Abstract:

The study aims to assess the current degradation of arable land quality in southern red soil region, analyze the key technological chokepoints in enhancing arable land quality, and propose an innovation-driven development plan. Focusing on red soil sloping arable land and medium and low-yield fields in southern China, this study systematically clarified the current acidification situation of red soil sloping arable land and the soil fertility status of medium and low-yield fields. Our results indicate that severe degradation of farmland quality in southern red soil areas significantly constrains high-quality agricultural development in the region. The southern red soil region exhibits extensive acidification with severe trends. In Jiangxi and Fujian Province, 92.3% and 85.4% of arable land soils, respectively, have an average pH below 5.5, indicating that red soil acidification severely threaten crop production. Nearly two-thirds of the paddy soils in the red soil region of southern China are low-yielding fields, which greatly limit the increase of crop productivity. This paper identifies the key technological chokepoints for improving the quality of arable land in the southern red soil region from three aspects: theory, technology, and products, respectively. The future scientific and technological innovation development plan for improving the quality and production capacity of arable land in the southern red soil region is proposed. The main objectives, key directions, and detailed task lists are formulated.

Key words: red soil, arable land quality, grain production capacity, scientific and technological chokepoints, development planning