Dry Soil Aggregate Stability in the Hetao Plain of the Yellow River Influenced by Soil Type, Crop Rotation, Irrigation, and Fertilizer Treatment
Bibliographic Data
As a critical parameter controlling soil wind erosion, dry soil aggregate stability (DAS) dynamically changes based on land management practice, soil type, climate, and landform. However, the effects of land management practices on soil aggregate property in the Hetao Plain of the Yellow River (HPYR), which is susceptible to wind erosion due to its dry climate and high wind speeds, are poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to determine the influence of different soil types under contrasting crop rotations on the DAS, aggregate geometric mean diameter (GMD), and soil bulk density in the HPYR. Aggregate crushing energy (DAS J/kg ) and particle size distribution (DAS % ) were quantified and compared across 31 sites to reflect the aggregate abrasion potential. DAS, GMD, and bulk density were significantly affected by crop rotation. In loam soil, leek, tomato, corn, and sunflower rotation exhibited a higher DAS value than the other crop rotations (1.08–19.5 times higher). However, the DAS was lower overall in the HPYR than in the Yellow River floodplain. The DAS of irrigated land was higher than that of rainfed land, whereas the DAS of plots treated with a combination of synthetic fertilizer and manure did not differ from that of plots treated with synthetic fertilizer. The polynomial and exponential function could approximate this relationship between DAS J/kg and DAS % , but there was a risk of mutual numerical conversion, as both indicate findings using regression models. These findings provide insights into adaptations to and mitigation of wind erosion and sand and dust storms
Crop Rotation · Erosion · Fertilizer · Loam · Manure · Soil structure · Soil water · Sunflower · Aeolian processes and effects · Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology · Soil erosion and sediment transport
| Citation velocity | historical |
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| Highly cited | No |