Impact of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Fungal Community Structure in Karst Rocky Desertification Areas

In this paper,managed forest(MF)and natural forest(NF)in the Huajiang Demonstration Zone of Guanling,Guizhou were selected as research objects,and cropland(CL)was taken as control.High-throughput sequencing technology was used to study the characteristics of fungal community composition and species diversity in the surface(0-10 cm)soil of each restoration measure,in order to reveal the dominant soil fungal groups and fungal community composition in karst rocky desertification areas,which was conducive to a more comprehensive understanding of the soil conditions of different vegetation restoration measures.Research has shown that vegetation restoration significantly affected the diversity of soil fungal community,with significant increases in Sob index,Ace index,and Chao index.The vegetation restoration has significantly changed the composition of fungal community.The dominant fungi in the CL topsoil are Sordariomycetes(62.28%),Dothideomycetes(12.34%),and Eurotiomycetes(9.12%);the dominant fungi in the MF soil are Sordariomycetes(45.05%),Dothideomycetes(14.74%),and Mortierellomycetes(10.40%);the dominant fungi in the NF soil are unclassified fungal community(26.38%),Sordariomycetes(19.78%),and Agaricomycetes(13.82%).Vegetation restoration has changed the key fungal groups in the soil.Sordariomycetes,Fusarium,and Setophoma are the key dominant fungal groups in CL soil;Dioszegia is key dominant fungal group in MF soil;c_unclassified_k_Fungi,p_unclassified_k_Fungi,o_unclassified_k_Fungi,f_unclassified_k_Fungi,g_unclassified_k_Fungi,Teichospora,and Diaporthe are key dominant fungal groups in NF soil.

Effects of rainfall and rocky desertification on soil erosion in karst area of Southwest China

Monitoring and evaluating the evolution of rocky desertification timely and studying the characteristics of soil erosion under different rainfall patterns are of great scientific significance for regional soil and water conservation,rocky desertification control and ecological environment construction.Four periods of remote sensing image data from 2005 to 2020 were selected to study the evolution characteristics of rocky desertification and its impact on soil erosion in the controlled boundary area of Shibantang hydrological station of Yeji River Watershed,Guizhou Province,China.According to the 408 erosive rainfall events,the soil erosion under different rainfall patterns in the watershed was analyzed.The results showed that:erosive rainfall events in the study area were mainly pattern A,accounting for 57.4%of the total rainfall events;the second was pattern B,accounting for 28.9%of the total rainfall events;the rainfall pattern of C occurred occasionally.Among them,pattern A was the main rainfall pattern leading to soil and water loss and had the largest contribution rate to soil erosion in the watershed.From 2005 to 2020,the area of rocky desertification showed a decreasing trend,accounting for 72.2%from 87.9%.Spatially,rocky desertification has mainly concentrated in the middle south of the watershed since 2010,while the rocky desertification mainly concentrated in the middle and north before 2010.The effects of different grades of rocky desertification on soil erosion were different,and the soil erosion modulus in areas with the medium,severe and extremely severe rocky desertification was generally small.The soil erosion modulus estimated by the RUSLE(Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation)model was still much higher than that calculated by the data measured by the hydrological monitoring station.Therefore,the application of the RUSLE model in karst area needs to be further modified.These results can provide reference for rocky desertification control,soil erosion control and fragile ecosystem restoration in karst area.

Characteristics of Changes in Karst Rocky Desertification in Southtern and Western China and Driving Mechanisms

The karst landform is a typical ecologically vulnerable region,and the problem of karst rocky desertification in southtern and western China has led to impoverishment and a degraded local ecological environment,which severely limits local socioeconomic development.An effective and appropriate control of karst rocky desertification in southtern and western China requires knowledge about its characteristics of variation and driving mechanisms.In this study,we chose eight regions in the southtern and western China as research areas and analysed the characteristics of the changes in karst ecosystem patterns and rocky desertification from 2000 to 2015.Based on these characteristics,we present the mechanisms that drive karst rocky desertification in the southtern and western China by utilizing the redundancy analysis(RDA)ordination method.The results show that the total area of rocky desertification in southtern and western China had been continuously decreasing from 2000 to 2015,revealing a positive development trend in rocky desertification.Rocky desertification variations were mainly affected by human activities.The reduction in farmland area improved farmland management and increased regional gross industrial product,which together with continuously rising gross domestic product of the tertiary industry caused a positive rocky desertification development.However,the local karst tourism has a certain effect on inducing slight rocky desertification.

