Soil structure characters and water conservation plantations in typical Black soil region of China

摘要

Soil structure is one of the most important indicators for soil quality ( Karlen, 1997; Zhou, 2009), which could be influenced by natural environmental conditions and human activities, and has significant effects on the evaluation of soil degradation and recovery process ( Liu, 2002). Soil structure influences soil fertility and soil water availability for root growth, subsequently yield and quality in crops, also it is a critical factor in affecting soil strength, infiltration and water flow. Thus, further investigation on soil structure would aid in understanding and evaluating soil erodibility (Zeng, 1995).