Articles | Volume 7, issue 2
SOIL, 7, 333–346, 2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-333-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
SOIL, 7, 333–346, 2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-333-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article 02 Jul 2021
Original research article | 02 Jul 2021
Significant soil degradation is associated with intensive vegetable cropping in a subtropical area: a case study in southwestern China
Ming Lu et al.
Related subject area
Soil degradation (chemical, physical and biological)
Assessing soil redistribution of forest and cropland sites in wet tropical Africa using 239+240Pu fallout radionuclides
Spatial variations, origins, and risk assessments of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in French soils
Spatial patterns of argan-tree influence on soil quality of intertree areas in open woodlands of South Morocco
Complex soil food web enhances the association between N mineralization and soybean yield – a model study from long-term application of a conservation tillage system in a black soil of Northeast China
Understanding the role of water and tillage erosion from 239+240Pu tracer measurements using inverse modelling
Variation of soil organic carbon, stable isotopes, and soil quality indicators across an erosion–deposition catena in a historical Spanish olive orchard
Impacts of land use and topography on soil organic carbon in a Mediterranean landscape (north-western Tunisia)
Spatial assessments of soil organic carbon for stakeholder decision-making – a case study from Kenya
How serious a problem is subsoil compaction in the Netherlands? A survey based on probability sampling
Enzymatic biofilm digestion in soil aggregates facilitates the release of particulate organic matter by sonication
Exploring the linkage between spontaneous grass cover biodiversity and soil degradation in two olive orchard microcatchments with contrasting environmental and management conditions
Determination of hydrological roughness by means of close range remote sensing
Can we manipulate root system architecture to control soil erosion?
SF3M software: 3-D photo-reconstruction for non-expert users and its application to a gully network
Gully geometry: what are we measuring?
Short-term recovery of soil physical, chemical, micro- and mesobiological functions in a new vineyard under organic farming
Ecological soil quality affected by land use and management on semi-arid Crete
Identification of sensitive indicators to assess the interrelationship between soil quality, management practices and human health
Florian Wilken, Peter Fiener, Michael Ketterer, Katrin Meusburger, Daniel Iragi Muhindo, Kristof van Oost, and Sebastian Doetterl
SOIL, 7, 399–414, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-399-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-399-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study demonstrates the usability of fallout radionuclides 239Pu and 240Pu as a tool to assess soil degradation processes in tropical Africa, which is particularly valuable in regions with limited infrastructure and challenging monitoring conditions for landscape-scale soil degradation monitoring. The study shows no indication of soil redistribution in forest sites but substantial soil redistribution in cropland (sedimentation >40 cm in 55 years) with high variability.
Claire Froger, Nicolas P. A. Saby, Claudy C. Jolivet, Line Boulonne, Giovanni Caria, Xavier Freulon, Chantal de Fouquet, Hélène Roussel, Franck Marot, and Antonio Bispo
SOIL, 7, 161–178, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-161-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-161-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Pollution of French soils by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known as carcinogenic pollutants, was quantified in this work using an extended data set of 2154 soils sampled across France. The map of PAH concentrations in French soils revealed strong trends in regions with heavy industries and around cities. The PAH signatures indicated the influence of PAH emissions in Europe during the industrial revolution. Health risks posed by PAHs in soils were low but need to be considered.
Mario Kirchhoff, Tobias Romes, Irene Marzolff, Manuel Seeger, Ali Aït Hssaine, and Johannes B. Ries
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-32, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-32, 2021
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL
Short summary
Short summary
This study found that the influence of argan trees on soil quality in South Morocco is mostly limited to the area covered by the tree crown. However, the tree influences the bare soil outside the crown positively in specific directions because wind and water can move litter and soil particles from under the tree to the areas between the trees. These findings based on soil samples around argan trees could help structure reforestation measures.