The causes and processes responsible for rocky desertification in karst areas of southern China

The karst region of southern China is a fragile ecological zone with widespread rocky desertification. This paper describes the rocky desertification occurring in this region in terms of both natural and anthropogenic factors. During geological time periods, the region’s changing environment governed the natural rocky desertification processes, whereas during historical and modern times, anthropogenic processes have been superimposed on these natural processes. Human activities have accelerated and exacerbated rocky desertification. The period from the beginning to the middle of the Qing dynasty was an important transitional period in which human activities began to exert a particularly strong influence on rocky desertification. Since then, the effect of anthropogenic factors has increasingly exceeded the effect of natural factors. The rocky desertification process in southern China’s karst region combines surface ecological processes (including vegetation degradation and loss, soil erosion, surface water loss, and bedrock solution) with a reduction of the land’s biological productivity, leading to degradation that produces rocky desert. Controlling rocky desertification requires comprehensive development of sustainable agriculture and economic development that provides employment alternatives to agriculture and thereby promotes the rehabilitation of rocky desertified land.

Study on the Driving Forces of Rocky Desertification in Guizhou Province Based on Variation Coefficient Method

[Objective] The aim was to study the driving forces of rocky desertification in Guizhou Province. [Method] Based on GIS and RS technology, the main driving forces of rocky desertification in Guizhou Province were analyzed by means of correlation analysis and variation coefficient method, and then the distribution of rocky desertification in Guizhou Province was assessed synthetically. [Result] The main driving forces of rocky desertification in Guizhou Province were vegetation cover, rainfall, peasant income and gradient which were obviously correlative with rocky desertification; from theoretical distribution, rocky desertification was the most serious in Bijie, southwest Guizhou, southern Guizhou and northeastern Guizhou, and the theoretical distribution of rocky desertification in Bijie was severer than its current situation, which showed that construction of ecological function area in Bijie restrained the development of rocky desertification effectively; the good consistency between theoretical and current distribution of rocky desertification revealed that the study method was feasible. [Conclusion] The study could provide theoretical references for the practical control of rocky desertification.

Monitoring of Karst Rocky Desertification Control Projects Based on Remote Sensing Images with Medium and High Spatial Resolution——A Case Study of Disi River Basin in Puan County

[ Objective] The study aimed to improve methods of monitoring Karst Rocky Desertification （KRD） control projects and increase the working efficiency. [Method] Based on remote sensing images with medium and high spatial resolution, KRD control projects in Disi River basin in Puan County were monitored, that is, information of the project construction in the study area was extracted using supervised classification and hu- man-computer interactive interpretation, and the monitoring results were testified with the aid of GPS. [Result] It was feasible to monitor KRD con- trol projects in Disi River basin based on remote sensing images with medium and high resolution, and the monitoring accuracy was satisfactory, reaching above 80% or 90%, so the method is worthy of popularizing. [ Conclusion] Remote sensing images with medium and high resolution can be used to monitor other KRD control Droiects.

Preliminary Study on the Ecological Agriculture Development Model of"Pennisetum sineseRoxb-Rocky Desertification Control-Edible Mushrooms"in Guizhou Province

In Guizhou Province, the area of rocky desertification land is 3.023 8 million hm^2, accounting for 17.16% of total area of land in the province. Rocky desertification is the most important ecological problem that restricts the economic and social development in Guizhou, so the primary task of ecological construction in Guizhou Province is to curb rocky desertification. How to effectively, efficiently and persistently use rocky desertification land is not only the key to the improvement of ecological environment, but also an urgent problem solved for local people's survival and anti-poverty. Due to having developed roots, growing fast, high yield of grass, strong resistance to drought, and high regeneration capacity, Pennisetum sinese Roxb has become a new method to control rocky desertification. How to use P. sinese Roxb efficiently becomes the key to the ecological control of rocky desertification by P. sinese Roxb. In this study, the ecological agriculture development model of "P. sinese Roxb-rocky desertification control-edible mushrooms" was studied, and the effect of cultivating Pleurotus eryngii with P. sinese Roxb in rocky desertification land was analyzed. Moreover, an outlook for the application of P. sinese Roxb in rocky desertification areas of Guizhou was given.

