Desertification Control Research Articles

A Review of Value Realization and Rural Revitalization of Eco-Products: Insights for Agroforestry Ecosystem in Karst Desertification Control

Amid global rural decline, the main approach to rural revitalization (RR) is to transform rural ecological resources into development advantages by means of ecological product value realization (EPVR). The fragility of the karst ecological environment limits the development of the karst countryside, and agroforestry is an important way to achieve the ecological protection and economic development of the karst countryside. At present, research on EPVR and RR is rapidly developing. Although there is an increasing number of publications on EPVR and RR separately, the literature on their comprehensive analysis is lacking, and how the karst agroforestry ecosystem can be improved is unclear. The objective of this is to provide an overview of the current research status and challenges of EPVR and RR in order to optimize agroforestry ecosystems in karst desertification control (KDC). This paper systematically analyzed 263 relevant articles on EPVR and RR, and the results are as follows: (1) The number of studies increased exponentially after 2017. The research has primarily focused on the relationship between EPVR and RR, as well as the EPVR and the formation mechanisms of the eco-industry and value accounting of eco-products, which account for 95.53% of the total literature. China has published the most research in this area. At the intercontinental scale, this research is mainly concentrated in East Asia, Europe, and North America. (2) The main progress and landmark achievements in the research on EPVR and RR are summarized. Four key scientific questions that need to be addressed in the future are presented. (3) The above information highlights the three key areas for improving the agroforestry ecosystem in karst desertification control (KDC): the value accounting of eco-products, EPVR, and RR. This study found that EPVR and RR can improve the karst agroforestry ecosystem and further promote rural development, providing significant insights for the overall revitalization of rural areas worldwide and the scientific control of karst desertification.

Preparation of nutrient hydrogels with core-shell structure for seed germination and seedling growth in high temperature saline environment.

Drought and soil degradation are the key factors in desertification control. How to improve the utilization efficiency of water and fertilizer has always been the focus of research in desert areas. The conventional hydrogel-loaded fertilizer is not suitable because of the high salinity and large temperature difference in sandy land. Therefore we prepared a novel temperature/pH-responsive core-shell structured hydrogel and loaded urea in three ways: in situ polymerization, encapsulation, and immersion, and germination and seedling growth experiments on Artemisia absinthium and Cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Makino) seeds. The results showed that the immersion hydrogel SAP4 (PCP-g-PAA/P(DMAEMA-co-AMPS))/urea had the best repetitive swelling performance, achieving 163.89 % of the original water absorption performance after 16 repetitions and the highest nitrogen release of 151.37 mg at 40 days. For A. desertorum, the treatment group applying the in situ composite hydrogel SAP2 (PCP-g-PAA/P(DMAEMA-co-AMPS)/urea) had the highest germination rate of 70 %; for B. campestris, the treatment groups applying SAP2, the encapsulated hydrogel SAP3 (PCP-g-PAA/urea/P(DMAEMA-co-AMPS)) and SAP4 hydrogels had higher germination rates, with SAP3 having a 100 % germination rate. This phenomenon suggests that the three urea-loaded temperature/pH-responsive core-shell structured hydrogels we have prepared are very promising as an aid to seed germination and seedling growth.

Isolation and characterization of a resistance Bacillus subtilis for soil stabilization and dust alleviation purposes

Dust poses environmental, geological, health, and economic concerns, and microorganisms can help mitigate these adverse consequences by improving soil properties. Microbial calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) has been found to be an efficient strategy for increasing soil strength, reducing soil porosity, and preventing erosion; however, severe environmental conditions such as pH and high temperatures may impede this process. To identify the best strain for MICP, 60 bacteria strains were obtained from arid soils using the enrichment culture technique. They were tested for the capacity of calcium carbonate deposition and biocement synthesis in stress environments. Phenotypic characterization indicated that the majority of the bacterial isolates were gram-positive and rod-shaped, with strong catalase and oxidase enzyme activity. Furthermore, MALDI-TOF MS identification revealed that the isolates were from the Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to analyze the microstructures and composition of bacterial cement. The results represented that B. subtilis isolate S56 has a higher production yield and forms distinctive calcite crystals as a result of fast urease synthesis. B. subtilis isolate S56 can be applied in situ to reduce soil erosion and dust pollution. This study reveals the potential of the B. subtilis S56 strain for soil consolidation and dust prevention in harsh environments and has the prospect of promoting its application in desertification control and ecological restoration.

