Vegetation restoration effectively combats land degradation and mitigates climate change by enhancing soil carbon sequestration. However, it often depletes soil water storage (SWS), potentially threatening ecosystem sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. Although evidence shows that climate and vegetation type profoundly shape soil carbon-water interactions, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study analyzed data from 174 observations to assess soil organic carbon storage (SOCS) and SWS (0-500 cm), their trade-offs, and the coupling coordination level (0-100 cm) across vegetation types, including grassland, shrubland, and forestland (Robinia pseudoacacia and economic forests) on the Loess Plateau. The findings revealed an optimal trade-off between SOCS and SWS in forestland, with economic forests slightly outperforming Robinia pseudoacacia. Grassland and shrubland exhibited less favorable outcomes. Within the 0-500 cm soil layers, economic forests demonstrated the highest levels of both SOCS (20.20 kg m(-2)) and SWS (857.95 mm), whereas Robinia pseudoacacia had higher SOCS (19.36 kg m(-2)) but lower SWS (574.64 mm). Grassland had lower SOCS (13.00 kg m(-2)) and higher SWS (634.65 mm), while shrubland had the lowest levels of both SOCS (12.55 kg m(-2)) and SWS (480.17 mm). The effect of precipitation and temperature on the carbon-water relationship was non-linear. Based on these results, the revegetation recommendations included grassland for areas with a mean annual precipitation (MAP) > 450 mm, and mean annual temperature (MAT) < 9 degrees C; shrubland for MAP between 450 and 500 mm, and MAT < 9 degrees C; Robinia pseudoacacia for MAP > 530 mm, and MAT between 9 degrees C and 10 degrees C; and economic forests for MAP between 450 and 530 mm, and MAT > 10 degrees C. These findings underscore the pivotal role of vegetation type and climate in regulating soil carbon-water dynamics and help identify optimal climatic zones for different vegetation types on the Loess Plateau.

Despite the widespread application of revegetation for soil and water conservation, yet the mechanisms and pathways by which vegetation coverage modulates soil detachment (Dr) and erodibility (kr) remain poorly characterized. This study examined 5 distinct vegetation coverages (0 % (cornfield), 15-25 %, 35-45 %, 55-65 %, and 75-85 %) of Stipa bungeana, a typical perennial fibrous-rooted vegetation, across 3 representative sampling sites on the Loess Plateau to quantitatively assess vegetation coverage effects on Dr and kr dynamics. Our results demonstrated that as vegetation coverage increased, soil bulk density decreased; while soil organic matter and root properties (the densities of root volume, length, surface area, and mass) improved. Structural equation modeling revealed that Dr, kr, and critical shear stress (tau(c)) were regulated by synergistic interactions between vegetation roots and soil properties, with vegetation restoration exerting its primary influence through root properties. The kr was more significantly affected by soil properties (path coefficient of -0.53) compared to root properties (path coefficient of -0.45), whereas tau(c) was primarily influenced by root properties. Vegetation restoration effectively reduced Dr under varying water flow intensities, and the influence of root properties on Dr increased with increasing water flow, showing a significant increasing trend in the absolute values of path coefficients (R-2 = 0.87, P < 0.05). Notably, site-specific variations in erosion mitigation efficiency were observed under equivalent vegetation coverage levels, highlighting the necessity of incorporating local edaphic factors when optimizing vegetation restoration strategies. Future investigations should encompass a broader spectrum of vegetation functional types across heterogeneous edaphic environments to establish a robust scientific framework for optimizing revegetation protocols.

The implementation of the Grain for Green Project has increased vegetation coverage and provided suitable habitats and food resources for soil fauna, thereby promoting the development of soil faunal communities. Studying seasonal variations in soil fauna communities in different vegetation areas can improve our understanding of the mechanisms that drive soil fauna recovery. We selected five typical artificially restored vegetation habitats, including Populus simonii (POS), Pinus tabulaeformis (PIT), Caragana korshinskii (CAK), Stipa bungeana (STB), and Medicago sativa (MES), and one farmland (Zea mays, FAL) habitat on the Loess Plateau. In this study, soil fauna communities and environmental factors were investigated during spring (May), summer (August), and autumn (November). Among the habitats, the STB habitat had the largest seasonal variation in soil faunal density (from 1173 ind·m−2 in May to 10,743 ind·m−2 in August), and the FAL habitat had the smallest (from 2827 ind·m−2 in August to 5550 ind·m−2 in November). Among the restored vegetation habitats, Acarina (44.89–88.56%) had the highest relative abundance of all taxa. The redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that among the factors driving seasonal variation in soil animal communities, temperature (47.41%) was the most important, followed by precipitation (22.60%). In addition, the dominant groups, Acarina and Collembola, played an influential role in seasonal variations in soil faunal density. Temperature mainly determined the seasonal variations in soil faunal communities. Seasonal factors should be considered when conducting soil fauna research, as they contribute to biodiversity conservation and regional ecological management in the Loess Plateau.

