Quantitative Simulation of Dynamic Changes in Cultivated Land in Areas of Reclamation and Returning Cultivated Land to Forest or Pastures under RCPs Climate Scenarios

Northeast China as one of important agricultural production bases is an area under reclamation and returning cultivated land to forests or pastures. Therefore, it is of great practical significance in guaranteeing the sustainable development and national food security to study the spatial and temporal variation of cultivated land in Northeast China under future climate scenarios. In this study, based on data of land use, natural environment and social-economy, dynamics of land system（DLS） model was used to to simulate the spatial distribution and changing trends of cultivated land in the typical areas of reclamation and returning cultivated land to forest or pastures in Northeast China during 2010-2030 under land use planning scenario and representative concentration pathways（RCPs） scenarios quantitatively.The results showed that the area of cultivated land had an overall decreasing trend under the land use planning scenario, but the area of upland field increased slightly from 2000 to 2010 and then declined greatly, while the area of paddy field continuously declined from 2000 to 2030. Under the Asia-Pacific Integrated model（AIM）scenario, the total area of cultivated land had a tendency to increase considerably,with the upland field expanding more obviously and the paddy field declining slightly.In addition, the cultivated land showed a greater decreasing trend under the model for energy supply strategy alternatives and their general environmental impact（MESSAGE） scenario compared to the land use planning scenario. Moreover, analysis on the conversion between different land use types indicated that the reclamation and returning cultivated land to forests or pastures was likely to continue under future scenarios, but the frequency of occurrence could decrease as the time goes by. The conclusions can provide significant decision-making information for the rational agricultural planning and cultivated land protection in Northeast China to adapt to the climate change.

GIS-Based Assessment of Soil Chemical and Physical Properties as a Basis for Land Reclamation in Toshka Area, Aswan, EGYPT

The accurate assessment of soil properties is a crucial factor for composing and implementing reclamation plans. The main objective of this study was to evaluate soil chemical and physical properties and calculate the chemical and fertility index for assisting land reclamation in Toshka area. The Toshka area is located between latitudes 31°32'N and 31°36'N and longitudes 32°40'E and 32°60'E. GIS was used to select 16 sites. The results revealed the soil has undesirable characteristics. The soil pH ranged from slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline. Furthermore, it was characterized as saline (with a ECe of 4.65 - 11.45 dS⋅m−1) and moderately calcareous soil (with CaCO3 at 11.85% - 17.20%). The soil had a low soil organic matter content which did not exceed 0.18%. The soil was dominated by a sandy loam texture (62.50%) followed by a sandy clay loam texture (18.75%). The bulk density, total soil porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity values varied with 1.38 - 1.55 Mg⋅cm−3, 41.85% - 48.45% and 1.20 - 3.34 cm⋅h−1, respectively. The chemical index ranged from low to moderate quality. The correlations between the parameters osculated between negative and positive. Therefore, the soil may be reclaimed if the soil properties are improved and crop selection is optimized for this soil.

Determination of the Thickness and Medium of Covering Soil for Land Reclamation

Land reclamation is a process of ecosystem reconstruction, for which it is very important to keep co-adaptation between plants and the below ground habitat. In order to keep the co-adaptation among plant species, thickness of covering soil and medium of covering soil to establish a self-regulating ecosystem, the thickness of covering soil of land reclamation for plants in different living forms by synusia structure of plant below-ground habitat and medium of covering soil by ecological factors of plant below-ground habitat were studied. Synusia structure of plant below-ground habitat was recognized through investigation on structure and root of plant community, and ecological factors were determined through soil profile investigation. The thickness and medium of covering soil of land reclamation for the tree, the shrub and the herb were proposed.

Evaluation Study on the Reclamation Suitability of Occupied Land in the Coal Mine Area——Taking Gouchang Coal Mine in Nayong County of Guizhou as An Example

The suitability evaluation of reclamation land was the premise and foundation for drawing up the land reclamation program.Taking Gouchang coal mine in Nayong County of Guizhou as an example,combining with the actual situation which included the topography,the soil in the mine area and so on,the reclamation land in the mine area was divided into the living area,the production area,the coal yard,the temporary coal gangue yard and other subsidiary facilities district.It determined that the main destruction type in every unit was the occupation,and the destruction degree was severe.Meanwhile referring the suitability evaluation standards of cultivated field and woodland,it finally determined that the reclamation direction of evaluation land which was damaged seriously by the occupation in the mine area was all suitable to the cultivated field and woodland.

