Article
Environmental Studies
Sami Ullah, Yan Shi, Muhammad Yousaf Sardar Dasti, Muhammad Wajid, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib
Summary: This study used remote sensing and geographic information technology to monitor the changes in land use and land cover in the Cholistan desert and Bahawalpur region of Pakistan from 2015 to 2022. The results showed a significant expansion in built-up area, a decrease in agriculture and vegetation area, waterbodies, and desert area. The study also revealed that rapid urbanization encroached on agricultural land, with a population growth rate of over 3% within eight years. This research is important for assessing the spatial and temporal changes in the desert ecosystem and raising awareness about the significance of desert ecosystems to policymakers and governments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinwei Yin, Qi Feng, Xinjun Zheng, Meng Zhu, Xue Wu, Yong Guo, Min Wu, Yan Li
Summary: The study identified significant variations in water-salt dynamics among different land use types in the oasis-desert ecosystem, with higher water and salt exchange fluxes in cropland and shelterbelt compared to desert areas. Groundwater pumping and lateral groundwater flow were highlighted as important mechanisms for water-salt exchange.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fan Sun, Yi Wang, Yaning Chen, Yupeng Li, Qifei Zhang, Jingxiu Qin, Patient Mindje Kayumba
Summary: The study reveals that the desert-oasis ecotone is shrinking due to conversion of forest and grassland into arable land, leading to habitat deterioration as groundwater levels decline. The increasing temperature and drought exacerbate this trend, projecting an additional 1566 km(2) of arable land and a reduction of 1151 km(2) in forested area and grassland by 2030, weakening the ecological barrier role of the desert-oasis ecotone and triggering a growing ecological crisis.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziliang Xiao, Shaoliang Zhang, Mingming Guo, Feng Zhao, Hao Wang, Weitao Xu, Muhammad Aurangzeib, Ehsan Tavakkoli
Summary: This study aimed to clarify the influence of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoff on plant biomass and biodiversity during early restoration stages in gullies. The results showed that N input increased plant biomass but decreased biodiversity, while P input had mixed effects on biodiversity but increased biomass. N was the key factor influencing vegetation restoration, while the ratio of N:P in the runoff determined the mediation of P on N effect.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Xinwei Yin, Qi Feng, Yan Li, Wei Liu, Meng Zhu, Guiqing Xu, Xinjun Zheng, Celestin Sindikubwabo
Summary: Long-term salinity and sodicity dynamics have significant impacts on soil degradation risk and plant response. Adequate rainfall and irrigation can alleviate soil alkalization, while irrigation water quality is a primary control on long-term dynamics.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Min Li, Huijie Xiao, Zhiming Xin, Xing Li, Junran Li, Abbas Miri, Qiqi Cao
Summary: Understanding the soil seed banks of Nitraria tangutorum nebkhas is crucial for vegetation restoration and ecological management in desert-oasis ecotones. This study investigated the characteristics of the seed banks in different sizes and parts of nebkhas and their relationship with aboveground vegetation. The results showed that the dominant plant species in the soil seed banks were mainly annual herbs, and the densities varied in different parts of each nebkha. The similarity between the seed banks and aboveground vegetation decreased from bottom to top. Vegetation plays a decisive role in the development of nebkhas and affects the composition of the seed banks.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengwen Peng, Hao He, Zhongke Wang, Guifang Li, Xinhua Lv, Xiaozhen Pu, Li Zhuang
Summary: The ecological environment of the Gurbantunggut desert-oasis ecotone is extremely fragile. Ephemeral plants play a crucial role in maintaining ecological stability and improving soil quality and system sustainability in the ecotone. The growth of ephemeral plants and rhizosphere soil properties vary with plant species and soil types.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Taiwo Adeyemo, Isaac Kramer, Guy J. Levy, Yair Mau
Summary: Soil salinization and sodification can cause severe damage to soil structure, impacting irrigated agriculture. Understanding the extent to which this degradation is reversible is crucial for sustainable long-term use. This study explores the effects of solute composition on saturated hydraulic conductivity and highlights the importance of managing hysteresis caused by salinity and sodicity for better soil management.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xi Yang, Ming'an Shao, Tongchuan Li, Qingyin Zhang, Miao Gan, Mingyu Chen, Xiao Bai
Summary: Studies on vertical soil nutrient distribution beneath different types of artificially restored vegetation in a transition zone from desert to loess revealed distinct hierarchies in soil nutrient content, with Medicago saliva vegetation being the most suitable for restoration. Soil nutrient content was positively correlated with soil water content, plant coverage, and clay, silt, and litter nutrient content, but negatively correlated with soil bulk density, sand content, and litter C/N ratio.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunhu Xie, Ting Yu, Zhihui Hou, Li Zhu, Zhanhong Li
Summary: This study examines the changes in soil chemical properties in different land use types in the Green Beach Desert-oasis Ecotone in Inner Mongolia, China. The results show that soil properties differ significantly according to land use type, with abandoned farmland showing the highest soil quality index.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. Barka Outbakat, Khalil El Mejahed, Mohamed El Gharous, Kamal El Omari, Adnane Beniaich
Summary: Salinity is a major challenge for crop production and soil and water management in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the impact of phosphogypsum (PG) on the physical properties of salt-affected soils in Morocco. The findings showed that PG application improved soil structure and other physical properties, reducing the effects of salinity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengwen Peng, Hao He, Zhongke Wang, Guifang Li, Xinhua Lv, Xiaozhen Pu, Li Zhuang
