scholarly journals Can the Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica sand-fixing forest develop sustainably in a semi-arid region?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiben Cheng ◽  
Hongbin Zhan ◽  
Mingchang Shi
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Moisture Distribution ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Sandy Land ◽  
Mu Us Sandy Land ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. Desertification is a global environmental and societal concern at present, and China is one of the countries that face the most severe damage of desertification. China’s so-called Three North shelterbelt Program (3NSP) has produced a vast area of lined forest in the semi-arid regions with the purpose of battling desertification. Such a wind-breaking and sand-fixing forest has successfully slowed down the incursion of desert. However, the vast artificial forestry consumes a large amount of water resources, which profoundly affect the fragile ecological environment in the semi-arid regions. In turn, a large amount of water loss also causes a great number of vegetation deaths or defects. To understand the water balance and sustainable development of artificial forest in semi-arid region, this study uses the 30-year-old lined Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica sand-fixing forest in the eastern part of Mu Us Sandy land in Northwestern China as an example. Specifically, this investigation studies the redistribution of water in soil under existing precipitation conditions, so as to evaluate whether the rain-feed forestry can develop sustainably or not. Rain gauge, newly designed lysimeter and soil moisture sensor are used to monitor precipitation, deep soil recharge (DSR) and soil water content, resulting in an accurate estimation of annual moisture distribution of the rain-feed Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica. The study shows that there are two obvious moisture recharge processes in an annual base for the Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forest soil in Mu Us Sandy land: 1) the snow melted water infiltration-recharge process in the spring, and 2) the precipitation-recharge process in the summer. The recharge depth of the first process is 160 cm. The second process results in DSR (referring to recharge that can reach a depth more than 200 cm and may eventually replenish the groundwater reservoir). The DSR of 2016–2018 is 1.4 mm, 0.2 mm, 1.2 mm, respectively. To reach the recharge depths of 20 cm, 40 cm, 80 cm, 120 cm, 160 cm, and 200 cm, the corresponding precipitation intensities have to be 2.6 mm/d, 3.2 mm/d, 3.4 mm/d, 8.2 mm/d, 8.2 mm/d, and 13.2 mm/d, respectively. The annual evaporation amount in the Mu Us Sandyland Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forest is 426.96 mm in 2016, 324.6 mm in 2017, 416.253 mm in 2018. This study concludes that under the current precipitation conditions, very small but observable DSR happened, thus the groundwater system underneath the forest may be replenished, meaning that the artificial Pinus forestry can probably develop sustainably. This study confirms that developing limited amount forestry in semi-arid regions is likely in a sustainable fashion. The widely variable annual precipitation in semi-arid areas may affect this conclusion and should be investigated in the future.

scholarly journals Redistribution process of precipitation in ecological restoration activity of Pinus sylvestris  var. mongolica in Mu Us Sandy Land, China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiben Cheng ◽  
Hongbin Zhan ◽  
Wenbin Yang ◽  
Yunqi Wang ◽  
Qunou Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Sap Flow ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Moisture Distribution ◽  
Sandy Land ◽  
Mu Us Sandy Land ◽  
Shallow Soil ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Horizontal Area

Abstract. Precipitation was the most important water resource in semi-arid regions of China. The redistribution of precipitation among atmospheric water, soil water and groundwater are related to the land surface ecological system sustainability. The study took widely replanted Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (PSM) in Mu Us Sandy Land (MUSL) as a research object and monitored precipitation, soil moisture, sap flow, and deep soil recharge (DSR) to find out moisture distribution in shallow soil layer. Results showed that the restoration process of PSM in MUSL changed the distribution of precipitation. Precipitation was intercepted in shallow soil, evapotranspiration increased, and DSR significantly decreased, resulting in up to 466.94 mm of precipitation returning to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration in 2016. Vegetation increased soil water storage (SWS) capacity, with maximum SWS in PSM plot and bare sandy land (BSL) being 260 mm and 197 mm per unit horizontal area, respectively in 2016. DSR decreased from 54.03 % of precipitation in BSL to 0.2 % of precipitation in PSM in 2016. Infiltration was not only intercepted by PSM ecosystem, resulting in a time lag, but was also affected by soil temperature, and the infiltration rate in the BSL plot was 11 times of that in the PSM plot from August to September in an annual base. SWS decreased 16 mm and 7.58 mm per unit horizontal area over a one-year period (from March to October) in 2017 and 2019, respectively. The PSM annual sap flow was maintained at a relatively constant level of 153.98 mm/yr. This study helps understand the role of precipitation-induced groundwater recharge in the process of vegetation restoration in semi-arid regions and explains the possible causes of PSM forest degradation. It is necessary to reduce PSM density to allow adaptation to extreme drought in the future.

