Area Of Inner Mongolia Research Articles

Study on Natural Characteristics of Coal Gangue Oxidation under the Action of Water.

The exposed accumulation of coal gangue undergoes changes when it is soaked by rainwater, exhibiting varying tendencies for spontaneous combustion in different precipitation regions. This study investigates the effects of moisture on the oxidation and spontaneous combustion of coal gangue in high-sulfur coal gangue from the Qipanjing area of Inner Mongolia. Initially, coal gangue samples were subjected to soaking and air-drying treatments at different moisture contents. The dried coal gangue samples were then placed into a self-designed programmable heating furnace for thermal experiments, during which the gases generated were collected and characterized using gas chromatography. By comparing the oxygen consumption and volume fractions of gases such as CO, CH4, and C2H6 produced from coal gangue treated at different moisture contents, it was found that the low-temperature oxidation characteristics were optimal at a moisture content of 25%. At this level, the initial formation temperatures of gases like CO, CH4, and C2H6 were the lowest, with peak concentrations observed at 390 °C. Conversely, when the moisture content exceeded 70%, a significant amount of combustible material in the coal gangue was dissolved and dispersed by water, leading to a marked decrease in the concentrations of indicator gases produced at 390 °C. In fact, these concentrations fell below those of the control group, which was not subjected to water soaking or subsequent drying. The water immersion treatment also lowered the initial temperature points for the generation of various indicator gases by approximately 15 °C, making spontaneous combustion more likely.

Geochemistry and Zircon U–Pb Chronology of Jinchanshan Gold-Hosted Granitoids, Inner Mongolia: Implications for Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Evolution

Jinchanshan is a medium-sized, granitoid-hosted gold deposit located in the Kalaqin area of Inner Mongolia. Mineralization predominantly occurs in the contact zone between biotite granites and quartz porphyry rocks, associated with the Jinchanshan minor intrusion, suggesting a genetic link to the granitoid-hosted gold deposit. In this study, the petrography, geochemistry, and LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb chronology of these two granitoid samples were studied. The results indicate that the zircon U–Pb age of the biotite granites is 127.9 ± 3.0 Ma, while that of the quartz porphyry is 121.4 ± 1.5 Ma, both dating back to the Early Cretaceous. The average SiO2 content of the granites is 66.64%, and the rocks have high total alkali (K2O + Na2O) content, averaging 9.13%. The average K2O content is 4.39%, with a K2O/Na2O ratio of 0.93. The quartz porphyry rocks are enriched in SiO2 (74.41%–76.85%) and have high Na2O + K2O content (8.67%–9.59%), but are low in MgO (0.03%–0.09%), CaO (0.44%–1.02 %), and TiO2 (0.08%–0.12%). Most samples of the biotite granite and the quartz porphyry rocks exhibit high-K peraluminous and medium-K calc-alkaline characteristics, respectively. Both rock types are enriched in Rb, Th, U, K, Zr, Hf, and Gd and relatively depleted in Ba, Sr, P, Ti, Nb, Ta, and Eu, with a pronounced negative Eu anomaly. The biotite granites show high ∑LREE/∑HREE ratios (6.1–6.9), while the quartz porphyry rocks exhibit lower ratios (2.0–4.2). Both granitoid types have elevated FeOT content and FeOT/(FeOT + MgO) ratios, indicating that the Jinchanshan granitoids are A-type granites. The zircon U–Pb ages, combined with the regional tectonic settings, suggest that these granitoids formed during large-scale metallogenic events in the Early Cretaceous, within the Yanshanian post-orogenic extensional tectonic regime. This is consistent with the lithospheric thinning and extensional processes in Eastern China during this period.

Chemical Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Environmental Driving Factors of Groundwater in Hetao Irrigation Area

