Scientific evidence for the upper limit of farmland is proposed. Shallow gully erosion is one of erosion types distributed
extensively on sloping farmland in the hilly regions of the Loess Plateau. Field observation and aerial photos interpretation,
as well as laboratory experiments show that the shallow gully erosion occurring on the steeper farmland in the hilly regions
of the Loess Plateau is an important factor leading to intensive erosion on slope, because of its extensive distribution and
intensive runoff collection. The data on the formation, development and distribution of shallow gullies on sloping farmland
indicate that critical slope gradient for shallow gully initiation ranges from 15 to 20 degrees with an average of 18.2 degrees.
Therefore, it is suggested that critical slope gradient for compulsory abandonment of farmland on the hilly Loess Plateau
should be kept within the critical slope gradient for shallow gully initiation to prevent shallow gully formation in order
to control soil loss more effectively. But as the first step, the cultivation on the slopes with slope larger than 25 degrees
where the maximum erosion occurs should be strictly forbidden. 相似文献
Floristic composition, community structure and soil moisture and nutrient contents in abandoned fields of different ages were analyzed to clarify the regenerative aspects of succession as a tool for vegetation restoration. The results indicated that secondary succession in this region can be interpreted as an auto-succession: there are main changes in species-relative abundance and species turnover. Annual or biennial species (e.g. Artemisia scoparia), acted as pioneers and strongly dominated the early stages. Then, they underwent a progressive decline, while forbs (e.g. Artemisia sacrorum) and grasses (e.g. Xanthium sibiricum) had their peak abundance at intermediate stages. Dwarf shrubs (e.g. Lespedeza dahurica) and short rhizome grass (e.g. Bothriochloa ischaemum) appeared at mid-succession stage and gradually increased in abundance during succession, becoming dominant at late stages. The first axis of detrended correspondence canonical analysis arranged the sites according to their fallow time, indicating a successional sere. The second axis, associated with diverging pathways of regeneration, correlated with topographic factors and soil moisture and nutrition. Structural divergence between plots increased as succession went on, attained the highest at the mid-succession stage, decreased at the late stage.
Soil moisture and available phosphorus content decreased steadily with field age after their abandonment, whereas pools of organic matter, total and available nitrogen, potassium and total phosphorus increased with field age. The pace and direction of recovery of native vegetation and natural soil properties in these abandoned fields resembled classic old-field succession, which is a form of secondary succession that often serves as a template for guiding restoration efforts. Interface between the abandoned field soil and plant system was crucial to the above process. Our current study supported the generally accepted hypothesis in the succession literature. 相似文献