Soil Erosion Changes over the Past Five Decades in the Red Soil Region of Southern China

This paper reports the dynamic changes of soil and water loss in the red soil region of Southern China since the 1950s. The red soil region covers eight provinces: Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong and Hainan. From the 1950s to 1986, the annual rate of soil erosion increased by 3.4%. From 1986 to 1996 and from 1996 to 2000, the annual rates of soil erosion decreased by 2.0% and 0.32%, respectively. Field surveys showed that from 2000 to 2005, the area of soil and water loss decreased annually by 1.2%. This decrease was a result of large-scale erosion control activities across China. Although the eroded soil has been restored, the restoration process is very slow and full restoration will take a long time. Our report suggests that controlling soil and water loss is a challenging task, and additional measures must be taken to effectively control the soil erosion in the red soil region.

Soil and Water Resources and Land Sustainable Productivity in the Catchment Area with Intensive Management in Hilly Red Soil Regions,China

Taking an example of Majiayu Catchment Area (14.15 ha) in Taoyuan County of HunanProvince, the soil and water resources dynamics, fertility evolution characteristics andland productivity changing situation were studied. Fixed observation results from 1993to 2002 showed that pools covering about 15% of total area could store up 10% of surfacerunoff, keep 78.1% of eroded soil and 65.4% of lost nutrients. The yearly ratio ofinterception and evapotranspiration in land, storage in pools and drainage was 7:2:1,which ensured the resources and nutrients equilibrium and a benign recycle in thecatchment area system, and benefited the aquatic culture and helped to resist seasonaldrought. Moreover, the results showed that soil erosion modulus decreased significantly,equal to or lower than soil loss tolerance (≤500 tkm-2) in reddish yellow soil regions.Soil organic matter, total and available N content in sloping land, dryland and paddyfield increased steadily (>10%); water storage enhanced by more than 20% in sloping landand dryland in drought season; crop production increased by more than 20%; and productionof trees, fruits, tea and fish as well as land productivity increased yearly.

Response of runoff and soil loss to reforestation and rainfall type in red soil region of southern China

To evaluate the long-term effects of reforestation types on soil erosion on degraded land, vegetation and soil properties under conventional sloping farmland （CSF） and three different reforestation types including a Pinus massoniana secondary forest （PSF）, an Eucommia ulmoides artificial economic forest （EEF） and a natural succession type forest （NST）, were investigated at runoff plot scale over a six-year period in a red soil region of southern China. One hundred and thirty erosive rainfall events generating runoff in plots were grouped into four rainfall types by means of K-mean clustering method. Erosive rainfall type I is the dominant rainfall type. The amount of runoff and the soil loss under erosive rainfall type III were the most, followed by rain-fall type II, IV and I. Compared with CSF treatment, reforestation treatments decreased the average annual runoff depth and the soil loss by 25.5%–61.8% and 93.9%– 96.2% during the study period respectively. Meanwhile, runoff depth at PSF and EEF treatments was significantly lower than that in NST treatment, but no significant difference existed in soil erosion modulus among the three reforestation treatments. This is mainly due to the improved vegetation properties （i.e., vegetation coverage, biomass of above- and below-ground and litter-fall mass） and soil properties （i.e., bulk density, total porosity, infiltration rate and organic carbon content） in the three reforestation treatments compared to CSF treatment. The PSF and EEF are recommended as the preferred reforestation types to control runoff and soil erosion in the red soil region of southern China, with the NST potentially being used as an important supplement.

Response of Ecosystem Service Value Based on Land Use Changes and Analysis of its Driving Factors in Typical Hilly Region with Red Soil

The contribution rate of ecosystem service value variation was used to analyze the effects of land use changes on the changes of ecosystem service value in Xingguo County during 1996-2005.Grey integrated correlation was employed to explore the contribution level of the indicators such as total population,urbanization level,proportion of primary industry and investment of social fixed assets on ecosystem service value,and the correlation analysis was also carried out.The results showed that the ecosystem service value in Xingguo County during 1996-2005 mainly was woodland,and the decrease of woodland area was the major reason for the sustained reduction of ecosystem service value.With the further increase of market demand and the incentives of local government,the garden area rapidly increased during 2001-2005,and the influence degree of garden towards the changes of ecosystem service value was only second to woodland,ranking No.2.Four socio-economic indicators had different correlation degree with ecosystem service value during the different research periods.Total population,urbanization level and proportion of primary industry had high correlation degree with ecosystem service value,whereas the influence degree of various socio-economic indicators on ecosystem service value was equal with each other day by day.Urbanization level,investment of social fixed assets and total population had significant negative correlation with ecosystem service value,while the proportion of primary industry had positive correlation with ecosystem service value.