Zokors are common subterranean rodents that inhabit agricultural fields, shrublands, and grasslands in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. Zokor burrowing activities can alter soil structure and affect soil hydrological processes; however, there are few studies regarding their effects on soil preferential flow in the Mu Us sandy land. An evaluation of the effects of zokor disturbance on their habitat and soil water is important for understanding the ecological role of zokors in the soil ecosystem of the Mu Us sandy land. A field dye-tracing experiment was conducted in the Gechougou watershed on the southeastern edge of the Mu Us sandy land to investigate the effect of zokor burrowing activity on soil preferential flow characteristics. Our results showed that the density of zokor tunnels was the highest (0.40–0.46 m m-2) under 30%–50% vegetation coverage and that the tunnels were approximately 3 cm from the surface. Both stained area ratio and stained path number were higher at sites with zokors than without zokors. Stained path widths were 10–80 and > 80 mm at zokor-harboring sites exhibiting homogeneous flow and heterogeneous finger flow, respectively. In the absence of zokors, homogeneous flow and highly interacted macropore flow were predominant. Soil water content below the zokor tunnels was higher than that above the tunnels. Moderate disturbance of soil structure by zokor activity facilitated soil water infiltration. These results enabled a better understanding of the effect of soil fauna on soil structure and hydrological processes and provided recommendations for ecological construction and renovation in arid and semi-arid regions.

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) rose to prominence for its fragmented terrain and fragile ecosystems. Largescale revegetation was applied to control soil and water loss there. However, revegetation resulted in unexpected water shortages. In this study, we investigated the temporal-spatial distribution of soil water in the northern CLP based on 13-year soil water content (SWC) data of four different revegetation types on a loessial slope and 4-year data of a gully system to study the response of soil water to long-term revegetation, topography, and precipitation. Results showed that in the 0-400 cm soil depth under shrub, grass, natural fallow, and millet, soil water storage (SWS) was -102.8, -129.3, 54.9, and 39.3 mm higher after 13-year of restoration, respectively. Although soil water under shrubs- and grasslands became more replenished under high precipitation, planting these water-intensive vegetation types aggravated soil desiccation. The gully intensified soil water spatial heterogeneity, with mean SWS within 0-480 cm soil depth of 902, 712, and 746 mm at the gully bottom, edge, and bank, respectively. The deviation index among the four revegetation types and among gully bottom, edge, and bank were 0.43 and 0.26, respectively, which indicated that revegetation types had a more obvious effect on SWS. Given that more concentrated rainfall under global climate change, both revegetation type and topography should be considered during ecological restoration in semi-arid areas. These findings can deepen our comprehension of the hydrological processes on the CLP and provide a reference for the development of ecological restoration policies under future climate change.

The implementation of the Grain for Green Project on the Loess Plateau has increased vegetation coverage and provided suitable habitats and a large amount of food resources for soil fauna, thus promoting the development of soil fauna communities. Studying the spatial and temporal changes of soil faunal communities in different vegetation areas will improve the understanding of the driving mechanisms of soil faunal recovery. In the present study, the soil faunal communities and environmental factors of typical artificial restoration vegetation, including Populus simonii (POS), Pinus tabulaeformis (PIT), Caragana korshinskii (CAK), Stipa bungeana (STB), and Medicago sativa (MES) habitat on the Loess Plateau were investigated in spring (May), summer (August), and autumn (November). Farmland (FAL) habitats were set as control. The results showed that the vegetation restoration habitats (POS, PIT, CAK, STB, and MES) had higher total soil faunal abundance and group number, with mean soil faunal abundances of 2,520, 2,169, 2,425, 4,229, and 3,249 ind·m-2, than the FAL habitat (1,233 ind·m-2). The seasonal variation in soil faunal abundance in POS, CAK, STB, and MES habitat was the highest in summer . The seasonal variation in soil faunal abundance was the least in the FAL habitat (from 2,827 ind·m-2 in August to 5,550 ind·m-2 in November). Air temperature (8.2%–67.5%), precipitation (20.8%–41.0%), and total soil phosphorus (16.3%–52.9%) mainly explained the variation of soil faunal community composition. Artificially restored vegetation significantly increased the diversity and biomass of soil fauna on the Loess Plateau by altering soil microenvironments, and significant seasonal changes were observed. Seasonal variations reveal the high sensitivity of soil faunal community structure to temperature and humidity. The study of the effects of vegetation restoration on soil faunal communities in the context of global changes, particularly in temperature and precipitation, can provide a reference for the ecological restoration of the Loess Plateau.

Fires lead to dramatic shifts in ecosystems and have a large impact on the biota. Soil organisms, especially soil fauna, are often used as indicators of environmental change. At present, minimal attention has been paid to using soil fauna as an indicator of environmental change after a fire. Here, a field survey of burnt herbaceous vegetation in semi-arid areas was conducted to determine the response of soil arthropods to fire and their short-term recovery after fire. Overall, the abundance and biomass of soil arthropods was more sensitive to fire than the number of groups. The number of soil arthropod groups, especially the dominant groups (mites and springtails), was not significantly affected by wildfires. At the unburned site, soil arthropod abundance showed significant seasonal shifts that may be related to the vegetation properties, temperature, and precipitation caused by seasonal changes. In contrast, soil arthropods at the burnt sites showed a delayed recovery and had only reached 56%-82%, 17%-54%, and 91%-190% of the biomass in the unburnt forest at the 3, 6, and 9 months after the burning event. Our findings of soil arthropod abundance changes in the present study suggest that fire-induced changes in soil and vegetation properties (e.g., AN, LT, and VC) were crucial factors for the changes in soil arthropod abundance in this semi-arid grassland. We conclude that fire disturbance reduces the seasonal sensitivity of soil arthropods by altering their habitat. This study furthers our understanding of wildfire impact recovery by documenting the short-term temporal dynamics of soil arthropods.

In the Loess Plateau, apple (Malus pumila Mill.) orchards converted from cropland are expanding because of the economic value of apples. Understanding the effects of the conversion of cropland to apple orchards on soil water and nitrogen distributions, as well as the potential soil nitrate accumulation, is important and necessary. In this study, apple orchards (Red Fuji) of different growing ages (5, 15, and 28 year old), an abandoned apple orchard, a wheat field, and a maize field in Changwu County of the Loess Plateau were selected to evaluate the soil water content (SWC), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N), and other soil parameters within the 0-5 m soil depth. Results showed that SWC of maize field (21.22%) was the highest, followed by that of the 5-years-old apple orchard (20.24%) and wheat field (18.83%). The SWC of the 28-years-old apple orchard (16.09%) was the lowest of the six treatments. Soil NO3--N storage within the 0-5 m soil profile under 5-, 15-, and 28-years-old, abandoned apple orchards, wheat fields, and maize fields reached approximately 613.2, 1929.4, 4277.9, 1282.4, 95.2, 275.9 kg ha 1, respectively. The SWC deficits were found severe, and high nitrate accumulation was found in 15-and 28 years-old apple orchards. Soil water deficits and nitrate accumulation in abandoned apple orchards can persist for ten years. The soil NO3--N content was significantly (P < 0.01) negatively correlated with SWC. After converting croplands to apple orchards, soil water deficit and nitrate accumulation were the main soil environmental problems, which worsened with age. A reasonable amount of fertilizer should be applied in orchards to reduce contaminants in the soil environment. Coupling enhancement of the utilization efficiency of fertilizers and limited soil water resources could be important for establishing the soil environment in arid and semi-arid areas.

Vegetation restoration is one of the principal strategies for ecosystem recovery in degraded land of fragile regions, which is an important driving factor for soil fertility and elemental circulation. While the relationship between revegetation and soil C-N-P stoichiometry remains unclear. To evaluate the relationships between vegetation restoration and soil C-N-P stoichiometry, the distribution of soil C, N, and P within 0-30 cm soil depth under five typical artificial restored vegetation types on the Loess Plateau was analyzed and the influencing factors were evaluated. The results showed that soil C, N, and P contents were relatively lower at the study site than the mean values for topsoil in China. Compared with other vegetation types (Populus simonii Carr., Pinus tabuliformis Carr., and Caragana korshinskii Kom.), Medicago Sativa L. and Stipa bungeana Trin. helped improve soil fertility better; the soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents within the 0-30 cm soil layer respectively maximized under Stipa bungeana Trin. (3.30 g kg-1), Medicago Sativa L. (0.34 g kg-1), and Medicago Sativa L. (0.41 g kg-1). The values of soil C/N, C/P, and N/P for the five vegetation types were 9.50-11.85, 15.36-21.47, and 1.29-1.90, respectively. The contents of SOC and TN under the five vegetation types were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by soil depth and vegetation type (P < 0.001) and decreased with increasing soil depth. However, the TP content was significantly (P < 0.001) affected by vegetation type and not by soil depth. Considering the better adaptability of native species, native herb vegetation types should be considered first for ecological restoration in semiarid continental climate zones.

Soil aggregates are generally thought to be the nucleus of all carbon sequestration mechanisms. However, the Loess Plateau, a typical region where a fragile ecosystem has gradually recovered, has high variability in soil aggregates due to differences in climate and soil properties; thus, the driving mechanism of soil aggregates to changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) content remain unclear. To determine the dominant mechanisms affecting SOC content, we performed a large-scale investigation of the aggregate size fractions, aggregate-associated OC, OC in bulk soil, and environmental factors of the natural grasslands across a climatic gradient (semi-arid to semi-humid) on the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the proportion of macroaggregates (MA) decreased but that of microaggregates (MI) increased in the soil from south to north on the Loess Plateau. MA content decreased with soil depth, whereas MI and the silt + clay fraction (SC) contents increased with soil depth. In addition, aggregate-associated OC decreased with soil depth. The contribution rate of macroaggregate-associated OCwf (MAFC) to OC in bulk soil from south to north in the Loess Plateau showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing, and the contribution rates were 73.77 % (Fufeng), 62.29 % (Huangling), 32.78 % (Suide), 28.31 % (Shenmu), and 47.62 % (Dalad Banner), respectively. For the entire Loess Plateau, MAFC contributed the most to SOC in different soil layers and the contribution rates were 64.68 % (0-5 cm), 49.54 % (5-10 cm), 44.43 % (10-20 cm), and 37.23 % (20-30 cm), respectively. Across the considered depths and sites, the MA, MAFC, and OC content of MA had significantly (p < 0.05) positive direct effects on the OC in bulk soil. Furthermore, MAFC was mainly dependent on the OC content and proportion of MA. Therefore, these results indicated that the proportion of MA and OC content within MA dominated the OC dynamics in bulk soil in the Loess Plateau.

Afforestation is a common and effective method for restoring degraded ecosystems worldwide. Robinia pseudoacacia is a main non-native tree species that has been widely planted in the Loess Plateau for revegetation. However, suitability and sustainability of R. pseudoacacia must be considered due to its uncertainty on soil water consumption and carbon sequestration. We aimed to analyze dynamic effects of R. pseudoacacia forest on soil carbon storage (SCS) and soil water storage (SWS) in this study. The relationship between soil water content (SWC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) and influencing factors on the 0–500 cm profile of the chronosequence from 10–50-year-old plantations was investigated. Results showed that dynamics of soil water storage (SWS) and soil carbon storage (SCS) on time scale may be divided into reduction (the initial 20 years after afforestation) and recovery (the 20–50 years after afforestation) processes. SCS had a net cumulative effect relative to wasteland (WL) at 50 years after afforestation while SWS remained in deficit. Additionally, SOC of R. pseudoacacia forest increased with the increase of SWC and showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation in the 0–100 cm layer. These findings suggested that SWC and SOC in the process of vegetation growth were likely two dependent processes with a complementary relationship. Additionally, stand density made greatest contributes to the dynamic of SWS and SCS through changing vegetation, soil and litter characteristics (eg., coverage, understory vegetation coverage, and litter biomass). The results of this study can guide forest managers on how to maintain the carrying capacity of forest water and nutrient resources.

