National-scale paddy-upland rotation in Northern China promotes sustainable development of cultivated land

• Published in: Agricultural water management 2016-05, Vol.170, p.20-25
• Main Authors: Zheng, Huabin, Huang, Huang, Zhang, Canming, Li, Jingyi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural management; China; Conservation tillage; Cultivated land; Land; Paddy-upland rotation; Soil (material); Strategy; Water resource; Water resources
• ISSN: 0378-3774; 1873-2283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.01.009

•National-scale adjusted water resources for agriculture production are required.•Building a south-to-north water transfer scheme as a national development strategy.•National-scale paddy-upland rotation (PUR) is an effective adaptation strategy under climate change.•National-scale PUR is a good choice in the major grain-producing areas of northern China in the coming 50–100 years. As China requires more cultivated land to feed its increasing population, the sustainable development of cultivated land in its intensive agricultural production system has become a major issue for government and society. We firstly reviewed the progress of paddy-upland rotation (PUR) and conservation tillage, found that PUR was improve significantly soil properties, including redox potential of soil, the mineralization of soil organic matter, and the abundance of beneficial microorganisms, suggested that conservation tillage was an effective measurement for remedying the deficiency under the PUR. Meanwhile, we also systemically reviewed the statues of water resource infrastructure and policy level. Consequently, with current agriculture technology and the increasing capacity of adjusted artificial water resources, our results highlight the development of national-scale PUR as an effective adaptation strategy to protect and improve soil fertility and ensure agricultural security under climate change. In other words, from national strategy scale, national-scale PUR was a good choice in the major grain-producing areas of northern China in the coming 50–100 years. Lastly, further research in the few aspects was needed to better provide theoretical and technical support for promoting effectively the PUR.