Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Quantifying soil erosion effects on soil productivity in the dry-hot valley, southwestern China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dry-hot valley region (DHV) in southwestern China is one of the most ecologically fragile zones in China with intensive soil erosion. Few studies have focused on the effects of soil erosion on soil productivity in this region. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of soil erosion on soil productivity using the ‘soil erosion class’ method. The degree of soil erosion was investigated at 44 monitoring sites in typical DHV catchments, and soil physicochemical properties, and corn yield at each site were monitored. The results showed that soil productivity was significantly affected by soil erosion in the DHV. As the degree of soil erosion progressed from ‘slight’ to ‘moderate’ to ‘severe,’ organic matter content decreased 15.29, 18.00, and 27.37 %, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen—0.06, 6.03, and 9.45 %, and available potassium content—7.07, 41.79, and 43.32 %, respectively. Compared with the ‘no’ erosion site, the decreases in the mean corn seed yields were 1.56 % for ‘slight,’ 29.18 % for ‘moderate,’ and 35.03 % for ‘severe’ erosion. These results indicated that once the erosion reached ‘moderate’ levels, significant reductions in soil productivity were present. The declining slope of corn seed yields was 0.13 Mg ha−1 cm−1 of topsoil loss. The estimated mean for the absolute corn loss was 0.01 Mg ha−1 year−1 in the DHV. These results increased the understanding of the mechanism of soil degradation processes in the DHV and will be instrumental in developing a strategy for ecological restoration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bakker MM, Govers G, Rounsevell MDA (2004) The crop productivity-erosion relationship: an analysis based on experimental work. Catena 57(1):55–76. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2003.07.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker MM, Govers G, Jones RA, Rounsevell MDA (2007) The effect of soil erosion on Europe’s crop yields. Ecosystems 10(7):1209–1219. doi:10.1007/s10021-007-9090-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bathrellos GD, Gaki-Papanastassiou K, Skilodimou HD, Skianis GA, Chousianitis KG (2013) Assessment of rural community and agricultural development using geomorphological–geological factors and GIS in the Trikala prefecture (Central Greece). Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess 27(2):573–588. doi:10.1007/s00477-012-0602-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battiston LA, Miller MH, Shelton IJ (1987) Soil erosion and corn yield in Ontario. I. Field evaluation. Can J Soil Sci 67(4):731–745. doi:10.4141/cjss87-072

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biggelaar CD, Lal R, Wiebe K, Breneman V (2003) The global impact of soil erosion on productivity: I: absolute and relativity erosion-induced yield losses. Adv Agron 81:1–48. doi:10.1016/S0065-2113(03)81001-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brevik EC, CerdàA Mataix-Solera J, Pereg L, Quinton J, Six J, Van Oost K (2015) The interdisciplinary nature of soil. Soil 1:117–129. doi:10.5194/soil-1-117-2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter MR, Gregorich EG (2008) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Canadian Society of Soil Science CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Cihacek LJ, Swan JB (1994) Effects of erosion on soil chemical properties in the north central region of the United States. J Soil Water Conserv 49(3):259–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Duan XW, Xie Y, Ou TH, Lu HM (2011) Effects of soil erosion on long-term soil productivity in the black soil region of northeastern China. Catena 87(2):268–275. doi:10.1016/j.catena.2011.06.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan XW, Zhang GL, Rong L, Fang HY, He DM, Feng DT (2015) Spatial distribution and environmental factors of catchment-scale soil heavy metal contamination in the dry-hot valley of Upper Red River in southwestern China. Catena 135:59–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fahnestock P, Lal R, Hall GF (1996) Land use and erosional effects on two Ohio Alfisols: II. Crop yields. J Sustain Agric 7(2–3):85–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenton TE, Kazemi M, Lauterbach-Barrett MA (2005) Erosion impact on organic matter content and productivity of selected Iowa soils. Soil Till Res 81(2):163–171. doi:10.1016/j.still.2004.09.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francis J, Larney H, Henry J, Barry M, Olson B, Andrew FO (2009) Erosion–productivity–soil amendment relationships for wheat over 16 years. Soil Till Res 103:73–83. doi:10.1016/j.still.2008.09.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Xie Y, Liu G, Liu BY, Duan XW (2015) Effects of soil erosion on soybean yield as estimated by simulating gradually eroded soil profiles. Soil Till Res 145:126–134. doi:10.1016/j.still.2014.09.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gong H, Meng D, Li XJ, Zhu F (2013) Soil degradation and food security coupled with global climate change in northeastern China. Chin Geogr Sci 23(5):562–573. doi:10.1007/s11769-013-0626-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilasara M, Kullaya IK, Kaihura FBS, Aune JB, Singh BR, Lal R (1995) Impact of past soil erosion on land productivity in selected ecological regions of Tanzania. Norwegian J Agric Sci Suppl 21:71–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuotsu K, Das A, Lal R, Mund GC, Ghosh PK (2014) Land forming and tillage effects on soil properties and productivity of rainfed groundnut Arachis hypogaea L. cropping system in northeastern India. Soil Till Res 142:15–24. doi:10.1016/j.still.2014.04.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R (2001) Soil degradation by erosion. Land Degrad Dev 12(6):519–539. doi:10.1002/ldr.472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R (2003) Soil erosion and the global carbon budget. Environ Int 29(4):437–450. doi:10.1016/S0160-4120(02)00192-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Land Resource Bureau of Yunnan Province (LRBYP) (2004) Synthetic survey report of RS for the land resource in Yunnan province. Yunnan Sci Technol Press, Kunming, China. (in Chinese)

