The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand b...The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.展开更多
[ Objective] The paper was to study the effects of desert vegetation on temperature regulation and stabilization in desert area. [ Method] The survey data of quadrats in five kinds of plant communities in Minqin deser...[ Objective] The paper was to study the effects of desert vegetation on temperature regulation and stabilization in desert area. [ Method] The survey data of quadrats in five kinds of plant communities in Minqin desert area were preliminarily estimated. [Result] Desert vegetation had the ecological functions of regulating desert temperature and stabilizing sharp increase of temperature, especially the irreplaceable ecological function of slowing down sandstorm each spring in northwest China compared to physical sand-fixatian measures. The air humidity in forest region was relatively large, and the climate was more stable. The climate in desert area was dry, with intense changes in air temperature. Although the solar radiation utilization rate of desert vegetation per unit area in Minqin oasis fringe was 5.8% of that of 100% coverage vegetation, it had non-ignorable significance in regulating temperature of local desert. Regulating temperature was one of the ecological functions of desert vegetation. Previous studies only considered wind proof and sand-fixation functions of desert vegetation, but ignored its temperature regulation effect, and this was the ecological function of vegetation sand control different from physical sand-fixation measures such as sand barrier. [ Conclusion] It has important theoretical guiding significance and practical use value for prevention and control of desertification by studying ecological function of desert plants/vegetation.展开更多
[ Objective ] To elucidate the change trend in stability and ecological effects of plant communities in desert along with global wanning. [ Method ] The data of site-specific observation on five main plant communities...[ Objective ] To elucidate the change trend in stability and ecological effects of plant communities in desert along with global wanning. [ Method ] The data of site-specific observation on five main plant communities at ten plots in Minqin desert area were used to analyze the stability and ecological effects of desert plant communities by using two indicators vegetation coverage and projective cover degree. [ Results ] The vegetation coverage of Artemisia arenaria and Ephedra przewalskii, and the projective cover degree of A. arenaria and man-made Haloxylon ammodendron forest decreased remarkably; and the vegetation coverage of Ni- traria tangutorum was also decreased to some extent. [ Conduslon] （1） The plant communities with poor vegetation coverage gives a relatively strong stability, while that with high vegetation coverage has a relatively poor stability; （2） the yearly precipitation is the determinant of vegetation coverage and projective cover deglee; （3） the ecological function is found to be most remarkable in per unit area N. tangutorum, followed by E. przewalskii and N. tangutorum ＋H. ammodendron, and least in per unit area A. Arenaria. The vegetation is sparse in desert and plant branches does not distribute regularly, thus the crown-based vegetation coverage can not reflect the actual surface coverage.展开更多
[Objective] The paper was to study wind-break and sand-fixation functions of forage plants in desert area. [Method]Based on the survey data of four major wind-break and sand-fixation plants( Haloxylon ammondendron,Art...[Objective] The paper was to study wind-break and sand-fixation functions of forage plants in desert area. [Method]Based on the survey data of four major wind-break and sand-fixation plants( Haloxylon ammondendron,Artemisia arenaria,Nitraria tangutorum and Ephedra przewalskii) in Minqin desert area,the longitudinal section area and the sandpile volume of an individual plant and per unit area were calculated. The wind-break and sand-fixation functions of four major plant communities were comparatively analyzed. [Result] The wind-break functions of an individual plant( cluster) successively were N. tangutorum > H. ammondendron > A. arenaria and E. przewalskii; the sand-fixation functions of an individual plant( cluster) successively were N. tangutorum > E. przewalskii; the wind-break functions per unit area successively were A. arenaria > H. ammondendron > N. tangutorum > E. przewalskii; the sand-fixation functions per unit area were N. tangutorum > E. przewalskii; the wind-break and sand-fixation function per unit area were N. tangutorum > A. arenaria > H. ammondendron >E. przewalskii.[Conclusion]A. arenaria can be selected for only wind-break,and N. tangutorum can be chosen for only sand-fixation. If given consideration to both,N. tangutorum and A. arenaria must be selected.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42230720,32160410,42167069)the Gansu Key Research and Development Program(22YF7FA078,GZTZ20240415)Gansu Province Forestry and Grassland Science and Technology Innovation Project(LCCX202303).