Earthworms exert a great impact on soil physical and chemical properties through feeding, burrowing, and casting activities. These activities can further affect soil erosion processes. However, we have insufficient knowledge on the effects of earthworm activities on soil erosion. In this study, we quantified the effects of earthworm activities on soil water distribution, runoff rate, and soil erosion rate under three slope gradients (5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 15 degrees) through a laboratory-simulated rainfall experiment. The uniform rainfall intensity (80 mm h(-1)) was set, and the rainfall duration after runoff generation was set to 60 min. Results showed that earthworm increased soil water infiltration and soil water storage (SWS). The increments in SWS were 41.2, 24.0, and 34.9 mm, respectively, in the tanks with earthworms at the slope gradients of 5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 15 degrees, which were 93%, 51%, and 70% higher than the values of the control plots (21.3, 15.9, and 20.5 mm). Compared with the control plots, earthworm activities reduced the runoff rate at slope gradients of 5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 15 degrees by 70%, 13%, and 39%, respectively; and increased soil erosion rate at slope gradients of 10 degrees and 15 degrees by 42% and 46%, respectively. Through their feeding, burrowing, and casting activities, earthworm increased soil water infiltration, reduced surface runoff, and increased soil erosion. This study provides insights into the effects of soil animals on soil erosion processes, and these data could then be incorporated into existing soil erosion simulation models or provide a basis for new models.

研究切沟土壤水分及干层时空分布特征,有利于提高地区水资源利用效率及植被恢复效益.以神木市六道沟小流域典型切沟为研究对象,对土壤水分状况进行定位监测,分析沟底、沟缘和沟岸土壤水分时空分布、干层分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明:沟底土壤含水率由沟头至沟口呈明显增加趋势.沟底、沟缘和沟岸0～480 cm剖面土层平均含水率分别为17.1％、13.5％和14.4％.沟底0～480 cm剖面土层平均储水量为80.54 cm,沟缘及沟岸分别为67.49 cm和71.05 cm.地形和土壤质地是影响土壤储水量的主要因素;土壤储水量与距沟头距离、土壤黏粒、粉粒含量呈极显著正相关.沟底、沟缘和沟岸均有干层出现,且主要集中在靠近沟头位置,平均厚度和起始深度分别为243 cm和257 cm,平均含水率为9.5％.沟底、沟缘和沟岸干层平均厚度分别为100 cm、286 cm和331 cm.研究结果可为该区域土壤水资源管理和土壤水库评价提供理论依据.

苜蓿在黄土高原生态恢复中发挥着重要作用,为进一步了解苜蓿对坡面产流产沙及土壤水分的影响,通过室内人工模拟降雨试验,研究了不同坡度(5°,10°和15°)和不同苜蓿覆盖度(裸地、低覆盖度和高覆盖度)下的径流速率、产沙速率和土壤水分状况.结果表明:(1)苜蓿可以显著(p<0.01)降低坡面径流速率,在15°坡面条件下,与裸地坡面(1.34 m m/m in)相比,低和高苜蓿覆盖度坡面的平均径流速率分别降低了43％ 和78％,而坡度对径流速率没有显著影响(p>0.05);(2)苜蓿可以显著(p<0.01)减少坡面产沙速率,在15°坡面,裸地的平均产沙速率为23.5 g/(m2·min),分别是低和高苜蓿覆盖度坡面的8.6倍和13.7倍,不同坡度下产沙速率差异明显;(3)苜蓿降低坡面侵蚀产沙的能力强于减缓坡面径流的能力;(4)降雨24 h后,在低和高苜蓿覆盖度下,不同坡度处理0—90 cm深度土壤储水量增量平均值分别为15.9～21.3mm和28.6～38.7mm,而裸地坡面为6.4mm;并且随着覆盖度的增加,土壤水分入渗深度也逐渐增加.苜蓿覆盖可以减缓坡面径流、降低坡面产沙并提高土壤水分入渗量.

