Sediment deposition significantly impacts soil erosion processes, consequently influencing the geographical morphology and surrounding environments of reservoirs and estuaries. Given the intricate nature of sediment deposition, it is imperative to consolidate and analyze existing research findings. Presently, studies on sediment settling velocity primarily employ theoretical, laboratory, and field experimentation methods. Theoretical approaches, rooted in mechanics, examine the various forces acting on sediment particles in water to derive settling velocity equations. However, they often overlook external factors like temperature, salinity, organic matter, and pH. Although laboratory experiments scrutinize the influence of these external factors on sedimentation velocity, sediment settling is not solely influenced by individual factors but rather by their collective interplay. Field observations offer the most accurate depiction of sediment deposition rates. However, the equipment used in such experiments may disrupt the natural sedimentation process and damage flocs. Moreover, measurements of sediment particle size from different instruments yield varied results. Additionally, this paper synthesizes the impact of suspended sediment concentration, particle size, shape, temperature, salinity, and organic matter on sediment settling velocity. Future research should focus on innovating new laboratory observation methods for sediment settling velocity and utilizing advanced scientific and technological tools for on-site measurements to provide valuable insights for further investigation into sediment settling velocity.

The nature and extent of climate and soil nutrient controls in Chinese forests remain poorly resolved. Here, we synthesized the data on carbon–climate–soil in eastern China, and litter N was firstly taken into consideration, to examine the variation of net primary productivity (NPP) and its driving forces. Results showed that NPP had significant latitude pattern and varied substantially across climate zones. Bivariate analyses indicated that mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP), soil N content (N_soil), and annual litter N (N_re) were the main controlling factors in spatial pattern of forest NPP. Notably, partial general linear model analysis revealed that MAT, MAP, and N_re jointly explained 84.8% of the spatial variation of NPP. Among the three major factors, N_re explained more variation of forest NPP than the other two factors, and MAT and MAP affected NPP mainly through the change of litter N rather than via themselves, highlighting the importance of litter N in estimating forest NPP. However, to accurately describe the pattern of forest NPP in China, more detailed field measurements and methodologies on NPP and relevant confounding factors should be addressed in future studies.

There is an increasing demand for reliable methods to measure soil loss in order to get a better understanding of sediment movement and to develop process‐based sediment transport models. This study described the design, calibration, and practical application of an instrumented technique that automatically characterized surface flow in situ fields. The instrument consisted of a sampling assembly, a measuring assembly, and a management platform. The special design combined with a volume‐mass conversion relationship was used to determine the exact volume and mass of the sediment‐laden water, thereby allowing the implementation of real‐time measurement and synchronous calculation of runoff rate and sediment concentration. Calibration results showed that normal distributions and an average error of −3.67% were obtained for the target sediment concentrations of 2–1,000 g/L. Compared with the gravimetric method, the average error of the new technique for sediment concentration was 4.82%, and the highest precision was 98.50%. The high repeatability and accuracy of the technique suggest that it can be used with confidence to give satisfactory results in fields. A field experiment under natural rainfall showed that a grass‐covered plot had 18.94% less runoff rate and 42.92% lower sediment concentration than a bare soil plot, illustrating the impact of vegetation cover on reducing soil loss. This uniquely designed instrument provides a new approach to real‐time sediment detection in surface flow. It will be beneficial for rigorously evaluating runoff and sedimentation and for in‐depth research regarding water and soil loss processes.