Ecological benefits of compound ridge culture in hillside orchard in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area

Based on contour tillage of wide ridge and furrow covering and agro-forestry, this paper sets up a compound ridge culture mode in hillside orchards and introduces a long-term observation to the mode’s effects on ecological benefits of water and soil conservation. A five-year study shows that compound ridge culture in hillside orchards is effective in water and soil conservation, especially in reducing soil erosion. Compared with the traditional management modes of orchards, compound ridge culture has reduced runoff amount by 41.96%–57.96%, soil erosion amount by 55.47%–67.75%. Compound ridge culture also brings an obvious reduction of soil nutrient loss and of non-point source pollution, which is of great importance for keeping and increasing the productivity of hillside orchards in the Three Gorge Reservoir Area. Biography: LIAO Xiaoyong(1971–), male, Associate researcher, Ph.D. candidate of Sichuan Agricultural University, research direction: water and soil conservation.