Shixiu Zhang, Liang Chang, Neil B. McLaughlin, Shuyan Cui, Haitao Wu, Donghui Wu, Wenju Liang, and Aizhen Liang
SOIL, 7, 71–82, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-71-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-71-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term conservation tillage results in more complex and heterogeneous activities of soil organisms relative to conventional tillage. This study used an energetic food web modelling approach to calculate the mineralized N delivered by the whole soil community assemblages and highlighted the essential role of soil food web complexity in coupling N mineralization and soybean yield after a 14-year application of conservation tillage in a black soil of Northeast China.
Florian Wilken, Michael Ketterer, Sylvia Koszinski, Michael Sommer, and Peter Fiener
SOIL, 6, 549–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-549-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-549-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Soil redistribution by water and tillage erosion processes on arable land is a major threat to sustainable use of soil resources. We unravel the role of tillage and water erosion from fallout radionuclide (239+240Pu) activities in a ground moraine landscape. Our results show that tillage erosion dominates soil redistribution processes and has a major impact on the hydrological and sedimentological connectivity, which started before the onset of highly mechanised farming since the 1960s.
José A. Gómez, Gema Guzmán, Arsenio Toloza, Christian Resch, Roberto García-Ruíz, and Lionel Mabit
SOIL, 6, 179–194, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-179-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-179-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The long-term evolution of soil organic carbon in an olive orchard (planted in 1856) was evaluated and compared to an adjacent undisturbed natural area. Total soil organic carbon in the top 40 cm of the soil in the orchard was reduced to 25 % of that in the undisturbed area. The deposition downslope in the orchard of sediment coming from the eroded upslope area did not increase the accumulation of organic carbon in soil, but it quadrupled available phosphorus and improved overall soil quality.
Donia Jendoubi, Hanspeter Liniger, and Chinwe Ifejika Speranza
SOIL, 5, 239–251, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-5-239-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-5-239-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This paper is original research done in north-western Tunisia; it presents the impacts of the topography (slope and aspect) and the land use systems in the SOC storage in a Mediterranean area. It provides a soil spectral library, describes the variation of SOC under different conditions, and highlights the positive impact of agroforestry as good management in improving the SOC. Therefore this finding is very important to support decision making and inform sustainable land management in Tunisia.
Tor-Gunnar Vågen, Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Constance Neely, Sabrina Chesterman, and Mieke Bourne
SOIL, 4, 259–266, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-4-259-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-4-259-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Land degradation impacts the health and livelihoods of about 1.5 billion people worldwide. The state of the environment and food security are strongly interlinked in tropical landscapes. This paper demonstrates the integration of soil organic carbon (SOC) and land health maps with socioeconomic datasets into an online, open-access platform called the Resilience Diagnostic and Decision Support Tool for Turkana County in Kenya.
Dick J. Brus and Jan J. H. van den Akker
SOIL, 4, 37–45, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-4-37-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-4-37-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Subsoil compaction is an important soil threat. It is caused by heavy machines used in agriculture. The aim of this study was to estimate how large the area with overcompacted subsoils is in the Netherlands. This was done by selecting locations randomly and determining the porosity and bulk density of the soil at these locations. It appeared that 43 % of the soils in the Netherlands is overcompacted, and so we conclude that subsoil compaction is indeed a serious problem in the Netherlands.
Frederick Büks and Martin Kaupenjohann
SOIL, 2, 499–509, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-499-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-499-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Soil aggregate stability and POM occlusion are integral markers for soil quality. Besides physico-chemical interactions, biofilms are considered to aggregate primary particles, but experimental proof is still missing. In our experiment, soil aggregate samples were treated with biofilm degrading enzymes and showed a reduced POM occlusion and an increased bacteria DNA release compared with untreated samples. Thus, biofilms are assumed to be an important factor of POM occlusion in soil aggregates.
E. V. Taguas, C. Arroyo, A. Lora, G. Guzmán, K. Vanderlinden, and J. A. Gómez
SOIL, 1, 651–664, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-651-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-651-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Biodiversity indices for spontaneous grass cover were measured in two olive orchards in southern Spain with contrasting site conditions and management to evaluate their potential for biodiversity metrics of soil degradation. Biodiversity indices were relatively high for agricultural areas. No correlation between the biodiversity indicators and soil quality features were observed. The mere use of vegetation presence as a proxy might mask relative intense soil degradation processes.
