scholarly journals Combination of Chemical and Cyanobacterial Inoculation Promotes Biocrust Development: A Novel Perspective for Combating Desertification

Author(s):  
Shubin Lan ◽  
Federico Rossi
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Tamara Palanački Malešević ◽  
Tamara Dulić ◽  
Igor Obreht ◽  
Zorana Trivunović ◽  
Rastko Marković ◽  
...  

Loess is a highly porous and easily erosive aeolian sediment covering approximately 10% of the Earth’s surface. The weak vegetation cover and high wind speeds in many of these regions make loess sediment the main source of dust in the atmosphere. Dust particles deteriorate air quality and affect soils, crops, water systems, and animal and human health. The commonly used method for combating desertification is revegetation. However, planting various vascular plant species in loess landscapes did not show any long-lasting positive effects. This study aims to assess the potential of cyanobacterial strains for the restoration of exposed loess surfaces through the assisted development of biological loess crusts (BLCs). Isolated cyanobacterial loess strains were screened for the traits (toxicity, biomass and polysaccharide production) desirable for their use in restoration purposes. By simulating semi-arid environmental conditions in specially designed chambers, the potential of cyanobacterial loess strains for assisted development of BLCs and the mechanisms of loess stabilization have been evaluated by chlorophyll a accumulation and microscopic examination. It was confirmed that cyanobacteria have the ability to interact with loess particles resulting in BLC formation, which keeps the particles immobilized and the sediment below the particles stabilized.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. e0179903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan-Ho Park ◽  
Xin Rong Li ◽  
Yang Zhao ◽  
Rong Liang Jia ◽  
Jae-Seoun Hur

2021 ◽  
Vol 904 (1) ◽  
pp. 011001

The ICDS conference intends to bring together junior and senior, international and national researchers, scientists and scholars interesting in the field of desertification combat and water harvesting in desert regions. We think the conference will offer an excellent opportunity for networking with other members and exchange knowledge and explore the most recent developments in the desertification combat such as Water Resources Management in Desert Regions, Ecosystem and Biodiversity of Desert, Geology and Remote Sensing for Combating Desertification, Recent Agricultural Techniques Serving in Desert Soil Management, and Desert Regions Exploitation for Agricultural Production Regards. ICDS-2021 is a prestigious event organized by the Center of Desert Studies in cooperation with the College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, with a motivation to provide an excellent international platform for academicians, researchers, engineers, industrial participants and budding students around the world to share their research results with the global experts. We cordially invited participants from all over the world who wish to share their best practices and research findings in ICDS-2021 and enlighten their new ideas to make this event growing from strength to strength. Participants will be offered the opportunity to contribute to the conference in various roles: they can discuss keynotes, produce a poster presentation and submit full research or review articles. Articles submitted to the conference should report original high-quality and previously unpublished results. Submission of a manuscript implies that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. All submitted articles will be subjected to a double-blind peer-review process. Novelty, relevancy, language standards, references, and many other factors are considered for the evaluation process. The conference nominated Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Amir Ibrahim (College of Agriculture & Life Science Texas A&M University, U.S.), Prof. Dr. Medhat M. Elsahookie (College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Iraq), and Prof. Dr. Wadid Erian (Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt) as keynote speakers. ICDS-2021 will be held basically via physical attendance (In-person) for two days 17-18 November, 2021 in Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq. Each participant will be given approximately 10 minutes to view the most important findings of his/her research, and 5 minutes to discuss these results. Sincerely yours, Prof. Dr. Nihad Mohammed Aboud Director of the Center of Desert Studies/University of Anbar The Chairman of ICDS-2021 List of Committees (ICDS-2021) are available in this pdf.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hassan Sadeghravesh ◽  
Hassan Khosravi ◽  
Azam Abolhasani ◽  
Sahar Shekoohizadeghan

According to the extent of damage, various effects and complexity of desertification process, selecting appropriate alternatives considering all effective desertification criterions is one of the main concerns of Iran in the field of natural resources. This can be effective in controlling, reclamation of disturbed lands and avoiding destruction areas at desertification risk. This paper tries to provide a systematic and optimal alternatives in a group decision-making model. For this aim, PROMETHEE II method was used for ranking desertification alternatives. At the first in the framework of Multiple Attribute Decision-making (MADM), normalized decision matrix was provided by  Delphi model. Then, to ease and accuracy in estimating the criteria preference and alternatives priority, the normalized decision matrix data were entered in Visual PROMETHEE software. Based on the results, the alternatives of prevention of unsuitable land use changes (A18), vegetation cover development and reclamation (A23) and modification of ground water harvesting (A31) with pure out ranking progress of =0.3660, 0.1909 and -0.0887 were selected as the main combating desertification altarnative in the study area, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that the obtained results and ranking should be considered in projects of controlling and reducing the effects of desertification and rehabilitatyion of degraded lands plans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. 01046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleg Misnikov

The article discusses the perspectives of the use of peat to solve several issues. First, there are prospects of using peat fuel for solving energy problems. Second, there is a need to use peat processing products for increasing soil fertility and combating desertification of territories. The author considers a possible solution of the problem of utilization of livestock wastes together with the obtaining of peat composts. The objective prerequisites for increasing the volume of peat extraction in the Russian Federation are given. The article discusses features of the main technologies for the extraction of milled and sod peat. The interrelation of the technology of peat harvesting with the technology of its further processing is substantiated. A limited amount of technological equipment produced in Russia causes the need for its importing. The paper overviews the main peat extraction technologies used in Western Europe and Canada. An analysis of the features of technological processes related to the characteristics of raw materials and the needs of the market is made. The tendencies in development of production of technological equipment are considered. Currently, it is recommended to use mixed sets of technological equipment of various manufacturers.


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