Background Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental problems at present. Baiyu Mountain is a part of the Loess Plateau, where the loess is exposed and the soil erosion is severe, and the ecological environment is fragile. It is very important to carry out quantitative research on soil erosion for the comprehensive understanding of the current situation of regional soil and water loss and to promote regional sustainable development, whichmay provide scientific suggestions for subsequent soil erosion control.In this study, the Baiyu Mountain area with severe erosion in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau is taken as the research area.

Methods The Chinese soil loss equation(CSLE) was used in combination with ArcGIS 10.8 to quantify and visualize the erosion factors in the model, and quantitatively evaluate the soil erosion status of Baiyu Mountain in 2020.The results of the first National Water Conservancy Survey conducted by the Ministry of Water Resources during 2011 and 2012 were compared with the estimated results of the CSLE model to verify the rationality of the model. Regional statistics and ArcGIS were combined to analyze the erosion conditions under different land use types and slopes in the Baiyu Mountain area, so as to further determine the main areas of soil erosion.

Results 1) The soil erosion modulus in the Baiyu Mountain area was 2 156.34 t/(km²·a), belonging to the grade of mild erosion, and the soil erosion area was 2.86×10⁴ km²; the area of slight erosion accounted for the largest proportion with 92.67% of the total erosion area of Baiyu Mountain.Due to the low vegetation coverage and strong rainfall, moderate and above soil erosion mainly occurred in the central and central-southern area of Baiyu Mountain. 2) Among the different land use types, the soil erosion amount of grassland was the largest, which was 614.62×10⁴ t/a, and the eroded area was the largest, accounting for 56.90% of the total eroded area. Secondly, the erosion amount of cultivated land was 167.89×10⁴ t/a. The small amount of forest land erosion was 60.75×10⁴ t/a. 3) Within a certain range, the amount of soil erosion usually increased with the increase of slope gradient. The maximum soil erosion amount in Baiyu Mountain was 284.01×10⁴ t/a in the slope >15°-25°. The soil erosion amount rate of >25°-35° slope area was 187.05×10⁴ t/a. In addition, the slope area >8°-25° accounted for 58.38% of the total area of Baiyu Mountain, but its soil erosion amount accounted for 75.85% of the total soil erosion.

Conclusions The soil erosion status in Baiyu Mountain has been improved by optimizing the forest and grass configuration structure in the study area and strengthening the prevention and control of soil erosion on steep slopes.This result can provide a theoretical basis for soil erosion control in Baiyu Mountain area in the future.