Black soil is said to be the most fertile soil in the world and is called the “Giant Panda” of arable land. There are four black soil areas in the world, one of which is in the northeastern plain of China. This is the reason that in recent years, China has significantly stepped up efforts to protect this precious black soil and policies have been put in place that is not only beneficial to this rare heritage but also highlights China’s environmental friendliness. Further sustaining this, recently the Black Soil Conservation Law has been officially implemented in the country since August 1 to promote the sustainable use of black soil. How important are the love of nature and the second aspect is also prominent?
The Chinese nation strives to conserve grain resources and protect the ecosystem for food security.
The law, passed by the country’s top legislature, clarifies the responsibilities of the government and agricultural stakeholders to protect black soil and states that black soil is productive and fertile, but remember that it is a natural resource. The gift is also vulnerable. The law also stipulates severe penalties for those who cause pollution or soil erosion in black soil areas and urges state-owned farms to do more in black soil conservation efforts. A good example should be set thanks to the cooperation of more than
In terms of agricultural importance, black soil is defined as mineral soil with a black surface horizon, rich in organic carbon at least 25 cm deep. According to a white paper published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, under natural conditions, it takes 200 to 400 years for a layer of black soil just one centimeter thick to form. Covering 725 million hectares, black soil is considered the “food basket” of the world.
The total area of black soil in China is 1.09 million square kilometers. It is found in parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of northern China, including large areas in the northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilan, and Liaoning. Above all, black soil produces about a quarter of the country’s total grain production and is China’s food supply shield.
However, due to irrational cultivation, farming, indiscriminate mining, and climate change, black soil is becoming “thin”, “hard” and “less”. Over the past 60 years, organic matter in China’s soils has declined by a third to 50 percent in some areas, and the water-storage capacity of black soils has also declined. According to agriculture officials, in some areas, the black soil layer is less than 20 cm thick and is decreasing by 1 to 2 mm per year. In this situation, urgent steps are needed to protect the black soil. This new law, which defines the conservation, use, management, and rehabilitation activities of the black soil, also provides legal guarantees for the protection and use of this rare agricultural resource. does.
In recent years, China has continuously strengthened the conservation of black soil to increase grain production and ensure food security thanks to conservation policies and advanced agricultural technology. In this regard, an action plan for safe farming on black soil (2020-2025) has been issued.
China aims to complete the conservation of 6.67 million hectares of black soil during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). go During this time, the quality of farming will be improved and the organic matter in the soil will increase by 10%. Thus, this is a lesson for other agricultural countries, including Pakistan, where concrete and cement blocks are replacing agricultural land. If conservation is to ensure food and achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural production, conservation of agricultural resources is a prerequisite.