Ecological Restoration of Rocky Desertification in Hongfeng Lake Karst Area Based on SWOT Analysis

In order to provide a reference for rocky desertification control in karst areas,we take the case of Hongfeng Lake Rocky Desertification Comprehensive Control Demonstration Area in Qingzhen City of Guizhou Province,and expound strength,weakness,opportunity and challenge in its ecological restoration,using SWOT analysis method in management sciences.And we finally put forth scientific strategies for ecological restoration in this demonstration area.

Drivers of soil erosion and subsurface loss by soil leakage during karst rocky desertification in SW China

As an extreme manifestation of environmental degradation,karst rock desertification is caused by soil loss and rock exposure.In some areas with serious rocky desertification,there is no soil to be eroded or leaked.The soil loss in these areas superimposes soil erosion and unique subsurface loss by soil leakage through fissures,pipelines,sinkholes,etc.,which directly reduce soil resources and accelerate rocky desertification.However,the factors driving soil erosion and subsurface loss by soil leakage are still unclear.Rainfall experiments were conducted on simulated slopes with surface-exposed bedrock and subsurface fissures based on field investigations in a karst rocky desertification area of Guizhou Province,China.Four factors,including rainfall intensity,slope gradient,bedrock exposure rate and subsurface fissure degree,were considered in the experiment.We found that the amount of soil surface erosion and subsurface leakage loss is driven not only by the runoff volume but also by other influential factors.Rainfall intensity is the driving factor determining the amount of surface erosion and subsurface leakage loss of soil and water and the relationship between them.The slope gradient plays a leading role only in subsurface fissure flow leakage loss.The bedrock exposure rate drives the surface soil erosion rate,shows a critical value(30%),and dominates the fissure flow leakage loss rate.Subsurface fissure density plays an important role in the surface loss of soil and water;however,an increase in the subsurface fissure density does not obviously accelerate the subsurface leakage loss of soil and water.Although this result,obtained from laboratory simulations,may differ at the field scale or larger,it could provide a foundation for systematic studies on soil erosion/leakage and insights into the relations between rocky desertification and soil erosion/leakage and their driving factors in karst rocky desertification.

Rocky desertification poverty in Southwest China:Progress,challenges and enlightenment to rural revitalization

Rocky desertification poverty(RDP)refers to rural poverty triggered or exacerbated by rocky desertification,which deprives farmers of opportunities for improving their financial conditions through agricultural production.As China implements strategies including building a moderately prosperous society,targeted poverty alleviation,and rural revitalization,issues concerning RDP have become the work foci for the Chinese government and research hotspots for Chinese academic circles.This paper provides a thorough review of the history,progress,challenges and prospects based on decades of RDP studies in Southwest China.First,we review the origin,definitions and historical development trends of RDP.Over nearly four decades,research on RDP can be framed as four stages:start-up,poverty alleviation and ecological reconstruction,rocky desertification comprehensive control and green development.We find that RDP research progress appears to be directly related to the Chinese government’s policy support and decision-making in mitigating RDP.Second,previous findings are reviewed and summarised regarding four research aspects:relationship exploration between rocky desertification and rural poverty,mechanisms of rocky desertification for exacerbating poverty,strategies for eliminating RDP and anti-poverty benefit evaluations of rocky desertification control efforts.Third,the remaining challenges are identified and summarised,including the challenges of conducting theoretical research on RDP and consolidating achievements in eliminating RDP.We find that while many achievements have been made in the study of RDP in recent decades,the completeness and systematism of the theoretical system remain weak,and the guidance for empirical research is still insufficient.Finally,this research is fundamental in achieving rural revitalization in rocky desertification areas.The key to eliminating RDP lies in scientific rural transformation development.Given that the karst ecological environment in the subtropical zone is fragile,these regions should build a new rural regional economic system,abandon extensive and predatory development that sacrifices the environment and resources,and promote the transition from backwards development modes to high-quality and sustainable development.This paper will contribute to the current understanding of the issues of RDP,provide theoretical support for the realization of rural revitalization in rocky desertification areas and provide other countries with China’s experience in poverty alleviation.

