Homegarden agroecosystems managed by Salar people on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract Background Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China living mainly in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County (Xunhua or Xunhua County), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people are skilled in horticulture and their homegarden (HG) management. They are regarded as the first people on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, traditional farming systems, and supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their HGs always contributes significantly to the local livelihood, food security, ornamental value, and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China’s rural areas, especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar HGs mostly based on agrobiodiversity and its ecosystem services. Methods The methods used in this work included semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. A total of 60 households in three townships, 9 villages were surveyed. There are 4–12 family members in each household, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m2. Plant species cultivated in Salar HGs were identified according to Flora of China. Based on a comprehensive survey of Salar HGs and related to background data, we identified and characterized the most important services and functions provided by Salar HGs. Results According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of Salar HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total, 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were recorded in Salar HGs, within 43 plant families. The most important and frequently used plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgar, Prunus salicina, and Ziziphus jujuba. About 4 to 32 plant species were recorded in each homegarden. We found that the Salar HGs, as a typical agroecosyste, prossess multiple servcices and functions that directly benefit households according to the field investigation. Conclusion This paper reveals the floristic diversity of Salar HGs. It presents useful information in the homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people, such as HG types and species diversity in Salar HGs. Ecosystem functions and services research suggested that the Salar HG agroecosystem provides agroecosystem services mainly related to supply and culture services. Salar HGs are important as food supplement resources, aesthetics symbol, and cultural spaces.

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Homegarden Agroecosystems Managed by Salar People on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

10.21203/rs.3.rs-103979/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mingjing Zhu ◽

Ben La ◽

BinSheng Luo ◽

Ruijie Chen ◽

Fenggui Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Plant Species ◽

Production Systems ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Food Supplement ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Literature Study ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Background: Salar is a Turkic-speaking Islamic ethnic group in China, who live primarily in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Salar people have engaged in agriculture especially skilled in horticulture and their homegardens (HGs)　management. They are regarded as the first people on Qinghai-Tibet plateau to practice horticulture, especially manage their HGs, which are traditional farming systems and also supplementary food production systems. Traditional knowledge of Salar people associated with their homegardens always contributes in livelihood, food security, ornamental value and biodiversity conservation. The cultivation of different plants in HGs for self-sufficiency has a long tradition in China’s rural area especially in some mountainous areas. However, Salar people’s traditional HGs have not been described. The present paper aims to report the features of Salar’s HGs focusing on agrobiodiversity and its important role. Methods: The methods used in this work included literature study, semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and panel consultation. A total of 60 households in each 9 villages were surveyed. In each household there are 4-12 family members, aged from 20 to 86 years old. The homestead size is between 200 and 1200 m2. Plant species cultivated in homegardens were identified according to Flora of China. Based on comprehensive survey of Salar people’s HGs and related background data, we identified and characterized the most important functions and ecosystem services provided by HGs of Salar people.Results: According to primary production systems, there are 4 different types of HGs, including ornamental focus, product focus, dual-purpose and multi-purpose. In total 108 (excluding weeds and bonsai) plant species were found in HGs of study area, within 43 families. The most important and frequency plants are Rosa chinensis, Armeniaca vulgaris, and Capsicum annuum. The average number of plants varied from 4 to 32 species in each homegarden in three investigated townships. HGs of Salar people contain 8 different functions and we identify and characterize 16 services: 2 regulating services, 2 support services, 4 production services and 8 culture services.Conclusion: This paper reveals the floristic diversity of HGs of Salar communities. Meanwhile, it provides basic information for homegarden agroecosystem of Salar people. Ecosystem services and function research suggested that Salar people’s homegarden agroecosystem provide ecosystem services mainly related to supply services and culture services. Salar people’s HGs are important food supplement, aesthetics and cultural spaces where knowledge related to agricultural practices is transmitted and through which households may improve their leisure and livelihoods.

