Impact of Cropland Evolution on Soil Wind Erosion in Inner Mongolia of China

Wenfeng Chi, Yuanyuan Zhao, Wenhui Kuang, Tao Pan, Tu Ba, Jinshen Zhao, Liang Jin and Sisi Wang
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Wenfeng Chi: College of Resources and Environmental Economics, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot 010070, China
Yuanyuan Zhao: Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating, Ministry of Education, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Wenhui Kuang: Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Tao Pan: College of Geography and Tourism, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China
Tu Ba: Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Jinshen Zhao: Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation and Desertification Combating, Ministry of Education, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Liang Jin: College of Resources and Environmental Economics, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot 010070, China
Sisi Wang: National Remote Sensing Center of China, Beijing 100036, China

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 6, 1-16

Abstract: Understanding soil erosion responses to cropland expansion/shrinking plays a crucial role in regional agriculture sustainability development in drylands. We selected Inner Mongolia, a typical water resource constraints region with acute cropland expansion, as the study area in China. Spatial cropland evolution and its impact on wind-driven soil erosion were investigated with the help of field sampling data, remotely sensed retrieved data, and the revised wind erosion model (RWEQ). Results showed that the cropland area of Inner Mongolia presented an increased growth trend, with a net increase area of 15,542.9 km 2 from 1990 to 2018. Cropland characteristics in Inner Mongolia presented continuous growth in its eastern region, basically constant growth in its central region, and declined in its western region. Most cropland declines occurred after 2000 when the Grain for Green project began, which means that acute cropland expansion happened from 1990 to 2000. The soil wind erosion modulus showed a net increase with cropland expansion. The reclamation of forests and grasslands contributed to an increase of 5.0 million tons of the soil wind erosion modulus, 80% of which was produced in the eastern part of the region. The conversion from croplands to grasslands/forests caused a decrease of approximately 2.7 million tons, 62% of which was in the east and 25% in the west of the region. Considering the constraints of water shortage and over-exploitation of groundwater, we provide a path based on a balance between ”resource-production-ecosystem” to achieve ecologically sustainable agriculture development in the drylands of China.

Keywords: land-use/cover changes; soil wind erosion; cropland evolution; sustainable path; ecological barrier area of North China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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