• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제47권4호
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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 Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.246-253
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• 2019

Background: Water use efficiency (WUE) is an indicator of the trade-off between carbon uptake and water loss to the atmosphere at the plant or ecosystem level. Understanding temporal dynamics and the response of WUE to climatic variability is an essential part of land degradation assessments in water-limited dryland regions. Alternative definitions of and/or alternative methodologies used to measure WUE, however, have hampered intercomparisons among previous studies of different biomes and regions. The present study aims to clarify semantic differences among WUE parameters applied in previous studies and summarize these parameters in terms of their definition and methodology. Additionally, the consistency of the responses of alternative WUE parameters to interannual changes in moisture levels in Northeast Asia dryland regions (NADRs) was tested. Results: The literature review identified more than five different WUE parameters defined at leaf and ecosystem levels and indicates that major conclusions regarding the WUE response to climatic variability were partly inconsistent depending on the parameters used. Our demonstration of WUE in NADR again confirmed regional inconsistencies and further showed that inconsistencies were more distinct in hyper- and semi-arid climates than in arid climates, which might reflect the different relative roles of physical and biological processes in the coupled carbon-water process. Conclusions: The responses of alternative WUE parameters to drying and wetting may be different in different regions, and regionally different response seems to be related to aridity, which determines vegetation coverage.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.292-303
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• 2021

Studies that relate the structure of tropical regrowth vegetation to soil properties are generally lacking in the literature. This study proposes three indices for assessing the structural regeneration of secondary forests. They are: (1) the tree diameter class, (2) the plant life form and (3) the woody/herbaceous plants ratio indices. They were applied to assess the regeneration status of forest regrowth vegetation (aged 1-10 years), derived savanna regrowth vegetation in south western Nigeria, and to secondary forests in different stages of succession in Columbia and Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico in South and Central America and semi-arid savanna in Ethiopia and seasonal deciduous forest successional stages in India. In all the cases, the indices increased with increasing age of regrowth vegetation and hence, with increasing structural complexity of regenerating vegetation. The tree diameter class index increased from 32.1% in a 9-year secondary forest to 69.0% in an 80-year-old secondary forest in Columbia and Venezuela and from 0.4% in a 1-year fallow to 20.9% in 10-year regrowth vegetation in southwestern Nigeria. In semi-arid savanna in northern Ethiopia, the woody/herbaceous plants ratio index increased from 18.1% in a 5-year protected grazing enclosure to 75.1% in 15-year protected enclosure, relative to the status of 20-year enclosure. The indices generally had correlations of 0.6-0.90 with species richness and Simpson's/Margalef's species diversity, implying that they are appropriate measures of ecosystem development over time. The proposed indices also had strong and positive correlations with soil organic carbon and nutrients. They are therefore, significant indicators of fertility status.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.73-81
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• 2024

As a phreatophyte, pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is widely grown in water-limited conditions and recognized as an economically valuable crop in semi-arid regions. In Tajikistan, pistachio grows naturally and artificially in 79,000 ha, but the nut yield is very low due to less-developed plantation technologies. In this study, differences in pistachio plantation technologies of the major pistachio-producing countries and Tajikistan were analyzed to suggest ways to improve plantation technologies in Tajikistan. In the major pistachio-producing countries such as Iran, the United States and Turkey, seedlings of high nut-yielding varieties are grafted before planting. As a result, annually 349-4,479 kg ha^-1 of nuts are harvested in those countries. On the other hand, Tajikistan annually produces only 0.6-3.7 kg ha^-1. While seven suitable high nut-yielding varieties (Albina, Dangarinka, Saboh, Green girl, Mountain pearl, October, and Orzu) have been identified as suitable for Tajikistan's environment, the plantation area with grafted individuals using these varieties is limited to only 1.5 ha, necessitating widespread adoption. The low utilization of the high nut-yielding varieties is attributed to the lack of grafting specialists and skills, which have hindered increasing pistachio nut production in Tajikistan. Therefore, improving the basic capability of pistachio grafting should be prioritized to expand the economic profits from the pistachio forests in Tajikistan.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.122-142
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• 2012

