摘要
The construction of stone terraces to minimise soil erosion is common throughout Guizhou. This technique, however, has high inherent risk. Stone terraces are usually much higher than those with earth risers. While they trap a greater thickness of soil on the slope they increase the risk of slope failures, reduce moisture and nutrient availability to plants, and thin more soil up slope. The stone risers also threaten long-term productivity. When a riser collapses debris is deposited over the terrace below making farming difficult. These breaches in the terrace focus surface runoff leading to gully formation and increased sediment transport down slope. Artificial drainage systems, often used in conjunction with terracing, compound the risk. These channels prevent precipitation from soaking into the soil. This limits groundwater and soil moisture recharge which reduces the availability of water for crops and the length of the growing season. The rapid drainage of water from the slope reduces the time of concentration of the catchment resulting in an increase in flood activity. Floods are caused by smaller rainstorm events. They arrive faster and peak quicker and higher than before the channels were constructed. Engineering solutions to soil erosion must therefore be used in conjunction with, and are not as a substitute for, good land management strategies. Furthermore, despite changes in land use practices, and the application of new technologies, there is a maximum amount of production that can be obtained from this land on a sustainable basis.
在贵州全境建造石头梯田来减少水土流失的现象十分普遍。但此项技术本身却有其固有的风险性。石头梯田通常比土质的梯田高,填在石头挡墙中的土壤的量更大,更易导致梯田的垮塌,也会减少梯田上部的土壤,降低土壤的养分和水分含量。石头的挡墙会威胁土地的长期生产力,因为一旦石头挡墙垮塌,所有的碎石就会堆积在下部的梯田中,使耕作十分困难。这种垮塌现象会通过增加地表径流而形成冲沟,使向下的沉积物运输增加。尤其是梯田之间的人工排水道使这种风险加剧。因为这种排水道使降水很难渗人土壤中,使土壤的保水和蓄水能力下降,从而造成作物的受旱。水流通过排水道输送的速度加快,很容易造成水流的汇集,增加洪水泛滥的可能性。由于建造了排水道,即使一般的暴雨,也会因为输送速度的加快而导致洪峰升高而成灾。因此,对水土流失的工程治理方式不应该取代、而应该与好的土地管理策略相结合。尽管土地利用方式有所改变,但通过采用新技术和坚持可持续发展的原则,在此类的土地上仍可获得最高的产量。图7表1参14。