Sustainable Agriculture Evaluation for Red Soil Hill Region of Southeast China

Agricultural sustainability for economic development is important and a complex issue throughout the world; however,it is difficult to synthetically evaluate its use in the policy making process. The objective of this study was to evaluate sustainable agriculture in the red soil hill region of Southeast China through a newly proposed method combining four separate sub-systems: regional population (P), resource (R), environmental (E), and socio-economic (S). This new index system was proposed to appraise synthetically the agricultural sustainability of the red soil hill region from 1988 to 1996 with a two-step method assessing: a) the agricultural sustainability in each province independently and b) the relative sustainability of each province to the whole region. The first step only provided a development trend for each province based on its original situation, while the second step provided additional information on the comparative status of each province in agricultural development to the region as a whole. Higher index scores were found for the economy and resource categories denoting improvement. However, lower scores in the environment category indicated the improvement was achieved at the cost of deteriorating ecological surroundings due to an increasing population that demanded more from the agro-ecosystem and put heavier pressures on it. Results also showed that water and soil losses in this region were the major obstacles encountered in sustainable agriculture development. The assessment results were verified when compared with results from another method. This suggested that the new assessment system was reliable and credible in evaluating agricultural sustainability on a regional scale.

Ecological Effects of Land Use Patterns in Red Soil HillyRegion

Plant biomass and biodiversity, element accumulation and return, water loss and soil erosion, and changesin soil properties were studied for up to 10 years after conversion of sparse tree-shrubby grass land into thefollowing four land use patterns: masson pine (Pznvs massonzana Lamb.) land, beautiful sweetgum (Ltq-uidambar fomosana Hance) land, vegetation reservation land, and artificial mowing land. The annualbiomass production of the masson pine land was 5060 kg ha￣-1 being 4.9, 2.1, and 6.0 times that of the beau-tiful sweetgum land, the vegetation reservation land, and the artificial mowing land, respectively. Comparedwith the background values, the number of plant species for the vegetation reservation land increased by 10species after 10 years of land utilization, while for the masson pine and the beautiful sweetgum decreased by4, and for the artificial mowing land by 9. For masson pine land, total amount of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg neededfor producing 1000 kg dry matter was only 3.5 kg, annual element return through litter was 22 kg ha￣-1, bothof which were much lower than those of the other patterns. Vegetation reservation was an effective measureto conserve soil and water and improve soil fertility in the red soil hilly region. Artificial mowing arousedserious degradation of vegetation and soil. Some measures and suggestions for management and exploitationof the red soil hilly region such as masson pine planting, closing hills for afforestation, and stereo-agricultureon one hill are proposed.

Eco-geological environment quality assessment based on multi-source data of the mining city in red soil hilly region, China

High-intensity and large-scale resource development seriously threatens the fragile ecological environment in the red soil hilly region in southern China. This paper analyzes the eco-geological environmental problems and factors affecting Ganzhou, a mining city in the red soil hilly region,based on field survey and literature. The ecogeological environment quality(EGEQ) assessment system, which covered 11 indicators in physical geography, mining development, geological hazards,as well as water and soil pollution, was established through multi-source data utilization such as remote sensing images, DEM(Digital Elevation Model), field survey and on-site monitoring data. The comprehensive weight of each indicator was calculated through the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) and entropy method. The eco-geological environment assessment map was developed by calculating the EGEQ value through the linear weighted method. The assessment results show that the EGEQ was classified into I-V grades from excellent to worse, among which, EGEQ of I-II accounted for 29.88%, EGEQ of III accounted for 32.35% and EGEQ of IV-V accounted for 37.77%;the overall EGEQ of Ganzhou was moderate. The assessment system utilized in this research provides scientific and accurate results, which in turn enable the proposal of some tangible protection suggestions.