Zoning of land reclamation in coal mining area and new progresses for the past 10 years

Coal mining disturbed land is the main sources of land reclamation in China.With the rapid increase of economy and coal production,more and more land has been disturbed by construction and coal mining;thus,land reclamation has become highlights in the past 10 years,and China is boosting land reclamation in mining areas.Disturbance characteristics vary from region to region,according to natural and geological conditions,coal mining area land reclamation was divided into 3 zones,which are eastern,western and southern.Reclamation strategies are focused on prime farmland protection in eastern and ecological restoration in western and southern zones,respectively.Several innovative reclamation technologies and theories for the past 10 years were introduced in this paper,including concurrent mining and reclamation,Yellow river sediments backfilling,self-reclamation,and topsoil alternatives in opencast mines.Besides,in the government regulation and legal system building respect,several important laws and regulations were issued and implemented in the past 5 years,promoting land reclamation management and supervision greatly.Land reclamation is and will still be one of the most important parts of coal industry in the future,and more efforts and funds are expected to get involved.

Suitability evaluation for land reclamation in mining area:A case study of Gaoqiao bauxite mine

Suitability evaluation plays an important role in land reclamation because the choice of evaluation methods affects the accuracy and objectivity of the suitability evaluation results. Furthermore, it influences the decision-making related to land reclamation. An improved method, which is called limit comprehensive conditions method, was developed after different suitability evaluation methods were studied. Based on this method, the reclaimed land of the Gaoqiao bauxite mining area was evaluated. The Gaoqiao mining area was divided into seven evaluation units that were evaluated respectively by selecting evaluation factors and establishing grade standards. The results show that the proposed method is more applicable and easier to handle. Moreover, its evaluation results are more scientific compared with the traditional evaluation methods. The improved method can be beneficial to the rapid monitoring and the effective management of reclaimed land in the opencast mine area.

Ecological rebuilding and land reclamation in surface mines in Shanxi Province, China

It is well known that the mining industry produces a large amount of derelict land, and causes pollution of water loss and soil erosion as well as other environmental damage in China. As land is under pressure in China, it is now policy to restore or reclaim land despoiled by mining, the aim being to develop sustainable and healthy arable land ecosystems. This paper outlines the principles and approaches of ecological restoration, which have been adopted in Shanxi Province with reference to three typical surface mines. In the research, the principles of ecological engineering and ecological succession are considered as the critical theories of ecological restoration in mine degraded land. Meanwhile, the paper made a comparative research on main links of ecological rebuilding in three surface mines in Shanxi Province, which include new land construction, treatment of toxic substances, control of soil erosion, fertility management, irrigation, ecological planning and the establishment of legislation systems. As the research demonstrated, for successful restoration, new land construction is the fundamental framework, but it must be integrated with ecological engineering including ecological planning, the control of soil erosion and vegetation establishment and ecosystem creation in order to optimise land productivity and soil fertility. In addition, the establishment of the legislation systems and organization of administration are also indispensable aspects of ecological rebuilding in mined land.

Effect of Reclamation Time and Land Use on Soil Properties in Changjiang River Estuary,China

The objective of this study is to analyze soil physical and chemical properties,soil comprehensive functions and impact factors after different years of reclamation.Based on the survey data taken from 216 soil sampling points in the Fengxian Reclamation Area of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary,China in April 2009 and remotely sensed TM data in 2006,while by virtue of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA),geo-statistical analysis (GA),prin-cipal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA),it was concluded that:1) With the in-crease in reclamation time,soil moisture,soil salinity,soil electric conductivity and soil particle size tended to decline,yet soil organic matter tended to increase.Soil available phosphorous tended to increase in the early reclamation period,yet it tended to decline after about 49 years of reclamation.Soil nitrate nitrogen,soil ammonia nitrogen and pH changed slightly in different reclamation years.Soil physical and chemical properties reached a steady state after about 30 years of reclamation.2) According to the results of PCA analysis,the weighted value (0.97 in total) that represents soil nutrient factors (soil nitrate nitrogen,soil organic matter,soil available phosphorous,soil ammonia nitrogen,pH and soil particle size) were higher than the weighted value (0.48 in total) of soil limiting factors (soil salinity,soil elec-tric conductivity and soil moisture).The higher the F value is,the better the soil quality is.3) Different land use types play different roles in the soil function maturity process,with farmlands providing the best contribution.4) Soil physi-cal and chemical properties in the reclamation area were mainly influenced by reclamation time,and then by land use types.The correlation (0.1905) of the composite index of soil function (F) with reclamation time was greater than that with land use types (-0.1161).