The relationship between soil fauna and vegetation diversity has been of continuous concern. The effects of the “Grain-for-Green” program on the Loess Plateau in maintaining the abundance and diversity of soil fauna are poorly understood. This study assessed the spatial influence of five common artificial restoration habitats, Populus simonii, Pinus tabulaeformis, Caragana korshinskii, Medicago sativa, and Stipa bungeana, and one farmland habitat on the characteristics of soil fauna communities. Results showed that six soil fauna groups (Araneae, Acarina, Collembola, Isoptera, Coleoptera larvae, and Coleoptera adults) were shared among these habitats, accounting for 37.5% of the total number of groups. Acarina was the dominant group in each habitat. The soil fauna abundance in the P. tabulaeformis habitat was the highest among the habitats, reaching 7656 ind m−2. S. bungeana had the highest diversity, richness, and evenness indices of soil fauna among the habitats. Furthermore, a remarkable correlation among main soil properties (water content, organic carbon, and available potassium), litter properties (vegetation coverage, vegetation density, and litter thickness), and soil fauna were observed. The differences in microenvironment among the six habitats had a strong influence on the composition of soil fauna communities. Compared with other habitats, the S. bungeana habitat is more conducive to the protection of biodiversity. Vegetation restoration increases the diversity of soil fauna by improving their living environment, and soil fauna communities can be used as assessment indicators for “vegetation restoration benefits.” These findings help reveal the developmental tendencies of soil fauna during vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau, and provide important support for evaluating environmental quality by soil fauna.

Studies on the effects of artificially restored vegetation on soil nutrient distribution are important to understand the relationship between vegetation restoration and soil environment evolution. However, studies for accurately assessing the ecological benefits of different vegetation restoration models are relatively limited. In this study, we examined the vertical distribution of soil nutrient contents and its influencing factors beneath five typical artificial vegetation types (i.e., Populus simonii, Pinus tabuliformis, Caragana korshinskii, Medicago saliva, and Stipa bungeana) in a transition zone from desert to loess in North China. We found that soil nutrient content had a distinct hierarchy and decreased with increasing soil depth, thereby reflecting the surface aggregation effect of vegetation on soil nutrients. The soil quality index (SQI) and soil nutrients showed the same vertical distribution trend. The average SQI of different vegetation types followed the order: M. sativa (0.2052) > S. bungeana (0.1917) > P. tabuliformis (0.1761) > C. korshinskii (0.1473) > P. simonii (0.0883). Comprehensive analysis showed that the artificial restoration of S. bungeana vegetation was the most suitable restoration type in this catchment. Soil nutrient content was positively correlated with soil water content, plant coverage, clay, silt, and litter nutrient content but negatively correlated with soil bulk density, sand, and litter C/N. Our research is helpful in scientifically evaluating the ecological effect and service value of "Grain-for-Green" program and providing a reference for the implementation of a new round of "Grain-for-Green" in the desert-loess transition zone.

The Chinese zokor (Myospalax fontanierii) affects the physical and chemical properties of soil and the evolution of vegetation. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of zokors on soil erosion. In this study, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was planted in tanks to quantify the effects of zokor excavation activities on runoff and soil erosion rate. Three slope gradients of 5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 15 degrees were set, two soil tanks (with and without a zokor) were used for each gradient, and six soil tanks were prepared in total. Laboratory simulated rainfall was applied using a side-spray simulation system, and the rainfall intensity was set to 80 mm h(-1) with the rainfall duration of 60 min after runoff generation. Results showed that the soil bulk density of fresh zokor mounds was 0.82 +/- 0.02 g cm(-3), which was 39% lower than that of the soil matrix (1.35 g cm(-3)). The vegetation coverage decreased to 32%, 45%, and 43% respectively, after 3 days of disturbance by zokor, compared with 87%, 90%, and 92% in the tanks without zokor. The presence of zokor reduced the runoff rate by 88% on the lowest gradient to 21% on the steepest gradient, and increased the water infiltration and soil water storage within 90 cm depth. The soil mounds and herbivorous tunnel changed the microtopography and consequently the runoff pathway, increased the sediment yield, and intensified soil erosion, especially at a steep slope gradient. Although the activity of zokors does not directly increase soil erosion, and the tunnel system can facilitate water infiltration and lessen runoff, the mounds they create provide loose and erodible materials. The destruction of vegetation by zokors would facilitate soil erosion and reduce the benefit of vegetation restoration. This study provides insights into the effects of subterranean rodents on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau.