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Assessment of Reclamation Treatments of Abandoned Farmland in an Arid Region of China

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  • Haichang Yang

    (Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi City 832003, China)

  • Fenghua Zhang

    (Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi City 832003, China)

  • Yun Chen

    (CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia)

  • Tingbao Xu

    (Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia)

  • Zhibo Cheng

    (Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi City 832003, China)

  • Jing Liang

    (Agricultural College, Shihezi University, Shihezi City 832003, China)

Abstract

Reclamation of abandoned farmland is crucial to a sustainable agriculture in arid regions. This study aims to evaluate the impact of different reclamation treatments on abandoned salinized farmland. We investigated four artificial reclamation treatments, continuous cotton (CC), continuous alfalfa (CA), tree-wheat intercropping (TW) and trees (TS), which were conducted in 2011–2012 in the Manasi River Basin of Xinjiang Province, China. Soil nutrient, microorganism and enzyme activity were examined in comparison with natural succession (CK) in an integrated analysis on soil fertility improvement and soil salinization control with these reclamations. Results indicate that the four artificial reclamation treatments are more effective approaches than natural restoration to reclaim abandoned farmland. TW and CA significantly increased soil nutrient content compared to CK. CC reduced soil salinity to the lowest level among all treatments. TW significantly enhanced soil enzyme activity. All four artificial reclamations increased soil microbial populations and soil microbial biomass carbon. TW and CA had the greatest overall optimal effects among the four treatments in terms of the ecological outcomes. If both economic benefits and ecological effects are considered, TW would be the best reclamation mode. The findings from this study will assist in selecting a feasible method for reclamation of abandoned farmland for sustainable agriculture in arid regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Haichang Yang & Fenghua Zhang & Yun Chen & Tingbao Xu & Zhibo Cheng & Jing Liang, 2016. "Assessment of Reclamation Treatments of Abandoned Farmland in an Arid Region of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:11:p:1183-:d:82973
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hikmet Günal & Tayfun Korucu & Marta Birkas & Engin Özgöz & Rares Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir, 2015. "Threats to Sustainability of Soil Functions in Central and Southeast Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-28, February.
    2. Fenghua Zhang & Munir Hanjra & Fan Hua & Yunqiao Shu & Yuyi Li, 2014. "Analysis of climate variability in the Manas River Valley, North-Western China (1956–2006)," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 1091-1107, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yiming Sang & Liangjie Xin, 2023. "Factors Determining Concurrent Reclamation and Abandonment of Cultivated Land on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Shakhislam Laiskhanov & Zhassulan Smanov & Kulyash Kaimuldinova & Duman Aliaskarov & Nazira Myrzaly, 2023. "Study of the Ecological and Reclamation Condition of Abandoned Saline Lands and Their Development for Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, September.
    3. Pengfei Li & Xingchang Zhang & Mingde Hao & Yongxing Cui & Shilei Zhu & Yanjiang Zhang, 2019. "Effects of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Bacterial Communities, Enzyme Activities, and Nutrients of Reconstructed Soil in a Mining Area on the Loess Plateau, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, April.

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