To explore the chemical characteristics and environmental factors of groundwater in the Hetao Irrigation Area of Inner Mongolia, five irrigation fields, including UulanBuh, Jiefangzha, Yongji, Yichang, and Wulat, were selected as the research area. From 72 groundwater observation wells, a total of 216 groundwater samples were collected throughout three typical periods： the end of freeze-thaw （March）, the middle of irrigation （July）, and the end of autumn watering （November）. Comprehensive methods were utilized, such as statistical analysis, Piper three-line diagram, Gibbs diagram, ion ratio, and principal component analysis, to explore the changes in the groundwater chemical environment and the environmental driving factors of groundwater component formation. The groundwater drinking suitability was evaluated using the water quality index （WQI）, and the irrigation suitability was analyzed using the USSL and Wilcox plots. The results indicated that the groundwater in the research areas was generally saline, and the total anion and cation concentrations in each period in ascending order were as follows： late freeze-thaw stage, late autumn irrigation stage, and mid-irrigation stage, with Na+ and Cl- being the major contributing ions. The chemical type of groundwater was dominated by Cl-Na, followed by Cl·SO4-Ca·Mg and a coexistence with SO4-Ca·Mg, HCO3·Cl-Na, HCO3-Na, and HCO3-Ca·Mg. Based on WQI values, the shallow groundwater in Hetao Irrigation District was mainly classified as Class IV and Class V, and the quality was poor in general. According to the USSL diagram and Wilcox diagram, the comprehensive evaluation results showed that the salinity and sodium concentration of shallow groundwater in the irrigation area were generally high. A total of 80.6% of the water samples during the late freeze-thaw period, 76.1% during the mid-irrigation period, and 77.6% during the late autumn irrigation period lacked irrigation suitability. Two major controlling factors of groundwater chemical characteristics were present in the study area, namely, evaporation and rock weathering, and Na+ and Cl- mainly came from the dissolution and cation exchange of salt rocks. Agricultural irrigation and drought were the chief driving factors of groundwater chemical evolution in the Hetao Irrigation Area. The study provides technical support for optimizing agricultural management measures and a theoretical reference for rational utilization of groundwater resources in the Yellow River irrigation area of Inner Mongolia.

Transcrustal magmatic systems in NE China: Insights from Early Cretaceous metaluminous–peraluminous–peralkaline rock associations in the southern Great Xing’an Range

The generation and evolution of crustal-scale magmatic systems are important in revealing the continental crust differentiation. In the Bayangeer-Aliwula area of Inner Mongolia, metaluminous–peraluminous–peralkaline rock assemblages provide a rare opportunity to evaluate Early Cretaceous magmatic systems. This study presents new geochemical data, including whole-rock and zircon geochemistry, zircon U–Pb dating, and Hf–O isotopic analysis of rocks formed between 132 and 121 Ma. The metaluminous rocks exhibit low SiO2 (55.35–65.65 wt%), low Rb/Sr (0.08–0.24) and (La/Yb)N (4.88–7.58) ratios, and positive εHf(t) values (+4.9 to +8.7). These features, along with enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in Nb and Ta, suggest formation via partial melting of fluid-metasomatised lithospheric mantle. By contrast, peraluminous rocks have high SiO2 (69.37–80.58 wt%), a high differentiation index (DI = 88–95), and Fe-index (0.84–0.95), resembling highly fractionated I-type granites. They show high Rb/Sr (0.77–3.35) and (La/Yb)N (5.79–22.75) ratios, and positive εHf(t) values (+6.7 to +10.8), combined with the modelling results, indicating origin from partial melting of K-rich mafic lower crust followed by magma fractionation. Peralkaline rocks display typical ferroan A-type granite characteristics (Zr + Nb + Ce + Y = 906–4292 ppm; Fe-index = 0.96–0.99), with high SiO2 (74.02–77.50 wt%), high Rb/Sr (6.17–121.38), and (La/Yb)N ratios (2.19–17.72), and positive εHf(t) values (+3.1 to +9.6). Zircon geochemistry characteristics suggest that peralkaline and peraluminous felsic melts are different batches extracted from the same magma reservoir. Further analysis, including hyperbola diagrams and zircon oxygen isotope compositions, suggests peralkaline magma formation through the mixing of altered oceanic crust fluids and peraluminous melts after melt extraction. During Early Cretaceous, the transcrustal magmatic system provides a reasonable explanation for the petrogenesis of various contemporaneous rocks in the study area in southern Great Xing’an Range.

