Fertilizer Use on Different Upland Cropping Systems for Soil Conservation in Yunnan

Compared to engineered terraces (ET), the combined application of balanced fertilization with alley cropping (BF/BB) using different hedgerow cash crops is a profitable approach to combating soil and water loss in Sichuan Province. This new technique is now being adapted and transferred to other parts of China. Thus, the objective of this project is to provide more supportive data and evidence for further extension of this technique locally (Yunnan Province) and nationally.

Two different erosive soils were selected, one located in Xiangyun County and the other in Fuming County. Compared with traditional farmer practice in Xiangyun County, down-slope cultivation plus balanced fertilization (1), contour cultivation plus balanced fertilization (2), and contour cultivation plus balanced fertilization and hedgerows (3) increased corn yields by 200, 880, and 560 kg/ha, respectively. Traditional practice resulted in 18.8 t/ha soil loss which was reduced by 6.9 t/ha (37%), 16.8 t/ha (89%), and 17.3 t/ha (92%) with treatments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. At Fuming, corn yield with treatments 1, 2, and 3 were 105, 1,130, and 1,000 kg/ha higher than yields resulting from common farmer practice. Farmer practice resulted in 11.7 t/ha soil loss which was reduced by 2.7 t/ha (24%), 7.4 t/ha (63%), and 10.1 t/ha (86%) with treatments 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Hedgerow cash crops harvested in 2002 brought approximately US$110 to $US205/ha of extra income to farmers.

This effective means of sloping lands management can be applied on two million hectares of sloping lands in Yunnan Province and has the potential to increase phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) consumption in Yunnan by 30 to 130 and 90 to 120 kg/ha, respectively. Yunnan-09