  • Larney FJ, Janzen HH (2012) Long-term erosion–productivity relationships: the Lethbridge soil scalping studies. Prairie Soil Crop J 5:139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Larney FJ, Olson BM, Janzen HH, Lindwall CW (2000) Early impact of topsoil removal and soil amendments on crop productivity. Agron J 92(5):948–956. doi:10.2134/agronj2000.925948x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Li ZB, Yao WY, Liu PL (2009) Estimating the erosion and deposition rates in a small watershed by the 137 Cs tracing method. Appl Radiat Isotopes 67(2):362–366. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2008.10.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Zhang G, Yu XX, Liu QJ, Zhang XC (2015) Phosphorus loss and its estimation in a small watershed of the Yimeng mountainous area, China. Environ Earth Sci 73(3):1205–1216. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3475-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu BY, Guo SY, Zhi AG, Xie Y, Zhang KL, Liu XC (2013) Sampling program of water erosion inventory in China. Sci Soil Water Conser 10:26–34 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (1997) Standards of the classification of soil erosion in China. China Water Power Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

  • Mokma DL, Sietz MA (1992) Effects of soil erosion on corn yields on marlette soils in south-central michigan. J Soil Water Conserv 47(4):325–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan RPC (2009) Soil erosion and conservation. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Musinguzi P, Ebanyat P, Tenywa JS, Basamba TA, Tenywa MM, Mubiru D (2015) Precision of farmer-based fertility ratings and soil organic carbon for crop production on a Ferralsol. Solid Earth 6(3):1063–1073. doi:10.5194/se-6-1063-2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldeman LR (1994) The global extent of soil degradation. In: Greenland DJ, Szabolcs I (eds) Soil resilience and sustainable land use. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 99–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson KR, Carmer SG (1990) Corn yield and plant population differences between eroded phases of Illinois soils. J Soil Water Conserv 45(5):562–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson KR, Lal R, Norton LD (1994) Evaluation of methods to study soil erosion–productivity relationships. J Soil Water Conserv 49(6):586–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson KR, Mokma DL, Lal R, Shumacher TE, Lindstrom MJ (1999) Erosion impacts on crop yield for selected soils of the North Central United States. In: Lal R (ed) Soil quality and soil erosion. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 125–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyedele DJ, Aina PO (1998) A study of soil factors in relation to erosion and yield of maize on Nigerian soil. Soil Till Res 48:115–125. doi:10.1016/S0167-1987(98)00110-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papiernik SK, Schumacher TE, Lobb DA, Lindstrom MJ, Lieser ML, Eynard A, Schumache JA (2009) Soil properties and productivity as affected by topsoil movement within an eroded landform. Soil Till Res 102(1):67–77. doi:10.1016/j.still.2008.07.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rejman J, Iglik I, Paluszek J, Rodzik J (2014) Soil redistribution and crop productivity in loess areas (Lublin Upland, Poland). Soil Till Res 143:77–84. doi:10.1016/j.still.2014.05.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schertz DL, Moldenhauer WC, Livingston SJ, Weesies GA, Hintz EA (1989) Effect of past soil erosion on crop productivity in Indiana. J Soil Water Conserv 44:604–608

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla MK, Lal R (2005) Erosional effects on soil physical properties in an on-farm study on alfisols in west central Ohio. Soil Sci 170(6):445–456. doi:10.1097/01.ss.0000171667.60883.f2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff in USDA (2006) Keys to soil taxonomy, vol 10. US Government Printing Office, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanchi S, Falsone G, Bonifacio E (2015) Soil aggregation, erodibility, and erosion rates in mountain soils (NW Alps, Italy). Solid Earth 6(2):403–414. doi:10.5194/se-6-403-2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su ZA, Zhang JH, Nie XJ (2010) Effect of soil erosion on soil properties and crop yields on slopes in the Sichuan Basin, China. Pedosphere 20(6):736–746. doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(10)60064-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tenberg A, Da Veiga M, Dechen SCF, Stocking MA (2014) Modelling the impact of erosion on soil productivity: a comparative evaluation of approaches on data from southern Brazil. Exp Agric 34(01):55–71. doi:10.1017/S0014479798001033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vila Subirós J, Rodríguez-Carreras R, Varga D, Ribas A, Úbeda X, Asperó F, Llausàs A, Outeiro L (2015) Stakeholder perceptions of landscape changes in the mediterranean mountains of the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Land Degrad Dev. doi:10.1002/ldr.2337

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang ZQ, Liu BY, Wang XY, Liu G (2009) Erosion effect on the productivity of black soil in Northeast China. Sci China D Earth Sci 52(7):1005–1021. doi:10.1007/s11430-009-0093-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weesies GA, Livingston SJ, Hosteter WD, Schertz DL (1994) Effect of soil erosion on crop yield in Indiana: results of a 10 year study. J Soil Water Conserv 49:597–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang RZ (1992) Dry valley in Hengduan mountainous region. Sci Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Peng BZ, Gao X, Yang H (2004) Degradation of soil properties due to erosion and sloping land in southern jiansu province, China. Pedosphere 14(1):17–26

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation Project of China (Grant Numbers: 41561063, 41101267 and 41401614), Non-profit Industry Research Project of Chinese Ministry of Water Resources (Grant Number: 201501045), and the Department of Water Resources of Yunnan Province: Water Science and Technology Project (Grant Number: SLKI-2).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Trans-Boundary Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming, 10095, China

    Xingwu Duan & Li Rong

  2. China institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China

    Bing Liu

  3. Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming, China

    Zhijia Gu & Detai Feng

Authors
  1. Xingwu Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bing Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhijia Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Li Rong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Detai Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xingwu Duan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duan, X., Liu, B., Gu, Z. et al. Quantifying soil erosion effects on soil productivity in the dry-hot valley, southwestern China. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1164 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5986-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5986-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation