ON SOIL RESOURCES AND THE WAY FOR ITS AMELIORATION AND UTILIZATION IN ZHUANYAOGOU EXPERIMENT AREA OF THE LOESS PLATEAU
黄土高原砖窑沟试验区土壤资源与改良利用途径

The features of soil resources and the measures and effects of soil amelioration and utilization were studied systematically by means of field experiments, location observations and field surveys on the comprehensive harnessing experiment area of Zhuanyaogou basin in Hequ county, loess hilly region in northwestern Shanxi. The results show that the area is abundant in soil resources, but poor in soil fertility. Reasons for this are mainly sandy texture, low content of organic matter, many climatic disasters, severe soil erosion and poor economy. The soil fertility and its environment condition have been improved efficiently by series of measures, which consist of building bench terrace and practicing technique of improving fertility quickly on new terraced fields, carrying out optimum application plans with storing water, using water rationally, raising water-use efficiency and so on. Meanwhile, the way that is of universal significance in the region for improving soil fertility was developed based on the experiments and practice.