Monitoring desertification processes in Mongolian Plateau using MODIS tasseled cap transformation and TGSI time series

Most remote sensing studies assess the desertification using vegetation monitoring method. But it has the insufficient precision of vegetation monitoring for the limited vegetation cover of the desertification region. Therefore, it offers an alternative approach for the desertification research to assess sand dune and sandy land change using remote sensing in the desertification region. In this study, the indices derived from the well-known tasseled cap transformation(TCT), tasseled cap angle(TCA),disturbance index(DI), process indicator(PI), and topsoil grain size index(TGSI) were integrated to monitor and assess the desertification at the thirteen study sites including sand dunes and sandy lands distributed in the Mongolian Plateau(MP) from 2000 to 2015. A decision tree was used to classify the desertification on a regional scale. The average overall accuracy of 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015 desertification classification was higher than 90%. Results from this study indicated that integration of the advantages of TCA, DI and TGSI could better assess the desertification. During the last 16 years, Badain Jaran Desert, Tengger Desert, and Ulan Buh Desert showed a relative stabilization. Otindag Sandy Land and the deserts of Khar Nuur, Ereen Nuur, Tsagan Nuur, Khongoryn Els, Hobq, and Mu Us showed a slow increasing of desertification, whereas Bayan Gobi, Horqin and Hulun Buir sandy lands showed a slow decreasing of desertification. Compared with the other 11 sites, the fine sand dunes occupied the majority of the Tengger Desert, and the coarse sandy land occupied the majority of the Horqin Sandy Land. Our findings on a three or four years' periodical fluctuated changes in the desertification may possibly reflect changing precipitation and soil moisture in the MP. Further work to link the TCA, DI,TGSI, and PI values with the desertification characteristics is recommended to set the thresholds and improve the assessment accuracy with field investigation.     

Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term (approximately 15 years) field experimentin the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed (T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), no tillage with straw removed (NT) and no tillage with straw retention (NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates (LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates (SA, 250-2000 μm), microaggregates (MA, 53-250 μm), and silt and clay (SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices (including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions (LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices (including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%-56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter (MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates (including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25-6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34-0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.     

3种遥感产品检测黄土高原森林变化及差异比较

基于Landsat Vegetation Continuous Fields（LVCF）、MODIS Vegetation Continuous Fields（MVCF）和MODIS Land Cover（MODLC）等遥感产品和森林清查数据（NFI）检测2000-2015年黄土高原森林分布及变化。结果表明:1）2000-2015年黄土高原森林覆盖度升高，基于LVCF和MVCF的全区森林覆盖度均值分别由2000年的7.8%和9.6%增加到2015年的9.7%和13.2%。2）遥感产品估算的森林分布空间格局和面积差异较大，基于LVCF、MVCF和MODLC估算的黄土高原森林面积在2000年分别为726.6×10⁴、604.7×10⁴ hm²和325.1×10⁴ hm²，2015年分别为926.2×10⁴、998.3×10⁴ hm²和400.1×10⁴ hm²。3）遥感产品估算的省级尺度上森林面积与NFI的不一致性因省份和年份而异，LVCF与NFI一致性整体略优于MVCF，MODLC与NFI差异最大且估算的森林面积远低于LVCF、MVCF和NFI。4）遥感产品检测的陕西和山西2省的森林面积增加值与NFI一致性高于宁夏；基于遥感产品估算的宁夏森林面积及增加幅度均远低于NFI。     

青藏高原东部强降温过程阈值的探讨及其气候特征

为解决青藏高原东部强降温的气象预报和服务问题,利用青藏高原东北部68个气象站1961-2017年逐日最低气温数据,辅以趋势分析及相关分析等方法,本文探讨了近57年青藏高原东北部强降温的阈值及气候特征,并利用NECP/NCAR(2.5°×2.5°)海温场、高度场建立了预报诊断模型。研究发现 (1) 应用改进的强降温指标统计寒潮发生的特征更符合高原实际情况。(2)受地形地貌及山脉阻挡的影响,青藏高原东部强降温次数的地域分布存在明显差异,海拔较高的山区和东部地区强降温次数明显多于盆地。南部山区24h寒潮发生的次数多于48h、72h。(3)近57年区域寒潮频次总体呈下降趋势,南部和北部的降速分别为-0.5次/10a、-0.4次/10a,并通过显著性检验；西北部盆地区降速分别为-0.1次/10a,未通过显著性检验。(4)高冷空气的移动路径是强降温预测的关键信号。研究结果为青藏高原相关部门开展农牧业资源的和旅游资源的相关决策服务提供科学依据。     

