A Review of the Contemporary Eco-Agricultural Technologies in China

doi:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2022.03.015

Abstract

Abstract:

Eco-agriculture is the principal measure for addressing the environmental issues caused by agriculture and an essential direction for agriculture in the future. Meanwhile, the development of eco-agriculture is inseparable from its technical support. At present, the eco-agricultural technologies commonly used in China can be divided into three categories according to their theoretical basis and practical types: the technologies used to realize the precision input of material resources, the technologies used to improve material circulation efficiency, and the technologies that use the principle of species symbiosis. Although these technologies provide essential support for developing eco-agriculture in China, there are also problems associated with their implementation, such as poor technical application and a low level of industrialization. Therefore, in the future development of eco-agriculture technology in China, the technologies producers should take the actual problems as guide and pay attention to the popularization, industrialization, and application of the technologies.

Key words: agroecology, green development of agriculture, agricultural heritage systems, agricultural ecosystem, eco-farming

YANG Lun, LIU Moucheng, YANG Xiao, MIN Qingwen. A Review of the Contemporary Eco-Agricultural Technologies in China[J]. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2022, 13(3): 511-517.

Figures/Tables 4

References 37

[1]	Cao T, Wang S G, Chen B. 2019. Water shortage risk transferred through interprovincial trade in Northeast China. Energy Procedia, 158: 3865-3871. DOI URL
[2]	Chen Y H, Tian F Y, Yan Y F, et al. 2018. Current status, existing problems and development suggestions for comprehensive utilization of crop straw. Journal of Chinese Agricultural Mechanization, 39(2): 67-73. (in Chinese)
[3]	Crippa M, Solazzo E, Guizzardi D, et al. 2021. Food systems are responsible for a third of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Nature Food, 2(3): 198-209. DOI URL
[4]	Dong G C, Tian X L, Dong S L, et al. 2007. An experimental study on energy budget and conversion efficiency in different polyculture modes of shrimp, bivalve and seaweed. Periodical of Ocean University of China, 37(6): 899-906. (in Chinese)
[5]	FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2020. Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators 2020. http://www.fao.org/sdg-progress-report/en/.
[6]	Grafton R Q, Williams J, Perry C J, et al. 2018. The paradox of irrigation efficiency. Science, 361(6404): 748-750. DOI PMID
[7]	He X X. 2020. Analysis on soil fertilizer technology for organic agriculture planting. Modern Agriculture Research, 4: 46-47. (in Chinese)
[8]	Li W H, Liu M C, Min Q W. 2010. Progress and perspectives of China's ecological agriculture. Resources Science, 32(6): 1015-1021. (in Chinese)
[9]	Li W H, Lai S D. 1994. China agroforestry management. Beijing, China: Science Press. (in Chinese)
[10]	Liu W F, Liu D H, Guan S, et al. 2021. Connotation and improving approach of the ecological benefits of marine ranching. Chinese Journal of Environmental Management, 13(2): 33-38, 54. (in Chinese)
[11]	Liu X J, Zhang X Y. 2018. Theory and practice of high-efficiency utilization of multiple water sources in farmland. Shijiazhuang, China: Hebei Science & Technology Press. (in Chinese)
[12]	Ma L, Li Y D, Tian C H, et al. 2021. Nutritional quality of japonica rice with good taste quality in an ecological rice-crab mode. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 29(4): 716-724. (in Chinese)
[13]	Ma X H, Che Q X, Wang J S, et al. 2019. The structure of spider communities in crab paddies and conventional paddies. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 27(8): 1157-1162. (in Chinese)
[14]	Mao Y Z, Yang H S, Wang R C. 2008. Bioremediation capability of large-sized seaweed in integrated mariculture ecosystem: A review. Journal of Fishery Sciences of China, 12(2): 225-231. (in Chinese)
[15]	Mao Y Z, Yang H S, Zhou Y, et al. 2006. Studies on growth and photosynthesis characteristics of Gracilaria Lemaneiformis and its capacity to uptake ammonium and phosphorus from scallop excretion. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 26(10): 3225-3231. (in Chinese)