Characteristics of soil moisture transport in the aeration zone of subsidence areas under the disturbance of coal seam mining

High-intensity coal mining has induced a series of ecological and environmental problems issues, including surface subsidence, the development of ground cracks, and the deterioration of vegetation. The disruption of water circulation systems induced by mining, such as perched groundwater, groundwater of aeration zone, and phreatic water, is the root cause of vegetation withering. The aeration zone serves as a crucial nexus in the process of water cycling and exerts a significant influence on soil fertility. To explore the characteristics of soil moisture transport in subsidence areas under the mining disturbance, on-site monitoring of the size and morphology characteristics of subsidence areas and ground cracks was conducted in typical mining areas in Inner Mongolia, China. Subsequently, a typical soil moisture transport model was constructed in subsidence areas, the soil moisture transport patterns under the influence of different types of subsidence and cracks were analyzed, and the influence law of soil damage on soil moisture transport in the aerated zone was clarified. The results indicate that (1) Based on the occurrence and distribution characteristics of subsidence cracks, the subsidence area can be divided into tension zone, compression zone, and neutral zone; the ground cracks are divided into permanent tension cracks and dynamic cracks. (2) The drought stress effect of soil in the subsidence area is significant. Under the influence of soil structure variation, the water-holding capacity of the soil in the subsidence area decreases, and the soil moisture dissipation is strong. The soil moisture transport rate in the aeration zone of the subsidence area is ranked as follows: tension zone > neutral zone > compression zone. (3) Ground cracks can exacerbate the soil moisture transport rate in the aeration zone. After 15 d of crack appearance, the soil moisture transport reaches a relatively stable state, and the soil moisture transport rate in the surface layer of the crack is the fastest, and the loss of soil moisture is the most significant. The crack effect is not significant beyond 100 cm from the crack. This study provides a theoretical and data support for soil and vegetation remediation in mining subsidence areas.

Quantitative analysis of dissolved carbon sources in the farmland artificial ditch drainage-Lake UlanSuhai continuum in the Hetao Irrigation District's, Inner Mongolia

Study regionAgricultural Irrigation and Drainage system - Ulansuhai Lake Continuum, located in the Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia, China. Study focusIn this study, carbon isotope tracing technology was applied to analyze the sources and migration-transformation characteristics of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) in the continuous system of the agricultural irrigation and drainage system - Ulansuhai Lake in the Hetao Irrigation Area of Inner Mongolia during typical irrigation periods. New hydrological insights for the regionDuring typical irrigation periods, DOC and DIC increase simultaneously with the increase in salinity, and dissolved carbon dioxide in the irrigation and drainage channels escapes. The main sources of DOC in farmland drainage water are terrestrial C3 plants (94.00 %) and plankton (6.00 %). The primary sources of DOC in the lake are farmland drainage (98.19 %) and macroaquatic plants (1.81 %). The main sources of DIC in farmland drainage water are irrigation water from the Yellow River (64.73 %) and the equilibrium dissolution process between carbonates and soil CO₂ (35.27 %); while the primary sources of DIC in the lake are farmland drainage (93.10 %) and air-water exchange (6.90 %). Crop types in the irrigated area, soil salinization, rock weathering, metabolic processes, and the hydrological connectivity induced by irrigation from the Yellow River jointly control the sources, migration, and transformation of carbon within the continuum.

Collective action in the pastural area of Inner Mongolia, China: Evidence from a lab-in-the-field experiment

The degradation of grasslands is a pressing global issue. Extensive research has explored the implementation of collective action as a means to ensure the sustainable use of grassland resources. However, empirical analysis of its impact in the field is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a lab-in-the-field experiment to evaluate the intensity of herders’ participation in collective action and estimated its impact on grassland conservation and livestock production at herder household level. As a robustness check, we performed a principal component analysis to measure herders’ willingness to participate in collective action. The empirical results show that collective action has significant positive effects on grassland quality and livestock number. A mechanism analysis indicates that herders who are more actively engaged in collective action are more likely to adopt rotational grazing management practices, leading to better grassland quality and a higher number of livestock. A heterogeneity analysis reveals that the benefits of collective action on grassland conservation vary based on resource endowments and individual characteristics, including grassland area and social network. This study makes a significant contribution to the study of sustainable grassland management that promotes the coupling development of grassland protection and livestock production.

Combining the Optimized Maximum Entropy Model to Detect Key Factors in the Occurrence of Oedaleus decorus asiaticus in the Typical Grasslands of Central and Eastern Inner Mongolia.

