Climate change, water resources and sustainable development in the arid and semi-arid lands of Central Asia in the past 30 years

The countries of Central Asia are collectively known as the five "-stans": Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. In recent times, the Central Asian region has been affected by the shrinkage of the Aral Sea, widespread desertification, soil salinization, biodiversity loss, frequent sand storms, and many other ecological disasters. This paper is a review article based upon the collection, identification and collation of previous studies of environmental changes and regional developments in Central Asia in the past 30 years. Most recent studies have reached a consensus that the temperature rise in Central Asia is occurring faster than the global average. This warming trend will not only result in a higher evaporation in the basin oases, but also to a significant retreat of glaciers in the mountainous areas. Water is the key to sustainable development in the arid and semi-arid regions in Central Asia. The uneven distribution, over consumption, and pollution of water resources in Central Asia have caused severe water supply problems, which have been affecting regional harmony and development for the past 30 years. The widespread and significant land use changes in the 1990 s could be used to improve our understanding of natural variability and human interaction in the region. There has been a positive trend of trans-border cooperation among the Central Asian countries in recent years. International attention has grown and research projects have been initiated to provide water and ecosystem protection in Central Asia. However, the agreements that have been reached might not be able to deliver practical action in time to prevent severe ecological disasters. Water management should be based on hydrographic borders and ministries should be able to make timely decisions without political intervention. Fully integrated management of water resources, land use and industrial development is essential in Central Asia. The ecological crisis should provide sufficient motivation to reach a consensus on unified water management throughout the region.

Soil water resources use limit in the loess plateau of China

Soil water is a key factor limiting plant growth in water-limited regions. Without limit of soil water used by plants, soil degradation in the form of soil desiccation is easy to take place in the perennial forestland and grassland with too higher density or productivity. Soil water resources use limit (SWRUL) is the lowest control limit of soil water resources which is used by plants in those regions. It can be defined as soil water storage within the maximum infiltration depth in which all of soil layers belong to dried soil layers. In this paper, after detailed discussion of characteristics of water resources and the relationship between soil water and plant growth in the Loess Plateau, the definition, quantitative method, and practical applications of SWRUL are introduced. Henceforth, we should strengthen the study of SWRUL and have a better understanding of soil water resources. All those are of great importance for designing effective restoration project and sustainable management of soil water resources in water- limited regions in the future.

Soil and Water Resources and Land Sustainable Productivity in the Catchment Area with Intensive Management in Hilly Red Soil Regions,China

Taking an example of Majiayu Catchment Area (14.15 ha) in Taoyuan County of HunanProvince, the soil and water resources dynamics, fertility evolution characteristics andland productivity changing situation were studied. Fixed observation results from 1993to 2002 showed that pools covering about 15% of total area could store up 10% of surfacerunoff, keep 78.1% of eroded soil and 65.4% of lost nutrients. The yearly ratio ofinterception and evapotranspiration in land, storage in pools and drainage was 7:2:1,which ensured the resources and nutrients equilibrium and a benign recycle in thecatchment area system, and benefited the aquatic culture and helped to resist seasonaldrought. Moreover, the results showed that soil erosion modulus decreased significantly,equal to or lower than soil loss tolerance (≤500 tkm-2) in reddish yellow soil regions.Soil organic matter, total and available N content in sloping land, dryland and paddyfield increased steadily (>10%); water storage enhanced by more than 20% in sloping landand dryland in drought season; crop production increased by more than 20%; and productionof trees, fruits, tea and fish as well as land productivity increased yearly.

California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water and Agricultural Energy Use in California

