Effects and Planting Techniques of Hedgerows in Slope Lands for NPS Pollution Control

Abstract

With population growing, the demand on gains and fruits is increasing. Thus, slope fields are paid a great attention in order to gain much more products. For controlling non-point source (NPS) pollution from the sources, managing slope lands rationally in the headwater regions is necessary. It has been approved that contour hedgerow system is the most favorable art for water and soil conservation, which is considered as a vital measure to control agricultural NPS pollution in practice. By implementing hedgerow intercropping , it can fix nitrogen through plants to reduce chemical fertilizer input, prevent soil and water erosion, uptake soil nutrients and hold up pollutants; thus N and P were reduced by 89 and 80 % respectively through hedgerows , which is helpful to provide habitat for wildlife. Moreover, the planting techniques of hedgerows in slop fields also were discussed in the paper such as design of the system, methods of site preparation, type of planting, and tending and maintaining measures. The key techniques are as follows: Taking suited method for site preparation, generally the depth is 30–40 cm; establishing hedgerow usually by seedling planting, one row, two rows, or more, the row distance is 3–7 m; for herbs or scrubs, the spacing is 5–10 cm × 20–60 cm; planting is fulfilled in the spring or before the tree budding.