The study looked at how soil conservation measures and changes in climate have reduced sediment yield in the Wudinghe River catchment. They found that soil conservation on slopes played a major role in reducing sediment, especially for coarse particles. The researchers created a new index to measure the impact of precipitation on soil erosion and found that slope protections were more effective than dams in reducing sediment. Over time, the proportion of coarse sediment reduced by slope protection increased. This suggests that focusing on soil conservation on slopes is crucial for controlling soil erosion on the Loess Plateau.