轮作休耕促进耕地资源永续利用

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of implementing a crop rotation and fallow system in China to enhance soil quality, ensure food security, and promote sustainable agricultural development. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to address soil degradation and ecological challenges while balancing agricultural productivity and environmental protection [1][4][19]. Group 1: Agricultural Practices - Fallowing allows farmland to rest, reducing the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and water, thereby restoring soil structure and biodiversity [2][3]. - Crop rotation involves alternating different crops on the same land to achieve a balance between soil maintenance and agricultural productivity [2][3]. - Historical practices in China show a long tradition of crop rotation, evolving from migratory to settled farming systems, reflecting the wisdom of sustainable land use [2][3]. Group 2: Policy Development - Since the 18th National Congress, China has been enhancing its farmland protection system, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security and ecological balance [4][5]. - The 2023 Central Document No. 1 highlights the need to strengthen farmland protection and quality improvement as key tasks, integrating ecological restoration and resource management [5][19]. - The implementation of the crop rotation and fallow system has been legally supported since the revision of the Land Management Law in 1998, leading to systematic exploration of ecological fallowing [3][4]. Group 3: Implementation and Expansion - The area under the crop rotation and fallow system has significantly increased from 616,000 acres in 2016 to over 6.9 million acres, with the number of implementing provinces rising from 9 to 24 [6]. - Different regions in China are adopting tailored fallow models based on local ecological conditions, such as ecological restoration, pollution remediation, and soil fertility enhancement [7][10][11]. Group 4: Environmental Impact - Fallowing practices have shown positive results in improving soil quality and reducing agricultural inputs, with specific examples indicating significant reductions in fertilizer and pesticide use [8][10]. - In areas affected by heavy metal pollution, fallowing has been effective in reducing soil contamination and improving crop safety, with over 90% of rice meeting safety standards post-remediation [9][10]. - The implementation of fallow systems in water-scarce regions has led to substantial reductions in groundwater extraction, demonstrating the dual benefits of ecological restoration and resource conservation [11][19]. Group 5: Future Directions - The article calls for a comprehensive long-term planning approach to fallowing, considering ecological priorities, agricultural capacity, and farmer engagement [19][20]. - It emphasizes the need for innovative mechanisms to enhance market participation and farmer incentives, ensuring that fallowing practices are economically viable and ecologically beneficial [21][22].