy of Calligonum aphyllum across different geomorphological conditions in the southern Balkhash region of Kazakhstan. Field investigations were conducted within the Ili River delta, where nine soil profiles were described across three geomorphological settings. Soil samples were analyzed using standard soil analytical methods to assess particle-size composition, soil organic matter, nutrient availability, carbonate content, salinity, and sodicity indicators. The studied soils were predominantly sandy, with sand fractions ranging from 88 to 96% and very low clay content, resulting in weak horizon differentiation, high permeability, and limited water-retention capacity. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen contents were consistently low across all sites. Available phosphorus decreased with depth, particularly in carbonate-enriched horizons, whereas exchangeable potassium remained comparatively high. Total salinity was low, with chloride–sulfate and calcium–sodium dominance, and no evidence of sodicity was observed based on SAR values. Clear differences among geomorphological settings were identified, including relatively homogeneous sandy substrates, dust-enriched semi-stabilized sands, and actively reworked aeolian ridges. The results indicate that C. aphyllum can persist under nutrient-poor, coarse-textured sandy conditions and is associated with surface root concentration, local substrate stabilization, and early soil-profile differentiation. These findings highlight the ecological importance of C. aphyllum in sandy desert habitats and provide site-specific soil information relevant to vegetation-based restoration and sustainable land management in arid regions of Central Asia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms)
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20 pages, 8882 KB  
Article
Assessing Soil Vulnerability to Water Erosion Under Dam Releases Using a Multi-Criteria Approach: Case of the Sidi Aich Basin, Southwestern Tunisia
by Fatma Karaouli, Mongi Ben Zaied, Nadia Khelif, Zaineb Ali, Fethi Abdelli, Houda Besser, Latifa Dhaouedi and Mohamed Ouessar
Soil Syst. 2026, 10(5), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10050051 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 1584
Abstract
Soil erosion is a significant environmental concern in arid regions, particularly in dam-regulated watersheds, where intermittent flows from sprinkler irrigation can exacerbate land degradation. This study assesses soil erosion susceptibility in the Sidi Aich watershed using a combined approach of the Revised Universal [...] Read more.
Soil erosion is a significant environmental concern in arid regions, particularly in dam-regulated watersheds, where intermittent flows from sprinkler irrigation can exacerbate land degradation. This study assesses soil erosion susceptibility in the Sidi Aich watershed using a combined approach of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), enabling the integration of both regional characteristics and expert-driven weighting. The RUSLE model accounts for natural and human-induced factors, whereas AHP provides a hierarchical weighting system that highlights rainfall erosivity and the local impacts of dam-regulated discharges. Results show that 26.12% of the area falls into the very high susceptibility category, 25.45% into high, 23.91% into moderate, and 24.51% into low susceptibility. Model validation demonstrates satisfactory predictive performance, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of 0.85 for AHP and 0.78 for RUSLE. Overall, the findings emphasize the critical role of dam-controlled releases in increasing soil vulnerability, a factor that may not be fully captured when using RUSLE alone. By combining RUSLE and AHP, this research provides a more realistic and regionally tailored assessment of erosion risk, offering valuable guidance for watershed management and erosion mitigation strategies in arid environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms)
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22 pages, 4007 KB  
Article
Restoring Soil and Ecosystem Functions in Hilly Olive Orchards in Northwestern Syria by Adopting Contour Tillage and Vegetation Strips in a Mediterranean Environment
by Zuhair Masri, Francis Turkelboom, Chi-Hua Huang, Thomas E. Schumacher and Venkataramani Govindan
Soil Syst. 2026, 10(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10010001 - 19 Dec 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1411
Abstract
Steep olive orchards in northwest Syria are experiencing severe land degradation as a result of unsustainable uphill–downhill tillage, which accelerates erosion and reduces productivity. To address this problem, three tillage systems, no-till natural vegetation strips (NVSs), contour tillage, and uphill–downhill tillage, were evaluated [...] Read more.