Grasshoppers pose a significant threat to both natural grassland vegetation and crops. Therefore, comprehending the relationship between environmental factors and grasshopper occurrence is of paramount importance. This study integrated machine learning models (Maxent) using the kuenm package to screen MaxEnt models for grasshopper species selection, while simultaneously fitting remote sensing data of major grasshopper breeding areas in Inner Mongolia, China. It investigated the spatial distribution and key factors influencing the occurrence of typical grasshopper species in grassland ecosystems. The modelling results indicate that a typical steppe has a larger suitable area. The soil type, above biomass, altitude, and temperature, predominantly determine the grasshopper occurrence in typical steppes. This study explicitly delineates the disparate impacts of key environmental factors (meteorology, vegetation, soil, and topography) on grasshopper occurrence in typical steppes. Furthermore, it provides a methodology to guide early warning and precautions for grasshopper pest prevention. The findings of this study will be instrumental in formulating future management measures to guarantee grass ecological environment security and the sustainable development of grassland.

Analysis of pollen sensitization characteristics of artemisia allergic rhinitis in three urban and rural areas of Inner Mongolia

Objective: To investigate the distribution rules of artemisia pollen and the clinical sensitization characteristics of allergic rhinitis (AR) induced by artemisia pollen in three urban and rural areas of Inner Mongolia. Methods: From March to October 2019, in 3 central cities (Chifeng, Hohhot, Ordos) and rural areas of Inner Mongolia, an epidemiological investigation method combining multi-stage stratified random sampling and face-to-face questionnaire survey was adopted to screen suspected AR patients, and skin prick test (SPT) was applied for diagnosis. At the same time, pollen monitoring was carried out in 3 areas to analyze the distribution and clinical sensitization characteristics of artemisia pollen.SPSS26.0 statistical software was used to process all the data. Chi-square test was used to compare rates among different age, sex, region and nationality, Spearman test was used to describe correlation analysis, and pairwise comparison of positive rates among multiple samples was used Bonferroni method. Results: Among the 6 393 subjects, 1 093 cases were diagnosed with AR, and the prevalence of AR was 17.10% (1 093/6 393). Among them, pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, the prevalence of PiAR was 10.97% (701/6 393), accounting for 64.14%(701/1 093).The highest incidence was in the youth group (20-39 years old), accounting for 46.94% (329/701).The diagnosed prevalence was higher in females than in males (11.35% vs. 10.64%, χ2 value 12.304, P<0.001).The prevalence rate of ethnic minority was higher than that of Han nationality (13.01% vs. 10.65%, χ2 value 6.296, P=0.008).The prevalence in urban areas was also significantly higher than that in rural areas (18.40% vs. 5.50%, χ2 value 10.497, P<0.001).There was significant difference in prevalence rate among the three regions in Inner Mongolia (6.06% in Chifeng, 13.46% in Hohhot, 16.39% in Ordos, χ2 value 70.054, P<0.001).The main clinical symptoms of artemisia PiAR were sneezing (95.58%), nasal congestion (91.73%) and nasal itching (89.30%).Allergic conjunctivitis accounted for 79.60% (558/701), chronic sinusitis for 55.63% (390/701), asthma for 23.25% (163/701).The pattern of artemisia pollen sensitization was mainly multiple sensitization, and the frequency of clinical symptoms and clinical diseases induced by hypersensitization with other allergens accounted for more than that caused by single artemisia pollen. The spread period of Artemisia pollen in the three regions was from June to October, and the peak state was in August in summer. The peak time of clinical symptoms in artemisia PiAR patients was about 2 weeks earlier than the peak time of pollen concentration, and the two were significantly positively correlated (R=0.7671, P<0.001). Conclusion: Artemisia pollens are the dominant pollens in late summer and early autumn in Inner Mongolia, and the prevalence of artemisia PiAR is high. Controlling the spread of Artemisia pollens is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of AR.

Optimization of land-use pattern based on suitability and trade-offs between land development and protection: A case study of the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos (HBO) area in Inner Mongolia, China