Soil Fertility Self-development Under Ecological Restoration in the Zhuxi Watershed in the Red Soil Hilly Region of China

Current methods that utilize simple data or models to judge whether soil fertility can selfdevelop are not sufficiently rigorous. A new framework has been set up using catastrophe theory, laboratory experiment, field work, and 3S(Geographic information system, Global positioning system, and Remote sensing) to explore soil fertility catastrophe under ecological restoration, discriminate whether soil fertility can self-develop, and propose adjustment of ecological restoration measures in the Zhuxi watershed of Changting County, Fujian Province, China, which is a typical representative of the red soil hilly region of China. The results show that: 1) the soil fertility is obviously improved through the four ecological restoration measures, which impels soil fertility catastrophe. Among 89 soil samples, catastrophic soil samples and stable soil samples account for 26(29.21%) and 63(70.79%) of the samples, respectively. The four ecological restoration measures are listed in the order lowquality forest improvement > arbor–bush–herb mixed plantation > orchard improvement > closing measures according to the proportions of catastrophic soil samples. A typical soil sample in Bashilihe that can self-develop is selected as the criterion to judge the upper lobe and lower lobe of soil fertility in the process surface of the Cusp catastrophe model. Twenty-six(29.21%) were in the middle lobe, 10(11.24%) were in the upper lobe, and 53(70.79%) were in the lower lobe. The catastrophic direction of 26 catastrophic soil samples is to the upper lobe according to soil and water loss change as well as fieldwork. There is a significant positive correlation of Δ with soil and water loss change, and the lower soil and water loss relates to higher catastrophic probability. 2) Soil fertility self-development could be regionalized as "Soil fertility can self-develop" whose area was 12.74 km2(28.33%) distributed mainly in the leftmost and rightmost parts, "Soil fertility tends to self-develop" whose area was 11.63 km2(25.89%) distributed mainly in the middle part, and "Soil fertility cannot self-develop" whose area was 20.58 km2(45.78%) distributed mainly between the above two types. 3) There is no need to take ecological restoration measures and excessive human interference should be avoided in the future in regions of "Soil fertility can self-develop" and "Soil fertility tends to self-develop," and ecological restoration measures should be taken in region of "Soil fertility cannot self-develop." 4) We suggest withdrawal and implementation of ecological restoration measures should be incorporated into the evaluation criteria of ecological restoration to avoid misuse of funds.

Regularity of Erosion and Soil Loss Tolerance in Hilly Red-Earth Region of China

The observations from 14-yr long-term investigation on the soil-water losses in the sloping red-earth (slope 8°- 15°) showed that soil-water losses were closely correlated with land slope and vegetative coverage. Runoff rate in sloping red-earth could be reduced doubly by exploitation, while the soil erosion was enhanced doubly during the first two years after exploitation. Subsequently, it tended to be stable. Soil erosion was highly positively correlated with land slope, i. e. soil erosion increased by 120 t km-2 yr-1 with a slope increase of 1°. On the contrary, soil erosion was highly negatively correlated with vegetative coverage, i. e. soil erosion was limited at 200 t km-2 yr-1 below as the vegetative coverage exceeded 60%. Furthermore, soil erosion was highly related with planting patterns, i. e. soil erosion in contour cropping pattern would be one sixth of that in straight cropping. Based on the view of soil nutrient balance and test data, it was first suggested that the soil loss tolerance in Q2 red clay derived red-earth should be lower than 300 t km-2 yr-1.

Construction and Application of Soil Erosion Control and Circular Agriculture Mode in Hilly Red Soil of Southern China

[Objective] The paper was to construct soil erosion control and circular agriculture mode in hilly red soil of southern China, and analyze its application effort. [Method] The cause of soil erosion in hilly red soil of southern China and the reason for long-term treatment without remarkable effort were analyzed. On this basis, the key technology, economic benefit, ecological service function and carbon sequestration sink enhancement effect of various modes were further analyzed. [Result] The basic idea for comprehensive control of hilly soil erosion in southern China was as follows: the control of soil erosion was combined with modern agricultural production, in order to build "fruit(tea)-grass-livestock-methane" circular agriculture mode with comprehensive control of soil erosion; application effect analysis showed that the establishment of circular agriculture mode in southern hilly area to control soil erosion had remarkable effect, which could simultaneously meet the coordinated development of ecological, economic and social benefits. [Conclusion] This study established an effective mode suitable for soil erosion control and agricultural protection development in southern red soil mountain, which could drive the sustainable development of ecological restoration of mountainous area and rural agricultural economy.

