( 1 ) The great changes in Chinese agriculture during the past 10 years have been accompanied by significant deterioration of the rural environment as a cost of rapid development in the rural economy.( 2 ) Among the most important environmental effects are soil erosion, destruction of forest and grassland vegetation,decrease of land quality and soil fertility, pollution by urban-industrial wastes and agricultural chemicals, and the depletion of water resources.( 3 ) Population growth, low income and the exp...