scholarly journals Dynamics of Anthropogenic Desertification of the European Desert on the Example of Russian Precaspian Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.38) ◽  
pp. 309
Author(s):  
Victoria Georgievna Lazareva ◽  
Valentina Aleksandrovna Bananova
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Caspian Basin ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Ecological Dynamic ◽  
Dynamic Series ◽  
Semi Arid

This article represents the results of multi-annual researches of desertification processes in droughty part of Europe - Russian Caspian Basin. Authors consider desertification as unification which leads to degradation of all components of arid ecosystems. It has been determined, that ecological-dynamic series of vegetational communities have the largest indicative value on quaternary terraces of Caspian Basin. They allow to trace the degradation sequence, to allocate the evaluation criteria and stages of desertification. Modern region vegetation is a result of cattle pasture and water management. It has been established that the vegetation of Late Khvalynian terrace on loamy soils is the most resistant to processes of degradation. The most vulnerable is young New Caspian. Cartographic materials confirm convertibility of desertification processes in semi-arid zone of European continent in response to natural-anthropogenic factors.  

scholarly journals Effect of Fires on Certain Properties of Forest Soils in Western Algeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Ayoub Allam ◽  
Amine Habib Borsali ◽  
Abdelkrim Kefifa ◽  
Mohamed Zouidi ◽  
Raphael Gros
Keyword(s):  
Forest Soils ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Basal Respiration ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Control Zone ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

AbstractNatural disturbances, such as forest fires, cause significant changes in the structure and functioning of semi-arid ecosystems. After such disturbances, the impact on the soil ecosystem in its entirety is misunderstood. In this study, two years after the last fire, changes in the physicochemical and biological properties of Aleppo pine forest soils in the semi-arid zone were observed. Among all physical properties analysed, only the soil moisture remained significantly lower in the burnt zone in contrast to control zone. Considering the chemical properties, the only negatively affected parameter is the rate of organic matter. In terms of biological properties, results showed that the fire caused a significant decrease in soil microorganisms by decreasing basal respiration and microbial biomass. Conversely, the metabolic quotient recorded higher values in the fire zone than in the control zone. These results indicate that microbial communities in semi-arid soils, already stressed by climatic hazards, are very sensitive to the passage of even low-intensity fires.

Middle-scale mapping of vegetation cover of the Moscow District at the ecological-dynamic basis

1996 ◽  
pp. 3-15
Author(s):  
G. N. Ogureeva ◽  
I. M. Miklyaeva ◽  
E. G. Suslоva ◽  
L. V. Shvergunova
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Ecological Stability ◽  
Vegetation Map ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Ecological Dynamic ◽  
Vegetation Class ◽  
Dynamic Series

Middle-scale vegetation map shows the most important botanical-geographic reguliarities of plant cover depending on the environmental conditions of the territory. Legend divisions reflect the typological differentiation of vegetation cover (fig. 1). The higher rank units are: type of vegetation, class of formations, group of formations, formation. Class of associations and group of associations are adopted as the main mapping units. Forest vegetation is classified and analyzed in terms of the ecological-dynamic concept by V. B. Sochava (1968, 1979). According to this concept forest association is considered to be a part of dynamic system (epiassociation), integrating both the climax community and its modifications which arise in the course of spontaneous or anthropogenic succession. In the case of mesic meadows the method of ecological-dynamic series is used. The series are grouped according to leading ecological factors (soil fertility and humidity) or anthropogenic factors (grazing and haymaking). Middle-scale vegetation map of the Moscow District based on the ecological-dynamic principle is highly informative. It reflects the coenotic diversity, botanical-geographic reguliarities, typological diversity of climax and secondary communities of forests, mesic meadows, mires taking into account the floristic, phytocoenotic, ecological and geographic criteria. The map shows modern status of and trends in vegetation dynamics depending on anthropogenic impact. The vegetation map of such kind can be used for solving the ecological problems: monitoring, supporting the ecological stability, presevation and improvement of a human environment.

scholarly journals Lessons to Be Learned: Groundwater Depletion in Chile’s Ligua and Petorca Watersheds through an Interdisciplinary Approach

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2446
Author(s):  
Iongel Duran-Llacer ◽  
Juan Munizaga ◽  
José Arumí ◽  
Christopher Ruybal ◽  
Mauricio Aguayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Standardized Precipitation Index ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Groundwater Depletion ◽  
Aquifer Depletion ◽  
Semi Arid

Groundwater (GW) is the primary source of unfrozen freshwater on the planet and in many semi-arid areas, it is the only source of water available during low-water periods. In north-central Chile, there has been GW depletion as a result of semi-arid conditions and high water demand, which has unleashed major social conflicts, some due to drought and others due to agribusiness practices against the backdrop of a private water management model. The Ligua and Petorca watersheds in the Valparaíso Region were studied in order to analyze the influence of climatic and anthropogenic factors on aquifer depletion using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates hydroclimatic variables, remote sensing data techniques, and GW rights data to promote sustainable GW management. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were calculated and the 2002–2017 land-use change was analyzed. It was shown that GW decreased significantly (in 75% of the wells) and that the hydrological drought was moderate and prolonged (longest drought in the last 36 years). The avocado-growing area in Ligua increased significantly—by 2623 ha—with respect to other agricultural areas (higher GW decrease), while in Petorca, it decreased by 128 ha. In addition, GW-rainfall correlations were low and GW rights were granted continuously despite the drought. The results confirmed that aquifer depletion was mostly influenced by human factors due to overexploitation by agriculture and a lack of water management.

