Review and Future Research Directions about Major Monitoring Method of Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is a highly serious ecological problem that occurs worldwide. Hence, scientific methods for accurate monitoring are needed to obtain soil erosion data. At present, numerous methods on soil erosion monitoring are being used internationally. In this paper, we present a systematic classification of these methods based on the date of establishment and type of approach. This classification comprises five categories: runoff plot method, erosion pin method, radionuclide tracer method, model estimation, and 3S technology combined method. The backgrounds of their establishment are briefly introduced, the history of their development is reviewed, and the conditions for their application are enumerated. Their respective advantages and disadvantages are compared and analysed, and future prospects regarding their development are discussed. We conclude that the methods of soil erosion monitoring in the past 100 years of their development constantly considered the needs of the time. According to the progress of soil erosion monitoring technology throughout its history, we predict that the future trend in this field would move toward the development of quantitative, precise, and composite methods. This report serves as a valuable reference for scientific and technological workers globally, especially those engaged in soil erosion research.