The California Simulation of Evapotranspiration of Applied Water （CaI-SIMETAW） model is a new tool developed by the California Department of Water Resources and the University of California, Davis to perform daily soil water balance and determine crop evapotranspiration （ETo）, evapotranspiration of applied water （ETaw）, and applied water （AW） for use in California water resources planning. ETaw is a seasonal estimate of the water needed to irrigate a crop assuming 100% irrigation efficiency. The model accounts for soils, crop coefficients, rooting depths, seepage, etc. that influence crop water balance. It provides spatial soil and climate information and it uses historical crop and land-use category information to provide seasonal water balance estimates by combinations of detailed analysis unit and county （DAU/County） over Califomia. The result is a large data base of ETc and ETaw that will be used to update information in the new California Water Plan （CWP）. The application uses the daily climate data, i.e., maximum （Tx） and minimum （Tn） temperature and precipitation （Pcp）, which were derived from monthly USDA-NRCS PRISM data （PRISM Group 2011） and daily US National Climate Data Center （NCDC） climate station data to cover California on a 4 kmx4 km change grid spacing. The application uses daily weather data to determine reference evapotranspiration （ETo）, using the Hargreaves-Samani （HS） equation （Hargreaves and Samani 1982, 1985）. Because the HS equation is based on temperature only, ETo from the HS equation were compared with CIMIS ETo at the same locations using available CIMIS data to determine correction factors to estimate CIMIS ETo from the HS ETo to account for spatial climate differences. CaI-SIMETAW also employs near real-time reference evapotranspiration （ETo） information from Spatial CIMIS, which is a model that combines weather station data and remote sensing to provide a grid of ETo information. A second database containing the available soil water holding capacity and soil depth information for all of California was also developed from the USDA-NRCS SSURGO database. The Cal-SIMETAW program also has the ability to generate daily weather data from monthly mean values for use in studying climate change scenarios and their possible impacts on water demand in the state. The key objective of this project is to improve the accuracy of water use estimates for the California Water Plan （CWP）, which provides a comprehensive report on water supply, demand, and management in California. In this paper, we will discuss the model and how it determines ETaw for use in water resources planning.

Effects of biodegradable mulch on soil water and heat conditions,yield and quality of processing tomatoes by drip irrigation

To combat the problem of residual film pollution and ensure the sustainable development of agriculture in oasis areas,a field experiment was carried out in 2019 at the Wuyi Farm Corps Irrigation Center Test Station in Urumqi,Northwest China.Four types of biodegradable mulches,traditional plastic mulchs and a control group(bare land;referred to as CK)were compared,including a total of six different treatments.Effects of mulching on soil water and heat conditions as well as the yield and quality of processing tomatoes under drip irrigation were examined.In addition,a comparative analysis of economic benefits of biodegradable mulches was performed.Principal component analysis and gray correlation analysis were used to evaluate suitable mulching varieties for planting processing tomatoes under drip irrigation.Our results show that,compared with CK,biodegradable mulches and traditional plastic mulch have a similar effect on retaining soil moisture at the seedling stage but significantly increase soil moisture by 0.5%-1.5%and 1.5%-3.0%in the middle and late growth periods(P<0.050),respectively.The difference in the thermal insulation effect between biodegradable mulch and plastic mulch gradually reduces as the crop grows.Compared with plastic mulch,the average soil temperature at 5-20 cm depth under biodegradable mulches is significantly lowered by 2.04°C-3.52°C and 0.52°C-0.88°C(P<0.050)at the seedling stage and the full growth period,respectively,and the water use efficiency,average fruit yield,and production-investment ratio under biodegradable mulches were reduced by 0.89%-6.63%,3.39%-8.69%,and 0.51%-6.33%(P<0.050),respectively.The comprehensive evaluation analysis suggests that the black oxidized biological double-degradation ecological mulch made from eco-benign plastic is the optimal film type under the study condition.Therefore,from the perspective of sustainable development,biodegradable mulch is a competitive alternative to plastic mulch for large-scale tomato production under drip irrigation in the oasis.

Improving Water Use Efficiency for a Sustainable Productivity of Agricultural Systems Using Subsurface Drip Irrigation

The sustainability of agricultural production depends on conservation and appropriate use and management of scarce water resources especially in arid and semi-arid areas where irrigation is required for the production of food and cash crops. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effects of surface and subsurface drip irrigation （SDI） at 5, 20 and 35 cm depths on water＇s dynamic in soil （Soil moisture distribution, water＇s stock in soil and irrigation water use efficiency） to produce maize in semiarid climates. Field study was conducted at the Higher Institute of Agronomy of Chott Meriem, Tunisia. The results indicated that soil moisture content under subsurface drip irrigation at 35 cm （T3） depth was more uniform compared to 5 cm （T1） and 20 cm （T2）. Moreover, irrigation water use efficiency was higher in this treatment. Indeed, it increased about 18%, 14% and 7% for T3, T2 and T1, respectively when compared with surface drip irrigation. The results of the present study showed that SDI allows uniform soil moisture, minimize the evaporative loss and delivery water directly to the plant root zone and consequently increases use efficiency. Further research is needed in order to determine whether corn production with SDI is feasible in the arid region.

