Constraints and Coordinated Allocation Strategies of Water and Land Resources for Sustainable Use of Coastal Saline-Alkali Land in the Yellow River Delta

Abstract

To ensure national food and ecological security in China, it is essential to develop various reserve resources for cultivated land based on existing farmland advantages. Owing to abundant saline-alkali land reserves, the Yellow River Delta has enormous potentials for agriculture development. However, water scarcity and imbalance between water and land resources allocation have significantly limited the efficient utilization of saline-alkali land in this region. According to the development status regarding salinealkali soil amelioration and crop production, this study analyzes water and land resource conditions, clarifies major challenges for the sustainable development of local agriculture from the perspectives of water resource supply, groundwater table regulation, management and utilization system of saline-alkali land, technological innovation, and follow-up engineering maintenance, and proposes strategies for efficient use and coordinated allocation of water and land resources in the region. The strategies include: (1) increasing water supply from the Yellow River and connecting the coastal hydrographic net to make optimal allocation of regional water resources; (2) improving irrigation and drainage systems and auxiliary projects to enhance the quality of arable lands; and (3) accelerating demonstration and promotion of key technologies for saline-alkali soil amelioration to fully leverage the supporting function of sciences and technologies. The research results can provide a reference for comprehensive governance and utilization of saline-alkali land and agricultural sustainable development.

Keywords

• Yellow River Delta
• coastal saline-alkali cultivated land
• management and utilization
• water and land resources allocation
• sustainable development of agriculture