Fixing active sand dune by native grasses in the desert of Northwest China

BackgroundDesertification is the most severe environmental problem in arid and semi-arid regions and has caused great economic loss every year. However, artificial sand fixation barriers function on sand fixation for only 10–20 years. Searching for a native species with long-term sand fixation effect and strong environmental adaptive capacity, and low water consumption is needed. In this study, we investigated the environmental adaption and sand fixation effect of a grass from Poaceae family (Psammochloa villosa) that is indigenous to the desert of Northwest China.ResultsThe results showed that P. villosa has a streamlined leaf form, strong mechanical strength, and flexibility to adapt to wind. Leaf curling of P. villosa under drought decreased water loss rate through decreased evaporation area to adapt to drought. Significant negative relationship between adventitious root length and horizontal root burial depth indicates that adventitious roots help P. villosa absorb water and nutrients from soil under shallow sand burial condition, which enables P. villosa to adapt to different sand burial conditions. P. villosa fixed sand dunes through the distribution of the population at the top of the dune and the vertical relationship between the direction of windblown sand and the direction of growth of P. villosa, which stopped the expansion of the dune.ConclusionsGrowth characteristics of wind and drought tolerant leaf traits and adventitious roots under sand burial indicate that P. villosa is well adapted to dry sandy desert conditions and burial by sand. The distribution of the P. villosa population on the sand dune is a “brake” on its expansion. These findings provide new insight for active sand dune fixation and desertification control using native grass in the desertified regions.

Exploring the Spatial-Temporal Patterns, Drivers, and Response Strategies of Desertification in the Mu Us Desert from Multiple Regional Perspectives

Desertification poses a serious threat to the global ecological environment and challenges the achievement of an ecological civilization. Understanding the spatial and temporal evolution of desertification in the Mu Us Desert, a key area in northern China, is crucial for predicting regional trends and analyzing causes. This study employs quantitative methods, including remote sensing data from Landsat satellites (2000–2020), combined with multi-scale analysis and statistical models, to systematically analyze desertification trends. The analysis reveals that desertification improved significantly after 2005 due to effective human intervention and governance efforts. In particular, the eastern regions (Shaanxi Province and Inner Mongolia) showed marked improvement, while the western regions exhibited limited change. The greatest progress was seen in the reduction in high-desertification areas to moderate levels. Quantitatively, human activities contributed to a 17.3% reduction in desertification (p < 0.05), while meteorological factors were responsible for a 45.8% reduction (p < 0.05). Conversely, desertification in Ningxia worsened by 41.8% due to unsustainable land use. Additionally, spatial correlation analysis highlighted that those areas of severe desertification became more uniformly distributed over time. The key drivers influencing desertification were agricultural development, urbanization, climate warming, and vegetation coverage, with human activities playing a substantial role. Initially, agricultural factors had the strongest correlation with desertification, but over time, population growth, rising temperatures, and vegetation cover (NDVI) became more prominent. These findings offer scientific support for desertification control in the Mu Us Desert and provide methodological insights for other severely desertified regions, contributing to sustainable ecological development.

