Agroforestry and its application in amelioration of saline soils in eastern China coastal region

Abstract

Some environmental problems, especially soil salinity hinder the regional sustainable development of eastern China coastal region. Salinity mainly comes from tide weave, seawater flooding and seawater intrusion. Over exploitation of groundwater, which is the result of unfitful land use systems, leads to seawater intrusion and salt concentration increase. Agroforestry systems can enrich soil fertility and prevent soil salinization, furthermore help maintain biodiversity and enhance productivity. For the intergrated multiple ecosystems the most critical issue is to select optimum tree species and rationally arrange these plants. The basics of this multiple ecosystem is that different plants will occupy variable ecological niches within an area, both in space and in soil depth.Shelterbelts and trees intercropping with agricultural crops are major types of the multiple ecosystem. Shelterbelts can reduce wind speed and consequently lessen evaporation and erosion of the soil, increase pasture growth by up to 60% on exposed sites, increase crop yields by up to 25%. Besides intercropping with jujube, other agroforestry multiple ecosystem such as forestry plus agriculture, forestry plus agriculture plus fishery, and forestry plus animal husbandry are the most appropriate ways to utilise land resource in this region.

Notice of Retraction: Develop Urban Forest Shelter Belts to Prevent NPS Pollution in Coastal Region

“…The quality of drinking water in rivers, lakes and reservoirs depends substantially on protecting the healthy function of the fine branches of headwater streams [14]. Forests significantly help protect these streams and preserve drinking water quality in watersheds by performing a number of ecosystem services: moderating stream flow and flooding, controlling surface runoff and erosion, buffering against pollutants, and preventing sedimentation and eutrophication of waterways [15].…”

Carbon sequestration of black locust forests in the Yellow River Delta region, China

“…Such soils are mainly composed of fine sands from the Yellow River with characteristically young ages, a high groundwater table, low fertility and a tendency toward secondary salinisation and desertification. The average groundwater table is 2-3 m, while along the coastline it is only 0.5-1.5 m. Due to encroachment of seawater and high evaporation, the mineral concentration in the soil is usually 10-40 g/L and in extreme cases 200 g/L (Zhang 2004). The current land uses are shown in Table 2.…”

Urban Salinization and Its Ecological Remediation Principles

“…It has been tested that more trees, less evaporation, less salts accumulation in topsoils. One example on the function of trees is given in Tables 3 and 4 [11]. From Table 3 it is shown salinity inside the forest was reduced 39% in 0-20 cm soil; while in 20-50 cm it was 10%.…”