Increase in farm size significantly accelerated stream channel erosion and associated nutrient losses from an intensive agricultural watershed

Abstract Increase in farm size (IFS) can reduce fertilizer use but it may accelerate soil erosion, particularly stream channel (SC) erosion and associated nutrient losses, due to reduced farmland heterogeneity. But these positive and negative environmental impacts of IFS have never been compared. The objectives of this study were to determine the SC erosion and associated nutrient losses following IFS, and clarify their influencing factors. The study was conducted in Nala watershed in southern subtropics of China. Six SCs were surveyed in just completed period (April 2018) and after one year of IFS (April 2019). The SC erosion significantly (P