The restoration of karst rocky desertification has enhanced the carbon sequestration capacity of the ecosystem in southern China

The control of rocky desertification is the largest ecological restoration project in southwestern China, but its impact on the carbon sequestration capacity of karst ecosystems is not clear. Therefore, in this paper selects typical subtropical karst areas in Guangxi are selected as the research object, the carbon sequestration potential of the terrestrial ecosystems are quantified, including karst inorganic carbon sinks, and the response of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink to rocky desertification restorationis discussed. The results show that (1) the karst inorganic carbon sink flux (CCSF) is 42.75 t CO2/km2/yr, with a total CCS of 491.12 × 104 t CO2, accounting for only 2.5 % of the country's land area and contributing 7.6 % of the karst inorganic carbon sink. (2) The flux of the vegetation organic carbon sink is 380.44 t CO2/km2/yr, and the total amount is 4403.55 × 104 t CO2/yr., Overall, the spatial distribution exhibits a pattern of high in the northwest and low in the northeast. (3) With decreasing rocky desertification area, the magnitude of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink has exhibited a corresponding increasing trend. In particular, during 2010–2020, the rocky desertification area decreased by about 0.868 × 104 km2, and the terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink increased by 114.04 t CO2/km2/yr. This article provides a systematic spatial diagnosis of the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems, including karst inorganic carbon sinks, in the karst areas of Guangxi, and reveals their responses to the restoration of karst rocky desertification. This work has strong reference value and significance for the diagnosis and analysis of the carbon neutrality capacity at the national and global levels.

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Trends of Vegetation Cover Evolution and Its Driving Forces from 2000 to 2020—A Case Study of the WuShen Counties in the Maowusu Sandland

The WuShen counties in the hinterland of the Maowusu Sandland are located in the “ecological stress zone” of the forest–steppe desert, with low vegetation cover, a strong ecosystem sensitivity, and poor stability under the influence of human activities. Therefore, it is important to study and analyze the changes in vegetation growth in this region for the purpose of objectively evaluating the effectiveness of desertification control in China’s agricultural and pastoral intertwined zones, and formulating corresponding measures in a timely manner. In this paper, the spatial and temporal variations in the vegetation NDVI in the WuShen counties of the Maowusu Sandland and their response relationships with driving factors were investigated by using a trend test, center of gravity transfer model, partial correlation calculation, and residual analysis, and by using the MOD13A3 vegetation NDVI time series data from 2000 to 2020, as well as the precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration data from the same period. The results showed the following: ① The regional vegetation NDVI did not fluctuate significantly with latitude and longitude, and the NDVI varied between 0.227 and 0.375 over the 21-year period, with a mean increase of 0.13 for the region as a whole and an increase of 0.61 for the region of greatest change. Of the area, 86.83% experienced a highly significant increase, and the trend in increase around rivers and towns was higher than that in the northwestern inland flow area, with the overall performance of “low in the west and high in the east”. ② Only 2.07% of the vegetation NDVI center of gravity did not shift, and the response with climate factors was mainly characterized by having consistent or opposite center of gravity changes with precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. ③ Human activities have been the dominant factor in the vegetation NDVI change, with 75.89 percent of the area positively impacted by human activities, and human activities in the southwest inhibiting the improvement of vegetation in the area. The impact of human activities on the unchanged land type area is increasing, most obviously in the farmland area, and the impact of human activities on the changed land type area is gradually decreasing in the area where the farmland becomes impervious. The vegetation in the area above 1300 m above sea level is degraded by the environment and human activities. The research results can provide scientific support for the implementation of ecological fine management and the formulation of corresponding ecological restoration and desertification control measures in the Maowusu Sandland. At the same time, it is expected to serve as a baseline for other studies on the evolution of vegetation in agro-pastoral zones.

Chemical characteristics of Salix psammophila sand barriers are accelerated degradation by ultraviolet irradiation and water.

