• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.227-239
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• 2018

Background: Predicting the potential habitat of plants in arid regions, especially for medicinal ones, is very important. Although Pergularia tomentosa is a key species for medicinal purposes, it appears in very low density in the arid rangelands of Iran, needing an urgent ecological attention. In this study, we modeled and predicted the potential habitat of P. tomentosa using maximum entropy, and the effects of environmental factors (geology, geomorphology, altitude, and soil properties) on some characteristics of the species were determined. Results: The results showed that P. tomentosa was absent in igneous formation while it appeared in conglomerate formation. In addition, among geomorphological units, the best quantitative characteristics of P. tomentosa was belonged to the conglomerate formation-small hill area (plant aerial parts = 57.63 and root length = 30.68 cm) with the highest electrical conductivity, silt, and $CaCO_3$ content. Conversely, the species was not found in the mountainous area with igneous formation. Moreover, plant density, length of roots, and aerial parts of the species were negatively correlated with soil sand, while positive correlation was observed with $CaCO_3$, EC, potassium, and silt content. The maximum entropy was found to be a reliable method (ROC = 0.91) for predicting suitable habitats for P. tomentosa. Conclusion: These results suggest that in evaluating the plant's habitat suitability in arid regions, contrary to the importance of the topography, some environmental variables such as geomorphology and geology can play the main role in rangeland plants' habitat suitability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.319-321
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• 2001

In general, it is difficult to control weeds, diseases and insects with no chemical material in large scaled cultivation. Particularly, it is nearly impossible for a temperate country with a lot of rain such as Japan or Korea, to make organic agriculture on a large scale. Are there any possibilities to develop a large scaled organic agriculture in the world\ulcorner In Xinjang where is located in the central Asia, established Shihezi Agricultural and Environmental Institute for Arid Area of Central Asia three years ago in Shihezi, Xinjiang, China, for improving crop production in arid area. One of the main objectives is to establish organic agriculture in Xinjiang, with using suitable conditions for agriculture.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2013

Arid areas have a significant problem with water supply due to climate change and high water demand. More than 3,000 years ago, Persians started constructing elaborate tunnel systems called Qanat for extracting groundwater for agriculture and domestic usages in arid and semi-arid areas and dry deserts. In this paper, it has been demonstrated that ancient methods of water management, such as the Qanat system, could provide a good example of human wisdom to battle with water scarcity in a sustainable manner. The purpose of this paper is twofold: Review of old wisdom of Qanat-to review the history of this ancient wisdom from the beginning until now and study the Qanat condition at the present time and to explore why (notwithstanding that there are significant advantages to the Qanat system), it will no longer be used; and suggestions for future water management-to suggest a number of new methods based on new materials and technology to refine and protect Qanats. With these new suggestions it could be possible to refine and reclaim this method of extracting water in arid areas. Also, a new multi-purpose water management model has been introduced based on rainwater infiltration management over the Qanat system as the model can be applied either in dry or wet cities to solve current urban water problems.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2022

Background: Plant vegetation appears in heterogeneous and patchy forms in arid and semi-arid regions. In these regions, underneath the plant patches and the empty spaces between them are covered by biological soil crusts (moss, lichen, cyanobacteria, and fungi). Biological soil crusts lead to the formation and development of fertile islands in between vegetation patches via nitrogen and carbon fixation and the permeation of runoff water and nutrients in the soil. Results: The present study has investigated the association of biological soil crusts, the development of fertile islands, and the formation of plant patches in part of the Takht-e Soltan protected area, located in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. Three sites were randomly selected as the working units and differentiated based on their geomorphological characteristics to the alluvial fan, hillslope, and fluvial terrace landforms. Two-step systematic random sampling was conducted along a 100-meter transect using a 5 m² plot at a 0-5 cm depth in three repetitions. Fifteen samplings were carried out at each site with a total of 45 samples taken. The results showed that the difference in altitude has a significant relationship with species diversity and decreases with decreasing altitude. Results have revealed that the moisture content of the site, with biocrust has had a considerable increase compared to the other sites, helping to form vegetation patterns and fertile islands. Conclusions: The findings indicated that biological crusts had impacted the allocation of soil parameters. They affect the formation of plant patches by increasing the soil's organic carbon, nitrogen, moisture and nutrient content provide a suitable space for plant growth by increasing the soil fertility in the inter-patch space.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2002