A. Kaiser, F. Neugirg, F. Haas, J. Schmidt, M. Becht, and M. Schindewolf
SOIL, 1, 613–620, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-613-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-613-2015, 2015
A. Ola, I. C. Dodd, and J. N. Quinton
SOIL, 1, 603–612, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-603-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-603-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Plant roots are crucial in soil erosion control. Moreover, some species respond to nutrient-rich patches by lateral root proliferation. At the soil surface dense mats of roots may block soil pores thereby limiting infiltration, enhancing runoff; whereas at depth local increases in shear strength may reinforce soils at the shear plane. This review considers the potential of manipulating plant roots to control erosion.
C. Castillo, M. R. James, M. D. Redel-Macías, R. Pérez, and J. A. Gómez
SOIL, 1, 583–594, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-583-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-583-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
- We present SF3M, a new graphical user interface for implementing a complete 3-D photo-reconstruction workflow based on freely available software, in combination with a low-cost survey design for the reconstruction of a several-hundred-metres-long gully network.
- This methodology implied using inexpensive means, little manpower, in a short time span, being a promising tool for gully erosion evaluation in scenarios with demanding budget and time constraints and reduced operator expertise.
J. Casalí, R. Giménez, and M. A. Campo-Bescós
SOIL, 1, 509–513, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-509-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-509-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Despite gullies having been intensively studied in the past decades, there is no general consensus on such basic aspects as the correct determination of the geometry (width and depth) of these erosion features. Therefore, a measurement protocol is proposed to characterize the geometry of a gully by its effective width and effective depth, which, together with its length, would permit the definition of the equivalent prismatic gully (EPG); this would facilitate the comparison between gullies.
E. A. C. Costantini, A. E. Agnelli, A. Fabiani, E. Gagnarli, S. Mocali, S. Priori, S. Simoni, and G. Valboa
SOIL, 1, 443–457, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-443-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-443-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Earthworks carried out before planting a new vineyard caused, in the surface soil layer, an increase in lime and a decline in soil OC and N contents, along with a reduction in the abundance and diversity of microbial and mesofauna communities. Five years after the new vineyard establishment, soil was still far from its original quality and this limited vine development. The reduced OM input resulting from the management and the poor residue biomass was a major factor in delaying soil resilience.
J. P. van Leeuwen, D. Moraetis, G. J. Lair, J. Bloem, N. P. Nikolaidis, L. Hemerik, and P. C. de Ruiter
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-187-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-187-2015, 2015
Manuscript not accepted for further review
R. Zornoza, J. A. Acosta, F. Bastida, S. G. Domínguez, D. M. Toledo, and A. Faz
SOIL, 1, 173–185, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-173-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-173-2015, 2015
Cited articles
Bai, Y., Jin, J., and Yang, L.F: Study on the content and distribution of
soil available magnesium and foreground of magnesium fertilizer in China, Soil Fert. Sci. China, 2, 3–5, 2004 (in
Chinese).
Bai, Z., Li, H., Yang, X., Zhou, B., Shi, X., Wang, B., Li, D., Shen, J., Chen,
Q., Qin, W., Oenema, O., and Zhang, F.: The critical soil P levels for crop
yield, soil fertility and environmental safety in different soil types,
Plant Soil, 372, 27–37, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1696-y, 2013.
Bünemann, E. K., Bongiorno, G., Bai, Z., Creamer, R. E., Deyn, G. D.,
Goede, R., Fleskens, L., Geissen V., Kuyper, T. W., Mäder, P., Pulleman, M.,
Sukkel, W., Groenigen J. W., and Brussaard, L.: Soil quality – A critical
review, Soil Biol. Biochem., 120, 105–125, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.01.030, 2018.
Cakmak, I. and Yazici, A. M.: Magnesium: a forgotten element in crop
production, Better Crops Plant Food, 94, 23–25,
2010.
Cao, N., Chen, X., Cui, Z., and Zhang, F.: Change in soil available
phosphorus in relation to the phosphorus budget in China, Nutr. Cycl.
