Agricultural Vulnerability to Drought in China's Agro-pastoral Ecotone:A Case Study of Yulin City,Shaanxi Province

Agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China is the prominent area for agricultural production,but it is also the most typical ecological fragile area with frequent drought disasters.Taking Yulin City at Shaanxi Province in China as the case area,the paper aims to investigate the spatio-temporal changes of agricultural vulnerability to drought in China’s agro-pastoral ecotone in the period 2000 to2020.The results show that:1)the agricultural vulnerability to drought in Yulin City has shifted from high vulnerability in the period2000–2010 to low vulnerability in the period 2011–2020.2)There exist obvious spatio-temporal differences of the agricultural vulnerability to drought in Yulin City during the research period.3)Four sensitive events and 14 resilient events were identified in the research and the crops of Yulin had become more resilient to drought.Finally,the paper put forward with policy implications to make adaptive strategies of agriculture to climate change in China’s agro-pastoral ecotone in the future,e.g.,carrying out agricultural zoning based on agricultural production conditions,intensifying the construction of disaster prevention and relief system,and integrating with modern agricultural technology to develop new type agriculture.

Changes in soil carbon stocks and related soil properties along a 50-year grassland-to-cropland conversion chronosequence in an agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia,China

Land use change significantly influences soil properties. There is little information available on the long-term effects of post-reclamation from grassland to cropland on soil properties. We compared soil carbon （C） and nitrogen （N） storage and related soil properties in a 50-year cultivation chronosequence of grassland in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia. Field surveys on land use changes during the period of 1955-2002 were conducted to build a chronosequence of cropland of different ages since the conversion from grassland. The results showed that soil C and N storage, soil texture, and soil nutrient contents varied with land use types and cropland ages （P〈0.01）. In the 0-30 cm soil layer, the soil organic carbon （SOC） density was significantly lower in the crop- lands （3.28 kg C/m2 for C50 soil） than in the grasslands （6.32 kg C/m2）. After 5, 10, 15, 20, 35, and 50 years of crop planting （years since the onset of cultivation）, the SOC losses were 17%, 12%, 19%, 47%, 46%, and 48%, respec- tively, compared with the grasslands. The soil total nitrogen （TN） density of the grasslands was 65 g N/m2, and TN density of the cropland soil was 35 g N/m2 after 50 years of crop planting. Both the SOC and TN densities could be quantitatively determined by a negative exponential function of cropland age （P〈0.0001, R2=0.8528; P〈0.0001, R2=0.9637）. The dissolved organic carbon （DOC） content, pH value were decreased; and the soil bulk density and soil available potassium （AK） content, clay content, and sand content were increased since the conversion of grassland into cropland during the 50-year period. Our results show soil nutrients were higher in grassland than in cropland. The conversion of grasslands to croplands induced a loss of soil C storage and changes of related soil properties. The reclamation time of cultivated soil （cropland age） had significant effects on soil properties in the study area.

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.

Alpine ecotone in the Siberian Mountains:vegetation response to warming

Birch(Betula tortuosa)is one of the treeline forming species within the Siberian Mountains.We analysed the area dynamics of birch stands and the upslope climb of birch treeline based on the Landsat time series scenes and on-ground data.We found that since the warming onset(1970th)birch area increased by 10%,birch stands and treeline boundary were moving upslope with a rate of 1.4 m/yr and 4.0 m/yr.Birch upslope shift correlated with air temperatures at the beginning(May-June)and the end(August-October)of the growth period.Meanwhile,no correlation was found between birch upslope migration and precipitation.Winds negatively influenced both birch area growth and birch upslope climb during spring,fall,and wintertime.In the windy habitats,birch,together with larch and Siberian pine,formed clusters(hedges)which mitigated the influence of adverse winds.These clusters are the adaptive pattern for trees’upslope climb within windward slopes.The other adaptation to the harsh alpine ecotone habitat is non-leaf(bark)photosynthesis which supports tree survival.Thereby,Betula tortuosa upslope climb depends on the wind impact and warming in spring and fall that extended growth period.With ongoing warming and observed wind speed decrease on the background of sufficient precipitation,it is expected to further birch advance into alpine tundra in the Siberian Mountains.

