Abstract:
The markov matrix, universal soil loss equation (USLE), shadow engineering method, opportunity cost method as well as the method of market pricing were used to explore the characters of land use/cover change (LUCC) and to calculate the quantities and value of soil erosion from 1980 to 2005 in southern Loess Plateau. The results show that: (1) Cultivated land and construction land changed obviously,and 1 123.80 km2 cultivated land has been converted into construction land in southern Loess Plateau.(2) The total quantity of potential soil erosion has increased from 22.99×108 in 1980 to 23.03×108 t in 2005, the actual quantity of soil erosion has increased from 2.56×108 to 3.09×108 t in 2005. Taking the year of 2005 as an example, the soil erosion ranking of different land cover was: cultivated land ＜construction land＜unutilized land＜forest＜grass. (2) The economic loss of soil erosion has increased from 137.66 billion Yuan in 1980 to 162.17 billion Yuan in 2005.Forest, grass and cultivated land are the main source of economic loss caused by soil erosion, and they are effected by area of land use type and terrain.
