Shelterbelt effects on soil redistribution on an arable slope by wind and water

Abstract

Soil erosion is the most severe form of land degradation globally. Farmland shelterbelts are important for reducing erosion, especially erosion caused by the co-occurrence of water and wind. However, few studies have focused on how the distance from the shelterbelt associated with farmland topography affects the redistribution of soil quality indicators. The aims of this study is to reveal the relative importance of these two factors to soil quality under typical wind and water erosion conditions concurrent with the Songnen Plain, China. Topsoils (0–10 cm) were sampled at seven distances from the shelterbelt with three replicates, where topography heterogeneity was also considered. We found that the silt/clay content and soil nutrients at sites farther from the shelterbelt were significantly greater than those at sites closer to the shelterbelt (P < 0.05). Similarly, deposition was dominant at sites farther from the shelterbelt and downslope positions, while erosion was dominant at sites closer to the shelterbelt and upslope positions. Moreover, we discovered that the relative influence of distance from the shelterbelt and farmland elevation varied with individual soil quality indicators. Soil nutrients increased through the deposition of more fine-textured soil (silt/clay) positions farther from the shelterbelt. The downslope region responds to soil deposition by enhancing the plough pan thickness and lowering the bulk density and pH. Overall, distance from the shelterbelt and farmland elevation had interactive effects on soil quality, and erosion was primarily affected by distance from the shelterbelt (63.4 %), followed by elevation (22.7 %). Furthermore, the sites closer to the shelterbelt (i.e., 20 to 420 m) warrant particular attention due to the deposition of coarse-texture materials here. This work is crucial for an improved understanding of the synergistic effects of long-term water and wind co-occurrence on soil quality evolution.