Wavelet analysis of spring climate characteristics in arid aeolian area of agro-pastoral ecotone in China

The unique regional climate characteristics are among the main reasons for the frequent wind-sand activity in arid and cold areas in the agro-pastoral ecotone in Inner Mongolia, China. This paper focuses on the time series of temperature and precipitation in spring when sandstorms often occur in the area. Based on meteorological data for a 46-year period from 1959 to 2004, multi-scale variations and abrupt changes in temperature and precipitation were analyzed with the Mexican hat function （MHF） wavelet method, showing the multi-scale variation characteristics of temperature and precipitation, as well as the periods and change points at different time scales. The relationship between temperature and precipitation was obtained using the wavelet analysis method. Obvious staggered features of the variations of spring temperature and precipitation were observed in this agro-pastoral ecotone. The strongest oscillation periods of spring temperature variations were 1 and 22 years, while for precipitation, the strongest oscillation periods of variations were 2, 8, and 22 years. In addition, lower spring temperature corresponded to lower precipitation, whereas higher temperature yielded higher precipitation rate.

Strategies for Prioritizing Ecological Construction with Consideration of Agricultural Industry Development in Northern China’s Agro- pastoral Ecotone : A Perspective of Opportunity Cost

In northern China’s agro-pastoral ecotone,there are conflicts between agricultural industry and ecological construction resource competition,and also problems urgently to be solved for economic growth and sustainable ecological improvement.Taking the development concept of"lucid waters and lush mountains being mountains of gold and silver"as the guiding principle of prioritizing ecological and green development,this paper studied the strategies for prioritizing ecological construction with consideration of economic development of agricultural industry from the perspective of opportunity cost.Through the analysis of opportunity cost,externality,and Pareto optimal theory,and using the calculation method of the unit equivalent factor value of terrestrial ecological service function,this paper calculated the ecological service value of forest,grassland,and farmland.It found that the ecological value of forest and grassland per unit area was greater than the ecological value of agricultural industry.This indicates that the opportunity cost of farmland for ecological construction was less than that of agricultural industry.Based on the theoretical and quantitative analysis,it came up with recommendations for establishing a comprehensive system for prioritizing ecological construction with consideration of agricultural industry development and establishing and improving the incentive mechanism of ecological construction.

Land engineering and its role for sustainable agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone:A case study of Yulin, Shaanxi Province, China

With global climate change, the agricultural light-temperature potential productivity in the agro-pastoral ecotone has increased. This offers a good opportunity to develop agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone. However, the agro-pastoral ecotone is also an ecologically fragile area in which land degradation challenges agricultural development. As population grows and the need for food increases, the land carrying capacity of the agro-pastoral ecotone becomes insufficient, and the human–land relationship is not harmonious. Such conditions have limited the agricultural and rural development in the ecotone. The paper demonstrates how land engineering may improve land quality and support agricultural development in the ecotone based on studies at a research station established in 2015 in Yulin,Shaanxi Province, China. The studies target three factors: soil improvement, crop selection,and field management. The results show that:(1) The highest yield of crops planted on improved land is close to or even higher than that achieved under previous crop growth conditions. For instance, the corn yields can exceed 25%.(2) The potatoes grown on the improved land yield the highest gross income, reaching 67,200 yuan/ha. By way of land engineering,input costs can be balanced in 3–5 years.(3) As a result of land engineering, some villages in Yulin City have realized sustainable agricultural and even rural development, and promotion of this model will support the sustainable development of agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone.

Soil microbial community assemblage and its seasonal variability in alpine treeline ecotone on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The alpine treeline ecotone is characterized as the upper limit of the forest in the high-mountain ecosystem.Due to the freeze-thaw cycles,the soil organism community,such as microbial communities are expected to change between seasons.However,there are limited microbialcommunity studies focused on the high altitude alpine ecosystem.We conducted a study in the alpine treeline ecotone on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China,and investigated the seasonal variability of the soil microbial community.We collected all soil samples within the alpine treeline ecotone,between the treeline and timberline in the high-mountain region.The 16S rRNA genes of the microbial communities(bacterial and archaeal)were analyzed by highthroughput sequencing to the genus level.The results showed that soil microbial community in the alpine treeline ecotone was consistently dominated by eight phyla which consisted of 95% of the total microbial community,including Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,Acidobacteria,Firmicutes,Planctomycetes,Chloroflexi,Bacteroidetes,and Verrucomicrobia.The overall diversity and evenness of the community were relatively stable,with an average of 0.5% difference between seasons.The highest seasonal variability occurred at the upper boundary of the alpine treeline ecotone,and few or almost no seasonal change was observed at lower elevations,indicating dense forest cover and litter deposition might have created a local microclimate that reduced seasonal variation among the surrounding environmental conditions.Our study was one of the first group that documented the microbial community assemblage in the treeline ecotone on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Exploring the spatio-temporal impacts of farmland reforestation on ecological connectivity using circuit theory:A case study in the agro-pastoral ecotone of North China

Farmland reforestation can contribute substantially to ecological restoration.Previous studies have extensively examined the ecological effects of farmland reforestation,but few of them have investigated the spatiotemporal responses of broad-scale landscape connectivity to reforestation.By using a typical agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China as a case study,we addressed this issue based on an innovative integration of circuit theory approach and counterfactual analysis.The forest connectivity through multiple dispersal pathways was measured using the circuit theory approach,and its spatiotemporal changes after reforestation were evaluated by counterfactual analysis.The results showed that from 2000–2015,the reforested farmland occupied 2095 km^2,and 12.5% was on steeply sloped land.Farmland reforestation caused a greater increase in ecological connectivity by adding new ecological corridors and stepping stones in scattered forest areas rather than in areas with dense forest distributions.The newly added corridors and stepping stones were fragmented,short and narrow and thus deserve powerful protection.Future reforestation to improve landscape connectivity should highlight pinch point protection and obstacle removal as well as the tradeoff between farmland loss and farmer survival.Our findings are expected to inform the optimization of the Grain for Green policy from the perspective of broad-scale biodiversity conservation.

Impacts of regional land-use patterns on ecosystem services in the typical agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China

A comprehensive understanding of the spatial-temporal evolution and driving forces on ecosystem services(ES)is essential for the agro-pastoral ecotone’s ecological security in northern China.However,the land-use pattern(LULC)agglomeration with spatial differentiation in the pastoral and agricultural areas has been rarely concerned.Taking distinct LULC(1980-2018)in Chifeng as an example,we compared four crucial categories of ESs with InVEST.Using SEM,we further contrasted the effects of several variables on regional ES variations in pastoral-dominated(North)and agriculture-dominated(South)regions,respectively.Results revealed the conversion between forest and grassland oriented the LULC transformation in the North.In contrast,human-activitiy-oriented land tended to occupy environmentally sensitive places in the South.Similar ES variations were supplied with the North outperforming the South when soil conservation was omitted.As for the impacts of regional ES variations,the natural and LULC policies both showed positive effects,whereas the anthropogenic factors showed positive in the North,which was negative in the South.Therefore,the ecologicallymaintained-dominant and ecologically-restored-dominant strategies should be separately adopted in the North and South.Our study provided appropriate regional ecological management suggestions for balancing the LULC-driven conflicts between ecological protection and regional development.

Dynamics of the Alpine Treeline Ecotone under Global Warming:A Review

The alpine treeline ecotone is defined as a forest-grassland or forest-tundra transition boundary either between subalpine forest and treeless grassland,or between subalpine forest and treeless tundra.The alpine treeline ecotone serves irreplaceable ecological functions and provides various ecosystem services.There are three lines associated with the alpine treeline ecotone,the tree species line(i.e.,the highest elevational limit of individual tree establishment and growth),the treeline(i.e.,the transition line between tree islands and isolated individual trees)and the timber line(i.e.,the upper boundary of the closed subalpine forest).The alpine treeline ecotone is the belt region between the tree species line and the timber line of the closed forest.The treeline is very sensitive to climate change and is often used as an indicator for the response of vegetation to global warming.However,there is currently no comprehensive review in the field of alpine treeline advance under global warming.Therefore,this review summarizes the literature and discusses the theoretical bases and challenges in the study of alpine treeline dynamics from the following four aspects:(1)Ecological functions and issues of treeline dynamics;(2)Methodology for monitoring treeline dynamics;(3)Treeline shifts in different climate zones;(4)Driving factors for treeline upward shifting.

