• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.292-294
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• 2003

Evapotranspiration estimations are essential for monitoring drought, wild land fire risk etc. In this study, a surface energy balance method, which combines meteorological observations with spectral data derived from remote sensing measurements, was used to estimate the regional evapotranspiration in the Mongolia, a large arid and semi-arid region with heterogeneous surface conditions. The Surface Energy Balance method has been applied to Landsat+ETM and NOAA-AVHRR sensors for the estimation of evapotranspiration in the grassland of Mongolia. As a result, a daily evapotranspiration map of Mongolia was produced.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.297-309
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• 1990

Ginseng is renowned for both its medicinal and herbal uses and successful cultivation of Panax ginseng in Asia and Panax Vtiinvtiefolilim in North America has until recently taken place in the native geographical ranges of the plants. As a consequence of the potential high capital return and anticipated increases in consumer consumption, commercial cultivation of American ginseng now occurs well outside the native range of the plant in North America. In fact, the region of greatest expansion of cultivation is in the semi-arid interior region of British Columbia, Canada. Linked with this expansion is the potential domination of the ginseng industry by agricultural corporations. In the interior of British Columbia, the native decidous forest environment of eastern North America is simulated with elevated polypropylene shade and a sllrface covering of straw mulch. The architecture of these environments is designed to permit maximillm machinery useage and to minimize labour requirements. Further, with only a four-year growth cycle, plant densities in the gardens are high. In this hot, semiarid environment, producers believe they have a competitive advantage over other regions in North America because of the low precipitation rates. This helps to minimize atmospheric humidity such that the conditions for fungal disease development are reduced. If soil moisture levels become limited, supplemental water can be provided by irrigation. The nature of the radiation and energy balance regimes of the shade and much environment promotes high soil moistilre levels. Also, the modified environment reduces soil heating. This can result in an aerial environment for the plant that is stressful and a rooting zone environment that is sub-optimal. The challenge of further refining the man modified environment for enhanced plant growth and health still remains.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.814-819
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• 2004

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of two housing systems on feed intake and nutrient utilization of sheep in a semi-arid region of India. Two types of housing managements were adopted. The first was a shed- 20'${\times}$10' structure with all the four sides of 6' chain link fencing with central height of 10'. The roof was covered with asbestos sheets, with mud floorings. The second was an open corral- 20'${\times}$10' open space with all the four sides covered with 6' chain link fencing. Thirty-four (32 ewes and 2 rams) sheep were grazed together on a 35 ha plot of native range. All the sheep were grazed as a flock from 08:00 to 17:00 h during the yearlong study. The flock was divided into two groups (16 ewes+1 ram) in the evening and housed according to two housing systems (Shed and Open Corral). Three digestion trials were conducted during three defined seasons of monsoon, winter and summer seasons to determine the effect of housing on nutrient intake and utilization. Blood samples were collected in three seasons for the estimation of hemoglobin and glucose. Dry and wet bulb temperatures were recorded at 06:00 A.M. and 09:00 P.M. using suitable thermometers both inside the shed and in the open corral and temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated. There was significant (p<0.05) difference in the THI between shed and open corral in all the seasons, indicating that the shed was always warmer compared to open corral. The daily dry matter intake (DMI, g/d) was 965, 615 and 982 in sheep housed under shed and 971, 625 and 1,001 in those housed in open corral during monsoon, winter and summer season, respectively. These differences were however non-significant (p>0.05). The digestibility of DM was 45.92, 45.13 and 50.30 in sheep housed under shed and 43.64, 45.02 and 55.02 in sheep housed in open corral during monsoon, winter and summer seasons, respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the digestibility of nutrients in sheep maintained under shed and in open corral. Blood Hb concentration was 13.97, 14.13 and 13.15 in sheep housed under shed and 15.27, 13.63 and 14.82 in those kept in open corral, whereas blood glucose concentration was 59.67, 59.70 and 52.33 in sheep under shed and 61.00, 61.00 and 57.83 in open corral, during monsoon, winter and summer, respectively. There was also no significant effect of housing on the body weight changes, wool yield and survivability in ewes. Although housing had no significant effect on nutrient intake, their utilization and blood parameters, there was significant effect on the physiological responses and energy expenditure of sheep maintained under the two housing systems (Bhatta et al., 2004). It can be concluded from this study that the housing systems didn't have any significant effect on the nutrient intake and utilization of native breed like Malpura, which were well adapted to the hot semi-arid conditions of India. However, while deciding provisions for housing of different breeds of sheep (both crossbred and native) parameters like physiological responses, energy expenditure, health conditions and overall economics of the systems should be taken into consideration.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2007

