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Soil Science
Soil science was one of the undergraduate disciplines offered by the National Northwest Junior College of Agriculture and Forestry at its founding in 1934. The master's degree program in soil science began in 1959 and the doctoral program in 1986. Agricultural Resources Utilization, a Level I discipline of soil science, was approved to confer doctoral degrees and establish a mobile postdoctoral station in 1998. In 1999, soil science was named as key disciplines of Shaanxi Province, and in 2002 it was awarded one of the national key disciplines.
The soil science program at the university evolved from the determined efforts of professors Yu Hongzheng and Zhu Xianmo, academicians at the Chinese Academy of Science. After the establishment of Northwest A & F University in Soil and Water Conservation, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences merged, merged, further increasing the overall strength of this discipline. Current faculty members in soil science include two Chinese Academy of Science academicians, 36 professors (22 approved to supervise doctoral candidates), 37 associate professors, and 34 lecturers. Of the faculty members, 34 hold Ph. D. degrees. Nine faculty members received their Ph. D. degrees overseas. Three faculty members are part of the Chinese Academy of Science's "One Hundred Talents Program".
Facilities associated with the soil science program include the Key National Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau. There are also sixteen technical laboratories and six field laboratories, three of which are part of the Chinese Academy of Science's ecological network. The total value of equipment and instruments amounts to 18 million yuan. The library houses 51, 500 volumes of books in both Chinese and foreign languages and 344 different journals. Extensive cooperation has been established with researchers in the U. S., the U. K., Russia, Germany, Australia and Israel.
Five post-graduates and 44 Ph. D. students have been trained in the soil science program. The program currently includes 38 Ph. D. and 72 master's degree candidates. A total of 69.63 million yuan has been received through 198 projects including the National Climb Project, the 863 Project, the Key National Technologies R& D Program, and the National Natural Science Foundation's Endowment for Key Research, the Distinguished Young Scholar Fund and the International Cooperation Project. Ministerial or provincial awards have been granted to 42 projects. Faculty members have published 972 papers, including 32 papers in SCI journals and 753 papers in EI and CSCD journals. Additional publications include 46 monographs, five translations, and thirteen textbooks.
1. Soil Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation. Research at Northwest A & F University ranks among the best in the world in the areas of the hillslope erosion prediction model, soil erosion mechanisms and sediment yield, and the development of erosive environments. The combined use of REE and 137 Cs tracer methods in an important research innovation. The "28-Character Strategy", affirmed by leaders from the central government, established the Small Watershed Management System and Demonstration Model. Work towards the comprehensive management of the Loess Plateau has produced enormous economic, social, and ecological benefits.
2. Soil Physics: Research in the area of soil physics has resulted in the establishment of a complete, systematic "Soil Reservoir" theory and application. The program also began a new research field in China related to soil water. Researchers in the soil science program made important contributions to theories relevant to the calculation of soil water force in the soil water movement and crop evapotranspiration models. Finally, research on the soil water profile in the Loess Plateau together with new irrigation technology, root-divided irrigation, has become the basis for regulating water and fertilizer applications.
3. Soil Geography and Information Technology. Researchers in the soil science program at Northwest A& F University were the first to investigate the effect of human activities on the formation and development of soil. This led to the concept and classification of a man-made (artificial) soil, Lou soil. Other concept and classification of a man-made (artificial) soil, Lou soil. Other contributions include the formation of new theories regarding (1) the development of pristine soil and palaeosols, (2) the deposition of Aeolian dust on the Loess Plateau, and (3) Changes in soil quality. The application of remote sensing and basic information engineering to monitor the environment and resource use on the Loess Plateau is a new area of research that began in the soil science program. The program also began the quantitative evaluation and dynamic monitoring and management of soil and water loss in China.
4. Dryland Soil Ecology. Dryland soil ecology is an interdisciplinary research field which combines botany with soil science to increase rainfall use efficiency. This research area has provided important information about the physiology, ecology, and production potential of dryland crops, the overall adaptability of crops to drought in arid environments, and the biological basis of water-saving. These results have made important contributions to dryland agricultural theory and made the program and international leader in this research field.
5. Soil Chemistry. Contributions from the soil science program include the opening of new research field in China called soil science program include the opening of new research field in China called soil biothermodynamic. The program is a leader in China in the areas of the use of physical chemistry to study the decomposition and transformation of soil organic matter, enzyme kinetics, ionic transformations and movement in the soil, and biochemical reaction processes. Long-term (25 yrs) fertilization studies have demonstrated effective methods for improving oil fertility on the Guangzhong Plain.
The unified study of soil and dryland farming in the soil science program at Northwest A & F University is unique, and superior to similar programs in China and abroad. The program is weaker in the research areas of desertification (formation and evolution of decertified soils as well as the prevention and control of desertification), soil pollution, and remediation technology.
With the development of western China, the soil science program is challenged with establishing better ecological and environmental conditions in the region as well as keeping up on developments. The program is striving to achieve major breakthroughs in soil erosion, soil and water conservation, the monitoring of changes in environmental quality, and the improvement of dryland soil productivity. To help meet these goals, the key national laboratories and the university have provided 15 million yuan in support of the soil science program. These funds will be used for the purchase of additional equipment and the construction of basic facilities. The funds will also be used to enhance cooperative research between faculty members and leading experts from other parts of China and abroad as well as for hosting international students and visiting scholars.
The soil science program at Northwest A & F University will expand into and cultivate new areas of research while at the same time working to preserve its current strengths. The goals are to become the leading soil science program in China and also to have a significant effect internationally. The results will be contributed significantly to the economic well-being of many people.