The impact of black soil degradation on saturated hydraulic conductivity

Severe soil degradation represents a critical threat to agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability in the black soil region of Northeast China. Prolonged anthropogenic cultivation has induced varying degrees of degradation, markedly impairing soil hydraulic properties—particularly saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). As Ksat is governed by multiple interrelated pedological processes, its temporal dynamics under long-term cultivation remain poorly understood, especially with respect to the relative influence of key controlling factors across degradation stages. This study investigates how cultivation history and progressive soil degradation jointly regulate Ksat in black soils of Northeast China. Results indicate that soil organic matter (SOM) declines exponentially with cultivation duration, approaching a carbon equilibrium state after approximately 150 years of continuous farming. Across degradation gradients, Ksat exhibits a non-linear, unimodal response to both the s..., , # Data from: The impact of black soil degradation on saturated hydraulic conductivity

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.xpnvx0kwk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.xpnvx0kwk)

## Description of the data and file structure

This dataset was collected from 40 farmland plots with varying reclamation histories and degradation levels in the Acheng District of Harbin, located in the black soil region of Northeast China. Undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected from the 0–20 cm plow layer. Soil physicochemical properties (including organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, particle size distribution, bulk density, and porosity) and hydraulic parameters (saturated water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity, K~sat~) were measured following standard soil science protocols. Degradation levels were classified using the Soil Structural Stability Index (SSI). These data aim to elucidate the variation characteristics and driving mechanisms of K~sat~ along the black soil degrada..., ,