Effects of Genotype and Rainfall on Forage Oats in a Semi-arid Region

1977 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hadjichristodoulou
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Varietal Response ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

SUMMARYThere were significant differences in dry matter yield among five forage oat varieties tested at ten environments during 1970–75. The correlation coefficients between annual rainfall and DM yield varied with variety from 0·69 to 0·88, late varieties tending to give higher yields. Lateness, and high varietal response to annual rainfall and improved environmental conditions, can be used as selection criteria in semi-arid regions. Late varieties had higher DM and lower crude protein contents, and forage produced under lower rainfall conditions tended to have more DM and crude protein.

scholarly journals Global comparison of 20 reference evapotranspiration equations in a semi-arid region of Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 282-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Farzanpour ◽  
Jalal Shiri ◽  
Ali Ashraf Sadraddini ◽  
Slavisa Trajkovic
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Reference Evapotranspiration ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Irrigation Scheduling ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Management Scenarios ◽  
Global Comparison ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Accurate estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a major task in hydrology, water resources management, irrigation scheduling and determining crop water requirement. There are many empirical equations suggested by numerous references in literature for calculating ETo using meteorological data. Some such equations have been developed for specific climatic conditions while some have been applied universally. The potential for usage of these equations depends on the availability of necessary meteorological parameters for calculating ETo in different climate conditions. The focus of the present study was a global cross-comparison of 20 ETo estimation equations using daily meteorological records of 10 weather stations (covering a period of 12 years) in a semi-arid region of Iran. Two data management scenarios, namely local and cross-station scenarios, were adopted for calibrating the applied equations against the standard FAO56-PM model. The obtained results revealed that the cross-station calibration might be a good alternative for local calibration of the ETo models when proper similar stations are used for feeding the calibration matrix.

scholarly journals Amphibian and reptile biodiversity in the semi-arid region of the municipality of Nopala de Villagrán, Hidalgo, Mexico

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea J. Roth-Monzón ◽  
Andrés Alberto Mendoza-Hernández ◽  
Oscar Flores-Villela
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Reptile Species ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
First Time ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Biological Richness

Current global changes are putting both biodiversity and the processes that depend on it at risk. This is especially true for semi-arid regions and the flagship groups that inhabit them, such as amphibians and reptiles. Semi-arid regions are often thought to have lower biodiversity and thus have been overlooked, resulting in the underestimation of their biological richness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct an inventory of amphibians and reptiles in the semi-arid municipality of Nopala de Villagrán, Mexico, and analyze its biodiversity in relation to the seasons, vegetation and microhabitat. During a year of fieldwork, we found 24 species in the area, most of them of low abundance, and one of which was recorded for the first time for the state of Hidalgo. We documented five amphibian species and 19 reptile species. We also found that observed species richness was higher in the rainy season and in xeric scrub vegetation, although only the season differences were significant according to rarefaction curves. Our findings highlight the importance of seasonality and vegetation type for the species that inhabit this semi-arid region. This study broadens our understanding of the importance of semi-arid regions and, by extension, that of other areas with similar characteristics.

scholarly journals Variability and spatial distribution of hydrodynamic properties in soil with preserved Caatinga

RBRH ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Martins de França Neto ◽  
Artur Paiva Coutinho ◽  
Simone Di Prima ◽  
Saulo de Tarso Marques Bezerra ◽  
Severino Martins dos Santos Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Hydrodynamic Properties ◽  
Infiltration Process ◽  
Statistical Measures ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

ABSTRACT The functions of soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity are indispensable for the characterization and modeling of the infiltration and water transfer processes in the vadose zone. In the case of the Brazilian semi-arid region, characterized by the scarcity of water resources, there is a lack of information on the hydrodynamic properties of the soil. Also, these properties have numerous factors of variability, requiring the characterization of their magnitude and distribution in space. This research presents an analysis of the infiltration process and the hydrodynamic properties of the soil under native Caatinga forest, observing its spatial distribution. This vegetation is typical of the Brazilian semi-arid region. One developed a 48-point grid in an area of approximately 875 m2, and applied on it the Beerkan methodology. The analyzes were performed based on the application of the BEST-Slope algorithm and statistical measures of the position, dispersion, and adherence tests. The results showed medium to high variability indices for the hydrodynamic properties, with random spatial distribution, despite the verification of a homogeneous texture in the area. Thus, it was found that the soil structure was predominant in the processes of water infiltration.

scholarly journals Land-use change effect on the hydro-dynamic characteristics of soil in the Brazilian semi-arid region

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Willames Albuquerque Soares ◽  
Simone Rosa da Silva ◽  
José Romualdo de Sousa Lima
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Hydrodynamic Processes ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

 The search for better living conditions has led the residents of the Brazilian semi-arid region to plant forage crops, leading to a gradual decrease in the native vegetation (Caatinga) of this region. The effects caused by the replacement of Caatinga with palm, for example, have been little studied, especially with regard to the physical and hydraulic properties of the soil. The objective of this study was to compare the physical-hydraulic characteristics of a litholic neosol in two areas having different vegetation cover: one area cultivated with forage palm (O. ficus-indica) and the other covered by native Caatinga. Differences in soil structure, especially in porosity, between the natural and cultivated soils were observed to control the hydrodynamic processes, resulting in changes in water retention curves and hydraulic conductivity. Natural soil presents low values of hydraulic conductivity when compared to those of cultivated soil. This increase is probably due to soil management required for forage palm cultivation. The natural soil structure, characterized by relatively low saturated hydraulic conductivity values, presents an infiltrability that favors surface runoff. Human activities in the study area have promoted changes in the soil’s physical attributes, decreasing density and increasing porosity. Consequently, there is an increase in water infiltration into the soil and a reduction of runoff in cultivated areas, confirming results obtained in previous studies.

