Impacts of land use/land cover and soil property changes on soil erosion in the black soil region, China

Shuai Ma; Liang-Jie Wang; Hui-Yong Wang; Yu-Guo Zhao; Jiang Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117024

Impacts of land use/land cover and soil property changes on soil erosion in the black soil region, China

J Environ Manage. 2023 Feb 15:328:117024. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117024. Epub 2022 Dec 14.

Authors

Shuai Ma¹, Liang-Jie Wang², Hui-Yong Wang³, Yu-Guo Zhao⁴, Jiang Jiang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Co-Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Ecological Restoration, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China. Electronic address: shuaima@njfu.edu.cn.
² Co-Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Ecological Restoration, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China.
³ Co-Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Ecological Restoration, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
⁵ Co-Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Ecological Restoration, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China. Electronic address: jiangjiang@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36525733
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.117024

Abstract

Soil erosion (SE) is seriously threatening grain production and the ecological environment in the black soil region. Understanding the impact of changes in land use/land cover (LULC) and soil properties on SE is critical for agricultural sustainability and soil management. However, the contribution of soil property changes to SE is often ignored in existing studies. This study analyzed changes in LULC and soil properties from 1980 to 2020 in the black soil region, China. Then, the revised universal soil loss equation was used to explore the spatiotemporal changes of SE from 1980 to 2020. Finally, the contribution of LULC change and soil property change to SE was separated by scenario comparison. The results showed that cropland increased (by 24,157 km²) at the expense of grassland and forest from 1980 to 2020. Sand in cropland decreased by 21.95%, while the silt, clay, and SOC increased by 21.37%, 1.43%, and 15.38%, respectively. Soil erodibility in cropland increased greatly (+9.85%), while in forest and grassland decreased (-6.05% and -4.72%). LULC change and soil properties change together aggravated SE in the black soil region. LULC change and soil property change resulted in a 22% increase in SE, of which LULC change resulted in a 14% increase, and soil property change resulted in an 8% increase. Agricultural development policy was the main reason driving LULC change. The combination of LULC change, climatic factors, and long-term tillage resulted in changes in soil properties. Ecosystem management and policy can reduce SE through vegetation restoration and soil improvement. This study can provide important references for soil conservation and agricultural development in the black soil region.

Keywords: Agricultural sustainability; Black soil region; LULC change; Soil erosion; Soil property.

MeSH terms

China
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods
Ecosystem*
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Soil Erosion
Soil*

Substances

Soil