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Mapping Changing Population Distribution on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau since 2000 with Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing and Point-of-Interest Data

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12244059 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (24) ◽

pp. 4059

Author(s):

Lanhui Li ◽

Yili Zhang ◽

Linshan Liu ◽

Zhaofeng Wang ◽

Huamin Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Population Density ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Population Distribution ◽

Local Population ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Point Of Interest ◽

Tibet Autonomous Region ◽

Multi Temporal ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Advanced developments have been achieved in urban human population estimation, however, there is still a considerable research gap for the mapping of remote rural populations. In this study, based on demographic data at the town-level, multi-temporal high-resolution remote sensing data, and local population-sensitive point-of-interest (POI) data, we tailored a random forest-based dasymetric approach to map population distribution on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) for 2000, 2010, and 2016 with a spatial resolution of 1000 m. We then analyzed the temporal and spatial change of this distribution. The results showed that the QTP has a sparse population distribution overall; in large areas of the northern QTP, the population density is zero, accounting for about 14% of the total area of the QTP. About half of the QTP showed a rapid increase in population density between 2000 and 2016, mainly located in the eastern and southern parts of Qinghai Province and the central-eastern parts of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Regarding the relative importance of variables in explaining population density, the variables “Distance to Temples” is the most important, followed by “Density of Villages” and “Elevation”. Furthermore, our new products exhibited higher accuracy compared with five recently released gridded population density datasets, namely WorldPop, Gridded Population of the World version 4, and three national gridded population datasets for China. Both the root-mean-square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) for our products were about half of those of the compared products except for WorldPop. This study provides a reference for using fine-scale demographic count and local population-sensitive POIs to model changing population distribution in remote rural areas.

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Field investigation on the influence of periglacial processes on pile foundations on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes ◽

10.1002/ppp.2092 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lei Guo ◽

Yanhui You ◽

Qihao Yu ◽

Zhaoyun Shi ◽

Hongbi Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Field Investigation ◽

Pile Foundations ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

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Accumulation of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements (PTEs) by Native Plant Species Growing in a Typical Gold Mining Area Located in the Northeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

10.21203/rs.3.rs-437528/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lei Wang ◽

Xiaorong Xie ◽

Qifeng Li ◽

Zhifeng Yu ◽

Guangde Hu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Mining Area ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Native Plant ◽

Toxic Trace Elements ◽

Native Plant Species ◽

Mining Areas ◽

Potentially Toxic Trace Elements ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

Abstract Though gold mines provide significant economic benefits to local governments, mining causes soil pollution by potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) in mining areas, especially in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Screening of native plant species from mining areas is now an effective, inexpensive, and eco-friendly method for the remediation of PTEs in situ. In the present study, we conducted experiments to assess the accumulation of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in 12 native plant species growing on a typical gold mining area in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our results showed that rhizosphere soils have high soil organic matter content, high levels of As, and moderate levels of Cd. G. pylzowianum accumulated relatively higher As in its shoots and exhibited TF higher than 1 for As (4.65), Cd (1.87), and Pb (1.36). P. saundersiana had BCF-S higher than 1 for Cd (4.52) and Pb (1.70), whereas its TF was higher than 1 for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. These plant species also exhibit strong tolerance to these PTEs. Furthermore, E. nutans accumulated low levels of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in their shoots and exhibited TF values lower than 1 for the four PTEs. Therefore, G. pylzowianum could be used for the in situ phytoextraction of As, and P. saundersiana can be used as an effective plant for Cd and Pb phytoextraction. E. nutans is better suited for the phytostabilisation of multiple PTEs. Our study is of significant importance for introducing native plant species to remediate PTE-contaminated soils, particularly As and Cd, and has a good potential for developing PTE phytoremediation strategies at mining sites.