Human activity and climate change triggered the expansion of rocky desertification in the karst areas of Southwestern China

It is conducive to the sustainable development of human beings in karst regions to research the mechanism of karst rocky desertification(KRD)expansion.Whether the large-scale KRD in southwestern China is caused by climate change or human activities is still controversial.In this study,the evolution of the KRD in southwestern China over the past 2000 years was reconstructed through the high-precisionδ^(13)C record of stalagmites from Shijiangjun(SJJ)Cave,Guizhou Province,China.Theδ^(13)C of the stalagmites from SJJ Cave exhibited heavy values from the Medieval Warm Period(MWP)to the Little Ice Age(LIA).Furthermore,theδ^(13)C records of other stalagmites and tufa from southwestern China also showed the same significant heavy trend.Because the stalagmiteδ^(13)C could record the change of ecological environment,it indicated that the consistent change of the stalagmitesδ^(13)C may record the process of KRD expansion in the karst regions of southwestern China.During the MWP,the stronger Asian summer monsoon and the northward movement of the rain belt led to a dry period in southwestern China and a wet period in northern China.In contrast,it was wet in southwestern China and dry in northern China during the LIA.In addition,after the Jing-Kang event(JK event,AD1127)occurred at the end of the Northern Song dynasty,the political and economic center of China migrated to southern China for the first time,which changed the population distribution pattern of larger population in the north and smaller population in the south.Therefore,the expansion of KRD in southwestern China was exacerbated in the MWP due to the change of climate in southwestern China,the migration of a large number of people,wars,the large-scale reclamation of arable land,and the cultivation of large areas of crops.

Ecological Remediation Measures for Non-point Source Pollution Based on Source-Sink Landscape Theory: A Case Study of Huanghou Basin

The growth of society and population has led to a range of water pollution issues.Among these,non-point source pollution assessment and treatment pose a particular challenge due to its formation mechanism.This has become a focal point and challenge in water pollution treatment research.The study area for this research was the Huanghou basin in Guizhou Province,southwest China.The land use type of the basin was analyzed using remote sensing technology,and water quality data was collected by distributing points throughout the basin,based on source-sink landscape theory.The distribution map of the basin’s source-sink landscape and the results of water quality data accurately and efficiently identified the areas with high risk of non-point source pollution in the western and southwestern residential and agricultural areas of the upper basin.Hence,a strategy of“increasing sinks and decreasing sources”was proposed.The strategy was implemented at both macro and micro levels to address non-point source pollution in the basin using ecological remediation techniques.The work to control karst rocky desertification should continue at a macro level.The rocky desertification area in the basin should gradually transform into grassland and forested land,while increasing the overall area of the sink landscape.Ecological restoration techniques,such as slope planting,riparian zone vegetation restoration,increasing plant abundance,and restoring aquatic plants,can effectively control non-point source pollution at the micro level.Compared to traditional control methods,this remediation strategy focuses on source and process control.It is more effective and does not require large-scale water pollution control projects,which can save a lot of environmental control funds and management costs.Therefore,it has greater research significance and application value.

Research on Model Construction and Technique Support for Integrated Rehabilitation of Rock Desertification in Chaoying Small Watershed of Bijie Test Area of Guizhou Province

Selecting Chaoying small watershed with representative karst rocky desertification in the Bijie test area of Guizhou Province as an example, according to karst rocky desertiflcation degree and the existing eco-environmental problems in the small watershed, we study developmental model and technique support system for integrated rehabilitation of rocky desertification in the small watershed, and bring forward the development model and technique integration for integrated rehabilitation of rocky desertification, which adapt to the karst areas of Bijie test area, Guizhou Province and even South China.

