Quantifying the efficiency of soil conservation and optimized strategies: A case-study in a hotspot of afforestation in the Loess Plateau

Ning, J; Zhang, D; Yu, Q

Quantifying the efficiency of soil conservation and optimized strategies: A case-study in a hotspot of afforestation in the Loess Plateau

Ning, J Zhang, D Yu, Q

Permalink

Publisher:: John Wiley and Sons
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Land Degradation and Development, 2021, 32, (3), pp. 1114-1126
Issue Date:: 2021

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	Land Degrad Dev - 2020 - Ning - Quantifying the efficiency of soil conservation and optimized strategies A case%u2010study in a.pdf		8.1 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ning, J
dc.contributor.author	Zhang, D
dc.contributor.author	Yu, Q https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6950-1821
dc.date.accessioned	2022-02-14T00:09:50Z
dc.date.available	2022-02-14T00:09:50Z
dc.date.issued	2021
dc.identifier.citation	Land Degradation and Development, 2021, 32, (3), pp. 1114-1126
dc.identifier.issn	1085-3278
dc.identifier.issn	1099-145X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/154465
dc.description.abstract	Although it is generally believed the Grain for Green programme (GFG) implemented in China has attenuated soil erosion, the extent to which it is effective still needs verification. Taking Yan'an in the Loess Plateau as the study area, we analysed both total effect and efficiency differences during GFG implementation. Results showed that, while soil erosion on average decreased from 4,884.49 to 4,087.57 t km−2 yr−1, counties with higher GFG implementation intensity achieved a lower soil conservation effect. For example, Wuqi ranks third in the GFG implementation intensity among all counties in Yan'an, but its actual soil erosion reduction is the lowest, only 54.1% of Yan'an's average level. To analyse the reason for the efficiency difference, the concept of soil conservation potential was proposed. It is concluded that the soil conservation effect is controlled by the soil conservation potential. Ideally, regions with high soil conservation potential should get priority in the GFG application, yet there is a significant spatial mismatch between the GFG implementation intensity and the soil conservation potential because the correlation coefficient is only −0.05, which weakened the soil control effect. A dynamic implementation mechanism was put forward for the formulation and optimization of ecological programmes and projects in future: first, using the soil conservation potential to determine the implementation intensity in each region; second, adjusting the intensity to the changes of the soil conservation potential in the following implementation; third, repeating above steps to ensure high efficiency of soil erosion control, and achieving the sustainability and effectiveness of the ecological projects.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	John Wiley and Sons
dc.relation.ispartof	Land Degradation and Development
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/ldr.3730
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	03 Chemical Sciences, 04 Earth Sciences, 05 Environmental Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Agronomy & Agriculture
dc.title	Quantifying the efficiency of soil conservation and optimized strategies: A case-study in a hotspot of afforestation in the Loess Plateau
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	32
utslib.for	03 Chemical Sciences
utslib.for	04 Earth Sciences
utslib.for	05 Environmental Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-02-14T00:09:47Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	32
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Although it is generally believed the Grain for Green programme (GFG) implemented in China has attenuated soil erosion, the extent to which it is effective still needs verification. Taking Yan'an in the Loess Plateau as the study area, we analysed both total effect and efficiency differences during GFG implementation. Results showed that, while soil erosion on average decreased from 4,884.49 to 4,087.57 t km−2 yr−1, counties with higher GFG implementation intensity achieved a lower soil conservation effect. For example, Wuqi ranks third in the GFG implementation intensity among all counties in Yan'an, but its actual soil erosion reduction is the lowest, only 54.1% of Yan'an's average level. To analyse the reason for the efficiency difference, the concept of soil conservation potential was proposed. It is concluded that the soil conservation effect is controlled by the soil conservation potential. Ideally, regions with high soil conservation potential should get priority in the GFG application, yet there is a significant spatial mismatch between the GFG implementation intensity and the soil conservation potential because the correlation coefficient is only −0.05, which weakened the soil control effect. A dynamic implementation mechanism was put forward for the formulation and optimization of ecological programmes and projects in future: first, using the soil conservation potential to determine the implementation intensity in each region; second, adjusting the intensity to the changes of the soil conservation potential in the following implementation; third, repeating above steps to ensure high efficiency of soil erosion control, and achieving the sustainability and effectiveness of the ecological projects.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/154465