scholarly journals O Comitê da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio São Francisco e a Gestão das Águas: O Conflito Exposto a Partir da Transposição do Rio São Francisco | The São Francisco River Basin Committee and Water Management Conflict Arising from the Transposition of The River

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Novais Pires
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Sao Francisco River ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
São Francisco River ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
National Water

Introduction: The São Francisco River Basin Committee (CBHSF) was set up by presidential decree in 2001 with the aim of achieving decentralized and participatory management of its water. The São Francisco River flows overland for 2700 km from its source in the Serra da Canastra (MG) to its mouth between Sergipe (SE) and Alagoas (AL). The river passes through the states of Bahia (BA), Pernambuco (PE), Goiás (GO) and the Federal District (DF). Central to the discussion in this research on the transposition of the São Francisco River is question of conflict concerning water management in the São Francisco River Basin Committee, making a nonsense of its power to function, contrary to the project, and the Federal Government which initiated the work and approved the budget. Hence, this study aims to analyze water management in the São Francisco river basin from the initiation of the CBHSF in order to understand how approval of the project and implementation of the work ran against the statutory representation of the committee. Methodology and Development: Having a qualitative approach, the study will be divided between theoretical research based on authors who study the topic of water and its transformation into a water resource and the major landowners of the north-east semi-arid zone in the context of transposition; the dynamics and politics of the river basin; as well as the role of the river basin committees in the process of decentralizing Brazilian water management, specifically concerning the São Francisco River and its state and interstate committees. Documentary research will take into account National Water Resources Law 9.433/1997; state water policies; documentary archives of the river basin committees (state and interstate), as well as the agencies participating in the integration project, such as the National Water Agency (ANA), the Integration Ministry (MI), and the Environment Ministry (MMA). Further data will be obtained using the transcripts of semi-structured interviews with presidents of the river basin committees as well as visiting transposition works and attending CBHSF meetings. Final thoughts: The transposition of the São Francisco River demonstrates how the legacy of Brazilian governmental centralization policies holds back the participatory process of the river basin committees, encroaching on their legal and institutional positions as regards water in the north-east semi-arid zone amid the persistence of drought.

Growth and Economic Profitability of Castor Cultivation in the Semi-arid Zone of Haryana

2020 ◽  
pp. 300-305
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Transportation Cost ◽  
Castor Seed ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Net Profit ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Extract Information

The present study was carried out in three districts viz; Rewari, Sirsa and Hisar of Haryana state. A survey of 60 sampled farms was conducted to extract information pertaining to various expenses incurred in cultivation of castor and output attained as well as to ascertain the perception of farmers for various problems encountered in production and marketing of castor seed. The descriptive analysis was employed to draw valid inferences from the study. The results revealed that net profit accrued from cultivation of castor seed was ₹ 46331 ha -1 in the study area. The value of B: C ratio of castor cultivation was more than one and also higher as compared to prevalent cropping systems indicated that cultivation of castor seed is economical viable entity. However, production constraints like retention of F2 seed in the field over year, grain scattering, shortage of irrigation water, frost effect on crop yield and marketing constraints like absence of MSP, higher transportation cost sale of castor seed in distant markets, frequent fluctuation in market price, non-availability of processing units were observed.

Cultivation of New Emerging Agro-Nutritional Crop of Quinoa at Madinat al-Hikmah Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Afzal Rizvi ◽  
Syed Abid Ali ◽  
Iqra Munir ◽  
Kousar Yasmeen ◽  
Rubina Abid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Zone ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Sindh Province ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Elemental Accumulation ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Good Agreement

Aim: Quinoa is a popular source of protein, minerals and alternative to traditional grains. The objective of this study is to introduce the Quinoa in the semi-arid zone of Sindh province of Pakistan. Method: A variety of NARC-9 from the agricultural Punjab province was cultivated and subjected to analyze the growth, morphological characters of the varieties obtained, saponin, protein and the elemental composition viz. Cd, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Pb, and Zn. Result: The result demonstrated the optimum growth and no disease were found in the experimental area. At least three major varieties of quinoa were obtained. Seed morphological data of these three quinoa cultivars were collected. The average saponin levels were quite reasonable. Overall proteins band pattern revealed very high polymorphism in quinoa cultivars and the results were also in good agreement with earlier studies. Conclusion: All quinoa cultivars of Madinat al-Hikmah showed high concentrations of albumin than globulin concentrations (i.e. 48-52% and 24-27%, respectively) as compared to control seeds from market that had similar concentrations of the two fractions i.e. 35.58% and 37.68%, respectively. Likewise, low concentrations of prolamin 14-16% and glutelin 11-12% compared to control seeds 13% rank our crop much better quality than the imported one in the market. The trend of elemental accumulation was followed as K >Na >Fe >Zn >Cu >Pb >Cd, while for comparison it was Na >K >Zn >Fe >Cu >Pb >Cd >Pb for wheat grown under similar conditions. Traditional grains together make a major contribution to the total nutritional element intake of the average Pakistani citizen through diet, not only because of large amounts consumed, but also in part by suitable levels of their proteins and elemental up take for good health. Thus the successful cultivation of quinoa in the semi-arid zone of Sindh will certainly prove beneficial.

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