Trace Elements Distribution in Red Soils under Semiarid Mediterranean Environment

This study states the potential trace elements (TE’s) content of red soils located at the centre region of Spain, characterized by low rainfall and slight acidity over prolonged weathering periods. For this purpose, three soil profiles from a catena were described, sampled and analyzed. The most notable characteristics are the low organic matter content and the predominantly acidic pH. Illite and kaolinite are the predominant clay minerals. The fertility of the soils is sufficient to provide most of the nutrients required, with very suitable potassium levels. The geochemical characters of this soil are: only few elements remain almost invariable across the profiles and over time, however the majority of them were directly linked with the clay content. These soils are characterized by relatively low levels of some trace elements such as Sr (64.35 mg?kg–1), Ba (303.67 mg?kg–1) and Sc (13.14 mg?kg–1);high levels of other trace elements such as V (103.92 mg?kg–1), Cr (79.9 mg?kg–1), Cu (15.18 mg?kg–1), Hf (10.26 mg?kg–1), Ni (38 mg?kg–1) and Zr (337 mg?kg–1);while the levels for rare earth elements (REE’s) such as La (48.36 mg?kg–1), Ce (95.07 mg?kg–1), Th (13.33 mg?kg–1) and Nd (42.65 mg?kg–1) are significantly high. The distribution of mayor and trace elements was directly re- lated to weathering processes, parent material and anthropogenic activities.

Effect of Intensive Inorganic Fertilizer Application on Microbial Properties in a Paddy Soil of Subtropical China

A field experiment with rice-rice rotation was conducted since 2002 in southeast China for investigating the response of soil microbial properties to intensive nitrogen fertilizer application. The tested soil was a subtropical paddy soil derived from Quaternary red clay. Differences between treatments existed in different application rates of urea when the experiment was designed. Urea was applied in five rates, i.e., 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 U, equivalent to 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 times the local average amount of urea application （900 kg urea ha-~ yr-~, equivalent to 414 kg N ha-1 yr-~）. In 2007, soil total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and soil organic carbon contents were increased by 10.2-27.9, 8.0-16.0, and 10.2-30.6%, respectively, in treatments with urea application rates of 0.5 to 2 U compared to control （0 U）. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were also increased by 3.1-30.8 and 1.3-13.9%, respectively, in treatments with urea application. Basal respiration in treatments with urea input were 9.4-29.1% higher than that in control. However, changes of bacterial functional diversity had different trends. Urea fertilization enhanced bacterial functional diversity until treatment of 1 U, but re-decreased it from treatment of 1.5 U. Principal components analysis indicated that there were intimate relationships among soil organic matter, nitrogen nutrient, microbial biomass, and respiration. Nevertheless, microbial diversity was related to soil moisture contents after urea application. We conclude here that the application of N fertilizer improved soil microbial biomass and respiratory activity. But, microbial diversity was reduced when excessive urea was applied in the tested paddy soil.

Effects of soil and water conservation and its interactions with soil properties on soil productivity

The effects of soil and water conservation （SWC） on soil properties are well documented. However, definitive and quantitative information of SWC and its interactions with soil properties on soil productivity is lacking for hilly red soil region of southern China. Experiments were conducted in the hilly red soil region of southern China for seven years in three rtmoffplots, each of which represented different SWC forest-grass measures. Principal component analysis and multiple regression techniques were used to relate the aboveground biomass （representing soil productivity） to soil properties. Based on the final regression equations, soil organic carbon content （Sot） is significantly correlated with soil productivity under the condition of forest-grass measures, whereas pH value and cation exchange capacity （Cee） are the main factors for soil productivity without SWC. Therefore, SWC plays an important role in sequestering Soc and improving soil productivity.

