中国科学院水利部水土保持研究所机构知识库

Anthropogenic pressure coupled with high rainfall and diverse heterogeneous landscapes (e.g., land use and topography)
has resulted in severe water erosion in the red soil hilly region (RSHR) of China. Soil and water conservation
measures (SWCMs) have been extensively implemented, and their effects on runoff and sediment
control have been widely tested at plot scales. However, it is difficult to gain an overview of the efficiency of
SWCMs due to the difficulty of directly upscaling field observations to regional scales. We conducted a metaanalysis
of 498 field plots covering 53 sites in the RSHR to evaluate the efficiency of different SWCMs and identify
optimal conservation practices. The results were as follows: (i) SWCMs involving erosion control (92%) had a
greater efficiency than those focusing on runoff reduction (73%). (ii) The implementation of combined measures
was more effective than single measures for reducing runoff and soil loss. (iii) All thirty SWCMs showed a significant
effectwith respect to runoff and sediment control, except for contour tillage effect on reduction of soil loss.
(iv) Themaximumand minimumratios between runoff and sediment reduction were found in orchard and cropland,
respectively. (v) Six measures, mulching, tree crop + grass, tree crop + hedgerows, tree crop + grass
cover + terrace, tree crop + hedgerows + terrace and hedgerows + contour tillage, can be recommended as