文摘The clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area,China,represent a pioneering windbreak and sand fixation project with a venerable history of 60 a.However,studies on evaluating the long-term effectiveness of clay–sand barriers against aeolian erosion,particularly from the perspective of surface sediment grain size,are limited and thus insufficient to ascertain the protective impact of these barriers on regional aeolian activities.This study focused on the surface sediments(topsoil of 0–3 cm depth)of clay–sand barriers in Minqin desert area to explain their erosion resistance from the perspective of surface sediment grain size.In March 2023,six clay–sand barrier sampling plots with clay–sand barriers of different deployment durations(1,5,10,20,40,and 60 a)were selected as experimental plots,and one control sampling plot was set in an adjacent mobile sandy area without sand barriers.Surface sediment samples were collected from the topsoil of each sampling plot in the study area in April 2023 and sediment grain size characteristics were analyzed.Results indicated a predominance of fine and medium sands in the surface sediments of the study area.The deployment of clay–sand barriers cultivated a fine quality in grain size composition of the regional surface sediments,increasing the average contents of very fine sand,silt,and clay by 30.82%,417.38%,and 381.52%,respectively.This trend became markedly pronounced a decade after the deployment of clay–sand barriers.The effectiveness of clay–sand barriers in erosion resistance was manifested through reduced wind velocity,the interception of sand flow,and the promotion of fine surface sediment particles.Coarser particles such as medium,coarse,and very coarse sands predominantly accumulated on the external side of the barriers,while finer particles such as fine and very fine sands concentrated in the upwind(northwest)region of the barriers.By contrast,the contents of finest particles such as silt and clay were higher in the downwind(southeast)region of the sampling plots.For the study area,the deployment of clay–sand barriers remains one of the most cost-effective engineering solutions for aeolian erosion control,with sediment grain size parameters serving as quantitative indicators for the assessment of these barriers in combating desertification.The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the construction of windbreak and sand fixation systems and the optimization of artificial sand control projects in arid desert areas.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(General Project)Ecological Effect of Desertification Control of Photovoltaic Industry in Gobi and Desert(4167012293)
文摘[ Objective] The paper was to study the effects of desert vegetation on temperature regulation and stabilization in desert area. [ Method] The survey data of quadrats in five kinds of plant communities in Minqin desert area were preliminarily estimated. [Result] Desert vegetation had the ecological functions of regulating desert temperature and stabilizing sharp increase of temperature, especially the irreplaceable ecological function of slowing down sandstorm each spring in northwest China compared to physical sand-fixatian measures. The air humidity in forest region was relatively large, and the climate was more stable. The climate in desert area was dry, with intense changes in air temperature. Although the solar radiation utilization rate of desert vegetation per unit area in Minqin oasis fringe was 5.8% of that of 100% coverage vegetation, it had non-ignorable significance in regulating temperature of local desert. Regulating temperature was one of the ecological functions of desert vegetation. Previous studies only considered wind proof and sand-fixation functions of desert vegetation, but ignored its temperature regulation effect, and this was the ecological function of vegetation sand control different from physical sand-fixation measures such as sand barrier. [ Conclusion] It has important theoretical guiding significance and practical use value for prevention and control of desertification by studying ecological function of desert plants/vegetation.
基金Supported by Special Program for Key Basic Research of the Ministry of Science and Technology,China(2014CB460611)
文摘[ Objective ] To elucidate the change trend in stability and ecological effects of plant communities in desert along with global wanning. [ Method ] The data of site-specific observation on five main plant communities at ten plots in Minqin desert area were used to analyze the stability and ecological effects of desert plant communities by using two indicators vegetation coverage and projective cover degree. [ Results ] The vegetation coverage of Artemisia arenaria and Ephedra przewalskii, and the projective cover degree of A. arenaria and man-made Haloxylon ammodendron forest decreased remarkably; and the vegetation coverage of Ni- traria tangutorum was also decreased to some extent. [ Conduslon] （1） The plant communities with poor vegetation coverage gives a relatively strong stability, while that with high vegetation coverage has a relatively poor stability; （2） the yearly precipitation is the determinant of vegetation coverage and projective cover deglee; （3） the ecological function is found to be most remarkable in per unit area N. tangutorum, followed by E. przewalskii and N. tangutorum ＋H. ammodendron, and least in per unit area A. Arenaria. The vegetation is sparse in desert and plant branches does not distribute regularly, thus the crown-based vegetation coverage can not reflect the actual surface coverage.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(41671528,41661064)
文摘[Objective] The paper was to study wind-break and sand-fixation functions of forage plants in desert area. [Method]Based on the survey data of four major wind-break and sand-fixation plants( Haloxylon ammondendron,Artemisia arenaria,Nitraria tangutorum and Ephedra przewalskii) in Minqin desert area,the longitudinal section area and the sandpile volume of an individual plant and per unit area were calculated. The wind-break and sand-fixation functions of four major plant communities were comparatively analyzed. [Result] The wind-break functions of an individual plant( cluster) successively were N. tangutorum > H. ammondendron > A. arenaria and E. przewalskii; the sand-fixation functions of an individual plant( cluster) successively were N. tangutorum > E. przewalskii; the wind-break functions per unit area successively were A. arenaria > H. ammondendron > N. tangutorum > E. przewalskii; the sand-fixation functions per unit area were N. tangutorum > E. przewalskii; the wind-break and sand-fixation function per unit area were N. tangutorum > A. arenaria > H. ammondendron >E. przewalskii.[Conclusion]A. arenaria can be selected for only wind-break,and N. tangutorum can be chosen for only sand-fixation. If given consideration to both,N. tangutorum and A. arenaria must be selected.
