Soil degradation and restoration as affected by land use change in the semiarid Bashang area, northern China

摘要: Abstract The Bashang area, located in the semiarid agropastoral zone, represents a typical degraded ecosystem under intensified human activities. This region has undergone profound land use changes during past century. Natural grasslands had been progressively cultivated, and subsequently, part of cultivated lands abandoned by farmers due to severe desertification. In this study, we collected soil samples (0–20 cm depth) from four farmlands on both flat gentle slope where cultivation occurred for 0, 8, 30, 50 years assess effects grassland degradation. addition, were taken plant species investigated eight sites age sequence 0- 50- year-old field natural restoration process following abandonment. results showed that result significant degradation which is manifested coarsening texture losses organic C nutrients. After cultivation, C, total N, P concentrations declined 73–79%, 60–70%, 67–68% 0–20 plough layer, respectively. Over half these first 8 subsequent was slow. fields abandoned, vegetation got self-restoration, composition moved toward community with time. Soil levels gradually improved increasing abandonment, faster rate early recovery stage slower late succession stage. suggested may drastically inappropriate management short time, while take long period especially fragile ecosystem. From perspective resource desertification control, conservational tillage proper grazing recovered should be into account area.