Soil and Nutrient Dynamics as a Function of Terracing Methods in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China : A Multi-disciplinary Investigation

Principal Investigator:
Ng, Sai Leung

Co-investigator(s):
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Summary:
The Three Gorges Project in China is a huge project purported to bring significant benefits to the nation and yet at the same time necessitates the resettlement of over 1 million people to remote upland areas that are economically underdeveloped and ecologically fragile. Because of the steep topography, soil erosion and nutrient loss are key determinants of whether such a resettlement scheme is sustainable and the well-being of the resettled people can be achieved. Three different terracing methods, namely stone terrace, earth terrace and hedgerow, have been adopted at different times to manage soil and nutrient losses in the resettlement area.This project aims at investigating the sediment and nutrient dynamics as a function of terracing methods from a multi-disciplinary perspective. A sustainable soil management scheme is a key to the sustainable development of the Three Gorges Area. To this end, this study will involve three independent but complementary exercises. Firstly, field experiment and laboratory determination of soil and nutrient fluxes will provide scientific data, which are important from the perspective of soil conservation. Secondly, cost-benefits analysis will compare strengths and weaknesses of three terracing methods, which may facilitate an optimal soil management scheme. Thirdly, questionnaire survey will be undertaken to assess the social acceptance so that the discrepancy between the public and the reality can be narrowed. Outputs of this study will have both practical and theoretical significance. Not only this study will advance the research of soil erosion and conservation, but also the findings will definitely bring benefits to thousands of resettled people in the Three Gorges Region and will have the potential of promoting the sustainable development in other rural areas in China.