Steep olive orchards in northwest Syria are experiencing severe land degradation as a result of unsustainable uphill–downhill tillage, which accelerates erosion and reduces productivity. To address this problem, three tillage systems, no-till natural vegetation strips (NVSs), contour tillage, and uphill–downhill tillage, were evaluated at two research sites, Yakhour and Tel-Hadya, NW Syria. The adoption of no-till NVSs significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) at both sites, outperforming uphill–downhill tillage. While contour tillage resulted in lower SOM levels than NVSs, it still performed better than the conventional uphill–downhill practice. Contour soil flux (CSF) was lower in Yakhour, where mule-drawn tillage on steep slopes (31–35%) was practiced, compared to higher CSF values in Tel-Hadya, where tractor tillage was applied on gentler slopes (11–13%), which highlights the influence of slope steepness on soil fluxes. Over four years, net soil flux (NSF) indicated greater soil loss under tractor tillage, confirming that mule-drawn tillage is less disruptive. Olive trees with no-till NVSs benefited from protected root systems, improved soil structure through SOM accumulation, reduced erosion risk, and improved surface runoff buffering, which resulted in increased water infiltration and soil water retention. This study was carried out using a participatory technology development (PTD) framework, which guided the entire research process, from diagnosing problems to co-designing, field testing, and refining soil conservation practices. In Yakhour, farmers actively identified the challenges of degradation. They collaboratively chose no-till natural vegetation strips (NVSs) and contour tillage as key interventions, valuing NVSs for their ability to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and pests, and increase olive productivity. The farmer–scientist co-learning network positioned PTD not only as an outreach tool but also as a core research method, enabling locally relevant and scalable strategies to restore soil functions and combat land degradation in northwest Syria’s hilly olive orchards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms)
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17 pages, 2795 KB  
Article
Soil Properties Governing Erodibility of Cuban Soils: A Univariate Erodibility Equation
by Gustavo R. Alonso, Javier Casalí, Miguel Ángel Campo-Bescós and Jorge Díaz
Soil Syst. 2025, 9(4), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9040131 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1472
Abstract
Accelerated water erosion is a major soil degradation process that affects soil and water quality. In Cuba, specifically, more than 40% of agricultural lands are affected by severe erosion problems. Estimating accurate erodibility values is a crucial step for the calibration and proper [...] Read more.
Accelerated water erosion is a major soil degradation process that affects soil and water quality. In Cuba, specifically, more than 40% of agricultural lands are affected by severe erosion problems. Estimating accurate erodibility values is a crucial step for the calibration and proper application of erosion models. Several equations have been developed to estimate erodibility from soil properties; however, these are often soil- or site-specific, limiting their application. This study aims to (1) identify soil properties governing the erodibility of tropical soils from western Cuba, (2) find suitable regression models to estimate erodibility from these properties, and (3) test widely applied erodibility equations. To achieve these goals, rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on runoff plots, and erosion-related physical, chemical, and mechanical soil properties were determined for 19 different soils. The main results indicated that good correlations between erodibility and certain soil properties were achieved after clustering soils based on their cation exchange capacity (CEC) values and clay content. Soils characterized by more than 30% of clay and 40 cmol+ kg−1 of CEC were excluded from the main analysis. Generally, clay content controls the erodibility of these tropical soils, exhibiting an inverse relationship. However, in the excluded soils, the clay fraction showed a positive relationship with erodibility. Soil water retention at the lowest matric potentials demonstrated the strongest correlation with soil erodibility, as this variable encompasses compound information related to clay, mineralogy, and organic matter. A new regression model to estimate erodibility based solely on the volumetric water content at 1500 kPa is presented. The optimal fitted logarithmic model accounts for 64% of the predictand variability in the studied soils. When testing known erodibility models, the nomograph was found to best mimic the erodibility trend of these soils, although it exhibited marked uncertainty and underestimation biases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms)
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Review

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9 pages, 1488 KB  
Review
Aridity and Soil Erosion in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula: A Review
by Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Sánchez and Alfonso Albacete
Soil Syst. 2026, 10(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10030044 - 18 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1541
Abstract
Climate change brings about changes in precipitation and temperatures, significantly increasing aridity in many areas. The southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is affected by climate change and increased aridity, which, together with anthropogenic factors, has increased the area affected by erosion. It is [...] Read more.
Climate change brings about changes in precipitation and temperatures, significantly increasing aridity in many areas. The southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is affected by climate change and increased aridity, which, together with anthropogenic factors, has increased the area affected by erosion. It is interesting to learn about aspects of aridity, desertification, and erosion in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. A literature review was conducted on issues related to climate change, aridity, desertification, and erosion, focusing on the southeast of the peninsula. In addition, field visits were made to verify some of the situations described in the literature. The results highlight the relationships among climate change, aridity, desertification, and erosion, and illustrate their impacts on the landscape and territory of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. Furthermore, the results indicated a clear anthropogenic influence on the aridity–desertification–erosion loop. There has been a notable and rapid increase in erosion and aridification. Aridity is closely linked to erosion, and its harmful effects on soils in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula have intensified significantly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion, Mass Movements and Pedoclimatic Disequilibrium in Aggradational Landforms)
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