The Effect of the Gully Land Consolidation Project on Soil Erosion and Crop Production on a Typical Watershed in the Loess Plateau

Xiaoliang Han,Minghao Wang,Xiaona Han,Sen Zhao,Shiyu Yan,Xiuru Wang,Yan Sun,Peiyi Lv

doi:10.3390/land7040113

Abstract

The Gully Land Consolidation Project (GLCP) was launched to create more arable land by excavating soil from the slopes on both sides of gullies, combined with simultaneous comprehensive gully prevention and control measures. The purpose of the GLCP is to increase crop production and reduce soil erosion to achieve ecological and agricultural sustainability. In this study, we assess the effects of the GLCP on soil erosion and crop production by studying the BaoChengGou Watershed in the Loess Plateau, primarily by means of high spatial-resolution satellite images (taken by the GF-1 and ZY-3 satellites) combined with the InVEST model and field investigations. Sloping cropland, sparse forestland, and natural grassland are the main land use types in the study area. After implementing the GLCP, consolidated land in the cropland increased by 7.35%, an increase that has come largely at the expense of grassland and forestland. The GLCP has markedly reduced soil erosion in the BaoChengGou Watershed, especially in the sense that soil erosion intensity was also reduced significantly in the project region on the whole, despite intensifying in certain places, such as excavated slopes; furthermore, it has improved crop yields in the study area by 10.9%. Comprehensive measurement shows the GLCP to be scientific, reasonable, and clearly efficacious. This study presents findings regarding the positive significance of the GLCP in promoting ecological and agricultural sustainability in the Loess Plateau.

Highlights

IntroductionEnsuring global food security and environmental sustainability has been included in the United
Ensuring global food security and environmental sustainability has been included in the UnitedNations Millennium Development Goals [1]
The natural grassland within the project region is mainly distributed in the channels on both sides of gullies, on slopes of gradient greater than 25 degrees, and within channels abandoned by local people

Summary

Introduction

Ensuring global food security and environmental sustainability has been included in the United. Nations Millennium Development Goals [1]. Food security is closely related to food availability, which emphasizes quality and the quantity of the food supply. The sustainable availability of food is dependent on the degree of the food stability, which, in turn, is strongly affected by “food resilience and environmental sustainability” [2,3]. On the one hand, the impact of ecosystem degradation on human well-being and economic development is increasing [4]. More reasonable management of the ecosystem has provided a rare opportunity for mankind. Land 2018, 7, 113 to eradicate poverty and realize sustainable development [5].

Results

Discussion

Conclusion