Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
decreased from 72.3% in 1980 to 34.6% in 2006. At the same time, the per capita
income increased from 55 Yuan in 1980 to 2447 Yuan in 1999 and 3160 Yuan in
2006. During this time, fertilizer use in farmlands increased from 26,331 Mg in
1980 to 180,483 Mg in 1999 and to 211,966 Mg in 2006 (SBQC 1980, 1999, 2006).
8.2.2 d
AtA
C
olleCtion
The land use objectives for farmers in this region have transitioned from maximiza-
tion of crop production to maximization of profit with economic development (Kong
et al. 2003a,b). This led to the conversion of the cropping system and the increased
use of fertilizers. Thus, these changes have impacted the SOC concentration in the
NCP region.
Questionnaires were distributed and field investigations were conducted among
the different farming households because these farmers are the most familiar with
the cropping system changes and the increased use of fertilizers between May 1999
and 2006 (Figure 8.1). The major purpose was to obtain a general understanding of
the following points: (1) the conversion of the cropping systems; (2) the history of the
application rate of fertilizer to soil, including chemical fertilizer and organic matter;
(3) and the criteria and technique the farmers use to assess soil quality. The data were
collected on the impact of the cropping system change, land policy, population, and
income, etc. (Table 8.1).
FIGURE 8.1
Field investigations and soil sampling in Quzhou county.
TABLE 8.1
Results of the 2006 Survey of Farming Households in Quzhou County
Item
Contents
Characteristic of household
Gender; labor structure; income and outcome; land area
Cropping system
Soil site
Crop pattern, application rate of fertilizer, crop yield
Mindset of household
Reasons for choice of crop pattern; restrictive conditions within the
cropping system
Criteria used to assess soil quality
Measures adopted to increase SOC concentration
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