青藏高原东北部3种野豌豆植物学特性及资源储量

采用野外定点法、最小样方法和统计学方法对生长于青藏高原东北部的3种野豌豆属植物的植物学特性、生态环境、群落数量特征及资源储量进行研究。结果显示,救荒野豌豆、山野豌豆和三齿萼野豌豆的植物学特性、生态环境和群落数量特征具有一定差异,3种野豌豆在青海省的资源总储量分别为0.46×10~6、0.23×10~6、0.27×10~6 kg,表明3种野豌豆属植物的资源总量在青海省并不高,应对其进行有效的引种驯化,实现人工繁育和增加资源储量,这既可保护青海省甚至青藏高原的生态环境,也可对其资源进行有效地保护和合理开发利用。     

藏北高原退化高寒草甸土壤团聚体有机碳变化特征

采用湿筛法对藏北高原退化高寒草甸表层(0~10cm)、亚表层(10~20cm)土壤团聚体有机碳及其变化进行了研究。结果表明,高原冷湿环境中退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC的下降幅度随草地退化加剧均趋于显著提高,轻度、严重退化草地表层各粒级SAOC降幅均明显高于亚表层;草地退化缩小了不同土层间SAOC含量的差异,草地退化程度越高则表层、亚表层间SAOC含量的差异越小,退化草地大团聚体(0.25mm)SOC、微团聚体(0.25mm)SOC含量的土层分布亦呈相同趋势。轻度退化草地不同土层大团聚体SOC降幅均较高,严重退化草地不同土层微团聚体SOC降幅则较高;正常草地、轻度退化草地、严重退化草地表层大团聚体SOC/微团聚体SOC比值分别为0.95,0.87,1.55,亚表层分别为0.96,0.72,2.33,表明轻度、严重退化草地中大团聚体SOC含量随土层加深分别更趋下降、更趋提高。退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC贡献率在总体上亦均按2~0.25 mm,2 mm,0.25~0.053mm,0.053mm的顺序依次大幅降低,表明不同土层大团聚体SOC贡献率均较高。土壤团聚体与SAOC、SOC与SAOC间的关系受草地退化程度的影响。     

祁连山南麓高寒灌丛GPP变化特征及对生长季积温的响应

全球气候变化背景下气温逐渐升高,将会对陆地生态系统碳循环产生重要影响。研究利用2003?2016年的涡度相关系统观测资料,研究了祁连山南麓高寒灌丛生长季(5月?9月)总初级生产力(gross primary productivity,GPP)在不同时间尺度上对生长季有效积温(growing season degree days,GDD)的响应,对于研究气候变暖对高寒生态系统碳循环的影响有重要意义。结果表明:高寒灌丛生态系统在生长季的月GPP、GDD都表现为先增大后减小的单峰变化趋势,都在7月或8月达到峰值,在5月达到最小值。在整个生长季尺度上,GPP与GDD具有较高变异性,但整体上表现为逐渐增加的趋势(P<0.05)。2003?2016年整个生长季GPP与GDD的均值分别为507.11 g·m^?2和975.93℃。在月尺度和生长季尺度上,GPP与GDD都呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。但是,通过比较生长季每个月GPP与GDD的关系发现,5、9月的GPP与GDD没有显著相关性(P>0.05),而在7月相关性最为显著(P<0.01)。整体上看,高寒灌丛生态系统植被的总初级生产力与热量条件表现为正相关关系,由此说明在全球气候变暖的背景下,青藏高原高寒灌丛生态系统植被的光合生产能力将会提高。     

