In 2006, Songhua River was listed among the key basins of water pollution control and received funding to assist producers to adopt soil and water conservation practices. Most of the practices have very much benefit on soil loss and have potential for water quality improvement. However, there are little NPS prevent practices to provide for farmers in China. We should put the techniques systems for comprehensive control of soil erosion to good use in NPS control.
In general, it is basic step to determine the efficacy of conservation practices for reducing nonpoint source pollution in order to achieve the target of water quality. Terrace cultivation and contour farming are popular soil and water conservation practices in Northeast China, especially in the rolling hill area. In this study, field trials and computer model simulations were performed to assess terraces and contour farming that were selected in Mojiagou watershed. The specific objects were to: (1) evaluate the impact of two practices on sediment and nutrient losses from slope cropland, and (2) differentiate the effectiveness of soil conservation from nonpoint source pollution control.