Using plot experiments to test the validity of mass balance models employed to estimate soil redistribution rates from 137Cs and 210Pbex measurements

► Soil erosion is an important threat to the long-term sustainability of agriculture. ► Environmental radionuclides (137Cs and 210Pbex) provide a valuable means of estimating medium- and longer-term soil erosion rates. ► It is, however, important that the basic assumptions involved in the use of mass balance models to estimate soil erosion rates based on 137Cs and 210Pbex measurements should be validated. ► The data provided by a set of small erosion plots located in southern Italy are used to validate several of the assumptions associated with the use of mass balance models to estimate soil erosion rates from 137Cs and 210Pbex measurements.