The relations between land use and karst rocky desertification in a typical karst area, China

Abstract

Karst rocky desertification (KRD) is one major type of desertification which is under irrational human impact on the vulnerable eco-geo-environment. In this study, Zhudong fengcong rocky desertification landscape was selected to investigate the land use types distribution law in different rock types and the KRD land in different land use types. KRD data was determined by user–computer interactive interpreting method from Aster images in 2004, according to the exposed ratio of rock, the coverage of vegetation and soil in 0.2 km2 unit, integrating with land utilizing present situation map, hydrogeology map, relief map, vegetation map, soil distribution map, as well as the practical investigation and the population census datum in 2002. Results showed that the occurrence ratio of KRD land is different in land use types and rocky assemblages obviously; land cover has a strong impact upon KRD. The sloping cropland distributed in homogenous limestone has a higher occurrence ratio of light KRD, secondly, is in the limestone interbedded with clastic rock. Light KRD land was dominated by shrubland, and sloping cropland accounts for 11.67% of it, moderate KRD land was dominated by moderate coverage grass slopes, strong and extremely strong KRD was dominated by rocky dry land which is difficult to use.