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The agricultural soil alongside highways has experienced multiple potential ecological risks from human activities. In this study, 100 soil samples near the highways were collected in Lishui District, Nanjing City. Using the single-factor pollution index, the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index, and the potential ecological risk index, the study investigated the heavy metal contents and distribution in roadside agricultural soil. PCA and a multiple regression model were applied to quantitatively analyze the spatial relationships between sampling soil heavy metal accumulation and the surrounding man-made landscape. The mean contents of Cu and Pb exceeded the background, while Cd, Cr, and Zn were lower than that. The potential ecological risk index exhibited a very low ecological hazard and only Cr in soils rarely showed moderate risk. Furthermore, quantitative analysis for the sources of contamination revealed that agricultural practices were the dominant contributors to the heavy metals, including Cd, Cu, and Zn, while road and heavy industrial practices contributed to Cr and Pb. The study provides sources of heavy metal pollution from human activities in roadside agricultural land and serves as a reference for ecological restoration.
Cong Xu; Jie Pu; Bo Wen; Min Xia. Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil Alongside Highways and Their Relationship with Landscape. Agriculture 2021, 11, 800 .
AMA StyleCong Xu, Jie Pu, Bo Wen, Min Xia. Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil Alongside Highways and Their Relationship with Landscape. Agriculture. 2021; 11 (8):800.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCong Xu; Jie Pu; Bo Wen; Min Xia. 2021. "Potential Ecological Risks of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil Alongside Highways and Their Relationship with Landscape." Agriculture 11, no. 8: 800.
The hilly areas of China have experienced soil erosion and are also typical land consolidation (LC) regions. Using the RUSLE model and the multiple regression model, this study evaluated the soil erosion of agricultural land and assessed the effects of LC on soil erosion in Lishui District, a typical district in the Ning-Zhen-Yang hilly area. The soil erosion of agricultural land ranged from 0 to 385.77 t·ha−1·yr−1 with spatial heterogeneity due to the topography, land cover, and vegetation cover. Overall, carrying out LC reduced soil erosion due to the construction of protection forests, farmland shelterbelts, and different kinds of land engineering. Furthermore, the different types of LC had different impacts on soil erosion, where farmland consolidation resulted in more serious soil erosion than land development. Nevertheless, the potential risks brought by LC to soil erosion reduction could not be overlooked, and more attention should be paid to ecological environment protection during the process of LC. This study presents findings regarding the positive impacts and potential risks of LC for soil erosion reduction in agricultural land in hilly areas.
Yanyuan Zhang; Cong Xu; Min Xia. Can Land Consolidation Reduce the Soil Erosion of Agricultural Land in Hilly Areas? Evidence from Lishui District, Nanjing City. Land 2021, 10, 502 .
AMA StyleYanyuan Zhang, Cong Xu, Min Xia. Can Land Consolidation Reduce the Soil Erosion of Agricultural Land in Hilly Areas? Evidence from Lishui District, Nanjing City. Land. 2021; 10 (5):502.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYanyuan Zhang; Cong Xu; Min Xia. 2021. "Can Land Consolidation Reduce the Soil Erosion of Agricultural Land in Hilly Areas? Evidence from Lishui District, Nanjing City." Land 10, no. 5: 502.