Changes in Cultivated Land Area and Associated Soil and SOC Losses in Northeastern China: The Role of Land Use Policies

Abstract

Land use policy is the driving factor influencing land use; however, little research has been conducted to identify the role of agricultural policy in influencing land cultivation and associated soil and soil organic carbon (SOC) losses. The aims of this study were to explore temporal changes in cultivated land, soil erosion, and SOC loss and to identify the role of land use policy. The present study was conducted using the revised universal soil loss equation by integrating remote sensing images from 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2017. The study found that cultivated land areas increased from 275.11 thousand km2 in 1980, to 300.03 thousand km2 in 2000, and to 344.16 thousand km2 in 2010, and then decreased by 326.94 thousand km2. The mean soil loss rates changed from 590.66 t·km−2·yr−1 in 1980 to 634.25 t·km−2·yr−1 in 2010, and then decreased to 495.66 t·km−2·yr−1 in 2017. Soil loss rate increased with increasing slope gradient. The changes in SOC loss rates demonstrated the same pattern as that of soil loss, with the largest loss rate of 728.27 kg·km−2·yr−1. These changes can be explained by changed land use policy and population growth. In future land use management, reasonable implementation of soil conservation measures should be undertaken to reduce soil and SOC losses in the black soil region of northeastern China.