The implementation of Salix psammophila sand barriers measures constitutes a crucial element in desertification control, providing a solid theoretical foundation for the future application and pretreatment of sand barriers in production practices. To address the specific damage types predominant in desert environments, we executed simulations of ultraviolet irradiation and rainfall phenomena on mechanical sand barriers in sandy areas and also inspected the variations in chemical properties during accelerated aging processes. The findings unequivocally demonstrate that: (1) The synergistic impact of ultraviolet irradiation and water accelerated the deformation and fracturing of the S.psammophila sand barriers, thereby causing a partial degradation of its chemical properties and conspicuous lignin oxidation; (2) The fissure of the sand barrier deepened, resulting in structural alterations. The existence of water expedites the degradation process of S.psammophila sand barriers under ultraviolet irradiation. (3)With respect to the binding form of C atoms, the carbon atoms at S.psammophila sand barriers were highly oxidized after 576 hours of accelerated aging. The components of C2 (C-O) and C3 (C=O) rising to 40.16% and 12.24% respectively, while the components of C1 (C-C) declined to 47.60%. The amount of hydroxyl (O-C-O), carbonyl (C=O), and carboxyl (O-C=O) groups increases in line with the expansion of the contact area between the sand barrier structure and ultraviolet irradiation as well as water. More free radical substances are generated, thereby causing the chemical binding properties to tend to be more stable. In summary, Ultraviolet irradiation and water change are the primary factors influencing the degradation of S.psammophila sand barriers material structure and properties. In future desertification control, it is imperative to focus on enhancing the longevity of sand barriers by ensuring their waterproofing capabilities and resistance to ultraviolet irradiation.

Integrating desertification control and wastewater treatment: Novel insights from the induction of artificial biocrusts using municipal wastewater-cultivated cyanobacterium

Desertification and wastewater discharge are two global issues that severely threaten the sustainable use of available natural resources. This study aimed to explore the potential for transferring nutrients from municipal wastewater to drylands by inducing artificial biocrusts through the inoculation of wastewater-cultured Scytonema javanicum onto the sand surface in Gurbantunggut Desert. The results demonstrated that wastewater cultured S. javanicum effectively induced artificial biocrusts, achieving high photosynthetic biomass and nutrient accumulation (Chl-a, AP and OC) comparable to those induced by S. javanicum cultured in synthetic medium. In addition, the risk index (RI) value of 124.32 suggested a low ecological risk using wastewater cultured S. javanicum to induce artificial biocrusts. This study substantiates the feasibility of using municipal wastewater-cultured cyanobacteria to induce artificial biocrusts, thereby providing a dual benefit: enhancing soil stability in drylands and utilizing wastewater as a resource, thus presenting a significant stride towards the sustainable management of natural resources.

Research Progress of Desertification Control in China

Desertification is a change in soil properties, vegetation, or climate that leads to the ongoing loss of ecosystem services essential for sustaining life. Desertification affects large areas of dry land around the world and is a major cause of stress in human societies. Desertification is a serious ecological problem in China. Desertification has seriously affected vegetation growth, food security, and human economy, and has caused certain adverse effects on the natural environment and social environment. Based on the causes of desertification and the present situation of desertification, this paper analyzes various measures to prevent and control desertification and puts forward some useful ideas on desertification in China, which will provide a reference for the research of desertification control in China.

The neglected giant Tchen-Ngo Liou:The enlightenment of his dynamic geobotany theory to current studies in vegetation ecology and biodiversity.

Prof. Tchen-Ngo Liou is one of the founders of China's botany, geobotany, and forest ecology. Theory of dynamic geobotany, established by Prof. Liou, can track back from his doctoral work in Alps in France, and was developed based on his long-term field works in northeast, southeast, north, northeast parts of China, India, North Korea and other regions. In the short course on dynamics geobotany in 1962, he gave a series of lectures which formed a synthesized system. The key elements of this theory are the comprehensive review and critical thinking on climax theory of vegetation science and community succession. Prof. Liou has applied this theory into the establishment of artificial vegetation, the improvement of natural vegetation, forest harvesting and regeneration, and the prevent and control of desertification in China. Here, we gave a short summary about this theory, and discussed its potential influence on important topics in vegetation ecology and biodiversity science, including mountain biodiversity, natural forest conservation, forest management, global change, and vegetation classification.