Effect of Sustainable Land Management Practices on the Soil Erodibility at the Plateau of Abomey (Centre of Benin)

The soils of Benin in general and those of the department of Zou, in particular, are highly degraded. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable land management practices on soil erodibility in two villages in the Plateau of Abomey. Soil samples were collected on plots under Sustainable Land Management (SLM) measures (direct seeding, maize residue management and soybean-cereal rotation) and on their adjacent control. The soil samples were prepared and analyzed in laboratory to determine variables such as soil permeability, organic matter content, and particle size. Soil erodibility was determined as proposed by Wischmeier & Smith. The effect of SLM practices was significant (0.02) on soil permeability. On plots under SLM measurements, soil permeability is higher with an average of 93.97 mm/h at Folly and 82.43 mm/h at Hanagbo. SLM measurements significantly (0.04) added organic matter to the soil. The average organic matter of the plots under SLM measures in Folly varies from 0.73% to 1.39% while it varies from 0.49% to 0.73% in the control plots. In Hanagbo, the average organic matter of the plots under SLM measures varies from 1.86% to 2.48% against 1.41% to 1.66% for the control plots. Regarding soil erodibility, it was found that the influence of SLM measures is significant in both villages. In villages, direct seeding and maize residue management significantly (0.008) reduced soil erodibility compared to their adjacent controls, while the soybean-cereal rotation measure increased soil erodibility compared to plot witnesses. The average soil erodibility of plots under SLM measures varies by 0.21 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm at 0.38 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm in the village of Hanagbo and 0.25 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm at 0.38 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm in the village of Folly. It varies from 0.24 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm at 0.28 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm for the control plots at Hanagbo and 0.31 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm at 0.37 t&sdot;h/Mj&sdot;mm in Folly. These practices can therefore be used for the sustainable use of agricultural land.

Reducing water and nitrogen inputs combined with plastic mulched ridge-furrow irrigation improves soil water and salt status in arid saline areas,China

Plastic mulched ridge-furrow irrigation is a useful method to improve crop productivity and decrease salt accumulation in arid saline areas.However,inappropriate irrigation and fertilizer practices may result in ecological and environmental problems.In order to improve the resource use efficiency in these areas,we investigated the effects of different irrigation amounts(400(I1),300(I2)and 200(I3)mm)and nitrogen application rates(300(F1)and 150(F2)kg N/hm^(2))on water consumption,salt variation and resource use efficiency of spring maize(Zea mays L.)in the Hetao Irrigation District(HID)of Northwest China in 2017 and 2018.Result showed that soil water contents were 0.2%-8.9%and 13.9%-18.1%lower for I2 and I3 than for I1,respectively,but that was slightly higher for F2 than for F1.Soil salt contents were 7.8%-23.5%and 48.5%-48.9%lower for I2 than for I1 and I3,but that was 1.6%-5.5%higher for F1 than for F2.Less salt leaching at the early growth stage(from sowing to six-leaf stage)and higher salt accumulation at the peak growth stage(from six-leaf to tasseling stage and from grain-filling to maturity stage)resulted in a higher soil salt content for I3 than for I1 and I2.Grain yields for I1 and I2 were significantly higher than that for I3 and irrigation water use efficiency for I2 was 14.7%-34.0%higher than that for I1.Compared with F1,F2 increased the partial factor productivity(PFP)of nitrogen fertilizer by more than 80%.PFP was not significantly different between I1F2 and I2F2,but significantly higher than those of other treatments.Considering the goal of saving water and nitrogen resources,and ensuring food security,we recommended the combination of I2F2 to ensure the sustainable development of agriculture in the HID and other similar arid saline areas.

Soil Health and Sustainable Land Resource Management Practices at Municipal Level: A Case from Bheri Nagarpalika (Municipality), Jajorkot District, Nepal

The increasing challenges of pressure and ever-growing demands on limited resources in Nepal by diverse actors,land degradation,biodiversity loss and climate change require the rational use of land resources to sustain and enhance productivity and maintain resilient ecosystems for achieving the sustainable and efficient use of resources,taking into account biophysical and socioeconomic dimensions.Regarding this,Nepal Government has realized and taken initiation of scientific and sustainable land use zoning following the National Land Use Act 2019(2076 B.S.)to use land resources in practicable and sustainable manner.Using spatial information techniques such asZ-3 satellite image,remote sensing(RS),global positioning system(GPS)and geographic information system(GIS).Multicriteria decision making(MCDM)methods for acquiring spatial/temporal data,through expert judgment techniques based on field observation as well as laboratory analysis result,it was found that the soil nutrient status of,the municipality varied spatially and has pH with very high acidic to slightly alkaline but most of the soils are slightly acidic(39.58%).Majority of the soil are loam and sandy loam type with very low to high level of organic matter.Most of the municipal area is under medium range of organic matter.Nitrogen content ranges from very low to very high level as to same ranges of phosphorous(37.69%).Potassium level is also in very high to low as 37 percent land area has high level of potassium.Reclamation of acidic soil mainly in leachable soil is recommended with the proper management of Nitrogen with addition of organic matter is needed to manage for improving crop production.

