Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to quantitatively assess the erosion reduction benefits of soil and water conservation measures in Northwest Liaoning, to evaluate the applicability of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2 (RUSLE2) model, and to explore optimal configurations for regional soil and water conservation strategies.
Methods Based on erosion observation data from five field runoff plots, the RUSLE2 model was employed to simulate soil erosion under different conservation measures. The consistency between simulated and observed erosion reduction benefits was evaluated using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.
Results Significant differences were observed in the effectiveness of engineering measures. Terraced fields exhibited the highest erosion control performance (P = 0.008 - 0.01), followed by terraced plots (P = 0.06 - 0.07), horizontal trenches and vegetated swales (P = 0.30 - 0.40), and fish-scale pits (P = 0.75). The cover management (C) factor was the highest for bare land (0.96), followed by croplands (peanuts: 0.48 - 0.57; soybeans: 0.40; corn: 0.26 - 0.39). Fruit trees ranged from 0.025 to 0.10, while forest-grasslands and naturally restored areas showed the lowest values (0.013). The combined system of terraced fields and cropping achieved an erosion reduction rate exceeding 74%, demonstrating dual benefits for food security and soil conservation. Orchard measures (terraces/horizontal trenches) effectively balanced economic and ecological benefits, whereas natural restoration areas (Pinus tabulaeformis-Genus Vitex) achieved 100% erosion reduction, indicating optimal ecological restoration. A strong rank correlation was found between simulated and observed erosion reduction rates (mean Spearman ρ = 0.747). The model performed best for bio-engineering composite measures but slightly underestimated the effectiveness of orchard measures. For traditional farming measures, the rank correlation remained stable despite occasional deviations.
Conclusion The RUSLE2 model demonstrated reliable applicability in Northwest Liaoning. Therefore, under conditions of limited measured data, the model can serve as an effective tool for assessing and optimizing soil and water conservation benefits.