A novel optimal data set approach for erosion‐impacted soil quality assessments—A case‐study of an agricultural catchment in the Chernozem region of Northeast China

Because soil erosion is a primary cause of land degradation globally, it has received increasing attention in food production regions, such as the Chernozem region of Northeast China. This study assessed soil quality under soil erosion degradation using a novel optimal data set (ODS) approach and a comparative minimum data set (MDS) approach to derive soil quality indices (SQIs) within an agricultural watershed in Heilongjiang Province, China. The selection of SQIs was contingent on 15 physical, chemical, and microbial properties measured at 52 grids. Soil erosion rates were determined using the Cs‐137 technique. Results showed that SQIs derived from the ODS and MDS approaches were strongly correlated (r = 0.91, p