Agroecosys., 94, 161–170, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-012-9530-0, 2012.
Chen, X., Cui, Z., Fan, M., Vitousek, P., Zhao, M., Ma, W., Wang, Z., Zhang,
W., Yan, X., Yang, J., Deng, X., Gao, Q., Zhang, Q., Guo, S., Ren, J., Li, S., Ye,
Y., Wang, Z., Huang, J., Tang, Q., Sun, Y., Peng, X., Zhang, J., He, M., Zhu, Y.,
Xue, J., Wang, G., Wu, L., An, N., Wu, L., Ma, L., Zhang, W., and Zhang, F.:
Producing more grain with lower environmental costs, Nature, 514, 486–492,
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13609, 2014.
Chen, Y., Yi, X., Fang, L., and Yang, R.: Analysis of cultivated land and grain
production potential in China, Sci. Agric. Sinica., 49,
1117–1131, https://doi.org/10.3864/j.issn.0578-1752.2016.06.008, 2016 (in Chinese).
Chivenge, P. P., Murwira, H. K., Giller, K. E., Mapfumo, P., and Six, J.:
Long-term impact of reduced tillage and residue management on soil carbon
stabilization: Implications for conservation agriculture on contrasting
soils, Soil Till. Res., 94, 328–337, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.08.006, 2007.
Conley, D. J., Paerl, H. W., Howarth, R. W., Boesch, D. F., Seitzinger, S.
P., Havens, K. E., Lancelot C., and Likens, G. E.: Controlling
eutrophication: nitrogen and phosphorus, Science, 323, 1014–1015,
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1167755, 2009.
Dong, D., Peng, X., and Yan, X.: Organic acid exudation induced by
phosphorus deficiency and/or aluminium toxicity in two contrasting soybean
genotypes, Physiol. Plant., 122, 190–199, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2004.00373.x, 2004.
FAO: FAOSTAT Database-Resources. Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, FAO Statistical Yearbook 2017: World Food and Agriculture,
Rome, 2017.
Fischer, G., Nachtergaele, F. O., Prieler, S., Teixeira, E., Toth, G.,
Velthuizen, H. V., Verelst, L., and Wiberg, D.: Global Agro-Ecological Zones
(GAEZ v 3.0) – Model Documentation, Laxenburg, IIASA and Rome, FAO, 2012.
Gómez, J. A., Guzmán, G., Toloza, A., Resch, C., García-Ruíz, R., and Mabit, L.: Variation of soil organic carbon, stable isotopes, and soil quality indicators across an erosion–deposition catena in a historical Spanish olive orchard, SOIL, 6, 179–194, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-179-2020, 2020.
Guo, J., Liu, X., Zhang, Y., Shen, J., Han, W., Zhang, W., Christie, P.,
Goulding, K. W. T., Vitousek, P. M., and Zhang, F.: Significant acidification
in major Chinese croplands, Science, 327, 1008–1010, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182570, 2010.
Hesketh, N. and Brookes, P. C.: Development of an indicator for risk of
phosphorus leaching, J. Environ. Qual., 29, 105–110, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2000.00472425002900010013x, 2000.
Jia, X., Huang, J., Xiang, C., Hou, L., Zhang, F., Chen, X., Cui, Z., and
Bergmann, H.: Farmer's adoption of improved nitrogen management strategies
in maize production in China: an experimental knowledge training, J. Integr.
Agr., 12, 364–373, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60237-3, 2013.
Ju, X., Kou, C., Christie, P., Dou, Z., and Zhang, F.: Changes in the soil
environment from excessive application of fertilizers and manures to two
contrasting intensive cropping systems on the North China Plain, Environ.
Pollut., 145, 497–506, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2006.04.017, 2007.
Ju, X., Gu, B., Wu, Y., and Galloway, J.: Reducing China's fertilizer use by
increasing farm size, Global Environ. Chang., 41, 26–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.08.005, 2016.
Lal, R.: Soil carbon sequestration impacts on global climate change and food
security, Science, 304, 1623–1627, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1097396, 2004.