Effect of Land Cultivation on Soil Nutrient Sedimentation in Water at Southern China

Soil erosion associated with land cultivation exerts a great impact on ecological environment.Such an impact is specific of land,crop,tillage,management and so on.This study aimed to investigate the effects of crop cultivation on water quality by comparing nutrient distribution in the sediment at Southern China.Two sedimentation sites adjacent to the uncultivated(S1)and cultivated upland(S2)were selected and samples were analyzed.Results showed that soil pH decreased with the increasing depth above 20 cm and then kept relatively stable of the both sediments.Soil organic matter,nitrogen and phosphorus contents decreased with the increasing depth.There was no significant difference between two sediments in organic matter and nitrogen contents,but the total phosphorus and extractable phosphorus contents in S2 were much higher than that in S1.The data indicated that soil eroded from S2 could possess much high potential to deteriorate water quality.Nutrient sedimentation can reflect the history of soil erosion and provide useful information for sustainable soil management and water conservation through improving cultivation and tillage measures.

南方崩岗调查内容与方法探讨

崩岗是我国南方水土流失的一种特殊类型,广泛分布于南方红壤区,是该区域严重的生态问题之一。第一次崩岗调查距今已近20年,相关情况已发生巨大变化。崩岗现状不清直接影响了行政管理部门对崩岗防治相关工作的规划和决策,因此急需开展新一轮崩岗调查。新时代水土保持高质量发展为崩岗调查提供了机遇,差别化分类防治和分步实施对崩岗调查提出了更高要求,现代信息技术为崩岗调查提供了新方法,以服务崩岗风险评估和防治规划为导向,在充分利用第一次崩岗调查成果基础上,补充崩岗发育的小山体调查,将典型调查改为全面普查,系统探讨崩岗调查对象与范围、调查内容、调查程序与方法,以期为行政管理部门和技术单位启动新一轮崩岗调查工作提供参考。

2011-2015年千烟洲人工针叶林碳水通量观测数据集

涡度相关技术(EC)是目前唯一可以在生态系统尺度直接观测植被与大气间二氧化碳和水汽通量的技术,在解析陆地生态系统碳、氮、水循环过程的动态变化及其对环境变化的响应与控制机理等方面得到了广泛应用。如何准确探知中国人工林在全球森林碳循环及全球气候变化过程中的重要作用,亟需采用先进技术开展精确观测和长期研究。江西千烟洲红壤丘陵地球关键带国家野外科学观测研究站(简称千烟洲站)是国内较早采用涡度相关技术开展人工林碳水通量观测和研究的野外站点之一,持续获取并积累了一批长期观测数据。在前期发布数据的基础上,通过标准化整编,再次发布2011-2015年生态系统碳水通量和气象数据,以充分发挥这些数据的科研价值,进一步支撑国家及区域的碳汇评估,并推动相关科学研究的发展。本次发布的数据集主要包括生态系统CO_(2)/H_(2)O通量、潜热和显热通量,以及空气温湿度、净辐射、光合有效辐射和土壤温湿度等观测内容,并通过标准化处理和加工分别形成半小时、日、月和年尺度等数据。

南方典型红壤区不同枯死率芒萁的水土流失阻控效应

[目的]探究芒萁植丛不同枯死率(100%,50%和0%)下坡面的产流产沙规律,揭示不同生长状态下芒萁的水土流失阻控效果。[方法]采用人工模拟降雨试验,对不同芒萁枯死率下坡面产流产沙过程随雨强的变化特性进行了定量分析。[结果](1)不同降雨强度和芒萁枯死率下径流速率随降雨历时呈前期缓慢或快速增长,后期趋于稳定。较小雨强下,侵蚀速率除裸坡外随降雨历时呈前期缓慢增加、后期趋于稳定状态;较大雨强下,侵蚀速率随降雨历时变化呈前期快速增加,中后期逐渐下降趋于稳定。(2)除2 mm/min雨强下的累积产流量外,其余处理条件下累积产流产沙量差异明显,且产沙量随芒萁枯死率的增加而增加。(3)两种雨强不同处理下坡面累积产流量和累积产沙量关系符合幂函数模型(R2>0.99)。[结论]两种雨强芒萁植丛不同枯死率下径流速率和侵蚀速率随降雨历时变化前期迅速增加、后期逐渐波动稳定,各处理下累积径流量与累积产沙量的函数关系拟合回归效果良好,证实了枯死芒萁亦可在中国南方红壤侵蚀区起到良好的水土流失阻控效果。