[16]	Qiu C W, Wang H X, Shi Y H. 2021. Research progress on the plant root microbiota and factors affecting nitrogen transfomations in the aquaponics system. Journal of Fudan University (Natural Science), 60(1): 124-132. (in Chinese)
[17]	Salvati L, Carlucci M. 2015. Towards sustainability in agro-forest systems? Grazing intensity, soil degradation and the socioeconomic profile of rural communities in Italy. Ecological Economics, 112: 1-13. DOI URL
[18]	Shen J K, Huang H, Fu Z Q, et al. 2010. Effect of large-scale rice-duck eco-farming on the composition and diversity of weed community in paddy fields. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 18(1): 123-128. (in Chinese) DOI URL
[19]	Shi J, Tian J C, Zhu L. 2017. Effects of subsurface pipe drain on soil desalination and water use efficiency of oil sunflower. Journal of Irrigation and Drainge, 36(11): 46-50. (in Chinese)
[20]	Siebert S, Burke J, Faures J M, et al. 2010. Groundwater use for irrigation-A global inventory. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 14(10): 1863-1880. DOI URL
[21]	Sprent J I, Parsons R. 2000. Nitrogen fixation in legume and non-legume trees. Field Crops Research, 65(2-3): 183-196. DOI URL
[22]	Sun Y M, Li G X, Zhang F D, et al. 2005. Status quo and developmental strategy of agricultural residues resources in China. Transcations of the the Chinese Society for Agricultural Engineering, 21(8): 169-173. (in Chinese)
[23]	Tang H, Wang J W, Xu C S, et al. 2019. Research progress analysis on key technology of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency increase. Transactions of the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery, 50(4): 1-19. (in Chinese)
[24]	Tilman D, Reich P B, Knops J M H. 2006. Biodiversity and ecosystem stability in a decade-long grassland experiment. Nature, 441(7093): 629-632. DOI URL
[25]	Wang F, Lai Y C, Tang Z X, et al. 2021. Effects of duckweed mulching on composition and diversity of weed communities in paddy fields. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 29(4): 672-682. (in Chinese)
[26]	Wang L G. 2009. Economic analysis and standardization of “pig-biogas-fruit” eco-agriculture model in South China. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 16(5): 1283-1286. (in Chinese) DOI URL
[27]	Wang X, Li X B, Xin L J. 2014. Impact of the shrinking winter wheat sown area on agricultural water consumption in the Hebei Plain. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 24(2): 313-330. (in Chinese) DOI URL
[28]	Wang Y, Lv D W, Tian Y, et al. 2020. Effect of large seaweed, seagrass on marine ecological aquaculture and its application in marine ranching. Hubei Agricultural Sciences, 59(4): 124-128. (in Chinese)
[29]	Xia J Y. 2010. Development and expectation of public and green plant protection. China Plant Protection, 30(1): 5-9. (in Chinese)
[30]	Xu X Y, Zhang M M, Peng C L, et al. 2017. Effect of rice-crayfish co-culture on greenhouse gases emission in straw-puddled paddy fields. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 25(11): 1591-1603. (in Chinese)
[31]	Yang F M, Zhang K P, Yang M. 2014. Study on feed product technology for three different vegetable residues. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 22(4): 491-495. (in Chinese)
[32]	Yang H S, Zhou Y. 1998. Progress in studies on effect of filter-feeding bivalve on environment of mariculture area. Marine Sciences, 2: 42-44. (in Chinese)
[33]	Zhang A Q, Huang G Q, Zhang S Y, et al. 2014. Design and test on an experimental aerobic composting reactor system. Transactions of the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery, 45(7): 156-161. (in Chinese)
[34]	Zhang T, Li S D, Miao Z Q. 2013. Effects of intensified corn stalk degradation by biocontrol agents on soil microbial community in continuous cucumber cropping. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 21(11): 1416-1425. (in Chinese) DOI URL
[35]	Zhang W, Wang X J. 2002. Modeling for point-non-point source effluent trading: Perspective of non-point sources regulation in China. Science of the Total Environment, 292(3): 167-176. PMID
[36]	Zhong G F. 1980. Mulberry-Dyke-Fish-Pond on the Zhujiang Delta-A complete artifical ecosystem of land-water interaction. Acta Geographica Sinica, 35(3): 200-209. (in Chinese)
[37]	Zhong Y, Sha Z M, Gu M Y, et al. 2021. Emergy-based benefit analysis of integrated rice-frog farming. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 29(3): 572-580. (in Chinese)

Resource	Technology name	Content
Water	High-efficiency water-saving irrigation technology	This technology includes measures such as sprinklers and drip irrigation. The water-saving effect can generally reach 30%, and it has the advantages of long irrigation time and short irrigation period (Grafton et al., 2018)
	Concealed pipe drainage technology	This technology involves burying pipelines with a water seepage function underground to control the groundwater level, adjust soil moisture, and improve soil physical and chemical properties. At present, this technology is also mainly used for drainage and salt discharge (Shi et al., 2017)
	Water and fertilizer integration technology	This technology uses a pressure system to mix soluble fertilizers according to crop types and growing fertilizer requirements. A fertilizer solution is mixed with irrigation water through a controllable pipeline system to supply both water and fertilizer to the plants (Wang et al., 2014)
	Efficient utilization technology of multiple water sources in farmland	This technology realizes the efficient use of alternative water sources, such as shallow brackish and rainwater, to reduce deep groundwater withdrawal (Liu and Zhang, 2018)
Soil	Conservation tillage	This technology achieves water conservation and moisture conservation goals through straw residue treatment, no-tillage fertilization sowing, deep soil loosening, and weed pest control
	Soil fertility technology	This technology uses minerals (such as calcium chloride, potassium ore powder, phosphate rock powder), plants (such as legumes), and animals (such as animal manure) as fertilizer sources to improve soil fertility (He, 2019)
	Soil erosion prevention and management technology	This technology uses small watersheds to rationally arrange the land for agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery to protect the water and soil (Li and Lai, 1994)
Pesticides & fertilizers	Green plant protection technology	This technology realizes the ecological prevention and control of crop diseases and insect pests through prediction and forecasting, physical prevention and control, biological prevention and control, source control of diseases and insect pests, and ecological regulation (Xia, 2010)
Pesticides & fertilizers	Fertilizer-reducing technology	This technology can effectively reduce chemical fertilizer input and improve soil fertility through measures such as optimized fertilization by soil testing formulas, deep fertilization on the side of the machine, organic fertilizer replacement of some chemical fertilizers, and an anhydrous layer topdressing (Tang et al., 2019)

Resource	Technology name	Content
Water	High-efficiency water-saving irrigation technology	This technology includes measures such as sprinklers and drip irrigation. The water-saving effect can generally reach 30%, and it has the advantages of long irrigation time and short irrigation period (Grafton et al., 2018)
	Concealed pipe drainage technology	This technology involves burying pipelines with a water seepage function underground to control the groundwater level, adjust soil moisture, and improve soil physical and chemical properties. At present, this technology is also mainly used for drainage and salt discharge (Shi et al., 2017)
	Water and fertilizer integration technology	This technology uses a pressure system to mix soluble fertilizers according to crop types and growing fertilizer requirements. A fertilizer solution is mixed with irrigation water through a controllable pipeline system to supply both water and fertilizer to the plants (Wang et al., 2014)
	Efficient utilization technology of multiple water sources in farmland	This technology realizes the efficient use of alternative water sources, such as shallow brackish and rainwater, to reduce deep groundwater withdrawal (Liu and Zhang, 2018)
Soil	Conservation tillage	This technology achieves water conservation and moisture conservation goals through straw residue treatment, no-tillage fertilization sowing, deep soil loosening, and weed pest control
	Soil fertility technology	This technology uses minerals (such as calcium chloride, potassium ore powder, phosphate rock powder), plants (such as legumes), and animals (such as animal manure) as fertilizer sources to improve soil fertility (He, 2019)
	Soil erosion prevention and management technology	This technology uses small watersheds to rationally arrange the land for agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery to protect the water and soil (Li and Lai, 1994)
Pesticides & fertilizers	Green plant protection technology	This technology realizes the ecological prevention and control of crop diseases and insect pests through prediction and forecasting, physical prevention and control, biological prevention and control, source control of diseases and insect pests, and ecological regulation (Xia, 2010)
Pesticides & fertilizers	Fertilizer-reducing technology	This technology can effectively reduce chemical fertilizer input and improve soil fertility through measures such as optimized fertilization by soil testing formulas, deep fertilization on the side of the machine, organic fertilizer replacement of some chemical fertilizers, and an anhydrous layer topdressing (Tang et al., 2019)

Technology type	Technology name	Content
Agricultural residue utilization technologies	The utilization of crop straw as fertilizer	This technology includes the direct return of straw to the field (such as straw mulching and return to the area) and indirect return (such as rapid decomposing, returning to the field by stacking) (Chen et al., 2018)
	The feed product technology for vegetable residues	This technology converts vegetable residues into feed by biological or physical processing, which replaces all or part of the feed (Yang et al., 2014)
	Biocontrol agents in the soil microbial community	This technology uses wastes such as straw as carriers to apply beneficial biocontrol bacteria to the soil in order to provide CO₂, increase the ground temperature, and prevent and inhibit disease (Zhang et al., 2002)
	Composting reactor	This technology uses a highly automated composting reactor to realize the timely and harmless treatment of manure and other organic waste (Zhang et al., 2014)
High-efficiency compound agricultural system	Mulberry-dyke-fish-pond system	This system is composed of mulberry, silkworm, and fish. It is an interrelated system that fully executes the production potential and makes reasonable use of the land-water resources (Zhong, 1980)
High-efficiency compound agricultural system	Pig-biogas-fruit model	This model organically integrates biogas digesters, pig houses, toilets, orchards, and micro-pools. Livestock and poultry manure is fermented into the ponds to produce biogas and fertilizer, and the biogas and fertilizer are used for cooking, lighting, and planting (Wang et al., 2013)

Technology type	Technology name	Content
Agricultural residue utilization technologies	The utilization of crop straw as fertilizer	This technology includes the direct return of straw to the field (such as straw mulching and return to the area) and indirect return (such as rapid decomposing, returning to the field by stacking) (Chen et al., 2018)
	The feed product technology for vegetable residues	This technology converts vegetable residues into feed by biological or physical processing, which replaces all or part of the feed (Yang et al., 2014)
	Biocontrol agents in the soil microbial community	This technology uses wastes such as straw as carriers to apply beneficial biocontrol bacteria to the soil in order to provide CO₂, increase the ground temperature, and prevent and inhibit disease (Zhang et al., 2002)
	Composting reactor	This technology uses a highly automated composting reactor to realize the timely and harmless treatment of manure and other organic waste (Zhang et al., 2014)
High-efficiency compound agricultural system	Mulberry-dyke-fish-pond system	This system is composed of mulberry, silkworm, and fish. It is an interrelated system that fully executes the production potential and makes reasonable use of the land-water resources (Zhong, 1980)
High-efficiency compound agricultural system	Pig-biogas-fruit model	This model organically integrates biogas digesters, pig houses, toilets, orchards, and micro-pools. Livestock and poultry manure is fermented into the ponds to produce biogas and fertilizer, and the biogas and fertilizer are used for cooking, lighting, and planting (Wang et al., 2013)

Technology type	Technology name	Content
Ecological planting and breeding in rice fields	Rice-fish system	In the rice-fish system, rice and weeds are producers. Grass carp, carp, and other fish are consumers, and bacteria and fungi are decomposers
Ecological planting and breeding in rice fields	Aquaponics system	An aquaponics system organically combines aquaculture and hydroponic cultivation to produce two kinds of economic crops (aquatic products and vegetables) simultaneously (Qiu et al., 2021)
Agroforestry	Non-timber forestry-based economy	The non-timber forestry-based economy is a kind of forest agricultural system that fully uses forest resources and shade space. It combines under-forest planting, under-forest aquaculture, forest landscape utilization, and under-forest product processing to obtain win-win economic and ecological benefits through proper management
Agroforestry	Rotation/Interplanting /Intercropping	Rotation is a method of planting different crops on the same field. Intercropping is a planting method in which two or more crops are planted alternately in the same area and within the same growth period. Interplanting refers to planting between rows of crops in the late growth period of the previous crops or transplanting the produce of the subsequent crops (Li and Lai, 1994)
Marine ecological agriculture technologies	Fish-algae system	The fish-algae system uses a variety of large seaweeds to treat the wastewater produced by intensive fish farming. It can realize the mutual supplementation of the ecological functions of large seaweeds and marine fishes and improve the quality of aquaculture water (Mao et al., 2008; Wang et al., 2020)
	Shrimp-algae system	The shrimp-algae system can achieve economic and ecological benefits through the co-cultivation of large tropical or temperate economic seaweeds like kelp and laver in the prawn ponds (Dong et al., 2007)
	Shellfish-algae system	In the shellfish-algae system, the leading role of shellfish is to filter phytoplankton and organic particles in the water, forming a large amount of sediment which provides nutrients for benthic algae (Yang and Zhou, 1998)
	Marine ranch	The marine ranch is a fishery resource proliferation technology that uses artificial reefs, seaweed beds, and seagrass beds to achieve biological proliferation and ecological monitoring (Liu et al., 2021)