Dynamic changes of soil erodibility during process of land degradation and restoration

The values of soil erodibility K under different degradation and restoration periods were calculated by the EPIC model and the dynamic changes of soil erodibility during the process of land degradation and restoration were systematically studied. The results showed that after cultivated, soil particles developed towards coarseness and organic matter contents was decreased, while during the periods of restoration, soil erodibility was decreased with the increasing of SOM gradually. K values were closely correlated with soil phy-chemical properties, among which the organic matter content determined its erodibility fundamentally. Thus vegetation recovery and rehabilitation to improve the organic matter and promote formation of aggregates and their stability are principal countermeasures to reduce soil erodibility for the Loess Plateau.