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- Title
Black soil degradation by rainfall erosion in Jilin, China.
- Authors
X. M. Yang; X. P. Zhang; W. Deng; H. J. Fang
- Abstract
Black soils, originally characterized by a deep, dark A-horizon, are widespread in the Northeast Plain of China and have been one of the most fertile agricultural resources in the country. However, more than a half-century of intensified management degraded its productivity, mainly with the loss of the dark-coloured A-horizon by rainfall erosion. Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), the rainfall erosion losses of black soils in YuShu and DeHui counties of Jilin Province were estimated. The rate of loss of thickness of the A-horizon of black soils and the time over which the A-horizons of some black soils in the region might be lost were evaluated. The results showed that about 445 t ha−1 topsoil could have been lost each year under corn (Zea mays L.) production. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) production would double the losses. Soil losses were directly related to soil type, tillage practices and crop grain yields. The thickness of the A-horizon of black soils in the region decreased at rates of 0ċ54ċ5 mm yr−1, depending on soil type and management practices. Corn production may have resulted in an annual loss of 8ċ3 million tonnes of topsoil from black soils alone in Jilin Province; soybean production could have greatly increased this loss. Traditional intensified farming can accelerate the degradation of black soils; conservation tillage has great potential to prevent rainfall erosion losses for the same soils. Accordingly, to preserve and restore the productivity of black soils, conservation tillage is appropriate and should be adopted in Jilin. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Subjects
CHINA; BLACK cotton soil; SOIL degradation; SOIL erosion
- Publication
Land Degradation & Development, 2003, Vol 14, Issue 4, p409
- ISSN
1085-3278
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/ldr.567