Based on Global Meta-analysis: Revealing the Effects of Grazing and Natural Factors on Grassland Wind Erosion

Against the backdrop of global climate change and intensified human activities, grassland soil wind erosion has emerged as a prominent issue threatening ecological security, yet the synergistic driving mechanisms involving multiple factors remain unclear. To systematically reveal the independent and interactive effects of grazing and natural factors on erosion, this study employed a global meta-analysis approach, integrating observational and experimental data from 118 studies to quantitatively assess the effects of grazing, wind speed, precipitation, temperature, and interface layer characteristics. The main results are as follows: (1) Grazing alone significantly increased wind erosion by 14%, and enhanced wind speed was the primary climatic driver, increasing erosion by 13% independently; (2) A strong synergistic effect was observed between grazing and increased wind speed, with their combined impact amplifying erosion by 29%-106%, whereas grazing exhibited an antagonistic interaction with increased precipitation and an additive effect with warming; (3) Degradation of the interface layer (vegetation and soil surface) directly increased wind erosion by 17%-21% and further amplified erosion risk when interacting synergistically with grazing and wind speed, highlighting its core regulatory role. This study is the first to clarify, on a global scale, the key mechanisms by which multiple factors synergistically exacerbate wind erosion and to elucidate the pivotal function of the interface layer in multifactorial interactions, thereby providing a critical scientific basis for developing precise grassland wind erosion prevention and control strategies based on ecological thresholds and adapted to multi-factor interactions.