PapersFlow Research Brief
Environmental and Agricultural Sciences
Research Guide
What is Environmental and Agricultural Sciences?
Environmental and Agricultural Sciences is a research cluster examining hydrological effects, water resource management, and environmental impacts in China, with emphasis on river basins, soil moisture, erosion control, climate change influences, remote sensing for monitoring, and sustainability efforts.
This field encompasses 73,076 works focused on water science and technology in China. Studies address river basins, soil moisture dynamics, erosion control measures, and climate change effects on hydrology. Remote sensing techniques support monitoring of agricultural and environmental changes.
Topic Hierarchy
Research Sub-Topics
Hydrological Modeling in Chinese River Basins
This sub-topic focuses on Xinanjiang and other models simulating runoff, flood forecasting, and water balance in basins like Yangtze and Yellow River. Researchers calibrate models with observations.
Soil Erosion Control on Loess Plateau
This sub-topic investigates terracing, vegetation restoration, and sediment yield reduction on the Loess Plateau. Researchers quantify conservation efficacy.
Remote Sensing of Soil Moisture in China
This sub-topic covers satellite-based monitoring of soil moisture dynamics using MODIS and SMOS data across Chinese croplands. Researchers validate against ground data.
Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources China
This sub-topic examines precipitation shifts, glacier melt, and water scarcity projections in Northwest China. Researchers use CMIP scenarios.
Agricultural Water Productivity in China
This sub-topic explores deficit irrigation, crop water use efficiency, and sustainability in rice-wheat systems. Researchers assess policy impacts.
Why It Matters
Research in this field supports water resource management and food security in China amid environmental changes. Kang et al. (2016) in 'Improving agricultural water productivity to ensure food security in China under changing environment: From research to practice' demonstrate methods to enhance water use efficiency in agriculture, directly applicable to sustaining crop production. Shi and Shao (2000) quantify soil and water loss from the Loess Plateau in 'Soil and water loss from the Loess Plateau in China', informing erosion control strategies that preserve arable land. Zhao Ren-jun (1992) applies the Xinanjiang model in 'The Xinanjiang model applied in China' for hydrological predictions essential to flood management and basin planning.
Reading Guide
Where to Start
'The Xinanjiang model applied in China' by Zhao Ren-jun (1992), as it provides a foundational hydrological modeling approach widely used in the field with 1127 citations.
Key Papers Explained
Zhao Ren-jun (1992) 'The Xinanjiang model applied in China' establishes a core hydrological model for runoff simulation, which Hewlett (1967) 'Factors affecting the response of small watersheds to precipitation in humid areas' complements by detailing precipitation response factors. Xiao et al. (2005) 'Mapping paddy rice agriculture in southern China using multi-temporal MODIS images' and Sakamoto et al. (2005) 'A crop phenology detection method using time-series MODIS data' build on remote sensing for agricultural monitoring. Shi and Shao (2000) 'Soil and water loss from the Loess Plateau in China' applies these concepts to erosion, while Kang et al. (2016) 'Improving agricultural water productivity to ensure food security in China under changing environment: From research to practice' integrates them for practical water management.
Paper Timeline
Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.
Advanced Directions
Current efforts emphasize model validation using datasets like CN05.1 from Gao Xue (2013), climate projections in northwest China from Shi et al. (2006), and water productivity enhancements from Kang et al. (2016), focusing on integrating remote sensing with hydrological models for basin-scale sustainability.
Papers at a Glance
| # | Paper | Year | Venue | Citations | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Xinanjiang model applied in China | 1992 | Journal of Hydrology | 1.1K | ✕ |
| 2 | Factors affecting the response of small watersheds to precipit... | 1967 | Medical Entomology and... | 1.1K | ✕ |
| 3 | Mapping paddy rice agriculture in southern China using multi-t... | 2005 | Remote Sensing of Envi... | 1.0K | ✕ |
| 4 | Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management | 2011 | American Society of Ci... | 911 | ✕ |
| 5 | A crop phenology detection method using time-series MODIS data | 2005 | Remote Sensing of Envi... | 904 | ✕ |
| 6 | A gridded daily observation dataset over China region and comp... | 2013 | — | 884 | ✕ |
| 7 | Recent and Future Climate Change in Northwest China | 2006 | Climatic Change | 883 | ✕ |
| 8 | A review of recent research on the East Asian summer monsoon i... | 1987 | Medical Entomology and... | 788 | ✕ |
| 9 | Soil and water loss from the Loess Plateau in China | 2000 | Journal of Arid Enviro... | 747 | ✕ |
| 10 | Improving agricultural water productivity to ensure food secur... | 2016 | Agricultural Water Man... | 696 | ✕ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Xinanjiang model?
The Xinanjiang model is a hydrological model applied in China for simulating runoff processes. Zhao Ren-jun (1992) detailed its use in 'The Xinanjiang model applied in China', which has received 1127 citations. It accounts for precipitation distribution in humid regions.
How is remote sensing used in paddy rice mapping?
Remote sensing employs multi-temporal MODIS images to map paddy rice agriculture in southern China. Xiao et al. (2005) developed this method in 'Mapping paddy rice agriculture in southern China using multi-temporal MODIS images', cited 1039 times. It enables large-scale crop area estimation.
What factors influence watershed responses to precipitation?
Watershed responses to precipitation in humid areas depend on soil properties, vegetation cover, and topography. Hewlett (1967) analyzed these in 'Factors affecting the response of small watersheds to precipitation in humid areas', with 1104 citations. Understanding them aids flood prediction.
How is agricultural salinity managed?
Agricultural salinity assessment and management involve drainage, leaching, and soil amendments. Wallender and Tanji (2011) cover these in 'Agricultural Salinity Assessment and Management', cited 911 times and prepared by the ASCE Water Quality and Drainage Committee. Practices aim to maintain crop yields in saline areas.
What datasets exist for climate observations in China?
A gridded daily observation dataset at 0.25° resolution, CN05.1, covers China based on 2400 stations. Gao Xue (2013) introduced it in 'A gridded daily observation dataset over China region and comparison with the other datasets', with 884 citations. It supports climate model validation.
What are key erosion issues on the Loess Plateau?
Soil and water loss on China's Loess Plateau result from intense rainfall and sparse vegetation. Shi and Shao (2000) examined this in 'Soil and water loss from the Loess Plateau in China', cited 747 times. Control measures focus on terracing and afforestation.
Open Research Questions
- ? How can the Xinanjiang model be refined to better predict hydrological responses under future climate scenarios in Chinese river basins?
- ? What integration of multi-temporal remote sensing data improves accuracy in monitoring soil moisture and crop phenology across varying terrains?
- ? Which combined erosion control strategies most effectively reduce soil and water loss on the Loess Plateau amid changing precipitation patterns?
- ? How do East Asian summer monsoon variations influence water resource sustainability in northwest China?
- ? What adaptations enhance agricultural water productivity in response to observed climate changes in arid and semi-arid regions?
Recent Trends
The field maintains 73,076 works with a focus on China-specific hydrology, as evidenced by highly cited papers like Kang et al. 'Improving agricultural water productivity to ensure food security in China under changing environment: From research to practice' (696 citations) addressing changing environments.
2016No recent preprints or news coverage in the last 12 months indicates steady reliance on established datasets such as Gao Xue CN05.1 and remote sensing methods from 2005 papers.
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