Summary: Ephemeral plants play an important role in maintaining the stability of the Gurbantunggut Desert-oasis ecotone. Studying the response of root-associated bacteria of ephemeral plants to different soil habitats is crucial for understanding plant adaptability and ecotone stability. This study analyzed the diversity, structure, function, and driving factors of rhizosphere and root-endophytic bacteria in aeolian soil and grey desert soil using physicochemical analysis and 16S sequencing technology. The results showed differences in soil properties and nutrient content between the two habitats, leading to changes in the abundance and community structure of rhizosphere and endophytic bacteria. The study also revealed the functional categories of these bacteria and the soil factors influencing their community structure and function. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on bacterial metabolic function in ephemeral plants and contribute to vegetation protection and restoration in different ecotone soils.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaolong Liang, Xiaoyu Wang, Ning Zhang, Bingxue Li
Summary: Increasing salinity negatively affects soil fertility and poses threats to soil ecosystem productivity. This study characterized the bacterial community composition and diversity in saline-sodic soils in Northeast China and found that soil pH, electrical conductivity, and salt content significantly influenced the bacterial communities. Actinobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes were enriched in high soil sodicity and salinity, while Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria were suppressed by high pH and salt stress. Understanding the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in salt-affected soils is important for ecosystem restoration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinbiao Li, Prem Pokharel, Guangming Liu, Jinlin Chen
Summary: The study found significant impacts of reclaiming unproductive desert lands on soil microbial communities and chemical properties in a desert-oasis ecotone. Changes in land-use type were predominantly influenced by soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and other chemical factors.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Genbatu Ge, Jingbo Zhang, Xiaona Chen, Xiangjie Liu, Yuguang Hao, Xiaohui Yang, SeMyung Kwon
Summary: Land use and land cover change (LULC) have significant impacts on ecosystem services, particularly in desert-oasis ecotones. This study used imagery and benefit transfer method to estimate the changes in ecosystem service value (ESV) in response to LULC in Dengkou County along the Yellow River in China. The results showed that cropland expansion was the most significant feature and led to an increase in the total ESV.
ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Haihua Wang, Huaiyang Ke, Hongping Wu, Siyuan Ma, Muhammad Mohsin Altaf, Xiaoping Diao
Summary: Carbon storage in mangroves is crucial for mitigating climate change, but our understanding of this aspect is limited. This study investigated the seasonal changes in the carbon metabolic profile of microbial communities in mangrove soils on Hainan Island, China, and found that season plays a critical role in shaping the carbon functional diversity of microbial communities.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Donghui Zhao, Congcong Shen, Zhi-Ming Zhang, Jichen Wang, Li-Mei Zhang, Baodong Chen, Guo-Xin Sun, Yuan Ge
Summary: By studying soil samples from different slope directions along an elevational gradient in a mountain ecosystem, we found that soil bacterial diversity and microbial functions exhibit distinct elevational patterns, which are consistent across slope directions. The bacterial diversity shows a hump-shaped pattern, while microbial functions exhibit a linear increasing trend. Additionally, the beta diversity pattern of soil bacteria is significantly influenced by elevational distance decay relationships. Soil bacterial diversity patterns are determined by transitions in community assembly processes, whereas microbial functions are mainly influenced by bacterial community composition.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Guanfang Sun, Yan Zhu, Wei Mao, Yonghong Li, Jinzhong Yang, Zhaoliang Gao
Summary: This study developed a water and salt balance model to predict long-term water and salt dynamics in seasonally frozen arid agricultural regions. The model was validated in a region in China and showed that increasing autumn irrigation water can decrease soil salinity during the irrigation period, but has limited impact on long-term average soil salinity.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alfredo Mayoral, Ana Ejarque, Arnau Garcia-Molsosa, Mercourios Georgiadis, Giannis Apostolou, Vincent Gaertner, Constantina Kallintzi, Eurydice Kefalidou, Hector Orengo
Summary: This paper presents an integrated Geoarchaeological approach to studying the landscape change and socio-environmental interaction around ancient Abdera. The study uses a combination of remote sensing, geomorphological mapping, sedimentary coring, and radiocarbon dating to reconstruct the palaeogeographic evolution of the area. The results challenge previous narratives about the rise and decline of Abdera and provide new insights into the role of historical and environmental factors. It also introduces evidence of submerged Neolithic landscapes and the impact of anthropogenic forcing on the sedimentary systems.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jiale Chen, Michael Dannenmann, Qiang Yu, Yalong Shi, Matthew D. Wallenstein, Xinguo Han, Honghui Wu, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Summary: This study investigated the effects of temperature and moisture on soil nitrogen turnover through field experiments and laboratory incubation experiments. The results showed that soil temperature had a greater explanatory power than moisture in gross ammonification and nitrification rates. Climate warming may have a greater impact on gross nitrogen turnover compared to changes in rainfall.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhen Han, Xiuchao Yang, Xiaoai Yin, Qian Fang, Longshan Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of exposed root distribution patterns on rainfall-runoff processes. The results showed that the distribution patterns of exposed root had a significant impact on rainfall-runoff processes. A vertical slope arrangement was conducive to rainfall infiltration, a parallel slope arrangement resulted in more surface runoff, and a transverse slope arrangement could reduce water loss.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Bo Zhao