Effects of cluster land reclamation projects on storm surge inJiaojiang Estuary,China

Variations in coastline geometry caused by coastal engineering affect tides, storm surges, and storm tides. Three cluster land reclamation projects have been planned for construction in the Jiaojiang Estuary during the period from 2011 to 2023. They will cause significant changes in coastline geometry. In this study, a surge-tide coupled model was established based on a three-dimensional finite-volume coastal ocean model （FVCOM）. A series of numerical experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of variations in coastline geometry on tides, storm surges, and storm tides. This model was calibrated using data observed at the Haimen and Ruian gauge stations and then used to reproduce the tides, storm surges, and storm tides in the Jiaojiang Estuary caused by Typhoon Winnie in 1997. Results show that the high tide level, peak storm surge, and high storm tide level at the Haimen Gauge Station increased along with the completion of reclamation projects, and the maximum increments caused by the third project were 0.13 m, 0.50 m, and 0.43 m, respectively. The envelopes with maximum storm tide levels of 7.0 m and 8.0 m inside the river mouth appeared to move seaward, with the latter shifting 1.8 km, 3.3 km, and 4.4 km due to the first project, second project, and third project, respectively. The results achieved in this study contribute to reducing the effects of, and preventing storm disasters after the land reclamation in the Jiaojiang Estuary.

Selection of optimal land uses for the reclamation of surface mines by using evolutionary algorithms

A methodology for the selection of the optimal land uses of the reclamation of mined areas is proposed. It takes into consideration several multi-nature criteria and constraints, including spatial constrains related to the permissible land uses in certain parts of the mined area. The methodology combines desirability functions and evolution searching algorithms for selection of the optimal reclamation scheme. Its application for the reclamation planning of the Amynteon lignite surface mine in Greece indicated that it handles effectively spatial and non-spatial constraints and incorporates easily the decision-makers preferences regarding the reclamation strategy in the optimization procedure.

LAND RECLAMATION PROCESS IN NORTHEAST CHINA SINCE 1900

Northeast China is an important agricultural region in China. The NortheastPlain is the largest plain in the country and one of the three famous black soil zones in the world.Despite of fertility of the soil, however, large-scale agricultural development mainly took placesince 1900. The land exploitation and utilization has been fast and intensive in this region sincethen and change in the land-cover process has been remarkable. Both national and internationalresearchers on land use and land cover are paying more attention to these processes in this regionand their implication for local ecological environment. This article discusses the land reclamationprocesses and their main driving forces in Northeast China since 1900. According to the research,the 20th century was the most important period for land reclamation in Northeast China. In theseyears the rate, intensity and quantity of land reclamation have been staggering, and more than 100000km^2 of land was converted into farmland. This magnitude of land reclamation inland is unique inthe world. Research on the land reclamation of Northeast China can provide some data on the effectof human activity on environment. As in many other places in the world, the primary driving force ofreclamation in Northeast China was the increasing pressure of population. In the 20th century thepopulation increased from 10 x 10~6 to 110 x 10~6 in Northeast China and from 400 x 10~6 to 1. 3 x10^9 in China. Population pressure is thus the most important driving force for land reclamation.

Land use change and effect analysis of tideland reclamation in Hangzhou Bay

Since the beginning of the 20th century, tideland reclamation as a huge project has continuously extended from inland to the sea for the socioeconomic development, like Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other coastal regions in China. The increase of land area alleviated the contradiction of supply and demand between human and land, which provided the guarantee for agricultural production and industrial development. However, marine ecological environment has been seriously damaged due to the increasing scale of tideland reclamation. This paper took the Hangzhou Bay in the Yangtze River Delta as a study area to explore the evolution law, socioeconomic effect and eco-environmental effect of reclaimed land from 1985 to 2015. The result showed that as follows:(1) The area of tideland reclamation was 460.67 km^2 with 16.57% cultivated land and 15.93% construction land, and its land use was inefficient;(2) Land use change has spatial and temporal difference, the speed of tideland reclamation had been increasing from 1985 to 2015 in time and the scale of reclaimed land in the southern(84.07%) of Hangzhou Bay was larger than the northern region(15.93%) in space;(3) The evolution law of land use was from tideland to swampland and coastal waters to agricultural facility land, to cultivated land to industrial-mining land to idle land, rural-urban construction land, and formed obviously hierarchical structure;(4) Effect analysis of land use change found that the socio-economic effect had increased but the eco-environmental effect had decreased from 1985 to 2015, it reflected socio-economic effect was acquired through sacrificing eco-environmental effect;(5) It pointed out the existing problems on land extensive inefficient, environmental degradation and economy excessive growth without scientific planning, and offered some suggestions in land comprehensive improvement project, industrial transformation and upgrading and scientific planning and legal safeguardto promote sustainable development in the Hangzhou Bay in the new period.

Evaluation of Land Reclamation and Implications of Ecological Restoration for Agro-pastoral Ecotone: Case Study of Horqin Left Back Banner in China

The agro-pastoral ecotone has been recognized as the main distribution area of reserved land resource for cultivation. Accordingly, clarifying this assumption, as well as concerting land reclamation and ecological restoration, is important to ensure food security and environmental improvement in the agro-pastoral ecotone. We selected Horqin Left Back Banner(HLBB) as the subject of our case study. The landscape ecological security pattern of this area was determined using the minimum cumulative resistance model. Over-cultivation, quantity of reserved land resource for cultivation, and changes in landscape indexes before and after land use adjustment were then analyzed. Over-cultivation is a serious problem in the agro-pastoral ecotone. Reserved land resource for cultivation is less than that considered previously, and the area of reserved land resource for cultivation in HLBB only accounts for 11.50% of total uncultivated land. With regard to changes in landscape indexes, the adjusted land use pattern is effective for anti-desertification. The compensation standard for abandoned cultivated land should be improved and the comprehensive results of ‘Grain for Green' should be evaluated to further implement ecological restoration in the agro-pastoral ecotone.

The ecological cost of land reclamation and its enlightenment to coast sustainable development in the northwestern Bohai Bay,China

Land has been widely reclaimed in large area in coastal zones all over the world to relieve the pressure of land shortage,promoting social development and economic growth.Asia has become a focus of land reclamation with the rapid industrialization and urbanization.From the Binhai New Area of Tianjin to the Caofeidian New Area of Tangshan,the undergoing project of land reclamation on the northwest coast of Bohai Bay,China,is the largest in the world.To clarify the environmental issues and benefit sustainable development of the coastal zone,we conducted both retrospective and predictive assessments of the ecological cost caused by land reclamation on the northwest coast of Bohai Bay,China.We calculated the ecological costs of ten aspects of the four ecosystem services,i.e.,supply,regulation,support and culture,with the monetary estimate approach.The results indicate that the ecological cost of the new land reclamation is US$971.9 million from 2000 to 2010 and that the cost will be US$702.1 million from 2010 to 2020.The costs of gas regulation and marine food supply account for the greatest parts of the total value.Suggestions for land reclamation oriented to sustainable development in the study area are put forward,including a rational planning based on the comprehensive evaluation,reducing the amount of land reclamation area,optimizing the structure of the reclaimed land,reclaiming land with the concept of ＂low impact development＂ and implementing ecological compensation mechanisms,etc.