Research Progress on Ecological Carrying Capacity and Ecological Security, and Its Inspiration on the Forest Ecosystem in the Karst Desertification Control

Social progress and the improvement of living standards are often accompanied by the intensification of ecological crises. The long-term abuse of natural resources has led to the accumulation of ecological liabilities, which in turn seriously hinders economic development. This has prompted all sectors of society to recognize the importance of ecological carrying capacity (ECC) and ecological security (ES). Remarkable progress has been made in karst desertification control (KDC), which has helped reshape the ECC and ES pattern of forests. Currently, the research field of ECC and ES is experiencing rapid development. Further studies in these areas have immeasurable value in promoting regional sustainable development strategies and strengthening ecological civilization construction. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the current research status and potential challenges in the field of ECC and ES, with a view to optimizing the program of forest restoration and protection in KDC. This study systematically analyzed 350 relevant studies and found that (1) research on forest ECC and ES has shown a strong growth trend overall, especially after 2017, with a growth rate exceeding 75%; (2) the literature predominantly focuses on the assessment of forest ECC (40.58%) and the enhancement of forest ES (23.42%); and (3) geographically, research findings are heavily concentrated in Asia, representing 95.40% of the total. Notably, China emerges as the primary contributor to research in this field, accounting for a substantial 94.12%. Based on the above analysis, this review summarizes the significant advancements in forest ecosystems, ECC, and ES, while also delving into the key scientific issues that need to be addressed. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights from forest ecosystems in tackling KDC, with the goal of offering guidance and strategic recommendations for future research and practices in managing delicate ecological environments.

Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors analysis of fractional vegetation coverage in the arid region of northwest China

The arid region of northwest China (ARNC) is the most ecologically fragile region in China, and is characterized by harsh natural conditions, severe soil erosion, and poor soil fertility. Understanding long-term vegetation changes in this region is critical for effective environmental monitoring and climate change adaptation. Fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) is a key parameter for characterizing the ecological conditions of the ARNC. However, the reliance on low-resolution FVC and NDVI data due to the lack of medium-resolution data has limited our understanding of the environmental dynamics in this region. Therefore, this study addressed this gap by utilizing Landsat data to generate FVC data, enabling a detailed investigation of the spatial-temporal variations and driving factors of vegetation in the ARNC from 2000 to 2020. The results indicated the following: (1) The FVC was generally low, with an average of 0.191. The FVC was greater in the northwest and lower in the southeast in terms of spatial distribution features. The trend of FVC change in ARNC showed significant spatial variability, with degradation outweighing improvement. (2) The coefficient of variation of FVC was 0.377, indicating significant temporal fluctuations, with more stable conditions in the northwest than in the southeast. (3) The spatial differentiation of the FVC in ARNC was primarily driven by land cover types, evapotranspiration, and precipitation, with explanatory powers exceeding 30 % each. This study is significant because it provides a comprehensive understanding of vegetation dynamics in one of China's most vulnerable regions, offering critical insights for ecological restoration, desertification control, and sustainable development. The findings underscore the importance of targeted ecological governance to address the challenges posed by environmental degradation in the ARNC.

Prediction of soil organic matter using Landsat 8 data and machine learning algorithms in typical karst cropland in China

Soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for karst ecosystems, affecting cropland health, climate change mitigation, and rocky desertification control. However, there are limited research on cropland SOM prediction in karst areas with complex topography and diverse microclimates. Here, we compared the performance of four machine learning algorithms—random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), multilayer perceptron regression (MLP), and gradient boosting regression trees (GBRT)—for predicting cropland SOM in a typical karst landform area in 2019. Our results indicated that the GBRT model achieved the highest prediction accuracy with an R² of 0.69, MAE of 2.19 g/kg, RMSE of 3.37 g/kg, and LCCC of 0.82. Using the GBRT model and spatial data on climate, topography, and remote sensing, we predicted SOM for each 30 m × 30 m grid cell. The analysis revealed higher SOM content in the northeastern and southwestern regions and lower content in the central area, ranging from 13.95 to 47.81 g/kg, with an average of 27.16 g/kg. Lime soil had the highest SOM content, while purple soil had the lowest. Paddy fields showed significantly higher SOM than dry land. Over the past 40 years, SOM content has slightly increased, while its spatial distribution has remained stable.