陇中黄土高原混播草地生产性能

为了指导黄土高原丘陵沟壑区栽培草地建植及草食畜牧业的持续健康发展,本研究选择当地推广种植面积较大的紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)和红豆草(Onobrychis viciaefolia)两个草种为研究对象,于2016?2018年在甘肃省定西市安定区李家堡镇黄金村开展了紫花苜蓿与红豆草在1 ? 0 (H1)、7 ? 3 (H2)、5 ? 5 (H3)、3 ? 7 (H4)和0 ? 1 (H5)的混播比例下草地生产性能的相关研究。结果表明：1)建植生长第2年,H2、H3、H4处理的地上生物量分别比H1处理提高46.0%、34.0%和12.0%,但均低于H5处理;第3年,H2、H3、H4处理的地上生物量分别比H1处理提高36.5%、40.0%和23.5%,比H5处理提高34.9%、38.4%和22.1%,混播效应明显。2)随着混播组合中紫花苜蓿比例的降低,紫花苜蓿相对于红豆草的种间竞争力减小。3)紫花苜蓿与红豆草在3 ? 7混播比例下,2种牧草的粗蛋白含量均最高,且紫花苜蓿高于红豆草;与单播相比,混播后相对饲喂价值提高,提高了4.4%～49.73%,7 ? 3混播比例下,紫花苜蓿的相对饲喂价值较高,3 ? 7混播比例下,红豆草的相对饲喂价值较高。综合来看,紫花苜蓿与红豆草在7 ? 3和5 ? 5混播比例下,于生长第2年和第3年可获得相对较高的地上生物量和营养物质产量,可在生产实践中大面积推广应用。     

甘肃省天祝县草原补奖政策实施效果

草原作为重要的生态资产与生产资源,在我国生态文明建设和社会经济发展中具有重要的战略地位。党的十八大以来,我国将生态文明建设纳入“五位一体”总体布局之中,在草原牧区实施草原生态补奖政策,对草地生态保护、修复和助力牧区精准脱贫具有重要意义。本研究以甘肃省天祝藏族自治县为例,通过历年统计数据和查阅年鉴等方式获得相关资料,对两轮补奖政策实施效果进行梳理,从补奖政策资金、草地生产力及载畜量、生态效益、经济效益和社会效益等方面分析了政策实施前后变化情况。结果表明：1)两轮补奖政策实施后,天祝县草原生态环境逐步恢复,草地生产力达到2 162.28 kg·hm–2,相比补奖政策实施前提高了45.4%;2)畜牧业生产方式不断转变,理论载畜量增长了42.98万个羊单位,相比补奖政策实施前提高了54.3%;3)农牧民人均收入从补奖政策实施前的4 012元增加到8 265元。遵从“绿水青山就是金山银山”的生态发展理念,为进一步加强草地生态恢复,建议：1)在平衡禁牧下农户收入水平和生态补偿资金投入的基础上确定草原补奖补偿标准;2)加快培育现代农业产业,加大产业扶持力度,积极发展特色农牧业;3)建立健全放牧禁牧制度,科学制定草原合理利用计划。     

不同埋藏方式及杀菌剂处理对黄土高原3种植物种子存活的影响

为了探讨黄土高原典型草原植物病原真菌如何影响土壤种子存活,采用“种子袋埋藏与取回”的方法,对该地区3种常见植物胡枝子、长芒草和狗尾草种子进行杀菌剂处理、并且以不同方式（单种或者不同种混合）装入尼龙网袋后埋入土壤中,在田间分别埋藏1和3个月后取回种子袋,统计每袋种子的存活情况,并且进行萌发试验,检测种子生活力状况。结果表明：1）长芒草种子的田间发芽率最高,平均约为51.9%,显著高于胡枝子（14.6%）和狗尾草（26.1%）（P<0.05）;随着埋藏时间的增加,3种植物种子发芽率显著增加;然而杀菌剂处理以及不同埋藏方式对种子发芽率没有显著影响。2）胡枝子种子的田间死亡率最低,平均约为1%,长芒草和狗尾草种子的田间死亡率分别为5.1%和4.4%;埋藏1个月后,杀菌剂未处理和单种埋藏条件下长芒草和狗尾草种子的田间死亡率分别为12.5%和11.0%,显著高于其他处理组合下两种植物种子的死亡率（P<0.05）;胡枝子种子在埋藏1和3个月时,其种子死亡率在不同处理组合之间均无显著差异。3）长芒草种子的室内萌发率最高,平均约为64.3%,显著高于胡枝子（5.9%）和狗尾草（29.2%）（P<0.05）。随着埋藏时间的增加,胡枝子和狗尾草种子的室内萌发率显著下降,而长芒草种子的室内萌发率却显著增加。结果表明,病原真菌对土壤种子存活的影响因植物种而异;较单种埋藏相比,混合埋藏降低了种子的死亡率,可能是由于混合埋藏稀释了病原真菌的效应所致。