Genetic diversity among selected isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina, a causal agent of charcoal rot (stalk rot) disease in sorghum was studied using PCR-RAPD markers. A set of ten isolates, from ten different rabi sorghum genotypes representing two traditional sorghum growing situations viz., Dharwad- a transitional high rainfall region and Bijapur- a semi-arid low rainfall region in South India. From a set of 40 random primers tested, amplicon profiles of 15 were reproducible. A total of 149 amplicon levels, with an average of 9.9 bands per primer, were available for analysis, of which 148 were polymorphic (99.3%). It was possible to discriminate all the isolates with any of the 15 primers employed. UPGMA clustering of data indicated that the isolates shared varied levels of genetic similarity within a range of 0.14 to 0.72 similarity coefficient index and it was suggestive that grouping of isolates was not related to sampling location in anyway. A high level of genetic heterogeneity of 0.28 was recorded among the isolates.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1992

To understand the natural environments and human cultures in the Yellow Sea regions, this paper deals especially the climate and sea level fluctuation in the Yellow Sea and its surrounding region in the period of late Pleistocene (125, 000 yr BP) to Holocene. During the glacial maximum (about 15, 000 yr BP to 18, 000 yr BP), the climate might be cold and arid. These arid climate in the Yellow Sea region did make desertization possible. Possible human culture exchanges between China, Korea and Japan might be carried in a easy way, because the entire basin of the Yellow Sea was exposed as land. Paleoshorelines of the Yellow Sea in the period of 10, 000 yr BP, 9, 000 ry BP and 6, 000 yr BP are presented and sea level fluctuation curve from 37, 000 yr BP (late Pleistocene) to present (late Holocene), for the first time, is presented based on a careful reconsideration of existing old data and recent new data.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.251-273
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• 2020

Soil degradation has become a major worldwide environmental problem, particularly in arid and semi-arid climate zones due to irregular rainfall and the intensity of storms that frequently generate heavy flooding. The main objective of this study is the use of geographic information system and remote sensing techniques to quantify and to map the soil losses in the Wadi Saida watershed (624 ㎢) through the revised universal soil loss equation model and a proposed model based on the surface erosive runoff. The results Analysis revealed that the Wadi Saida watershed showed moderate to moderately high soil loss, between 0 and 1000 t/㎢/year. In the northern part of the basin in the region of Sidi Boubkeur and the mountains of Daia; which are characterized by steep slopes, values can reach up to 3000 t/㎢/year. The two models in comparison showed a good correlation with R = 0.95 and RMSE = 0.43; the use of the erosive surface runoff parameter is effective to estimate the rate of soil loss in the watersheds. The problem of soil erosion requires serious interventions, particularly in basins with disturbances and aggressive climatic parameters. Good agricultural practices and forest preservation areas play an important role in soil conservation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.777-783
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• 2004

Samples of 13 species of forest tree leaves fed to livestock in the semi-hilly arid zone of Punjab State in India were collected at 30 d interval for 12 months, in order to assess their nutritional worth for livestock. The ground samples were pooled for 4 different seasons viz. dry hot, hot humid, fall and winter. The chemical composition irrespective of the season revealed that CP content varied between 8.9 (Carrisa) to 22.0% (Leucaena). Globulin was the major protein fraction in most of the leaves. The lowest concentration of cell wall constituents was observed in Morus alba and Grewea. The leaves in general became fiberous and lignified during winter and fall as compared to summer season. The leaves of Grewea, Morus alba, Leucaena, Carrisa and Acacia were rich in Ca, P and most of the trace elements. The total phenolics ranged between 1.88% (Azardirachta) to 15.82% (Acacia). The leaves of Acacia had the highest concentration of hydrolysable tannins (14.6%) whereas that of Carrisa had that of condensed tannins (5.9%). The condensed tannins (more than 3%) were negatively correlated to the digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and crude protein (CP). The digestion kinetic parameters for DM, NDF and CP revealed that leaves of Morus alba, Zizyphus and Ehretia had highest insoluble but potentially degradable fraction. The minimum rumen fill values also revealed that leaves of Grewea, Azardirachta, Morus, Ehretia and Leucaena had great potential for voluntary DM intake. The leaves of Ougeinia, Malha, Dodenia and Carrisa had significantly higher rumen fill value indicating poor potential for voluntary DM intake. Season did not have any significant impact on digestion kinetic parameters except that most of the leaves had low potentially degradable fraction, which was degraded at slow rate during winter. It was concluded that the leaves of Morus, Ehretia, Grewea and Leucaena had great potential as livestock feed, while feeding of Ougeinia, Malha and Dodonea leaves should be avoided.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.263-269
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• 2014