岷江源区亚高山森林-高山草地生态系统界面土壤无机磷赋存特征及其影响因子

土壤无机磷是高寒生态系统有效磷的重要来源,研究亚高山森林-高山草地生态系统界面的土壤无机磷组分动态及其影响因素有助于深刻理解该生态系统的生物地球化学循环过程。本研究采用Tiessen修订的Hedley磷素分级法,分析了岷江源区卡卡山和斗鸡台亚高山森林-高山草地生态系统界面不同深度土壤(0-15和15-30 cm)无机磷组分的季节动态(生长初期、生长盛期、生长末期)和空间赋存特征及其主要影响因子。结果表明:1)不同形态土壤无机磷的含量受到生长期、植被类型及其交互作用的显著影响(P<0.05);斗鸡台土壤活性无机磷(NaHCO_(3)-Pi)含量在生长季初期最低;卡卡山草甸(56.0 mg·kg^(-1))、树种线(68.4 mg·kg^(-1))和密闭森林(65.7 mg·kg^(-1))土壤活性无机磷含量在生长季末期最高(P<0.05);两处生态系统界面的土壤中等活性无机磷(NaOH-Pi)含量在生长季末期均达到最高值(P<0.05)。2)密闭森林样带的土壤无机磷主要形态是活性无机磷,HCl-Pi是树种线样带土壤无机磷的主要形态,中等活性无机磷和残留无机磷(Residual-P)是草甸区土壤无机磷的主要形态。3)土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、含水量、酸碱度以及土壤碳氮磷化学计量比与土壤无机磷组分含量显著相关(P<0.05)。研究结果表明,生长期、植被类型和土壤理化性质与无机磷组分的变化显著相关。

国内外高山林线研究综述

高山林线作为山地郁闭林和高山草甸的分界在山地生态系统中占有重要地位。以往对山地生态的研究远少于对其它类型陆地生态系统的研究，高山林线方面的研究就更为缺乏。讨论了高山林线的概念和内容，对国内外高山林线研究及特点作了简单回顾，指出高山林线的研究意义及在我国开展此项研究的初步方案。

川西高山树线群落交错带地被物及土壤的水文效应

采用样带法,以川西米亚罗林区鹧鸪山高山树线群落交错带为研究对象,分析交错带地被物和土壤的持水特性及其变化规律。结果表明:地被物最大持水量为33.55～140.03t·hm-2,暗针叶林>林线>树线>密灌丛>草甸>疏灌丛,暗针叶林枯落物最大持水量显著高于疏密灌丛和草甸;林线地被物拦蓄降水的作用最明显;暗针叶林以苔藓层和枯落物层具有最大有效拦蓄效果,林线和树线以苔藓层具有最大有效拦蓄效果,疏密灌丛以枯落物层具有最大有效拦蓄效果,高山草甸草本层、苔藓层、枯落物层有效拦蓄效果相当;0～30cm土壤饱和蓄水量都在2000t·hm-2以上,暗针叶林>林线>疏灌丛>密灌丛≈草甸>树线;各群落0～30cm土层非毛管持水量为575.89～801.46t·hm-2,表现为暗针叶林>疏灌丛>树线>密灌丛>林线>草甸。