Summary: Seismic earthflows, as special seismic landslides, have not received much attention in previous studies. This study analyzed the characteristics and movement of earthflows induced by recent earthquakes. The results showed that earthflows occur in high-rainfall areas and are sensitive to rainfall. Compared to other seismic landslides, seismic earthflows occur on gentler hills and have higher mobility.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tingxi Liu, Xueqin Wang, Mingyang Li, Dongfang Li, Limin Duan, Xin Tong, Guanli Wang
Summary: Soil respiration plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle in arid and semi-arid regions, and is regulated by hydrothermal factors. This study examined the seasonal and diurnal dynamics of soil respiration in two typical ecosystems in northern China, and investigated their responses to precipitation, temperature, and drought. The results showed that soil respiration varied seasonally and diurnally, and its response to environmental factors depended on the ecosystem type and soil moisture status. Incorporating multiple factors into carbon cycle models can improve the simulation and prediction of carbon emissions in arid and semi-arid regions.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yaochen Xu, Ninghua Chen, Deguo Zhang, Bowen Gao, Xuhua Weng, Hongcheng Qiu
Summary: This study provides systematic investigation on how yardangs exert control over dune morphology, and reveals the intricate wind dynamics and mechanisms involved. Computational fluid dynamics modeling and remote sensing data further support the observations and shed light on the influences of yardangs on wind deposition and dune formation.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yuri Lopes Zinn, Welton Pereira da Rocha Jr
Summary: This study assessed the evolution of Journal Impact Factors (JIF) and related data in the field of Soil Science over a 26-year period, and compared it with the field of Agronomy. The results showed a significant growth in JIFs and output in Soil Science, with commercial scientific publishers' journals experiencing higher growth rates than non-profit journals. The study also highlighted the importance of considering not only JIF, but also the bibliometric footprint, in determining the relevance and leadership of journals in the discipline.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shanshan Liao, Xiaodong Nie, Aoqi Zeng, Wenfei Liao, Yi Liu, Zhongwu Li
Summary: Lake drawdown areas, where sediment is exposed due to water level fluctuations, have a significant impact on the carbon cycle. This study examined microbial necromass carbon (MNC) content and its contribution to soil organic carbon (SOC) in different habitats within the drawdown area of Dongting Lake. The results showed that MNC content varied among habitats and was primarily influenced by carbon and nitrogen availability, plant biomass, clay content, and soil moisture. External factors, such as plant and soil properties, played a more crucial role in the long-term accumulation of MNC. These findings enhance our understanding of MNC stability in drawdown areas.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Vanessa Alves Mantovani, Marcela de Castro Nunes Santos Terra, Andre Ferreira Rodrigues, Carlos Alberto Silva, Li Guo, Jose Marcio de Mello, Carlos Rogerio de Mello
Summary: There is a lack of research on the potential of tropical soils in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome to store carbon. This study aimed to determine the soil carbon stocks at different depths, describe their temporal variability, and identify the main drivers that influence their variations. The results showed significant spatial and seasonal variability in soil carbon stocks, with a high accumulation in December and a low accumulation in August. The study also found that litterfall, throughfall, tree sizes, and soil moisture were important factors affecting the distribution of soil carbon.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Anais Zimmer, Timothy Beach, Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, Antoine Rabatel, Rolando Cruz Encarnacion, Joshua Lopez Robles, Edison Jara Tarazona, Arnaud J. A. M. Temme
Summary: Climate warming has accelerated glacial retreat and soil formation in mountainous regions. The accumulation of soil organic carbon and nitrogen is influenced by environmental factors, with maximum temperature and initial site conditions playing important roles in soil development.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ren-Min Yang, Lai-Ming Huang, Feng Liu
Summary: This study investigated the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in seasonally frozen ground (SFG) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, in 2020 and 2021, and explored the effects of various factors on SOC using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results showed that C inputs exerted the greatest control on SOC, and the influence of these factors decreased with increasing soil depth. Additionally, timely spatial SOC estimates were found to be important for assessing carbon stocks in the context of environmental changes.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shue Wei, Kuandi Zhang, Chenglong Liu, Youdong Cen, Junqiang Xia
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of different vegetation components on erosion through simulated rainfall experiments and found that litter had the best effect in reducing erosion, followed by roots. The study also revealed that the reduction in runoff and sediment by the treatments decreased with increasing rainfall intensity.