Notice of RetractionSoil erosion and organic carbon dynamics across steep hillslopes in the Hengduan Mountain Region of eastern Tibet, China

Notice of Retraction

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Little has been known concerning soil erosion distribution across steep hillslopes in the Hengduan Mountain Region of eastern Tibet. Three representative hillslopes were selected to determine dynamics of soil erosion and soil organic carbon (SOC) by using ¹³⁷Cs technique in typical regions of soil erosion and water loss. Across the 39° hillslope in Yanduo valley of Lancang River watershed (Slope-1), soil erosion was severe in midslope and downslope positions, particularly in midslope positions where the ¹³⁷Cs inventory of 0 Bq/m² was found. Across the 39° hillslope in Zhayu valley of Yuqu River watershed (Slope-3), the most severe soil erosion happened in upslope positions where the ¹³⁷Cs inventory of 0 Bq/m² was also detected. The coefficients of variation (CVs) for ¹³⁷Cs were extremely high at 106% and 91%, respectively, in Slope-1 and -3. Throughout the 20° hillslope in Maiyu pasture of Nujiang River watershed (Slope-2), soil erosion was severe with low ¹³⁷Cs inventories ranging between 357-553 Bq/m² (CV, 22%). These results show soil erosion processes across steep hillslopes differ in different regions of soil erosion and water loss. SOC distribution were in line with soil erosion across the three hillslopes, with moderate variability (CVs, 25-41%). Significant and positive correlations between SOC and ¹³⁷Cs were found in the hillslopes. This imply that soil erosion affects SOC dynamic, c- using obvious SOC loss in severe eroded hillslope segments and increased spatial variability. Effective measures for soil and water conservation should be taken to weaken soil erosion risk and SOC loss in the fragile regions.