Notice of RetractionApplication and Problems of Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Controlling Land Degradation and Desertification in Yangtze River Basin

The area where soil loss is occurring within the Yangtze River Basin is the largest in China's seven big river basins. Severe soil loss, in particular in the middle and upper reaches of Yangtze River, has damaged land resources, endangered food security and induced a high sediment input into the river and the three gorges reservoir. Thus, government and local farmers adopted soil and water conservation measures to control soil loss. This paper summarizes the characteristics of soil erosion and all soil and water conservation measures, and illustrates their roles on controlling soil loss and combating land degradation. It is indicated that soil loss in the whole Yangtze River Basin is increasingly severe due to higher rainfall intensities. Soil and water conservation measures, such as living hedgerow on sloping lands are practical. Some others are also effective, but very expensive so that they can not be adopted in the whole Yangtze River Basin. Most importantly, neither are suitable assessment methodologies and criteria applied to evaluate soil and water conservation measures, nor are measures selected to control soil loss and prevent land degradation.