Long‐term effects of soil erosion on dryland crop yields in the Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Abstract

The elucidation of the influence of soil erosion on crop yields is of paramount importance to ensure food security. Remote sensing data has facilitated the acquisition of long‐term spatially‐distributed information on soil erosion modulus and crop yields. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was employed to estimate the soil erosion modulus, while the Carnegie‐Ames‐Stanford Approach (CASA) model has been utilized to calculate the net primary productivity (NPP). This study integrated models to assess the impact of soil erosion on dryland crop yields in the Songnen Plain from 2000 to 2020. The findings reveal that the annual average soil erosion modulus for dry cropland in black soil region (BSR) of the Songnen Plain is 4.2 (t ha−1 yr−1), which is 1.5 times greater than that of the other region (OR). The greater cropland erosion within the BSR limited the trend for increasing crop yields, whereas the impact of erosion on crop yield dynamics in the OR was not significant. The areas where dryland crop yields diminished in the Songnen Plain because of soil erosion were predominantly concentrated within the BSR. Advancements in agricultural technology have partially mitigated the adverse consequences of erosion on yields.