Abstract
Evaluation of soil redistribution rates and influence on crop yield in agricultural catchments is very important information, which can provide a scientific basis for arrangement of soil and water conservation measures and sustainable crop production. In recent decades, the soil erosion has greatly aggravated in the Mollisol region of Northeast China due to unreasonable land management, which in turn has reduced crop yield. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial distribution of soil redistribution and the relationship between crop yield and soil redistribute at a catchment of the Chinese Mollisol region. A total of 176 soil samples were collected based on a 200 m by 200 m grid and 4 yr of corn (Zea mays L.) yields were measured. The 137Cs trace technique and Zhang Xinbao’s mass balance model indicated that the soil redistribution rates ranged from −7122.25 to 5471.70 t km−2 yr−1 and averaged −830.10 t km−2 yr−1. Soil erosion dominated in the research area. The corn yields for four years ranged from 43.24 to 136.19 kg km−2 and averaged 90.42 kg km−2. The spatial distribution of soil redistribution rates and corn yield showed a similar ribbon and plaque characteristics at the catchment. An equation between corn yield and soil redistribution rates was fitted and showed that there was a significant negative correlation between corn yield and soil erosion rates, while there was no relationship between the corn yield and soil deposition rates. Therefore, effective soil and water conservation measures are urgently needed to increase crop yield and realize sustainable land-use management.
Highlights
The Mollisol region in Northeast China is one of China’s most important grain production areas [1]
The coefficient of variation (CV) varied greatly at 47.37%, which was considered to be a medium level according to the classification by Hillel [43]
The results from the simplified mass balance model showed that the averaged soil redistribution rate was −830.10 t km−2 yr−1 for 168 sampling sites
Summary
The Mollisol region in Northeast China is one of China’s most important grain production areas [1]. Half of the country’s corn (Zea mays) and a third of its soybean (Glycine max) were produced in this region [2,3]. This region has suffered from serious soil erosion since large-scale reclamation began approximately 100 years ago [4,5,6]. According to the statistical data reported by the Songliao Water Resources Commission in 2010, 27% of the total territory and 38% of the cultivated area in this region were affected by soil erosion [2]. Soil erosion has resulted in reduced soil fertility, land degeneration, and crop yield
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