Determining comprehensive land-use suitability is crucial for effective zoning management. However, limited research on land-use multi-suitability and the trade-offs between land development and protection hinder optimal environmental management. This study focuses on the Hohhot-Baotou-Ordos (HBO) area in Inner Mongolia, China, known for its unique geographical attributes, including abundant energy resources, potential arable land, and vulnerable ecological environment. The objective is to determine comprehensive land-use suitability for ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction, while addressing the trade-offs involved in land-use multi-suitability. Multi-scenarios were conducted based on multi-suitability using quantitative indicators, such as per capita space occupancy, patch density, and conductance index. The most suitable scenario, identified through these comparisons, was subsequently optimized for the HBO area by addressing land conflict zones using the InVEST model. The results revealed that: (1) Extremely suitable areas for ecological protection, agricultural production, and urban construction accounted for 47.75%, 18.19%, and 8.61% of the HBO area, respectively, indicating significant potential for ecological conservation. (2) Trade-offs were categorized into six scenarios based on land-use multi-suitability. The ecological-agricultural priority scenario demonstrated reasonable space allocation, the highest landscape agglomeration and connectivity, making it the most suitable option for optimizing the land-use pattern. (3) The optimized zoning delineated the ecological protection red line (EPR), which accounted for the highest percentage at 40.71%, while the urban reserve area (URA) was minimal, constituting only 1.28%. The primary goal of zoning management is to curb urban expansion and alleviate ecological degradation through effective strategies. Consequently, regulatory strategies focusing on management zoning were proposed. Overall, this study developed a comprehensive index system for land-use suitability, providing a method for balancing land development and protection. The findings offer a scientific reference for sustainable development in the HBO area and other regions with similar natural environmental backgrounds.

Identification of Geochemical Anomalies Based on RPCA and Multifractal Theory: A Case Study of the Sidaowanzi Area, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia.

The focus of exploration geochemistry is an accurate interpretation of geochemical data and the precise extraction of anomaly information related to mineralization from complex geological information. However, geochemical data are component data and exhibit a closure effect. Thus, traditional statistical methods cannot adequately reveal and identify the distribution of deep-seated anomaly information. This paper focuses on the Sidaowanzi area in Inner Mongolia and uses multivariate component data analysis methods to process 1:50 000 soil geochemical data. Using the Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) method, the spatial distribution and internal structure characteristics of raw, logarithmic, and isometric logarithmic ratio (ILR) transformed data were compared and, coupled with robust principal component analysis (RPCA) and elemental component biplots, the association between element combinations and mineralization indicated by these three types of data was revealed. The S-A method was used to decompose composite anomalies of the ILR transformed RPCA score data to extract the characteristics of elemental combination anomalies and background distribution, and the Fry analysis method was utilized to analyze the dominant mineralization direction within the area. The results show that (1) data transformed using the ILR eliminated the influence of the closure effect, making the data more uniform on a spatial scale and exhibiting characteristics of an approximately normal distribution. (2) The S-A method was further used to decompose the composite anomaly of the PC1 and PC2 principal component combinations. The screened-out anomaly and background fields can essentially reflect the ore-causing anomalies dominated by Au and Cu-Mo mineralization. Moreover, the extracted anomalies and background information closely align with known mineral deposits (prospects) and can effectively identify weakly retarded geochemical anomaly information. (3) Fry analysis based on geochemical anomalies indicates that the dominant mineralization directions, by an assemblage dominated by Au and Cu-Mo, predominantly occur in the NE, NW, and proximate EW orientations. The combined application of the aforementioned three methods for the quantitative analysis of geochemical data aims to explore a transferable methodological system, providing new insights and approaches for further prediction of mineralization potential.

An ethnobotanical survey on the medicinal and edible plants used by the Daur people in China

BackgroundThe Daur people are one of the 55 minority ethnic groups in China and have lived in Northern China for 300 years. In traditional Daur medicine, medicinal and edible plants (MEPs) are utilised for health benefits and therapeutic purposes; however, related ethnobotanical knowledge is rarely reported, which is disadvantageous for the sustainable development of these MEPs.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with 122 informants, six focus group discussions, and a resource survey were conducted in a Daur minority nationality area in Inner Mongolia from 2015 to 2020, and the data statistics were analysed. In this study, we simulated a system dynamics model aimed at understanding the multiple feedback mechanisms involved in the relationships between the cultural influences and socioeconomic factors, sustainable environment, and development of MEPs.ResultsA total of 52 species of MEPs were identified and relevant ethnobotanical knowledge was assessed using Daur medicinal species data from Inner Mongolia and the Xinjiang region, with the literature and Ewenki ethnic group data used for comparison. The most commonly used medicinal plant species by the Daur were found to be Betula pendula subsp. mandshurica, Artemisia integrifolia, Crataegus pinnatifida, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Artemisia argyi, and Jacobaea cannabifolia. The MEPs most frequently targeted the digestive and rheumatic immunity systems, as well as infectious diseases or parasitic infections and other common diseases and basic health issues. MEP knowledge was primarily limited to older generations; thus, the valuable ethnobotanical knowledge on traditional medicines must be protected from future losses.ConclusionsOur findings provide insights for future research aimed at exploiting the rich phytochemical diversity in traditional medicine and promote its use in modern lifestyles. Effective assessment and management of plant resources will lead to their application for the improvement of dietary diversity, nutrition, and health care.

