Effects of Land Use on Soil Quality in Huailai Basin,Hebei Province

It is essential to use rationally the lands in ecologically vulnerable environment to preserve soil quality and develop sustainable land use model. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of land use on soil nutrients and pH value as well as soil bulk density in Huailai basin of Hebei province. Eight dominating land use types were collected from two representative regions which respectively lie to the north and south of Guanting reservoir, second largest drinking water source for Beijing city. Moreover the soil degradation degree of different land use types was evaluated by soil degradation index (DI). The results show: Under rational land management and effective conservation practices, compared to other 7 land use types, the bulk density value of shelter-forest land in the north of Guanting reservoir is least and most of its soil nutrients showed significant increase. However, because of local formidable natural conditions and void restoration measures, soil quality of grassland which although developed from discarded field for 8 years was still at the degradation stage. Moreover, the soils under shelter-forest, vine and cherry-apple trees as well as corn in the south of Guanting reservoir were also subject to severe soil degradation andgreat decline of soil quality without appropriate soil and water conservation practices. The bulk density and pH value in these lands increased and most soil nutrients significantly decreased. The soil degradation index shows that severe degradation occurred to grassland and farmland and vine yard land in the south ofGuanting reservoir. On the whole, there was significant correlation between soil quality and land use model. Irrational land management approaches and measures, such as over-grazing, deforestation and over-irrigation and so on, led to soil degradation and greatly diminished soil quality.