The importance of rainfed areas and animal agriculture on productivity enhancement and food security for economic rural growth in Asia is discussed in the context of opportunities for increasing potential contribution from them. The extent of the rainfed area of about 223 million hectares and the biophysical attributes are described. They have been variously referred to inter alia as fragile, marginal, dry, waste, problem, threatened, range, less favoured, low potential lands, forests and woodlands, including lowlands and uplands. Of these, the terms less favoured areas (LFAs), and low or high potential are quite widely used. The LFAs are characterised by four key features: i) very variable biophysical elements, notably poor soil quality, rainfall, length of growing season and dry periods, ii) extreme poverty and very poor people who continuously face hunger and vulnerability, iii) presence of large populations of ruminant animals (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep), and iv) have had minimum development attention and an unfinished wanting agenda. The rainfed humid/sub-humid areas found mainly in South East Asia (99 million ha), and arid/semi-arid tropical systems found in South Asia (116 million ha) are priority agro-ecological zones (AEZs). In India for example, the ecosystem occupies 68% of the total cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock populations. The area also produces 4% of food requirements. The biophysical and typical household characteristics, agricultural diversification, patterns of mixed farming and cropping systems are also described. Concerning animals, their role and economic importance, relevance of ownership, nomadic movements, and more importantly their potential value as the entry point for the development of LFAs is discussed. Two examples of demonstrated success concern increasing buffalo production for milk and their expanded use in semi-arid AEZs in India, and the integration of cattle and goats with oil palm in Malaysia. Revitalised development of the LFAs is justified by the demand for agricultural land to meet human needs e.g. housing, recreation and industrialisation; use of arable land to expand crop production to ceiling levels; increasing and very high animal densities; increased urbanisation and pressure on the use of available land; growing environmental concerns of very intensive crop production e.g. acidification and salinisation with rice cultivation; and human health risks due to expanding peri-urban poultry and pig production. The strategies for promoting productivity growth will require concerted R and D on improved use of LFAs, application of systems perspectives for technology delivery, increased investments, a policy framework and improved farmer-researcher-extension linkages. These challenges and their resolution in rainfed areas can forcefully impact on increased productivity, improved livelihoods and human welfare, and environmental sustainability in the future.

• 아시안잔디학회지
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.105-115
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• 1996

To find out the mineral cycles of calcium, magnesium and sodium in dynamic grassland cosystems in a steady state condition, this investigation was conducted along the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The experimental results may he suromarized on the communities of a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sinesis as follows. As compared with some properties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, cal- cium (Ca) was greater quantity in a Zoysia japonica, whereas, in a Miscanthus sicensis, sodium (Na)and magnesium (Mg) were greater in Mt. Kwanak. For the case of steady production and release, the ratio of annual mineral production to the amount accumulated on the top of mineral soil in a steady state provides the estimates of release constant k. The release constants of Ca, Mg and Na of the litter were 0.42, 0.25 and 0.29 in the Zoysia japonica grassland, and were 0.41, 0.54 arid 0.62 in the Miscanthus sinensis grassland, respect- ively. The half times of Ca, Mg and Na required for the release or accumulation of the litter on the grassland were 1.65, 2.77 and 2.39 in the Zoysia japonica, and were 1.69, 1.28 and 1.12 in the Miscauthus sinensis, respectively. The increasing order of the turnover parameters of the elements was Ca, Na and Mg in the Zoysia japonica grassland, and was Na, Mg and Ca in the Miscanthus Si nens is grassland. The amounts of annual cycles for Ca, Mg, Na in the grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 1.29, 0.20 and 0.12 g /m$^2$ in the Zoysia japonica grassland and 3.91, 1.04 and 0.61 g /m$^2$ in the Miscanthus sinensis grassland.

• 한국환경복원기술학회지
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.45-76
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• 2000

The purposes of this study were to investigate and understand the present status of various types of "deserts", such as sand desert, gravel desert, rock desert, earth desert, salt desert, desert, rocky desert, gobi desert, sandy desert, clay desert, etc., and the general countermeasures for the combating "desertification" "desertization", and to develop the technologies on the revegetation and restoration for the combating desertification in China. The methods of this study were mainly composed of field surveys on the several experimental sites and research institutes related to combating desertification in China, and examinations on the various technologies for the combating desertification at the Daxing Experimental Station of Beijing Forestry University. The conclusion from this study may be summarized as follows; 1. Status and tendency of desertification in China : China is one of the countries seriously threatened by desertification. Desertification affected areas in China are mainly distributed in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas in China, covering the most regions of the Northeast China (eastern region of Inner-Mongolia), the northern part of the North China (middle and western region of Inner-Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningsha, Gansu) and the western part of the Northwest China (Xinzang, Qinghai, Xizang). The total area affected by desertification in China is approximately 2.622 million $km^2$. It covers 27.3% of the total territory of China. Until recently, it is estimated that the annual spreading ratio of desertification in China is 2,460 $km^2$. Therefore, desertification is mostly serious problems facing to the Chinese people. 2. The causes and environmental effect of desertification : The desertification in China is mainly caused by compound factors, including natural condition and human activities. In China, the desertification is started by the decrease of precipitation, continuous dry and drought, strong wind, wind and water erosion, land degradation and loss of natural vegetation caused by climate variation, and accelerated by the human activities, such as over-cultivating, over-grazing, over-cutting of woods, irrational use of water resources. Because desertification has affected the geographical features, soil nutrients contents, salinity, vegetation coverage and the functions of ecosystem, the environmental deteriorations in the desertification affected areas are very seriously. 3. The fundamental strategies of combating desertification in China are the increase of education and awareness of people through various mass media, the revision of laws to guarantee operation of Desertification Combating Law and to improve many relating laws and regulations, the application of advanced technologies and training of experts, the establishment of discriminative policies, and increasing arrangement of budget-investment, and so on. China, as a signed country in UNCCD, has made efforts for the combating desertification. Korea is also signed country in UNCCD, so we should play an important role in the desertification combating projects of China for the northest asia and global environmental conservation as well as environmental conservation of Korea.