Detecting land cover and land use transitions and the associated temperature changes in the East Asian monsoon region

AbstractUnprecedented land cover and land use (LCLU) changes can significantly alter the interactions between the land and atmosphere through biogeophysical processes, potentially changing the monsoon systems. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify the LCLU changes and the impacts on the climate in the East Asian monsoon (EAM) region, where significant human‐induced LCLU changes have occurred. This study quantified the LCLU transitions with fractional maps produced using the recently developed categorical LCLU maps from 1982 to 2015. In the five sub‐regions, identified as having undergone significant LCLU transitions, the relationships of the transitions with 2 m temperature were investigated using the ERA5‐Land reanalysis data. The quantified LCLU transitions revealed that, in northeastern China, the dominant trend was forests and grasslands changing into croplands. Moreover, in the marginal areas of Inner Mongolia, the transitions of grasslands to croplands and forests were evident. Croplands were mainly converted to forests in the Sichuan region. In particular, in the Sichuan region, the temperature increased by more than 0.04°C as the forests increased by 1%. In the marginal areas of Inner Mongolia, a 1% decrease in grasslands and a 1% increase in forests, respectively, were associated with a temperature rise of more than 0.03 and 0.04°C. The detected LCLU transitions affect the regional warming as demonstrated by correlation, regression and Granger‐causality analyses and the related biogeophysical processes. Thus, the identified LCLU transitions can change the regional climate and potentially affect the monsoon systems by changing the contrast in heat between land and ocean. This empirical research will not only provide insight into possible changes to climate by LCLU transitions in the EAM region, but it will also yield practical information for implementing land cover policies while considering the geographical characteristics of the region.

Research on Monitoring and Application of Ecological Restoration Engineering in Open Pit Backfilling Mines Based on Satellite Remote Sensing Data

Abstract. The restoration and management of mining ecological environment is an important component of China's ecological civilization construction. The implementation of restoration projects is to avoid the serious impact caused by the continuous deterioration of mining ecological structure, and is a key way to maintain regional ecological security and energy and mineral security. Therefore, efficient and rapid monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of mining ecological restoration is an essential and important link. With the rapid development of remote sensing technology, remote sensing monitoring has become an important means to objectively, quickly, and accurately obtaining changes in the mining environment. It can provide timely and long-term monitoring of mining and backfilling conditions in mining areas. This article uses the multi temporal stereo images of the Resource 3 satellite over four years to monitor the mining and backfilling situation of the Zhungeer open-pit coal mine area in Inner Mongolia. By reconstructing the Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the open-pit mining area, the changes and thresholds of the multi temporal DSM data are statistically analyzed to extract the mining and backfilling areas, and the earthwork volume is calculated. The results showed that from 2013 to 2016, the main large-scale mining faces in the study area of Zhungeer open-pit mining area had a total mining operation of about 563.5 million cubic meters, and a total backfilling operation of about 604.29 million cubic meters; During the period from 2016 to 2018, the main large-scale mining faces in the region had a total of approximately 721.71 million cubic meters of mining operations and a total of approximately 805.42 million cubic meters of backfilling operations. The overall operational intensity increased from 2016 to 2018. The research results show that based on satellite image data, it is convenient and efficient to obtain DSM and corresponding changes of multiple time periods in mining areas. Monitoring results can provide important support for regional environmental governance and protection, as well as safety production in mining areas.