This study was carried out to classify forest vegetation community of Dodeokbong and Baekwunbong in Gyeryongsan. Employing the releve method of Dierssen, 89 plots were sampled. Forest community was classified into Quercus mongolica community, Quercus serrata community, Quercus variabitis community, Pinus densiflora community, Carpinus laxiflora community, and Pinus rigida-Pinus thunbergii community. Quereus mongolica community was found in high altitude and steep area, Quercus serrata community in relatively low altitude and steep slope area, and Quercus variabilis in southern arid and low area compared with Quercus mongolica community. Pinus densiflora community is present in relatively high altitude and narrow arid ridge area. And, Carpinus laxiflora community is mainly distributed in southern valley area. Pinus rigida-Pinus thunbergii community is planted community.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2008

One of the main cases of the desertification impact is the negative contribution of human activities that worsen environment. There are historical facts of inability and excessive activities which destroyed the civilizations. The basic difference is only in the tempo and scales of civilization collapse. Human pressure was accumulated within the centuries and millennia due to the extremely active economic activities. But today it covers only the decades. Presently the process of desertification has a global scale. There are huge factors of Earth aridization as an increase of the quantity of C02 and atmospheric dust and bloom. This process related not only to the arid areas. Obviously a comprehensive approach of development of territories, particularly arid areas is very important. The use of the satellite information and technologies of remote sensing data processing can take a significant place for decision-makers for calculation and estimation of the environment impacts.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.500-505
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• 2002

Based on the real-time monitoring by remote sensing and dynamic management by GIS on agricultural land and water resources in arid area, we solved the practicability and popularization of small-scale spatial information service system. Through demonstration, the standards of spatial information service database of agricultural land and water resources is set up, and the agricultural land and water resources management system in Shehezi City of Xinjiang Autonomy is established, which provides periodically the spatial information services needed by agricultural production to support for sustainable development in arid area.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1390-1392
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• 2003

The arid regions of western China are currently the focus of extensive exploration and development. This paper reports on recent experience gained by Chinese and Canadian project team members in the use of a variety of Earth observation satellite imagery for oil exploration and environmental assessment exercises in the Kuche area of Xinjiang. Through careful archival data selection and more recent data acquisition schemes, we have established several time series of MODIS, Landsat and Radarsat imagery in order to obtain a better understanding for daily, seasonal as well as decadal changes of the natural environment as well as man-made environmental features.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.177-186
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• 2023

Background: Inner Mongolia, desertification is happening due to climate change and land use alterations. In order to evaluate desert restoration effectiveness, this study compares number of species and species diversity in restored (with planted trees), unrestored area, and the reference ecosystem (Ref-E, typical steppe and woody steppe). Results: The Ref-E had the most plant species (64 taxa), while the unrestored area had the fewest (5 taxa). Among restored areas (restored in 2012, 2008, 2005), older restoration sites had more species (18-42). Similarly, species richness (3.93-0.41) and diversity (1.99-0.40) were highest in the Ref-E and lowest in unrestored areas, with older restored sites having higher values. Conclusions: More plant species and diversity in older restoration areas suggest progress toward ecosystem stabilization, approaching the Ref-E. Therefore, tree planting in Inner Mongolia's Hulunbuir semi-arid desert is a successful restoration effort.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.82-94
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the cause of increasing dry zones through analyzing relationships between land cover and Vegetation Temperature Condition Index(VTCI) using Landsat 4-5 TM satellite images in Central Dry Zones of Myanmar. As a result of land cover classifications, while vegetation areas gradually decrease, residential area and cropland were increased. VTCI analysis shows that region (a) showed a gradual decrease in the area of severely arid, and increase in the area of moderate dry and wet, which sums up to a slight decrease in aridity. Region (b) also showed to increase in dry areas and severe aridity. The result of relational analysis between VTCI and land cover change showed high ratio of land cover change, from severe arid area to forest and residential farmland. The average VTCI decreased in the changed land covers, which indicates the relationship between aridity and land cover change and a gradual increase in the arid area was identified.