Why is soil erosion a serious problem on Gansu’s steep farmland?

Soil erosion is a significant challenge on Gansu’s steep farmland primarily due to the physical characteristics of the terrain and the nature of the soil itself. Much of eastern Gansu is part of the Loess Plateau, a region covered by a thick mantle of fine-grained, wind-deposited loess that is highly susceptible to erosion.12

Several factors exacerbate this issue:

• Topography and Soil Structure: The region is characterized by steep slopes and extensive fields. When the soil's natural crumb structure is degraded or its porosity is lost, the topsoil is easily washed away during heavy summer precipitation or blown away by wind in drier periods.123
• Environmental Conditions: The area is subject to sparse vegetation and intense summer rains, which frequently lead to the formation of deep, steep-sided gullies that cut into the landscape.12
• Agricultural Practices: While terracing and contour plowing are used to mitigate these effects, the extreme steepness and scale of the cultivated fields make complete erosion control difficult, leading to the abandonment of some land.23

Efforts to manage these challenges include large-scale afforestation and the implementation of improved irrigation techniques.13