Wang Zhichun

Sustainable agriculture development in saline-alkali soil area of Songnen Plain, Northeast China

There is great potential for agriculture in saline-alkali soil area in Songnen Plain, Northeast China. But the sustainable crop production in this area has been restricted by a few of main factors, such as less precipitation, higher evaporation and frequent drought, high salinity and alkalinity, high exchangeable sodium content and poor infiltration of the soil, and insufficiency and low availability in nutrition. It is also considered that there are a few of favorable conditions for agricultural development in this region, such as sufficient light and heat resources, rich ground water resources, plenty of manure produced by livestock, and so on. At the same time, scientific management and measurements have been employed; rational irrigation and drainage system has been established; reclamation, amendment and fertilization of soil, and suitable strategies of cropping practices have been made for the sustainable development of agriculture. Great progress has been made during 1996 – 2000.