Lal, R.: Restoring soil quality to mitigate soil degradation, Sustain., 7, 5875–5895, https://doi.org/10.3390/su7055875, 2015.
Li, H., Huang, G., Meng, Q., Ma, L., Yuan, L., Wang, F., Cui, Z., Shen, J.,
Chen, X., Jiang, R., and Zhang, F.: Integrated soil and plant
phosphorus management for crop and environment in China: A review, Plant
Soil, 349, 157–167, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-011-0909-5, 2011.
Lu, R. (Ed.): Analysis Method of Agricultural Chemistry in Soil, 1st
Edn., Agriculture and Science Press, Beijing, China, ISBN:
7-80119-925-1, 2000.
Marschner, P. (Ed.): Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 3rd
Edn., Academic Press, USA, ISBN: 978-0-12-384905-2, 2012.
Morton, A. R., Trolove, S. N., and Kerckhoffs, L. H. J.: Magnesium deficiency in
citrus grown in the Gisborne district of New Zealand, New Zealand J. Crop
Hortic. Sci., 36, 199–213, https://doi.org/10.1080/01140670809510236, 2008.
National Bureau of Statistics: National Agricultural Product Cost-benefit
Compilation (NAPCC), China, available at: http://data.stats.gov.cn/index.htm, last access: 8 October 2017.
Nieder, R., Benbi, D. K., and Scherer, H. W.: Fixation and defixation of
ammonium in soils: a review, Biol. Fert. Soils, 47, 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-010-0506-4, 2011.
Oleghe, E., Naveed, M., Baggs, E. M., and Hallett, P. D.: Residues with varying
decomposability interact differently with seed or root exudate compounds to
affect the biophysical behaviour of soil, Geoderma, 343, 50–59, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.02.023, 2019.
Pires, L. F., Borges, J. A. R., Rosa, J. A., Cooper, M., Heck, R. J.,
Passoni, S., and Roque, W. L.: Soil structure changes induced by tillage
systems, Soil Till. Res., 165, 66–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2016.07.010, 2017.
Powlson, D. S., Stirling, C. M., Thierfelder, C., White, R. P., and Jat, M.
L.: Does conservation agriculture deliver climate change mitigation through
soil carbon sequestration in tropical agro-ecosystems?, Agr. Ecosyst.
Environ., 220, 164–174, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.01.005, 2016.
Ryan, M. H. and Graham, J. H.: Is there a role for arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi in production agriculture?, Plant Soil, 244, 263–271, https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1020207631893, 2002.
Sarker, J. R., Singh, B. P., Dougherty, W. J., Fang, Y., Badgery, W., Hoyle,
F. C., Dalal, R. C., and Cowie, A. L.: Impact of agricultural management
practices on the nutrient supply potential of soil organic matter under
long-term farming systems, Soil Till. Res., 175, 71–81, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2017.08.005, 2018.
Shen, Y., Duan, Y., Huang, S., Guo, D., Zhang, S., and Xu, M.: Response of
CaCl2-P to phosphorus fertilization and leaching risk in fluvo-aquic
soils, J. Plant Nutr. Fert., 24, 1689–1696, https://doi.org/10.11674/zwyf.18167, 2018 (in Chinese).
Six, J., Elliott, E. T., and Paustian, K.: Soil macroaggregate turnover and
microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage
agriculture, Soil Biol. Biochem., 32, 2099–2103, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0038-0717(00)00179-6, 2000.
Ti, C., Luo, Y., and Yan, X.: Characteristics of nitrogen balance in
open-air and greenhouse vegetable cropping systems of China, Environ. Sci.
Pollut. Res., 22, 18508–18518, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5277-x, 2015.
Tisdale, S. L., Nelson, W. L., and Beaton, J. D.: Soil Fertility and
Fertilizers, 5th Edn., Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, 1993.
Wang, H., Guan, D., Zhang, R., Chen, Y., Hu, Y., and Xiao, L.: Soil
aggregates and organic carbon affected by the land use change from rice
paddy to vegetable field, Ecol. Eng., 70, 206–211, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.05.027, 2014.
