GB19377-2003
Parameters for degradation，sandification and salification of rangelands
天然草地退化、沙化、盐渍化的分级指标
GB 19377-2003 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Parameters for degradation，sandification and salification of rangelands. It appears in the Food compliance cluster with a environmental protection focus and has an implementation date of Apr 1, 2004.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard is applicable to the grading and assessment of natural rangelands (grasslands) experiencing degradation, sandification, and salification. It is primarily designed for ecological monitoring, environmental protection, and pasture management within China. It specifically applies to the classification of natural grassland deterioration and does not cover artificially planted pastures or agricultural croplands.
Technical requirements
This standard specifies the grading indicators for three specific types of grassland deterioration: degradation, sandification, and salification. Each category is divided into four severity levels: non-degraded, lightly degraded, moderately degraded, and severely degraded. The technical requirements are structured around mandatory monitoring items and auxiliary monitoring items. For degradation, the standard evaluates changes in plant community characteristics, such as total coverage, sward height, and the dominance ratio of dominant species (SDR). It also monitors the proportion of indicator plants, edible versus inedible or toxic grasses, and soil nutrient parameters like organic matter content in the 0-20cm topsoil layer. Engineers must calculate the relative percentage decrease or increase of these parameters against a baseline reference to determine the degradation tier. For sandification, the focus shifts to aeolian erosion features, including the presence of sand-binding plants, bare sand area ratios, and the mechanical composition of the soil (coarse sand vs. physical clay content). Salification requirements focus on salt-tolerant plant succession, soil salt content, pH value increases, and the expansion of salt-alkali spots on the surface.
Testing methods
The evaluation procedures involve field monitoring and comparative analysis against historical or baseline data. Key testing methods include measuring the above-ground plant mass by clipping current-year branches and leaves to determine edible versus inedible biomass. Soil assessments require extracting and analyzing the 0cm-20cm soil layer to determine soil bulk density, organic matter, total nitrogen, and mechanical composition. For salification, additional testing covers soil salt content, pH values, and groundwater mineralization levels. The final grading requires a comprehensive arithmetic evaluation where 50% or more of the mandatory monitoring indicators must reach a specific threshold to classify the rangeland's deterioration level.
FAQs
What types of land and products are regulated under GB 19377-2003?
This standard is specifically designed for the ecological assessment of natural rangelands. It applies to the classification and grading of degradation, sandification, and salification, and is primarily used by environmental engineers, agricultural planners, and land management authorities.
How does GB 19377-2003 define the severity of rangeland degradation?
The standard establishes a comprehensive set of indicators divided into mandatory monitoring items (such as plant community characteristics, indicator plants, and soil nutrients) and auxiliary monitoring items. It uses relative percentage change rates to evaluate the severity of land deterioration.
Does GB 19377-2003 reference any other standards for soil evaluation?
Yes, the standard references SL 190 for the classification and grading of soil erosion. The soil erosion index is utilized as an auxiliary monitoring parameter to assess surface characteristics during the degradation process.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 19377-2003. To ensure complete compliance for your environmental monitoring or agricultural projects in China, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 19377-2003 today to access all detailed parameter tables, calculation formulas, and grading procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Environmental protection
- CCS
- B11
- ICS
- 65.020.01
- Competent department
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
- Technical committee
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs