Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China

Soil erosion on cropland is a major source of environmental problems in China ranging from the losses of a non-renewable resource and of nutrients at the source to contamination of downstream areas. Regional soil loss assessments using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) would supply a scientifi...

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Main Authors: Qian-kun GUO, Bao-yuan LIU, Yun XIE, Ying-na LIU, Shui-qing YIN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2015-09-01
Series:Journal of Integrative Agriculture
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311915610978
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author Qian-kun GUO
Bao-yuan LIU
Yun XIE
Ying-na LIU
Shui-qing YIN
author_facet Qian-kun GUO
Bao-yuan LIU
Yun XIE
Ying-na LIU
Shui-qing YIN
author_sort Qian-kun GUO
collection DOAJ
description Soil erosion on cropland is a major source of environmental problems in China ranging from the losses of a non-renewable resource and of nutrients at the source to contamination of downstream areas. Regional soil loss assessments using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) would supply a scientific basis for soil conservation planning. However, a lack of information on the cover and management (C) factor for cropland, one of the most important factors in the USLE, has limited accurate regional assessments in China due to the large number of crops grown and their complicated rotation systems. In this study, single crop soil loss ratios (SLRs) were collected and quantified for 10 primary crops from past studies or reports. The mean annual C values for 88 crop rotation systems in 12 cropping system regions were estimated based on the combined effects of single crop SLRs and the percentage of annual rainfall erosivity (R) during the corresponding periods for each system. The C values in different cropping system regions were compared and discussed. The results indicated that the SLRs of the 10 primary crops ranged from 0.15 to 0.74. The mean annual C value for all 88 crop rotation systems was 0.34, with a standard deviation of 0.12. The mean C values in the single, double and triple cropping zones were 0.37, 0.36 and 0.28, respectively, and the C value in the triple zone was significantly different from those in single and double zones. The C values of dryland crop systems exhibited significant differences in the single and triple cropping system regions but the differences in the double regions were not significant. This study is the first report of the C values of crop rotation systems in China at the national scale. It will provide necessary and practical parameters for accurately assessing regional soil losses from cropland to guide soil conservation plans and to optimize crop rotation systems.
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spelling doaj-art-45a1ab91db064bd1a74cf8274a689e3e2025-08-20T03:58:21ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Integrative Agriculture2095-31192015-09-011491877188810.1016/S2095-3119(15)61097-8Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in ChinaQian-kun GUO0Bao-yuan LIU1Yun XIE2Ying-na LIU3Shui-qing YIN4State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, P.R.ChinaCorrespondence LIU Bao-yuan, Tel: +86-10-58809959; State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, P.R.ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, P.R.ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, P.R.ChinaState Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, P.R.ChinaSoil erosion on cropland is a major source of environmental problems in China ranging from the losses of a non-renewable resource and of nutrients at the source to contamination of downstream areas. Regional soil loss assessments using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) would supply a scientific basis for soil conservation planning. However, a lack of information on the cover and management (C) factor for cropland, one of the most important factors in the USLE, has limited accurate regional assessments in China due to the large number of crops grown and their complicated rotation systems. In this study, single crop soil loss ratios (SLRs) were collected and quantified for 10 primary crops from past studies or reports. The mean annual C values for 88 crop rotation systems in 12 cropping system regions were estimated based on the combined effects of single crop SLRs and the percentage of annual rainfall erosivity (R) during the corresponding periods for each system. The C values in different cropping system regions were compared and discussed. The results indicated that the SLRs of the 10 primary crops ranged from 0.15 to 0.74. The mean annual C value for all 88 crop rotation systems was 0.34, with a standard deviation of 0.12. The mean C values in the single, double and triple cropping zones were 0.37, 0.36 and 0.28, respectively, and the C value in the triple zone was significantly different from those in single and double zones. The C values of dryland crop systems exhibited significant differences in the single and triple cropping system regions but the differences in the double regions were not significant. This study is the first report of the C values of crop rotation systems in China at the national scale. It will provide necessary and practical parameters for accurately assessing regional soil losses from cropland to guide soil conservation plans and to optimize crop rotation systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311915610978cover and management factorcrop rotation systemsoil loss ratiorainfall erosivitycropping system region
spellingShingle Qian-kun GUO
Bao-yuan LIU
Yun XIE
Ying-na LIU
Shui-qing YIN
Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China
Journal of Integrative Agriculture
cover and management factor
crop rotation system
soil loss ratio
rainfall erosivity
cropping system region
title Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China
title_full Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China
title_fullStr Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China
title_short Estimation of USLE crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in China
title_sort estimation of usle crop and management factor values for crop rotation systems in china
topic cover and management factor
crop rotation system
soil loss ratio
rainfall erosivity
cropping system region
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311915610978
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