Notice of Retraction: Loess deposition rate in the Holocene in northern Shaanxi, China

Abstract

Soil loss tolerance should consider the conservation of the soil as a natural resource. Erosion rates greater than loess deposition rate will cause soil depth loss. However, loess deposition rate must be determinable or predictable before they can be used as criteria for setting soil loss tolerance limits. In this study, radiocarbon dating was used to quantitatively study loess deposition rate in the Holocene in the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi. The average loess deposition rate of LC, YC1, and HS profile at three locations (Luochuan, Yanchang, and Hengshan) was 0.0179 cm/a, 0.0153 cm/a, and 0.0213 cm/a, respectively. Furthermore, a slope landform where LC2 profile located was reconstructed at about 12000 a B. P. by using radiocarbon age of soil, loess deposition rate and paleoclimate which was determined with magnetic susceptibility of soil samples. Finally, loess deposition rate was applied on assessment of soil erosion risk in study area and Yan'gou watershed. Therefore, this study could provide theoretical basis for determination of soil loss tolerance and assessment of soil erosion risk, also a new method for quantificational research on landform reconstruction.