Management Implications of Aquifer Fractures on Ecosystem and Habitat Suitability for Panthers in Southern Florida

Our case study analyzed the proximity of previously mapped fractures in the aquifer matrix to 93 Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) dens mapped from 2007-2016 in south Florida. Dens occurred in five counties (Collier = 77, Dade = 1, Hendry = 9, Lee = 5, and Monroe = 1) and three sub-basins of the Greater Everglades Basin (Big Cypress Swamp = 83, Caloosahatchee = 3, and Everglades = 7). Fractured aquifers occur worldwide, but are not the focus of habitat suitability studies, despite evidence that fractures influence plant species composition and density. Habitat alterations can occur many kilometers from the surface footprint of groundwater alterations in the regional Floridan aquifer system via preferential flow through fractures. Increased natural discharge from and recharge to the aquifer occur at fracture intersections. Greater induced recharge and habitat changes also may occur at fracture intersections. All dens were within 5 km of a previously mapped fracture;36% and 74% were within 1 km and 2 km, respectively, of those fractures;and 47%, 74%, and 90% of dens were within 2 km, 3.25 km and 5 km, respectively, from the nearest fracture intersection. Results suggest fractures influence the suitability and/or availability of habitat for panther dens, selection of den sites, and availability as well as abundance of high quality prey items essential for the nutritional demands of successfully rearing panther kittens in the wild. We recommend more detailed investigations of: a) vegetation characteristics near dens, b) groundwater alterations and cumulative impacts of those alterations associated with fractures in panther habitat (e.g., altered plant species composition and density), and c) influence of aquifer fractures in all habitats underlain by fractures.

Effects of land use patterns on slope soil water in the semiarid Loess Plateau,China

Land use patterns(LUPs)are the form in which various land use types are combined spatially,evidently impacting soil water.However,the influence mechanism by which LUPs form remains unclear.In this study,the soil water content(SWC)in the 0–160-cm soil depth was observed in shrubland(SL),mature forestland(MF),grassland(GL)and young forestland(YF)sites on four slopes with different LUPs in the Yangjuangou catchment of the Chinese Loess Plateau.The SWC in SL-YF-SL(13.28%)was significantly greater than that in YF-MF(9.93%),MF-GL-YF(10.38%)and SL-MF(10.83%)and was temporally stable during the study period.The spatial distribution of SWC along the slope differed among the four LUPs.Vegetation characteristics and soil texture mainly determined the spatial variations in SWC in the shallow soil layers(0–40 cm),while topographic factors were the determinants in the deep soil layers(60–160 cm)as well as in the entire soil profile(0–160 cm).The significance of SWC differences among the various land use patterns increased with decreasing precipitation during the growing seasons.YF-MF(77.8 mm)and SL-YF-GL(73.9 mm)required more rainwater than SL-MF(68.2 mm)and MF-GL-MF(67.5 mm)to compensate for the loss of soil water on the monthly scale during the rainy season.Therefore,vegetation restoration should consider land use patterns on hillslopes for soil water conservation.

Coupling the hydrological and ecological process to implement the sustainable water resources management in Hanjiang River Basin

Research on the combination of hydrological variation and ecological demands plays an important role in water availability assessment and sustainable management on basin scale. An integrative frame, consisting of hydrological regime modelling, ecological water demands estimation and renewable resources management, is given in this paper in order to support the implementation of the sustainable water resources management. The suggested integrative frame has been used to study the integrated water resources management in southern Hanjiang River Basin which is the water source of South-toNorth Water Transportation Project in China. SWAT (soil and water assessment tool) model was used to simulate the monthly averaging streamflow and the amounts of ecological water demands in stream were also estimated in order to evaluate the available water resources for the local users and the transportation project. Then we formed the developing scenarioes by coupling the available water resources, the recovering rate of water resources in natural water cycle, the local water use rate and the amounts of the water transported to North, and used the Scheafer model to analyze their evolving trajectories. Eventually, the sustainable water resources management measures were assembled by the comprehensive evaluation of the scenarioes. The research indicates that the integrative frame provided a new way for the integrated water resources management in river basin.