Thirty years’ spatio-temporal evolution of desertification degrees and driving factors in Turpan–Hami Basin, Xinjiang, China

Turpan-Hami (Tuha) Basin is in an extremely arid area, surrounded by mountains and desert with sparse vegetation. It has experienced serious desertification over the past 30 years, resulting in ecological environment and socio-economic issues. To reveal the temporal and spatial evolutions of desertification degrees in Tuha Basin, we first constructed an evaluation system for the desertification degree classification using vegetation and soil-related indices; then long-time series Landsat 5 TM/ Landsat8 OLI images and a C5.0 decision tree (DT) model were used to monitor large-scale desertification from 1990 to 2020. We applied a geographic detector to discover the driving forces between desertification changes and natural and human factors. The results demonstrated that the severe desertification (SD) accounted for the largest desertification degree, and the transitions of various desertification degrees mainly occurred between extremely severe desertification (ESD) and SD, which were considered the most active degrees. Only 9.4 % of Tuha Basin showed an expansion trend in desertification degree, with the most significant expansion occurred in 1990–1995. The proportion of 13.6 % desertification showed a reversion trend, with the most significant reversion occurred in 1995–2010. The main driving factors affecting the evolution of desertification degrees were precipitation and temperature, with the average q value higher than 0.95. Human activity factors such as year-end cropland area and population also impacted the patterns of desertification degree, with the q values of 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. The interactive detection enhanced the driving forces and the interaction between precipitation and other factors played a leading role in desertification degree changes. The results provide scientific data and a basis for desertification control and ecological protection in arid areas.

Desertification in northern China from 2000 to 2020: The spatial–temporal processes and driving mechanisms

Desertification is one of the most significant environmental and social challenges globally. Monitoring desertification dynamics and quantitatively identifying the contributions of its driving factors are crucial for land restoration and sustainable development. This study develops a standardized methodological framework that combines desertification dynamics with driving mechanisms at the pixel level, applied to northern China from 2000 to 2020. Using multisource data and employing the Time Series Segmentation and Residual Trend analysis (TSS-RESTREND) method alongside geographical detector, we quantitatively assessed desertification reversion, expansion, and abrupt change processes, along with the impacts and interactions of natural and human factors were quantitatively assessed. Over the past two decades, the proportion of desertified land decreased by 5.60%. Notably, 32.88% of the study area experienced significant desertification reversion, while only 5.86% underwent expansion. Abrupt changes in both reversed and expanding areas were observed, primarily in the central and western regions, with these changes concentrated in the periods of 2009–2011 and 2014–2016. The impacts of various factors in different sub-regions exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. Increased precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration contributed to reversion in the western area, while decreased wind speed influenced the eastern area. Additionally, decreased population density and afforestation activities also promoted desertification reversion. In contrast, decreased precipitation and increased temperature contributed to expansion in the western and eastern areas, respectively, with increased population density exacerbating this process. Overall, the interactions between natural and human factors were enhanced. Future desertification control and ecological engineering planning should focus on the coupling effects of different driving factors and relevant abrupt vegetation changes.

Assessing Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Land Desertification from 1990 to 2020 in the Heihe River Basin Using Landsat Series Imagery

Monitoring the status and dynamics of desertification is one of the most important parts of combating it. In this study, 30 m high-resolution information on land desertification and restoration in the Heihe River basin (HRB) was extracted from the land cover database. The results indicate that land desertification coexists with land restoration in the HRB. In different periods, the area of land restoration was much larger than the area of land desertification in the HRB, and the HRB has undergone land restoration. Upstream of the HRB, there is a continuing trend of increasing land desertification associated with overgrazing in a context where climate change favors desertification reversal. In the middle and lower reaches, although climate variability and human activities favor land desertification, land desertification is still being reversed, and land restoration dominates. Implementing the eco-environmental protection project and desertification control measures, especially the Ecological Water Distribution Project (EWDP), contributes to the reversal of desertification in the middle and lower reaches of the HRB. However, the EWDP has indirectly led to the lowering of the water table in the middle reaches, resulting in local vegetation degradation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to transform the economic structure of the middle reaches to cope with water scarcity and land desertification.

