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Cropland physical disturbance intensity: plot-scale measurement and its application for soil erosion reduction in mountainous areas

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Abstract

Various kinds of human disturbances on cropland are the main reasons for soil erosion and land degradation. Farming practices in mountainous areas vary greatly among cropland plots because of the heterogeneity of biophysical conditions and differences in farmers’ management behavior. The main purpose of this paper is to develop a composite index of cropland physical disturbance intensity (CLDI) to reflect the plot-scale discrepancy of potential soil erosion in mountainous areas. The study was based on both plot survey and household interview data, collected from six typical catchments in mountainous areas of southwestern China. Four kinds of physical disturbance practices and two kinds of conservation practices during one crop rotation period were synthesized to develop the CLDI index. The rough set theory was referenced to avoid subjectivity during weight allocation. The results show that conventional tillage, deep fertilization, and manual weeding are the main causes of cropland soil erosion, whereas manure application in combination with seasonal fallow reduces soil erosion. Different crop types as well as cropland location factors determine the spatial pattern of CLDI. Crop rotation modes with major crops of tobacco and maize resulted in a maximal CLDI, and cropland plots with a distance radius of 150 meters away from households received the most intensive physical disturbance. These results are critical to help better protect rural environments in mountainous areas. Based on the results, methods to reduce cropland soil erosion are suggested.

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Acknowledgments

The study was jointly funded by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 program) (Grant NO.2015CB452702) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant NO.41371539). This work was also partially supported by the CDM Fund Grant Project in China (Grant NO. 2013030).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Ming Li, Yu-kuan Wang, Pei Xu, Bin Fu & Cong-shan Tian

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Ming Li & Cong-shan Tian

  3. Chengdu Land Planning and Cadastre Center, Chengdu, 610074, China

    Shan Wang

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  1. Ming Li
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Li, M., Wang, Yk., Xu, P. et al. Cropland physical disturbance intensity: plot-scale measurement and its application for soil erosion reduction in mountainous areas. J. Mt. Sci. 15, 198–210 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-017-4574-x

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