Soil erosion control practices in Northeast China: A mini-review

Soil erosion is of great concern in every agricultural region of the world due to its long-term negative effects on soil productivity. Agricultural management strongly affects soil erosion, and thus agricultural sustainability. The control of soil erosion is the top environmental issue, and has been proposed as a bottleneck to the sustainable development of agriculture in Northeast China. This region is the bread basket of China where the fertile and productive Mollisol soil is primarily distributed. The advances in agronomic, biological and engineering practices including several tillage managements, terraces and strip cultivation, and soil amendments are summarized and discussed. Proposed strategies for erosion control in particular urgent government policies to maintain or restore the productivity of severely eroded farmland are emphasized in the context of agricultural sustainability for Northeast China and similar Mollisol regions.

► Soil erosion is the hindrance of agricultural development in Northeast China.
► The main type of soil erosion in the region is water erosion.
► Basin, contour, rat tunnel, and conservation tillage could control erosion.
► Terraces and strip cultivation, fertilizer/manure application improve productivity.
► Governmental policies with economic investment are needed to implement practices.