红壤丘陵区苔藓结皮土壤分离能力季节变化特征

土壤分离是土壤侵蚀的初级阶段,受植物根系、生物结皮的生长等影响,可能存在明显季节变化。而南方红壤丘陵区水热资源丰富,生物结皮在林下广泛存在,势必会影响林下水土流失过程。以红壤丘陵区樟树林和油茶园内苔藓结皮为对象,研究了苔藓结皮土壤分离能力季节变化特征及主控因素。结果表明:(1)苔藓结皮表面特征随季节变化显著,水热条件适宜时,苔藓结皮表面特征发育良好;降雨减少干旱时,苔藓结皮开始退化。(2)随着苔藓结皮盖度、厚度、株高和黏结力增加,土壤抗蚀性能增强,土壤分离能力下降;细沟可蚀性与土壤分离能力变化趋势一致,均随苔藓结皮发育程度增加而减小;干旱时苔藓结皮退化有滞后效应,土壤分离能力迅速增大后再缓慢增大。(3)采用水流剪切力、结皮盖度、土壤黏结力等来模拟土壤分离能力的季节变化,通过拟合方程可以较好地解释区域内经果林下苔藓结皮发育对土壤分离能力的季节变化,模型精度(NSE=0.728)表明该模型在预测和解释土壤分离能力变化方面具有较好效果。研究苔藓结皮季节动态及分离能力变化可为南方红壤丘陵区的水土流失防治提供重要的科学依据。

A Study of the Qianyanzhou Mode in a Subtropical Red Soil Hilly Region of China

Qianyanzhou is located in the heart of Jitai Basin in Guanxi town,the county seat of Taihe county in Jiangxi province.Qianyanzhou has a subtropical humid climate and exemplifies the geographic and geomorphologic characteristics of red soil hilly regions in southern China.In the early 1980s,to control soil and water loss and problems with grain yields,Qianyanzhou's researchers proposed an innovative,comprehensive stereoscopic ag- riculture development mode known as the 'Qianyanzhou mode'.This mode included a forest-livestock-food ecosystem,a forest-fruit-economy ecosystem,and a land-water compound stereoscopic system,all located within a watershed.In the Qianyanzhou mode,soil and water loss were completely controlled,thereby promoting environmental conservation and economic development.The state and the society as a whole supported this mode thanks to its far-reaching social impact.In the 21st century,given new societal concerns and continuing economic development,Qianyanzhou mode has been restructured as two ecosystems of forest-fowl and planting-raising circular economies at landscape level,based on an increase in vegetation coverage from 4.3% to more than 80%.These improved modes can significantly enhance the ecosystem,reduce poverty,and to promote the construction of local ecological civilization.This study introduces the Qianyanzhou mode and summarizes its characteristics in different phases.We hope that the information in this study supports improvements to and promotion of the Qianyanzhou mode.We believe the Qianyanzhou mode can play an important role in efforts to modify the agriculture industrial structure,alleviate poverty,and construct ecological civilization.

南方红壤区茶果园杂草管理与水土保持技术研究进展

南方红壤区的茶果园因其独特的地理和气候条件而成为重要的农业资源,但同时也面临着杂草问题和水土流失的挑战。本文综合分析了国内外关于茶果园杂草管理和水土保持的研究进展,提出了一系列针对性的管理策略。在杂草管理方面,建议采用综合杂草管理技术,结合化学、物理和生物控制方法,以提高茶果园的生产效率并减少环境影响。在水土保持方面,强调了梯田建设、植被覆盖和土壤改良技术的重要性,这些措施能有效减少水土流失并提升土壤保水保肥能力。文章还指出,未来研究应关注生态友好的杂草管理技术的开发,探索成本效益更高的水土保持技术,并建立完善的长期监测和评估体系。通过跨学科合作,本文旨在为南方红壤区茶果园的可持续发展提供科学指导和实践支持。