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Diversity and breeding potential of poplar species in China

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc77227-2 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 227-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Horst Weisgerber ◽

Yifan Han

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Production Systems ◽

Growth Characteristics ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Regeneration Ability ◽

Poplar Breeding ◽

Species Characteristics ◽

Adaptation Processes ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau ◽

Near Future

The genus Populus is composed of many species with an impressive variety of growth characteristics. Nevertheless, this abundant natural offering has been only partially utilized to date with the objective of promoting poplar breeding and cultivation. Following an old tradition, more or less inflexible production systems are mainly keyed to a few high-yielding P. x euramericana and P. x interamericana clones in most countries. Consequently, considerable economic failures have to be accepted repeatedly as a result of serious calamities.China ranks among the countries characterized by an exceptionally multifarious indigenous flora. Based on ample genetic variation, poplar species were able to settle in divergent habitats and to conserve the ability to survive and reproduce over long periods owing to adaptation processes. The diversity is concentrated, above all, in the subtropical mountain regions of southwest China. Comprehensive studies of the genus populus in the southern and eastern mountain chains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau turned out to be particularly impressive; 3 sections, 17 species and 15 varieties have been recorded and taxonomically classified there. They grow at altitudes between 1500 m and 4300 m above sea level. Many of these poplar sources are notable for their remarkable site adaptation even in harsh conditions and also for their fast and vigorous growth.Species expected to be suitable for international breeding and cultivation objectives in the near future are presented in a general way. The necessarily subjective selection is based on the state of available knowledge mainly about site requirements, environmental importance, growth characteristics, regeneration ability, silvicultural behaviour, yield estimation and wood utilization. In particular, the following species are characterized in the paper in an abridged fashion: P. cathayana, P. davidiana, P. euthratica, P. simonii, P. szechuanica, P. ussuriensis and P. yunnanensis.The potential of poplars in China is considered to be instrumental in expanding and stimulating poplar breeding activities worldwide. Measures to be specified in the paper are considered important and could be implemented on the basis of a close and confident co-operation with Chinese colleagues and institutes relevant to the subject and under the umbrella of the International Poplar Commission. Key words: poplar, tradition, calamities, China, genetic variation, promising species, characteristics, breeding priorities

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Recovery of plant species diversity during long-term experimental warming of a species-rich alpine meadow community on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau

Biological Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.019 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 213 ◽

pp. 218-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Chunhui Zhang ◽

Charles G. Willis ◽

Julia A. Klein ◽

Zhen Ma ◽

Junyong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Plant Species ◽

Alpine Meadow ◽

Plant Species Diversity ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Experimental Warming ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

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River capture in the middle reaches of the palaeo-Yarlung Zangbo River

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.191753 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 191753

Author(s):

Yong Liu ◽

Yunsheng Wang ◽

Liangshuai Wei ◽

Tong Shen ◽

Qinfeng Shu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Direction ◽

Field Investigation ◽

Indian Plate ◽

Early Pleistocene ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Eurasian Plate ◽

Accommodation Space ◽

Yarlung Zangbo River ◽

Elevation Model ◽

Qinghai Tibet Plateau

There are 51 tributaries in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (YZR), and the confluences of 87% of the tributaries west of Jiacha Gorge are high-angle or perpendicular, reflecting the anomalous development of these tributaries. In this paper, field investigation and digital elevation model (DEM) methods were used to analyse the causes of this anomalous phenomenon, and it was found that there was a watershed in the area of the Jiacha Gorge. The palaeo-YZR west of the Jiacha Gorge flowed westward before the early Pleistocene into the Zada, Zhongba, Jilong and Gamba–Dingri palaeolakes, which featured a large amount of total accommodation space in the western Qinghai–Tibet Plateau; thus, this river was a continental river. With the intensification of the collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau experienced rapid uplift and formed a landscape with high elevations in the west and lower elevations in the east, promoting the headward erosion of the eastward-flowing river. During the early Pleistocene, the river east of the Jiacha Gorge crossed the watershed and captured the palaeo-YZR, causing a reversal in the flow direction of the palaeo-YZR.

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