东祁连山灌-草群落交错带土壤呼吸动态及影响因子分析

为探究高寒灌-草交错带土壤呼吸动态及影响因素,应用LI-8100A 土壤呼吸自动测定系统,对东祁连山典型灌丛-草地交错带土壤呼吸动态及土壤因子进行测定,分析呼吸速率与土壤因子的相互关系.结果表明,整个交错带内土壤呼吸速率的均值介于2.3～7.2μmol/（m2·s）,各样地间土壤呼吸速率大小顺序为珠芽蓼草甸中心（S1）〉草甸-金露梅灌丛交错区（MSC1）〉金露梅灌丛中心（S2）〉 金露梅- 杜鹃灌丛交错区（MSC2）〉 杜鹃灌丛中心（S3）,S1 和MSC1 样地的土壤呼吸日变化呈单峰型,峰值出现在14：00,S2、MSC2、S3 样地峰型不明显,且日变幅较小,仅为0.3～1.1μmol/（m2·s）;交错带内土壤物理性质和养分储量呈明显的垂直分异规律,土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度、全磷储量呈极显著的正相关（P〈0.01）,与土壤含水量极显著负相关（P〈0.01）,与0～20cm 土壤有机碳储量呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）;拟合分析显示,土壤温度、含水量和全磷储量是土壤呼吸速率的主要限制因子,土壤呼吸与土壤温度拟合系数最高,可解释土壤呼吸空间变异的79.9%.

高山树线交错带及其对全球气候变化的响应研究进展

高山树线交错带(Alpine treeline ecotone,ATE),处于高寒严酷气候胁迫的临界状态,是高海拔生态系统承受环境变化压力最大的地带之一,全球性和区域性气候变暖必然在这一生态界面上有所反映。已有的研究表明,高山树线交错带对气候变化的响应方式及强度,因地形、ATE类型和物种组成以及研究方法和尺度而异。在气候变化的背景下,关于ATE的动态对高海拔生态系统土壤生物地化过程及碳循环的影响的相关研究还比较缺乏,而土壤生物过程对环境因子的敏感度远高于植物群落演替对环境变化的响应。因此,今后的研究应该结合各学科的最新研究手段,在不同尺度上开展对ATE的生态和土壤过程与机理方面的定量研究。

高寒农牧交错带植被恢复对土壤有机碳、全氮含量的影响

以耕地为对照,研究了高寒农牧交错带种植老芒麦草和撂荒2种植被恢复措施对土壤有机碳和全氮含量的影响.结果表明,与耕地相比较种植老芒麦草和撂荒使0-30 cm土层土壤总有机碳含量分别增加了19.7%-22.4%和7.3%-10.6%,颗粒有机碳(0.05-2.00 mm)含量分别增加了43.0%-52.3%和28.7%-59.8%,土壤全氮含量分别增加了12.0%-20.6%和5.4%-13.7%.这一结果说明,在高寒农牧交错带通过种植老芒麦草或者撂荒植被恢复措施,对于提高土壤有机质含量和全氮含量、恢复土壤质量具有非常显著的效果.

高寒农牧交错区退耕还林政策实施效应评价

高寒农牧交错区的生态经济系统十分脆弱。退耕还林政策的实施有力地促进了地区生态环境的改善,并对当地社会经济的可持续发展产生深远影响。以青海省湟中县为例,通过入户问卷调查和退耕地样方调查,有针对性、具体地评价退耕还林生态、经济、社会效益,并结合研究区现存问题,提出了相应对策和建议。

高寒农牧交错区退耕还林政策实施效应评价

高寒农牧交错区的生态经济系统十分脆弱。退耕还林政策的实施有力地促进了地区生态环境的改善,并对当地社会经济的可持续发展产生深远影响。以青海省湟中县为例,通过入户问卷调查和退耕地样方调查,有针对性、具体地评价退耕还林生态、经济、社会效益,并结合研究区现存问题,提出了相应对策和建议。

高寒农牧交错区生态重建与经济发展互动模型及应用研究

以高寒农牧交错区为研究对象,运用灰色关联法,建立了高寒农牧交错区生态重建与经济发展的互动模型。模型结果表明:(1)生态重建与地区经济发展之间存在极强的关联性,二者互为驱动,相互促进,交互耦合构成生态经济系统;(2)在生态与经济互动中,经济系统的影响占优,表明经济贫困是生态重建的最大限制因素;(3)农户作为生态重建和经济发展的行为决策者是生态经济互动链的节点。在此基础上,结合样点村实际,选择林药结合的退耕模式、移民搬迁、建设小城镇和发展反季节蔬菜基地等作为实现研究区经济与生态协调发展的具体模式与有效途径。