Effects of soil and water conservation on water resources and water environment in the Loess Plateau,China

摘要

A large number of soil and water conservation projects have been implemented in the Loess Plateau since the late 1950s. The effects of these practices on water resources and water environment, whether they are positive or not, should be assessed for the further work. The Genesis Analysis Method (GAM) was improved in this study to investigate the amount of intercepted soil, water, and soil nutrients in the Nanxiaohegou Catchment. As a result, it could be concluded that: ①The interception abilities of the typical conservation practices are in the following order: dam farmland> terrace farmland> forest land> grassland. ②The conservation practices in the Loess Plateau have made a great effect on water resources and water environment. ③A highly productive ecosystems as well as the favorable environmental quality, could be sustained by adjustment of land use. Nevertheless, negative effects still exist too, e.g. decrease of the runoff to the Yellow River.