Main progress and prospect for China’s hydrogeological survey

This paper reviewed the main achievements of hydrogeological survey in China,summarized the significant progress of hydrogeological survey over the past decade,and forecasted the key responsibilities for hydrogeological survey in the“14th Five-year Plan”.The significant progress includes:China established the 1:50000 standard hydrogeological survey system with Chinese characteristics and produced the new generation of highquality hydrogeological maps;the national groundwater monitoring project was completed and accepted,which marks China taking the leading position in groundwater monitoring internationally;fruitful results were achieved in the national groundwater quality survey,and groundwater quality background values were basically identified and checked;hydrogeological and environmental geological survey was continuously promoted in karst areas and the ecological restoration of rocky desertification achieved remarkable results;China strengthened layer exploration techniques for groundwater,integrating the key and practical techniques of layer exploration and monitoring;the exploration of groundwater in the poverty-stricken regions and old revolutionary base areas were effectively promoted to strongly guarantee the poverty alleviation and drinking water safety;the mystery of desert groundwater was uncovered,making up for the shortage of 1:250000 hydrogeological survey in the Badain Jaran Desert;and more efforts were made to conduct survey on the water resources in the basin,and to finish the unified measurement of national-scale groundwater level.

Regions and Their Typical Paradigms for Soil and Water Conservation in China

China is experiencing conflicts between its large population and scarce arable land,and between a demand for high productivity and the severe soil erosion of arable land.Since 1949,China has committed to soil and water conservation(SWC),for which eight regions and 41 subregions have been developed to improve the environment and increase land productivity.To obtain information from the regional planning and strategies for SWC and to explore whether SWC practices simultaneously contribute to soil conservation,ecosystem functioning,and the livelihoods of local farmers,and to summarize the successful experiences of various SWC paradigms with distinct characteristics and mechanisms of soil erosion,this paper systematically presents seven SWC regions(excluding the Tibetan Plateau region)and 14 typical SWC paradigms,focusing on erosion mechanisms and the key challenges or issues in the seven regions as well as on the core problems,main objectives,key technologies,and the performance of the 14 typical paradigms.In summary,the 14 typical SWC paradigms successfully prevent and control local soil erosion,and have largely enhanced,or at least do not harm,the livelihoods of local farmers.However,there remain many challenges and issues on SWC and socioeconomic development that need to be addressed in the seven SWC regions.China,thus,still has a long way to go in successfully gaining the win-win objective of SWC and human aspects of development.

Quantitative extraction of the bedrock exposure rate based on unmanned aerial vehicle data and Landsat-80LI image in a karst environment

In the karst regions of southwest China, rocky desertification is one of the most serious problems in land degradation. The bedrock exposure rate is an important index to assess the degree of rocky desertification in karst regions. Because of the inherent merits of macro-scale, frequency, efficiency, and synthesis, remote sensing is a promising method to monitor and assess karst rocky desertification on a large scale. However, actual measurement of the bedrock exposure rate is difficult and existing remote-sensing methods cannot directly be exploited to extract the bedrock exposure rate owing to the high complexity and heterogeneity of karst environments. Therefore, using unmanned aerial vehicle （UAV） and Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager （OLI） data for Xingren County, Guizhou Province, quantitative extraction of the bedrock exposure rate based on multi-scale remote-sensing data was developed. Firstly, we used an object-oriented method to carry out accurate classification of UAV images. From the results of rock extraction, the bedrock exposure rate was calculated at the 30 m grid scale. Parts of the calculated samples were used as training data; other data were used for model validation. Secondly, in each grid the band reflectivity ofLandsat-80LI data was extracted and a variety of rock and vegetation indexes （e.g., NDVI and SAVI） were calculated. Finally, a network model was established to extract the bedrock exposure rate. The correlation coefficient of the network model was 0.855, that of the validation model was 0.677 and the root mean square error of the validation model was 0.073. This method is valuable for wide-scale estimation of bedrock exposure rate in karst environments. Using the quantitative inversion model, a distribution map of the bedrock exposure rate in Xingren County was obtained.