Spatiotemporal Evolution of Wind Erosion and Ecological Service Assessments in Northern Songnen Plain, China

Abstract

The northern Songnen Plain in China is one of the most important areas for grain production in China, which has been increasingly affected by wind erosion in recent years. This study analyzed the dynamic spatiotemporal distribution of wind erosion in the northern Songnen Plain from 2010 to 2018 using the Revised Wind Erosion Equation model. The ecological service function of the study area was evaluated by constructing a spatial visualization map of windbreak and sand-fixation service flow. Wind erosion worsened from 2010 to 2018. The gravity center of different categories of wind erosion intensity moved to the northeast, indicating a risk of spreading from south to north. The amount of wind erosion in 2018 increased by 50.78% compared with 2010. The increase of wind force and temperature and the decrease of precipitation may have contributed to these trends. Long-term wind erosion led to soil coarsening, decreased soil organic matter, soil organic carbon, and total nitrogen contents, and increased soil CaCO3 and pH, which may be one reason for slight soil salinization observed in some regions. Therefore, windbreak and sand-fixation management and eco-environmental protection are urgently required. This study is the first detailed assessment of wind erosion in the northern Songnen Plain on a regional scale and the first to propose measures for ecological restoration and desertification control.