Response of Soil Fungal Community to Reforestation on Shifting Sand Dune in the Horqin Sandy Land, Northeast China.

Reforestation of native shrub on shifting sand dunes has been widely used for desertification control in semi-arid grassland in Northeast China. Previous studies have confirmed that plantation establishment facilitates fixing sand dunes, restoring vegetation, and improving soil properties, but very few have focused on the response of the soil fungal community. In this study, a chronosequence of Caragana microphylla (CM) shrub sand-fixation plantations (8-, 19-, and 33-year-old), non-vegetated shifting sand dunes (0 years), and adjacent natural CM forests (NCFs; 50-year-old) in the Horqin sandy land were selected as experimental sites. Soil properties including enzymatic activities were determined, and the composition and structure of the soil fungal community were investigated using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing technique based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA. This study aimed to (1) describe the response of the soil fungal community to revegetation onto a moving sand dune by planting a native shrub plantation; (2) determine the main soil factors driving the succession of the fungal community; and (3) discuss whether the soil fungal community can be restored to its original state by reforestation. The reforestation of CM significantly ameliorated soil properties, increased soil fungal diversity, and altered the composition and structure of the soil fungal community. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zoopagomycota were the dominant phyla in all sites. Ascomycota did not respond to plantation development, whereas the other two dominant phyla linearly increased or decreased with the plantation age. The relative abundance of dominant genera varied with sites and showed a waning and waxing characteristic. The composition and structure of the soil fungal community in the 33-year CM plantation were very close to that of the NCF, indicating the restorability of the soil fungal community. The succession of the soil fungal community was directly driven by soil properties, of which soil moisture, organic matter, total N, urease, and protease were the main affecting factors.

Progress of Forest Eco-Product Value Realization and Eco-Industry: Implications for Closing Mountain for Afforestation under Karst Desertification Control

Progress of Forest Eco-Product Value Realization and Eco-Industry: Implications for Closing Mountain for Afforestation under Karst Desertification Control

Landscape Dynamics of the Mu Us Sandy Land Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Images

This study meticulously investigates landscape alterations within the Mu Us Sandy Land, a critical region for desertification control in China. The research dissects the dynamic characteristics and inter-conversion of landscape elements across eleven distinct periods by employing multi-source remote sensing imagery spanning 1963 to 2020, alongside visual interpretation, random forest classification, and the desertification difference index (DDI). The analysis uncovers significant landscape transformations within the Mu Us Sandy Land over the past six decades, following a precise chronological sequence. A pivotal shift occurred around 1986, characterized by opposing trends within fixed and shifting sandy land. The earlier stage (pre-1986) witnessed a substantial decrease (66.9%) in the fixed sandy land area, accompanied by a corresponding rise (38.7%) in shifting sandy land. Conversely, the later stage (post-1986) era exhibited a remarkable increase (309.7%) in fixed sandy land, alongside a significant decline (78.9%) in shifting sand land coverage. This study identifies two stages of landscape transformation: a pre-1986 phase dominated by the conversion of fixed sandy land to semi-fixed sandy land and a post-1986 reversal toward shifting sand land into fixed sandy land. These sequential transformations have shaped the landscape pattern alterations observed in the Mu Us Sandy Land since 1963. The dramatic landscape improvements observed after 1986 can be primarily attributed to the implementation and continued investment in large-scale ecological restoration projects. This study’s findings, which reveal the intricate landscape dynamics and their implications for ecosystem management, provide a scientific foundation for refining and formulating comprehensive strategies to control desertification and manage the Mu Us Sandy Land’s unique ecosystem.