Irrigation Schedule Optimization for Wheat and Sunflower Intercropping under Water Supply Restrictions in Inner Mongolia, China

Precise water management is essential for the efficient development of irrigated agricultural crops in the Hetao Irrigation Area of Inner Mongolia. Given the severe water scarcity in the region and the significant use of intercropping as a cropping method, the development of rational irrigation scheduling is crucial. The objective of this work was to combine the ISAREG model with wheat–sunflower intercropping crops in order to enhance the effectiveness of irrigation scheduling in intercropping systems. This was achieved by changing and verifying crucial parameters for simulating irrigation patterns in intercropping. We conducted an assessment of nine irrigation schedules for a wheat–sunflower intercropping system in order to provide a range of irrigation scenarios that effectively fulfill the water requirements of the system. In light of this, we suggested implementing restrictions on the dates and volumes of irrigation based on the demand for agricultural irrigation. This approach aimed to establish irrigation schedules that are highly efficient and tailored to the specific crops in the area. As a result, we achieved a water use efficiency rate of 100%, saved 28.78% of water resources, optimized crop irrigation schedules, and enhanced crop economics by 6.7%. This study presents a novel and efficient method to optimize agricultural irrigation schedules, boost agricultural water use efficiency, and maximize crop yields in order to promote sustainable agricultural development.

Enhancing sustainability: Exploring the evolution and dynamics of the grassland social-ecological system in Inner Mongolia over the past 260a

Understanding the intricate relationship between social-ecological systems (SES) coupling and long-term regional sustainable development is critical for effective management strategies. While recent research has predominantly focused on human-earth coupling, there is a dearth of knowledge concerning the transition of grassland SES from one regime to another and the underlying drivers. This study employs a comprehensive SES framework to identify and analyze interactions within typical pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, aiming to shed light on the evolution of the grassland SES over the past centuries. Our research defines five distinct evolutionary phases in the grassland SES since the mid-Qing Dynasty. Each phase is characterized by unique social and ecological features, providing a nuanced understanding of the system's dynamics. We establish empirical links between the phases and their driving forces and impacts by assessing the main changes between these periods. Specifically, our findings reveal instances of negative cross-scale effects emerging during the evolution process. We observe that unreasonable resource utilization and an inability to curb ecological degradation may lead to unsustainable traps, posing challenges to long-term sustainability. To illustrate, during the transition from Phase 3 to Phase 4 in the late 19th century, a shift towards sedentary pastoralism led to increased land degradation due to intensified grazing practices. This unsustainable trajectory highlights the importance of adaptive management strategies to mitigate such negative consequences. This study contributes insights into the social and ecological management of grassland pastoral areas in China and for global analogous regions. By addressing the identified phases and their associated challenges, our research provides a foundation for crafting sustainable policies and practices to ensure the resilience of grassland SES in diverse geographical contexts.

E-Commerce Participation, Subjective Norms and Grassland Utilization Pressure: An Empirical Evidence of Herdsmen in Inner Mongolia, China

The general requirements of China’s rural revitalization strategy are industrial prosperity, ecological livability and rich life. However, the traditional livestock breeding model has struggled to balance the dual requirements of production development and ecological protection, and it is urgent to inject new impetus and explore new development paths. At present, e-commerce has become a bridge between pastoral areas and cities, herdsmen and consumers. E-commerce participation is not only an important starting point for herdsmen to increase the added value and profit space of livestock products, but also an effective way to change the original breeding behavior based on the premise of destroying grassland. Therefore, this paper presents an in-depth study on the issue of e-commerce enabling grassland ecological restoration, aiming to provide more scientific and effective guidance for e-commerce to be used to achieve a win–win situation in economy and ecology. Therefore, based on the data of 271 herdsmen in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, we used the OLS model and the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method to identify the direct impact of herdsmen’s e-commerce participation on grassland utilization pressure. The empirical results show that e-commerce participation can significantly decrease the grassland utilization pressure. The conclusion was still valid after alleviating endogeneity and conducting a robustness test. The results of a mechanism analysis suggest that the reduction effect of e-commerce participation on grassland utilization pressure is mainly due to price incentive, reputation incentive and place identity. Subjective norms can strengthen the inhibitory effect of e-commerce participation on grassland utilization pressure. Furthermore, a heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that e-commerce participation has a better, decreased impact on the grassland utilization pressure on the banners of China’s rural e-commerce demonstration county program. Under a counterfactual assumption, if herdsmen who can participate in e-commerce choose not to do this, their grassland utilization pressure will increase.

Impacts of Livestock Production on Grassland Grasshopper Disasters

Grasshopper disasters threaten grassland animal husbandry, and overgrazing is widely recognized as one of the main causes of locust infestation in grassland regions. However, the impact of overgrazing on grasshopper disasters remains unclear. To address this knowledge gap, this study interviewed 541 households living in locust-prone areas in Inner Mongolia, China. The generalized Poisson model and OLS regression examined the relationship between herders’ production behavior and locust disasters. The results showed that 42% of the herders had suffered from locusts more than three times over the past 15 years, with an average of 49 ha of grassland damaged per household. In addition, with the increase in grazing rates, the scale of locust disasters decreased before it increased. The results also showed that operating grassland areas and feeding forage reduced locust disasters significantly, while renting grassland areas and grazing rates worked oppositely. These results suggest that grazing intensity can make a significant difference in the occurrence of locust disasters.