A comparison of curve number based methods for runoff estimation from small watersheds in a semi-arid region of India

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakir Ali ◽  
V. N. Sharda
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Curve Number ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Small Watersheds ◽  
Curve Number Method ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid

The performance of five curve number based methods, generally employed for estimation of runoff, viz. National Engineering Handbook (NEH-4), storm event (SE), rank order (RO), lognormal frequency (LF) and s-probability (SP), was evaluated using runoff data recorded from three small watersheds in a semi-arid region of India. The most effective and reliable curve number method for runoff estimation was selected based upon several tests of goodness of fit including coefficient of determination (R2), index of agreement (D), root mean square error (RMSE) and relative bias (RB). The LF method was adjudged as the most promising curve number method for estimating runoff from small watersheds in the semi-arid regions of India. The runoff predicted by the LF method was in close agreement with the observed runoff for all four tests of goodness of fit. Though the performance of the SE, RO and NEH-4 methods was almost comparable to each other, the SP method registered higher deviation from the observed runoff values. From the analysis, it is concluded that the LF method can be successfully employed for estimation of curve number based runoff from small watersheds in the semi-arid regions of India.

scholarly journals Surface sealing and water erosion of soils with mulching in the semi-arid region of Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fábio F. da Silva ◽  
Thais E. M. dos S. Souza ◽  
Edivan R. de Souza ◽  
Marcelo M. Correa ◽  
Mário M. Rolim
Keyword(s):  
Arid Region ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Water Losses ◽  
Surface Sealing ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Resistance To Penetration

ABSTRACT Evaluating soil sealing process of the semi-arid region of Brazil is important to describe this process and mitigate its effects. The objective of this work was to evaluate surface sealing and physical properties of the main soils of the Upper Ipanema watershed, in Pesqueira, Pernambuco state, Brazil, with the use of mulch. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications, using a 3 × 3 × 2 factorial arrangement consisted of three soil classes (abruptic Eutrophic Yellow Argissolo - AEYA, typical Eutrophic Fluvic Neossolo - TEFN, and typical Eutrophic Yellow Argissolo - TEYA), three application times of simulated rainfalls (at 0, 24, and 48 h), and two mulching conditions (with and without mulch), totaling 54 tests. Soil erosion rates, surface sealing, and resistance to penetration were evaluated. The use of mulch decreased significantly the soil water losses by 71.9% (AEYA), 62.9% (TEFN), and 41.1% (TEYA) after the first rainfall application (0 h) when compared to treatments without mulch, and promoted a higher water infiltration rate. The lowest soil resistance to penetration were found in soils with mulch. The AEYA and TEFN presented changes in porosity and migration of fine particles in the treatment without mulch. The TENF was the only soil that presented an incipient soil surface sealing layer in the treatment without mulch.

scholarly journals Land-Use and Legislation-Based Methodology for the Implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems in the Semi-Arid Region of Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Barros Ramalho Alves ◽  
Iana Alexandra Alves Rufino ◽  
Patrícia Hermínio Cunha Feitosa ◽  
Slobodan Djordjević ◽  
Akbar Javadi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Flood Mitigation ◽  
Urban Drainage ◽  
Great Resistance ◽  
Drainage Systems ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
Sustainable Drainage Systems ◽  
Semi Arid

In developing countries, the urbanisation process occurs with empirical urban management, a high increase of impermeable areas, and a lack of connection between water resource management and planning. In Brazil, concentrated rainfall and ineffective urban drainage systems add to this context and may impact the population with flash floods. Although sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are widely used for flood mitigation, it is still not very well known how those strategies behave in semi-arid regions, where most of the time the weather is very dry. In Brazil, flood mitigation still mostly involves structural measures such as larger pipes or channels, with limited guidance for SuDS use due to the great resistance to change by citizens and managers. This study sought to analyse the efficacy of SuDS in Campina Grande, a semi-arid region of Brazil. A land-use and legislation-based methodology was developed with physical, climate, hydrological and governance data for three catchments and 312 sub-catchments in 30 applications and simulations. Simulations suggest that these strategies would be appropriate for semi-arid regions, with reductions in the flooded area, flooding volume, and impacts. This study is of relevance for cities with a similar climate to reach a sustainable level of urban drainage services, supporting the integration of urban planning and water resources management.

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