• 한국토양비료학회지
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.321-327
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• 2006

농업환경지표가 OECD 회원국간의 농업환경 비교와 이를 통한 농업환경 개선과 농업정책 수립에 대한 권고의 수단으로만 작용을 하지만 이것이 향후 통상 무역과 연계될 것은 추측 가능한 사실이다. OECD 농업환경지표를 우리나라에 그대로 적용했을 때 얻어진 지표 값이 우리나라의 농업환경을 사실대로 반영하지 못한다면 우리가 받을 피해는 미래에도 작용할 것이므로 이에 대한 새로운 제안을 통해 우리나라에 적합한 지표를 설정해야 한다. OECD에 의해 제안된 농업용수 사용 강도 지표는 논이나 밭에서 이용되거나 배수 유출되는 물의 특성을 모두 반영한 방법이 아니므로 몬순 기후지대에 속하는 한국에 적당하지 않다. 특히, 여름철 집중호우시기에 년 강우량의 2/3가 내리는 강우 특성은 이를 담수해 저장하는 능력을 가진 농경지의 수자원 보유능과 기타의 농업적 특성을 고려한 계산방법으로 농업용수를 산정해야 한다. 논의 경우 강우가 내리거나 관개가 되었을 때 담수나 침투를 통해 물을 지하로 배수해 지하수를 형성하거나 지표의 배수로나 하천을 통해 강이나 저수지로 상당량의 물을 흘려보내 다시 이용할 수 있도록 해준다. 즉, 농업용수로 계산되어 있는 물의 상당량은 다른 농경지나 생활용수 또는 공업용수나 하천 유지용수로 다시 이용된다. 따라서, 물 사용강도에 이용되는 농업용수는 농경지에서 소모되지 않고 지하수로 흘러 들어가거나 하천으로 유입되는 배출수를 고려하여 계산하는 것이 합리적이다. 이렇게 계산하면 22.9%(2001년)로 OECD 계산방법으로 얻어진 47%보다 24.1%가 낮아진다. 합리적인 농업용수 스트레스 지표를 산출하기 위해서는 각 나라마다 다른 나라와 강을 공유하고 있는지의 여부와 농업을 위한 주 취수원이 무엇인지를 살펴보아 그 나라에 적합한 스트레스 지표를 산출하도록 유도하는 것이 바람직할 것이다. 그러나, 실제 물에 대한 스트레스는 강우량, 수계별 수자원 부존량, 사용가능량, 농업용수 총공급수량, 환경 유지용수를 위한 기준 갈수량 확보 가능성, 농업용수 관리현황 및 저수율 분석, 수계별 농업용수 사용 가능량 및 기상 등이 복잡하게 작용할 것이므로 이 모든 인자들을 포함한 지표를 만들기는 쉬운 일이 아니다. 따라서, 우리나라는 OECD의 스트레스 지표와는 달리 환경 위해성 판단이 필요 없고, 계산이 복잡하지 않으며 우리의 환경에 적합하도록 주 취수원인 농업용 저수지의 저수율로 농업용수 스트레스 지표를 산정 했다. 농업용수 사용 기술적 효율지표는 작물의 재배 생리특성 및 이용특성과 지역마다 차이가 나는 기후의 특성을 반영하지 않은 계산의 결과이다. 그러므로 이러한 특성들을 반영하는 기술적 물 이용효율 지표를 만들기 위해서는 각 지역 또는 나라마다 작물별로 기준이 되는 물 소요량을 산정한 후 그 소요량에 대한 공급된 양의 비율로 WUTE를 결정하는 것이 합리적이다. 지역별, 작물별 특성을 포함해야 하는 농업용수 사용 경제적 효율 지표는 소비된 물을 분모로 삼아 계산에 이용하는 대신에 농업용수 사용 기술적 효율에서 제안한 각 지역 또는 나라마다 작물별로 기준이 되는 물 소요량을 산정한 후 그 소요량에 대한 공급된 양의 비율을 계산식의 분모에 적용하고, 벼의 경우는 생산물의 가격 대신에 지하수가 되는 양과 하천수가 되는 양에 대한 경제적 평가에 더해 논에 많은 양의 물이 관개됨으로서 발생하는 수변 생태계에 의한 환경유지 기능과 온도와 습도가 높은 한국의 기후 특성에서 전체 에너지 밸런스를 유지하는데 기여하는 관개수의 가치에 대한 평가와 더불어 생산물의 가격을 포함하는 것이 합리적일 것이다.