IMPACT OF WATER ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS IN DRY-HOT VALLEY OF JINSHA RIVER ON SOIL DESERTIFICATION

Based on the field investigation and the analysis of soil moisture curve, it is clearly shown that there is a positive relationship between vegetation coverage rate and soil moisture capacity and soil depth in dry hot valley of the Jinsha River, and also there is a desertification process with seasonality. It is suggested that the basic factor of desertification in the area is water deficiency (seasonal drought and low soil water capacity) and the direct dynamic of desertification is soil erosion. Some effective countermeasures are presented, of which water saving planting and irrigation techniques should be firstly applied in the studied area.

Land Suitability Evaluation of Zanthoxylum schinifolium in Dry and Hot Valley of Jinsha River: A Case Study of Jiaopingdu Town of Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County,Yunnan Province

According to the recent practice in Laopingzi Village,Jiaopingdu Town,Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County(Luquan County hereinafter)in dry and hot valley of Jinsha River,the development of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb.et Zucc planting industry can help farmers gradually get rid of poverty and achieve a virtuous cycle of ecological environment.It is a sustainable poverty alleviation way.Based on the three aspects of soil properties,climatic conditions,and topographical conditions influencing the growth of Z.schinifolium,this paper selected eight evaluation factors to establish a suitability evaluation system for Z.schinifolium,used the analytic hierarchy process to determine the indicator,and determined the weight of the evaluation indicators.Besides,it calculated the comprehensive suitability index of land suitability of Z.schinifolium and evaluated the suitability of Z.schinifolium land in Jiaopingdu Town of Luquan County.The results showed that the suitable area for the cultivation of Z.schinifolium in Jiaopingdu Town reached 7270.78 ha,accounting for 88.69%of the study area;the area of unsuitable land was 922.07 ha,accounting for 11.31%of the study area.Among the suitable land areas,the high suitability area reached562.99 ha,accounting for 7.79%;the moderate suitability area was 2206.76 ha,accounting for 28.61%;the low suitability area was4599.03 ha,accounting for 63.6%.Based on the results of suitability evaluation,it came up with pertinent recommendations for the development of Z.schinifolium industry in Jiaopingdu Town.

Survey of damaging pests and preliminary assessment of forest health risks to the long term success of Pinus radiata introduction in Sichuan, southwest China

Pinus radiata was introduced to the summer rainfall environments of Sichuan Province, China in the 1990s as a part of an afforestation pmgram for soil and water conservation in the arid and semi-arid river valley area of Aba Prefecture. Within this region a total area of 26 000 ha have been identified through climate matching as suitable and a further 63 000 ha potentially suitable for environmental plantings of P. radiata. The plantations are being established in widely separated small patches on steep and degraded slopes along the dry river valley The newly introduced P. radiata are exposed to two kinds of forest health risks： they may be attacked by （a） indigenous pathogens and pests against which they may not possess any resistance or （b） by inadvertently introduced foreign pests or pathogens. This paper presents a survey of the potential damaging pests and a preliminary assessment of forest health risks facing the P. radiata plantations over a much longer timeframe than the initial phase of introduction and early plantation establishment. An empirical appmach was adopted to evaluate forest health risks by a combination of literature review, examination of historical records of pest and disease outbreaks in the surrounding conifemus forests, field surveys and inspections, specimen collection and identification, and most importantly, expert analysis of the likelihood of attack by specific pests and pathogens and the subsequent impact of such attacks. The assessment identified some specific forest health risks to the long-term success of P. radiata introduction in this area. These risks are closely associated with the indigenous pests and pathogens of the two native pine species, P. tabulaeformis and P. armondii since these pests and pathogens are considered more likely to establish on P. radiata over time. Exotic pests and pathogens are of a quarantine concern at present. Based on the results of assessment, recommendations are pmvided to improve forest vigour and to reduce the forest health risks posed by indigenous as well as exotic pests and pathogens to the introduced P. radiata. Ways to increase the ability to manage the forest health risks once a particular pest infestation and disease eventuates are also recommended. Although detrimental to the survival and growth of the introduced P. radiata, the impact of identified forest health risks are not considered to be fatal to the long term success ofP. radiata in this area.

Introduction of Pinus radiata for afforestation:a review with reference to Aba, China

Pinus radiata D. Don, native to a Californian coastal environment, has been introduced to many parts of the world as an exotic species for afforestation. It is now a major plantation species in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1990, it was introduced to the heavily degraded, dry Min river valley area in Aba prefecture of Sichuan Province, P. R. China. Survival and growth of young trees planted at several sites appear to be reasonable. This review is to serve as an introduction to the large body of literature on P. radiata for forest scientists in China. It covers the following aspects: P. radiata in its native environment and in ex situ plantations, provenance and genetic variations, environmental limitations and climate niche, diseases and pests, lessons from unsuccessful introductions, and the use of P. radiata for ecological restoration. The early growth of P. radiata planted in the dry river valley area is briefly described. Potential problems associated with the introduction of P. radiata in Aba and future research needs are also identified.

Geomorphological Features of Ancient Volcanic Terrain of Mars

The article considers geological and morphological features of a volcanic relief of a surface of a planet Mars. Effusive magmatism processes at early stages of planet crust forming come out in structure of solidified relief forms of Mars. Volcanic relief of a planet represents relic ancient line oriented forms, areal and central lava flooding. Linear forms generate shield volcanoes, chains of volcanic mountains and radial-concentric faults. This article deals with geological and morphological characteristics of the volcanic terrain of Mars. Hypsometric altitude profiles of volcanoes have been built based on the MOLA （Mars orbiter laser altimeter） of the spacecraft MGS （Mars global surveyor）. The gradient of volcano flanks has been calculated. The relative age of the volcanic terrain was estimated by the classical method of counting of the density of impact craters. Names of the volcanic landforms of Mars are given in the article in accordance with the name nomenclature system approved by the International Astronomical Union. Research results make it possible to compare the scientific and technical information about the planet and analyze the materials of satellite imagery of Mars.