This study explored agroforestry strategies to achieve ecological and economic effects simultaneously for Elsentasarhai region in Mongolia under desertification, based on attitude survey with a questionnaire, field survey on planting sites, and literature review. The agrosilvopastoral approach was suggested as a type of agroforestry practices which combined tree planting for combatting desertification and wind damage to crops, agricultural crop production for income improvement, and livestock raising, a major industry in the study region. Populus sibirica and Ulmus pumila native to desert regions were selected for tree planting, and Hippophae rhamnoides, potato, and fodder appropriate for the short growing season were chosen for income crop production, reflecting residents' attitudes and growth environments. As a strategy of land allocation to satisfy multiple effects of the agrosilvopastoral approach, the alley cropping technique was recommended which arranged alternately strips of trees as windbreaks and income crops in multiple rows. The study also explored desirable planting techniques to improve conditions of income crop production and tree growth against drought and strong winds in the alley cropping. Study results will be useful as fundamental information to implement sustainable agroforestry in Mongolia and other semi-arid regions where knowledge concerned is lacking.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.69-85
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• 2019

Humans have been important driver to reconfigure the terrestrial surface of the Earth by altering its morphology and processes. The effect of human activities on the physical landscape, however, shows substantially uneven geographical patterns. Most of anthrogemorphoogical studies regarding human-induced denudation have focused on areas with a long history of human modifications such as humid landscapes, so the hypothesis is naturally a great human impact on landscapes. The effect of human activities on dryland Earth surfaces are far less commonly studied, although erosion is one of major concerns in arid and semi-arid region regarding land and water quality degradation. The urban metropolis of Phoenix, Arizona, USA provides an opportunity to explore the impact of the Anthropocene. The Phoenix metropolitan area rests on classic desert landforms, such as extensive pediments, alluvial fans and sand sheets. Human activities including cattle crazing, wildfire resulting from introduced grass species by human, and recent urbanization processes have impacted these classic desert landforms and altered geomorphic processes. The purpose of this paper, therefore, rests in examining Anthropocene in the geomorphology of the north-central Sonoran Desert. The objectives of this paper are: i) to understand the impact of the Anthropocene on the geomorphological processes and forms through field observations; ii) to quantify the magnitude of human impacts on landscape using a published two-decade long record of erosion dataset and natural background erosion dataset in submitted manuscript at the sprawling edge of the Phoenix metropolitan region; iii) to examine how geomorphic outcome can affect the sustainability of cities through the estimation of sediment yield under the condition of urban sprawl.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.29-34
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• 2020

Purpose: Town of Woldia, a semi-arid region in the Northern Wollo region of Ethiopia, faces water supply shortage in general, though the town possesses a running stream of clean water throughout the year. This study is aimed at analyzing the possibility of using rainwater for water scarcity and non-potable water needs of the Woldia University. A careful study and analysis have been made to assess the feasibility of using rainwater in place of the tap water supply. Research design and methodology: This study was done inside the main campus of Woldia University located in Woldia town. The runoff water from the roof of buildings was studied, by the time of rainfall in the town. Also, the budget needed for implementing a rainwater harvesting system was calculated. Results: The findings of the study clearly indicates that the requirements of the water to use for flushing, cleaning, and washing toilets in the administrative buildings and classrooms can be satisfied by using rainwater as an alternative to tap water. Conclusion: Based on the results the study finds it is benefitable for the Woldia University to install the rainwater harvesting system at the earliest to solve the water problems prevailing in the current situation.