Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effect of soil conservation measurements on runoff, erosion and plant production: A case study on steeplands from the Three Gorges Area, China

Author(s):

Qinxue Xu ¹, Tianwei Wang ¹, Zhaoxia Li ^1*, Chongfa Cai ¹, Zhihua Shi ¹, Chen Jiang ²

Recieved Date: 2010-07-30, Accepted Date: 2010-11-06

Abstract:

Soil erosion has long been recognized as a major environmental problem in the Three Gorges Area where slope farming is commonly practiced. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of terracing and planting hedgerows on runoff, erosion and plant production. The results showed that terracing measurement was more effective in citrus orchard than in arable land. After terracing, the average annual runoff and soil erosion rate in orchard plots were reduced by 60 and 68%, respectively, and the citrus production was increased by 15%; in arable plots, the average annual runoff and soil erosion rate were reduced by 23 and 52%, respectively, and the crop production was increased by 13%. For planting hedgerows measurements, the average annual runoff and soil erosion rate in plots with only contour hedgerow were 36 and 67% lower than that in plots without conservation measurement, respectively, and the crop production was increased by 96%. Moreover, there was not significantly difference in the effectiveness between the contour hedgerows with and without straw mulch. These results showed the contour hedgerows measurement could be regarded as the best measurement in sloping arable land, and the terracing measurement in citrus orchard could be acceptable.

Keywords:

Soil conservation, terracing, contour hedgerows, runoff, plant production

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 980-984

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