Sediment settlement rate and consolidation time of flling reclamation in coal mining subsidence land

With the continuous growth of the population and the continuous reduction of cultivated land,China’s food security is greatly threatened.In addition,China’s coal mining has been mainly underground mining,causing land subsidence and damaging existing cultivated land.This efect intensifes the contradiction between the growth of the risk population and the reduction of cultivated land.The reclamation of mining subsidence land with Yellow River sediment is often used as an efective way to improve the recovery rate of cultivated land.Shortening the reclamation time and realizing continuous flling are signifcant issues.The work presented in this paper studied the sediment settlement rate and consolidation time by combining theory,feld flling and reclamation tests and numerical simulations.A feld flling test study was carried out in the lowlands of Jibeiwang Village,Qihe County,Shandong Province,China.By calculating the drainage consolidation time,the consolidation factor of 0.015656 m^(2)/d,and the time factor for sediment consolidation of 0.575 were determined.The sediment consolidation time for this test was 9.18 days.The calculation of sediment deposition rate and consolidation time is of great practical signifcance to guide the Yellow River sediment flling,realize continuous flling,and save reclamation time and cost.

Land reclamation in the refuse dump of open coal mines and its following ecology principle

Through the research on the model of the land reclamation in the refuse dumpof Heidaigou open coal mines,it was concerned that ecology was the theoretical basic forthe land reclamation of open coal mines.According to the principle of ecological substitut-ing,the land reclamation can be divided into three stages:water and soil conservation,ecological performance and economic performance.Taking the land reclamation in the re-fuse dump of Heidaigou open coal mines as the practical example,explained the applica-tion of the ecological substituting principle on the land reclamation in the open coal mines.

Engineering and Biological Measures of Reclamation for Coal Mining Subsided Land with High Phreatic Level in East China: A Case Study

In east China , a great amount of water-logged land is caused by coal mining subsidence,which results in arduous reclamation tasks. Taking Hanqiao Coal Mine in Xuzhou as an example, this paper introduces a new reclamation method suitable for suhsided land caused by coal mining with high phreatic level in east China. The new method consists of two respects: 1 ) engineering reclamation measure is a non-filled method which mainly applies dredging approach ; 2 ) biological reclamation measure is a high beneficial pattern, which mainly makes use of dikes and ponds. The new engincering and biological measures of reclamation have been used widespreadly in Xuzhou mining area. Considerable economic benefits and social and environmental effects have been obtained.

Land reclamation pattern of iron mine in Tangshan

Based on the analyses of the character of the exploitation of the iron ore resource and its destruction of eco-environment in Tangshan area, this paper puts forward the patterns of land reclamation which fits for this area. The patterns include the reclamation of ecological agriculture, planting directly on the tailing bin without covering soil, reclamation of mine tailings in the pool, and improvement of the soil quality by using tailings etc. Now, over 700hm^2 land has been reclaimed by taking advantage of the pattern in Tangshan and eight typical reclamation districts have been built. The rates of reclamation exceed 80% and have reached the advanced level of the world. Practice has proved that the eco-environment of the ore area has been greatly improved and the remarkable economic and social benefits have been gained.

Dynamic requisition, compensation and reclamation of subsided land induced underground coal mining

Following the description of the subsided land treatment methods and the characteristics of the related land reclamation, the necessity and emergency of the land reclamation work is stressed. To cope with the related problems, dynamic prediction of the ground subsidence in different time periods and areas is made based on the laws governing the rock and ground movements and line with a mine’s future mining plan. It is proposed to carry out dynamic management of subsided land reclamation work in mining area, in order to tackle the previous and current issues confronted in the processes of land requisition, compensation and land reclamation. It is intended to provide, through the above-mentioned efforts, the technical and decision-making basis for the mining authorities concerned to better solve the problems relating to land requisition and reclamation in the future, and relocation of villages for facilitating the mining of the underground coal depositing and realizing the sustainable development of mining enterprises.

Discussion on Land Use Mode Reform in Coal Opencast Mining

The existing land supply mode of opencast mining is"land requisition first,then transfer",which lacks an effective recovery and withdrawal mechanism,and the reclaimed mining land is difficult to withdraw.According to the regular rules of coal opencast mining and the periodic characteristics of land use,this paper puts forward a new mode of temporary land use for coal opencast mining.It is conducive to im-proving the quality and scale of land use and reclamation utilization of opencast coal mining,and is of great significance for exploring and for-mulating reasonable land use policies for mineral resources development projects.