Construction and Influencing Factors of Voluntary Compensation Subjects for Herders—From the Perspective of Sustainable Utilization of Grassland Resources

The grassland ecological compensation mechanism is a basic guarantee for promoting the sustainable utilization of grassland resources, and the reasonable determination of the compensation subject is the basic premise for the effective operation of the grassland ecological compensation mechanism. At present, grassland ecological compensation is mainly based on government compensation, and the compensation method generally adopted is financial transfer payment with a single source of compensation funds. Therefore, establishing diversified compensation entities is of great significance in expanding the sources of compensation funds. As important users of grassland resources, herders should become the main representatives of grassland ecological compensation according to the principle of “whoever uses, pays”. In this study, based on survey data with respect to pastoral areas in Inner Mongolia, we used a multivariate ordered logistic regression model to empirically analyze the factors influencing the establishment of a voluntary compensation entity for herders. The results of this study showed that (1) the resource endowment factors of the respondents, including livestock inventory, grazing area, and cutting grassland area, have a significant positive impact on the willingness of herdsmen to voluntarily serve as the main representatives of grassland ecological compensation. When each influencing factor increased by one unit, the probability of voluntarily becoming a compensation subject increased by 3.5%, 1.91%, and 1.41%, respectively. (2) The factor of prohibited pasture area in the endowment of herders had a significant negative effect on their willingness to become compensation subjects, which indicates that the larger the prohibited pasture area owned by herders, the lower their grassland utilization rate and the lower their willingness to voluntarily become compensation subjects. (3) Among the cognitive factors of the respondents, “whether they will continue to support the implementation of the grassland compensation policy” had a positive promoting effect on herdsmen voluntarily becoming compensation subjects, showing that the higher the support of herdsmen for the ecological compensation system, the more willing they were to become compensation subjects. This article is based on the perspective of the sustainable utilization of grassland resources and empirically analyzes the influencing factors of herders’ willingness to reduce their number of livestock. Through the voluntary reduction of livestock by herders, a voluntary compensation entity for herders is constructed. Based on the research conclusions, relevant countermeasures and suggestions are proposed, providing a reference for improving grassland ecological compensation policies and promoting the sustainable utilization of grassland resources.

Impacts of mining on vegetation phenology and sensitivity assessment of spectral vegetation indices to mining activities in arid/semi-arid areas

Measuring the impact of mining activities on vegetation phenology and assessing the sensitivity of vegetation indices (VIs) to it are crucial for understanding land degradation in mining areas and enhancing the carbon sink capacity following the ecological restoration of mines. To this end, we have developed a novel technical framework to quantify the impact of mining activities on vegetation, and applied it to the Bainaimiao copper mining area in Inner Mongolia. Phenological indices are extracted based on the VI time series data of Sentinel-2, and changes in phenological differences in various directions are used to quantify the impact of mining activities on vegetation. Finally, indicators such as mean difference, standard deviation, index value distribution interval, and concentration of index value distribution were selected to assess the sensitivity of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Green Chlorophyll Index (GCI), Global Environmental Monitoring Index (GEMI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Renormalized Difference Vegetation Index (RDVI), Red-Edge Chlorophyll Index (RECI), and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) to mining activities. The results of the study show that the impact of mining activities on surrounding vegetation extends to an area three times larger than the actual mining activity area. When compared with the reference and unaffected areas, the affected area experienced a delay of approximately 10 days in seasonal vegetation development. Environmental pollution caused by the tailings pond was identified as the primary factor influencing this delay. Significant variations in the sensitivity of each VI to assess mining activities in arid/semi-arid areas were observed. Notably, GCI, GNDVI and RDVI displayed relatively high sensitivity to discrepancies in the spectral attributes of vegetation within the affected area, while SAVI reflected the overall spectral stability of the vegetation in the affected area. The research findings have the potential to provide valuable technical guidance for holistic environmental management in mining areas and hold great significance in preventing further land degradation and supporting ecological restoration in mining areas.