Exploring the effects of the “Grain for Green” program on the differences in soil water in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China

2017 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenming An ◽  
Zongshan Li ◽  
Shuai Wang ◽  
Xing Wu ◽  
Yihe Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Grain For Green ◽  
Grain For Green Program ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Effects of the “Grain for Green” Program on Soil Water Dynamics in the Semi-Arid Grassland of Inner Mongolia, China

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 2034
Author(s):  
Zhi-Hua Zhang ◽  
Hai-Ying Peng ◽  
Yuhua Kong
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Vegetation Restoration ◽  
Water Dynamics ◽  
Soil Water Dynamics ◽  
Grain For Green ◽  
Grain For Green Program ◽  
Soil Water Resources ◽  
Semi Arid

The Grain for Green Program (GGP) initiated by Chinese government significantly impacts mitigating environmental degradation. Soil water resources probably constrain large-scale vegetation restoration projects in arid and semi-arid regions. Characterizing soil water dynamics after the GGP’s implementation is essential in assessing whether vegetation restoration can be sustained as part of ecological restoration. In this study, four sites were selected for field investigation: original natural grassland (NG) and grassland that was reconverted from cropland 12 years (12-year site), 8 years (8-year site), and 6 years (6-year site) before. Soil water at five depths was measured continuously at 10 min intervals at four sites. The findings showed that less rainfall infiltrated a deeper soil layer as the time after restoration augmented, and the 12-year site had the shallowest infiltration depth and soil water storage. Younger restored grassland (8-year and 6-year sites) had a higher soil water content than older restored grassland (12-year site) and NG. The soil water content decreased steadily with restoration age after an immediate initial rise, and the highest soil moisture was in the 8-year site. The results suggest that soil water dynamics varied with GGP and a soil water deficit could be formed after the GGP’s implementation for 12 years in semi-arid grassland.

scholarly journals Can the Grain-for-Green Program Really Ensure a Low Sediment Load on the Chinese Loess Plateau?

Engineering ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 855-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengcheng Sun ◽  
Yiping Wu ◽  
Zhifeng Yang ◽  
Bellie Sivakumar ◽  
Linjing Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Sediment Load ◽  
Chinese Loess Plateau ◽  
Chinese Loess ◽  
Grain For Green ◽  
Grain For Green Program ◽  
The Chinese Loess Plateau

Grading Woodland Soil Water Productivity and Soil Bioavailability in the Semi-Arid Loess Plateau of China

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang-Can Zhang ◽  
Jiang-Bao Xia ◽  
Hong-Bo Shao ◽  
Shu-Yong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Incorporation of Manure into Ridge and Furrow Planting System Boosts Yields of Maize by Optimizing Soil Moisture and Improving Photosynthesis

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anzhen Qin ◽  
Yanjie Fang ◽  
Dongfeng Ning ◽  
Zhandong Liu ◽  
Ben Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Planting System

A sustainable management strategy of soil fertility and cropping system is critical to guaranteeing food security. However, little is known about the effects of soil amendment strategies on crop growth via regulating soil moisture and photosynthesis in a ridge and furrow cropping system. Here, field experiments were carried out in 2017 and 2018 in semi-arid areas of Loess Plateau, northwest China to investigate the effects of integrated use of ridge and furrow planting and manure amendment on grain yields of maize. Four treatments were designed: CK (flat planting with 100% chemical fertilizer), RFC (ridge and furrow planting with 100% chemical fertilizer), RFR (ridge and furrow planting with 100% control-released fertilizer), and RFM (ridge and furrow planting with 50% manure fertilizer + 50% N fertilizer). On average, RFM increased photosynthetic rates (Pn) by 74%, followed by RFR by 47%, and RFC by 26%, compared to CK. Also, stomatal conductance (Cd), transpiration rates (Tr), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were highest with RFM, followed by RFR and RFC. Averaged across the two years, RFM conserved 10% more soil water storage (SWS) than CK did at harvest, followed by RFR with an increment by 8%. However, RFC consumed more soil water than CK did, with its ETc 8% higher than CK. Consequently, spring maize treated with RFM suffered less drought stress, especially in 2017 when precipitation was insufficient. On average, grain yields and water use efficiency of RFM were increased by 18% and 27%, compared to CK. Structural equation modeling analysis showed that there existed significant positive correlation between SWS in top layers and grain yields, while SWS in deep layers had negative effects on grain yields. In conclusion, the incorporation of manure into ridge and furrow planting system can be an efficient agronomic practice to improve plant photosynthesis, optimize soil moisture, and boost grain yields in semi-arid areas of Loess Plateau, northwest China.

scholarly journals Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration in a Semiarid Region Based on GRACE Gravity Satellite Data—A Case Study in Loess Plateau

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao Sun ◽  
Qin’ge Dong ◽  
Mengyan Jiao ◽  
Xining Zhao ◽  
Xuerui Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Actual Evapotranspiration ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Grain For Green ◽  
Grain For Green Project

Jointly influenced by natural factors and artificial protection measures in recent years, the vegetation coverage of the Loess Plateau has significantly increased. However, extensive vegetation recovery can result in massive water consumption and a severe soil water deficit, which poses a great threat to the sustainable development of the regional ecological system. Maintaining the balance between precipitation and water consumption is an important foundation of ecological security in the Loess Plateau. Based on this, the present study used the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) gravity satellite data to simulate the annual actual water consumption from 2003 to 2014 and to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of the regional precipitation and the actual evapotranspiration (AET). This study also applied the newly developed rainwater utilization potential index (IRUP) to quantify the sustainability of the water balance in the Loess Plateau. The spatial-temporal patterns of precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and AET from 2003 to 2014 in the Loess Plateau were all analyzed in this study. Based on the results, the annual average precipitation (AAP) and AET in the entire Loess Plateau had significant increasing trends. The analysis of the spatial distribution reveals that the AET was decreasing from the southeast to the northwest in the Loess Plateau. However, the average values of potential evapotranspiration did not obviously change. Based on the estimated AET result, it was determined that the average IRUP had an increasing trend. The increase in the IRUP is due to an increased rate of precipitation that is statistically higher than that of the AET. Consequently, the Loess Plateau experienced a wetting trend during the period of 2003–2014, especially after the Grain for Green project was implemented. The results in this paper were proven by using three different depths of ERA-Interim (a global atmospheric reanalysis product created by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) soil water content data from the same period and the observed runoff data from 18 different hydrological sites. Consequently, it seems that the vegetation could maintain a sustainable growth with the implementation of the Grain for Green Project.

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