Ecological Benefits of Compound Ridge Culture in Hillside Orchard in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area

Based on contour tillage of wide ridge and furrow covering and agro-forestry, this paper sets up a compound ridge culture mode in hillside orchards and introduces a long-term observation to the mode＇s effects on ecological benefits of water and soil conservation. A five-year study shows that compound ridge culture in hillside orchards is effective in water and soil conservation, especially in reducing soil erosion. Compared with the traditional management modes of orchards, compound ridge culture has reduced runoff amount by 41.96%-57.96%, soil erosion amount by 55.47%-67.75%. Compound ridge culture also brings an obvious reduction of soil nutrient loss and of non-point source pollution, which is of great importance for keeping and increasing the productivity of hillside orchards in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area.

Exploiting pattern and sustainable development of marginal lands in the Three Gorge Reservoir Areas

This paper studied the distribution and utilization status, reasonable exploitation patterns and potential productivity, and sustainable development of marginal lands in the Three Gorge Reservoir Areas. It has been pointed that problems of the soil fertility degradation, poor productivity in crop lands, natural disasters and environmental deterioration existed in all the exploited marginal lands. In order to maintain the sustainability of the marginal lands, following measure have been proposed: prohibiting cultivation in the crop lands with a slope more than 25°, restoring vegetation in the slope more than 25°, strengthening the basic agricultural construction, establishing the production base of woody feeds and oils, establishing a multi dimensional management model with reasonable structure and optimum function for forestry, agriculture and fishing.

AN ANALYSIS ON THE STRUCTURE TYPES AND BENEFITS OFSLOPELAND AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS-Taking the Three Gorge Reservoir Area As An Example

The modem term 'agroforestry system' is derived from agricultural practices. It is an organic combination of agriculture and forestry, ecology and economy, product variation and scientific management. On the basis of analyzing the types and structure of agroforestry system in the Three Gorges Reservoir area,the paper poins out that agroforestry system can be divided into diffend structutal levds. Taking some typical cases as examples, it compares the benefits of four kinds of structures. The result illustrates that the hedge row agroforestry system on slopeland is an effective way to realize coordinate development of ecology and economy.

Nutrient cycling characteristics of Quercus acutisima and Pinus massoniana mixed forest in the Three Gorge Reservoir area, China

The cycling characteristics of nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P) and potassium(K) of the Quercus acutissima and Pinus massoniana mixed forest which is the most common forest type in the Three Gorge Reservoir areas in China, were systematically analyzed. The results showed that N, P and K accumulated in the plant pool and in the litter pool, while total N, P, and K were deficient in the soil pool and in the forest systems. Contents of N in the soil of depth 20—40 cm were the key factor limiting growth of trees. The biological outside cycling coefficients were 878, 725 and 117 times of inside cycling coefficients of N, P and K, respectively. 3392, 1026 and 1588 kg of N, P and K return to the litter pool from branches, leaves and throughfall per year, but, 1431, 132 and 1048 kg of N, P and K return to the soil from litter pool per year respectively. It is clear that 58% of N, 87% of P, and 34% of K are lost by surface runoff per year. 549%, 130%, and 834% of N, P and K withdraw from leaves to branches, 499%, 199% and 730% of N, P and K withdraw from branches to trunks per year, respectively.

Energy of forest systems in the Three Gorge Reservoir area

The energies of three forest ecosystems in the Three Gorge Reservoir area were analyzed. The results showed that the existing energies were 151 2438, 139 2014 and 175 1659 (×10 10 J/hm 2), the annual net fixed energies were 38 8924, 31 2214 and 46 8231 (×10 10 J/hm 2), and the utilization efficiency of light energies were 1 16, 0 99 and 1 40 for the Quercus acutissima forest(Q.A.), the Pinus massoniana forest (P.M.), and the Queresus acutissima and Pinus massoniana mixed forest (Q.P.), respectively. In the Three Gorge Reservoir Area, the energy efficiency of Quercus acutissima and Pinus massoniana mixed forest is the best.