Wang, R., Min, J., Kronzucker, H. J., Li, Y., and Shi, W.: N and P runoff
losses in China's vegetable production systems: Loss characteristics,
impact, and management practices, Sci. Total Environ., 663, 971–979, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.368, 2019.
Wang, X., Zou, C., Gao, X., Guan, X., Zhang, W., Zhang, Y., and Chen, X.:
Nitrous oxide emissions in Chinese vegetable systems: a meta-analysis,
Environ. Pollut., 239, 375–383, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.090, 2018a.
Wang, X., Zou, C., Zhang, Y., Shi, X., Liu, J., Fan, S., Liu, Y., Du, Y., Zhao,
Q., Tan, Y., Wu, C., and Chen, X.: Environmental impacts of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
production affected by nutrient management: A case study in southwest China,
J. Clean. Prod., 171, 934–943, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.258, 2018b.
Wang, X., Liu, B., Wu, G., Sun, Y., Guo, X., Jin, G., Jin, Z., Zou, C., Chadwick, D., and Chen, X.: Cutting carbon footprint of vegetable production with integrated soil –
crop system management: A case study of greenhouse pepper production,
J. Clean. Prod., 254, 120158, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120158, 2020.
White, P. J. and Broadley, M. R.: Biofortification of crops with seven mineral elements often lacking in human diets – iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, selenium and iodine, New Phytol., 182, 49–84, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02738.x, 2009.
Wu, Y., Xi, X., Tang, X., Luo, D., Gu, B., Lam, S. K., Vitousek P. M., and
Chen, D.: Policy distortions, farm size, and the overuse of agricultural
chemicals in China, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 115, 7010–7015, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1806645115, 2018.
Yan, Y., Tian, J., Fan, M., Zhang, F., Li, X., Christie, P., Chen, H., Lee, J., Kuzyakov, Y., and Six, J.: Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in intensively managed
arable soils, Agr. Ecosyst. Environ., 150, 102–110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.01.024, 2012.
Yan, Z., Liu, P., Li, Y., Ma, L., Alva, A., Dou, Z., Chen, Q., and Zhang, F.: Phosphorus in China's intensive vegetable production
systems: overfertilization, soil enrichment, and environmental implications,
J. Environ. Qual., 42, 982–989, https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2012.0463, 2013.
Zhang, B.: Theory, model and route on spatial recombination of arable land
use system based on land fragmentation perspective, PhD
dissertation, China Agricultural University, 2017 (in Chinese).
Zhang, F., Chen, X., and Chen, Q.: Fertilization recommendations for major
crops in China, China Agricultural University Press, Beijing,
2009 (in Chinese).
Zhang, W., Ma, W., Ji, Y., Fan, M., Oenema, O., and Zhang, F.: Efficiency,
economics, and environmental implications of phosphorus resource use and the
fertilizer industry in China, Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosys., 80, 131–144, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-007-9126-2, 2008.
Zhang, W., Zhang, F., Li, Y., Huang, G., and Wu, L.: China fertilizer
development research report, China Agricultural
University Press, Beijing, 2012 (in Chinese).
Zhang, X., Zhang, S., Li, Q., Lu, Y., and Liang, W.: Contributions of soil
biota to C sequestration varied with aggregate fractions under different
tillage systems, Soil Biol. Biochem., 62, 147–156, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.03.023, 2013.
Zhang, Y., Fan, Z., Chen, X., Yang, H., Wu, Y., and Zhang, W.: Effect of
phosphorus supply on root morphology and rhizosphere traits in pepper, China Veg., 11, 49–55, 2019 (in
Chinese).
Short summary
Land use changes are an important anthropogenic perturbation that can cause soil degradation, but the impacts of land conversion from growing cereals to vegetables have received little attention. Using a combination of soil analyses from paired sites and data from farmer surveys, we found significant soil degradation in intensive vegetable cropping under paddy rice–oilseed rape rotation in southwestern China. This study may alert others to the potential land degradation in the subtropics.
Land use changes are an important anthropogenic perturbation that can cause soil degradation,...
