Spatio-temporal characteristics of soil protection efforts of the Grain for Green Project in northern Shaanxi Province

doi:10.1007/s11442-020-1734-7

Abstract

Abstract:

This paper looks at the Green for Grain Project in northern Shaanxi Province. Based on remote sensing monitoring data, this study analyzes the locations of arable land in northern Shaanxi in the years 2000, 2010 and 2013 as well as spatio-temporal changes over that period, and then incorporates data on the distribution of terraced fields to improve the input parameters of a RUSLE model and simulate and generate raster data on soil erosion for northern Shaanxi at different stages with a accuracy verification. Finally, combined with the dataset of farmland change, compared and analyzed the characteristics of soil erosion change in the converted farmland to forest (grassland) and the unconverted farmland in northern Shaanxi, so as to determine the project’s impact on soil erosion over time across the region. The results show that between 2000 and 2010, the soil erosion modulus of repurposed farmland in northern Shaanxi decreased 22.7 t/ha, equivalent to 47.08% of the soil erosion modulus of repurposed farmland in 2000. In the same period, the soil erosion modulus of non-repurposed farmland fell 10.99 t/ha, equivalent to 28.6% of the soil erosion modulus of non-repurposed farmland in 2000. The soil erosion modulus for all types of land in northern Shaanxi decreased by an average of 14.51 t/ha between 2000 and 2010, equivalent to 41.87% of the soil erosion modulus for the entire region in 2000. This suggests that the Green for Grain Project effectively reduced the soil erosion modulus, thus helping to protect the soil. In particular, arable land that was turned into forest and grassland reduced erosion most noticeably and contributed most to soil conservation. Nevertheless, in the period 2010 to 2013, which was a period of consolidation of the Green for Grain Project, the soil erosion modulus and change in volume of soil erosion in northern Shaanxi were significantly lower than in the previous decade.

Key words: northern Shaanxi, converting farmland into forest and grassland, remote sensing, RUSLE, soil erosion, soil conservation

LIU Wenchao, LIU Jiyuan, KUANG Wenhui. Spatio-temporal characteristics of soil protection efforts of the Grain for Green Project in northern Shaanxi Province[J].Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2020, 30(3): 401-422.

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Primary	Secondary	Intensity
1 Water erosion	11 Surface erosion	111Trace 112 Slight 113 Moderate
	11 Surface erosion	114 High 115 Severe 116 Extreme
	12 Gullying	121Trace 122 Slight 123 Moderate
	12 Gullying	124 High 125 Severe 126 Extreme
2 Wind erosion	20 No sub-classes	201Trace 202 Slight 203 Moderate
2 Wind erosion	20 No sub-classes	204 High 205 Severe 206 Extreme
3 Freeze-thaw erosion	30 No sub-classes	301Trace 302 Slight 303 Moderate
3 Freeze-thaw erosion	30 No sub-classes	304 High
4 Gravitational erosion	40 No sub-classes	No intensity grading
5 Man-made erosion	50 No sub-classes	No intensity grading

Level	Average erosion modulus (t/ha·a)
1 Trace erosion	< 10
2 Slight erosion	10-25
3 Moderate erosion	25-50
4 High erosion	50-80
5 Severe erosion	80-150
6 Extreme erosion	≥ 150

Erosion level	Theoretical value (t/ha)	Verification points	No. of points with simulated values within the theoretical value range	Correct judgement rate (%)	2005 model simulated average (t/ha)
Trace	<10	50	38	76.00	7.89
Slight	10-25	46	33	71.74	17.90
Moderate	25-50	56	39	69.64	37.29
High	50-80	46	28	60.87	61.61
Severe	80-150	50	37	74.00	89.43
Extreme	≥ 150	73	38	52.05	123.42

Station name	Catchment area (10⁴ ha)	Sediment runoff (10⁸ t)	Sediment runoff modulus (t/ha)
Wenjiachuan	86.45	0.11	12.72
Baijiachaun	296.62	0.96	32.36
Ganguyi	58.91	0.22	37.35
Huangfuchuan	31.99	0.14	43.76
Zhuangtou	251.54	0.70	27.83
Longmen	4975.52	2.36	4.75

	2000		2010		2013
	Soil erosion (10⁴ t)	Proportion^* (%)	Soil erosion (10⁴ t)	Proportion^* (%)	Soil erosion (10⁴ t)	Proportion^* (%)
Yan’an	11856.38	43.13	6484.56	40.59	5503.15	35.46
Yulin	15631.69	56.87	9493.14	59.41	10016.61	64.54