<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>More than 40% of China’s arable land is degraded. This paper reviews the direct and indirect consequences of soil degradation in China. Soil degradation has observable and measurable impacts, which include soil nutrient loss, salinization, acidification, and desertification. It also has a number of indirect consequences, in particular, a reduction of the agricultural output due to a drop in soil nutrient; an increase in the frequency and magnitude of floods and landslides; a decline in livestock production due to a decrease in grass density available to roaming livestock; an intensification of dust storms and sandstorms which affects health, the productivity of the land, and visibility; and a faster accumulation of silt in dams, which damages their structure, reduces their water storage capacity, and compromises their original functions, in particular their electricity generation capacity.</p></abstract>

More than 40% of China’s arable land is degraded. This paper reviews the direct and indirect consequences of soil degradation in China. Soil degradation has observable and measurable impacts, which include soil nutrient loss, salinization, acidification, and desertification. It also has a number of indirect consequences, in particular, a reduction of the agricultural output due to a drop in soil nutrient; an increase in the frequency and magnitude of floods and landslides; a decline in livestock production due to a decrease in grass density available to roaming livestock; an intensification of dust storms and sandstorms which affects health, the productivity of the land, and visibility; and a faster accumulation of silt in dams, which damages their structure, reduces their water storage capacity, and compromises their original functions, in particular their electricity generation capacity.

The consequences of soil degradation in China: a review

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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The consequences of soil degradation in China: a review"}

More than 40% of China’s arable land is degraded. This paper reviews the direct and indirect consequences of soil degradation in China. Soil degradation has...

The consequences of soil degradation in China: a review

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 92 - 103

Received: May 25, 2018

Accepted: Oct 24, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geosc-2018-0010

Keywords
Soil degradation, agricultural output, sandstorms, landslides, siltation, China

© 2018 Claudio O. Delang, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The consequences of soil degradation in China: a review

Published Online: Dec 31, 2018

Page range: 92 - 103

Received: May 25, 2018

Accepted: Oct 24, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geosc-2018-0010

KeywordsSoil degradation, agricultural output, sandstorms, landslides, siltation, China

© 2018 Claudio O. Delang, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Soil degradation, agricultural output, sandstorms, landslides, siltation, China