中国广义农业水土资源匹配及利用状况动态评价

作为农业发展的核心要素,水土资源匹配态势与利用程度决定着中国农业可持续发展及食物安全。为优化中国农业水土资源配置,该研究基于2000—2020年31个省市的统计数据,采用基尼系数评价农业水土匹配状况,提出广义农业水土匹配系数揭示各省农业水土资源匹配状况及配比程度,联合匹配特征与水土利用状况确定各省农业水土资源利用类型区。结果表明:1)研究期内,中国灌溉水与耕地分布差距较大(基尼系数均值0.424),匹配情况变差;广义农业水资源与耕地资源分布相对合理(基尼系数均值为0.360),无显著变化趋势。地理区及省际间农业水土匹配程度存在较大差异。华北、西北和东北地区匹配状况为“土多水少”,华东、华中和西南地区匹配状况为“水多土少”,广东(广义农业水土匹配系数均值为2.06)和云南(广义农业水土匹配系数均值为1.02)匹配程度分别为各省市最低和最高,匹配状况均为“水多土少”;2)农业水土资源利用程度空间异质性明显,垦殖率东南高西北低,农业水资源利用程度北高南低;3)吉林、新疆、江苏水土资源配置情况变差(转为低匹配高开发区),北京水土资源配置情况有所好转(转为高匹配低开发区)。研究结果能够为国家农业水土资源优化配置相关决策提供支撑,对实现国家食物安全及农业可持续发展具有重要意义。

山区水土流失防治与土地资源持续利用关系探讨

山区水土流失与土地利用的关系非常密切。不仅因为水土流失的发生和发展从根本上是人类不合理开发利用土地资源的行为所致,而且,水土流失的日益严重又直接影响和制约着土地资源的可持续利用,进而危及山区经济社会的可持续发展。本文提出了水土流失山区土地资源可持续利用的特定内涵,水土流失防治必须以土地资源合理利用为前提。针对以往土地利用规划与水土保持规划各自为政的弊端和教训,应当着眼于土地合理利用与水土保持措施的有机结合,把土地利用规划与水土保持规划“合二为一”,以实现水土流失山区土地资源可持续利用和山区人地关系的协调发展。

试论水土保持在我国水资源可持续发展中的战略地位

通过分析我国水资源现状、特点及存在的主要问题 ,说明我国是世界上贫水国家之一。从经济持续发展、人口剧增及城市化、水土流失及流域生态环境日益恶化等方面 ,阐述了我国水资源短缺面临的问题及其产生原因。且随着人口的增长和经济的高速发展 ,水资源短缺日益严重。着重探讨了水土流失的危害及水土保持在解决我国水资源短缺、改善生态环境等问题中的作用。说明水土保持在我国水资源可持续发展中具有重要的战略地位。

水土保持与耕地资源持续利用

耕地资源持续利用是农业和国民经济发展的基础。我国耕地资源的现状为 :人均耕地少、优质耕地少、耕地后备资源少、耕地退化严重、耕地浪费严重和耕地保护措施不力 ;耕地水土流失范围广、面积大 ,人为因素是加剧耕地水土流失的根本原因 ;水土流失导致耕地数量减少、质量下降 ,严重制约粮食生产的发展 ;加强水土保持 ,可防止耕地数量减少、质量下降 ,且能有效地改善耕地环境状况 。

河北省农业的可持续发展与水土资源的可持续利用

对河北省水土资源状况、农业可持续发展内涵及水土资源承载力等问题进行了分析 。

内蒙古土地整理与水土资源可持续利用研究

本文对内蒙古水土资源条件和利用特点、土地整理潜力、粮食生产能力等进行了分析评价,认为内蒙古土地资源丰富,耕地面积大,集中连片,但水资源严重不足,这是该区经济发展的主要限制因素。为此,本文提出了在有限水资源条件下的内蒙古土地整理的规划布局和相应的对策措施,为实现水土资源可持续开发利用提供依据。

乌兰布和沙漠区水土资源开发现状与持续性发展对策

通过对乌兰布和沙漠区水土资源开发现状的分析，指出该地区经济发展的潜力与存在的问题，并且提出了要求必须合理利用水土资源，使资源与环境持续、稳定。

重视土壤、水和肥料资源利用与保护新技术研究促进农业可持续发展

土壤、水和肥料是进行农业生产最基本的要素, 土壤、水和肥料资源利用与保护新技术研究是农业可持续发展的重要内容。本文在分析我国农业生产中土壤、水和肥料资源利用、保护现状基础上, 讨论了土壤、水和肥料资源利用、保护新技术研究的重要性, 以及土壤、水和肥料资源利用与保护新技术的特征和要求, 指出只有服从和服务于农业可持续发展战略要求的土壤、水和肥料资源利用与保护技术才是真正的农业新技术, 在此基础上进一步探讨了开展土壤、水和肥料资源利用与保护新技术研究的总体思路。