Continuous Cropping Alters Soil Hydraulic and Physicochemical Properties in the Karst Region of Southwestern China

Author:

Yang Xu123ORCID,Zhang Ke12345ORCID,Shaghaleh Hiba6ORCID,Qi Zhiming7ORCID,Gao Chao8ORCID,Chang Tingting8ORCID,Zhang Jie8,Zia-ur-Rehman Muhammad9,Hamoud Yousef Alhaj12ORCID

Affiliation:

1. College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

2. The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

3. China Meteorological Administration Hydro-Meteorology Key Laboratory, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

4. Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

5. Key Laboratory of Water Big Data Technology of Ministry of Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

6. College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China

7. Department of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada

8. College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China

9. Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan

Abstract

Continuous cropping causes soil degradation and decreases crop yield in the karst region of southwestern China. However, the relationship between continuous cropping systems and soil hydraulic and physicochemical properties remains incompletely elucidated. In this study, we performed a comparative investigation on the soil physicochemical properties and soil-water-characteristic-curve-derived parameters from sites subjected to 3, 5, or 7 years of continuous cropping (CC3, CC5, and CC7) and cropping rotation (CC0). Soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH were significantly greater in soils under CC0 and short-term cropping (CC3) than in soils under long-term cropping (CC5 and CC7). This finding illustrated that continuous cropping reduced soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH. Across all continuous cropping durations, soil water holding capacity at 40~60 cm was greater than the 20~40 cm and 0~20 cm layers. The significantly greater soil water characteristics (except saturated moisture) in CC0 and CC3 soils than in CC5 or CC7 soils at all soil depths demonstrated that soil water characteristics deteriorated with the prolongation of cropping duration. The same soil water characteristics were positively correlated with soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH. These correlations, when viewed within the context of continuous cropping, can inform the development of more sustainable cropping systems in similar karst regions.

Funder

National Natural Science Foundation of China

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent

Hydraulic Science and Technology Plan Foundation of Shaanxi Province

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Agronomy and Crop Science

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