Authors:

Chinese Society of National Resources, Chinese Society of Geography, Chinese Society of Agriculture, Chinese Society of Forestry, Chinese Society of Ecology and Chinese Society of Environmental Science

Title:

A study of natural resources in the arid and semi-arid regions of China

Publisher:

Science Press. pp. 144

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Classification:

2D, 2E, 3Aa, 3Ab, 6E

Region:

China

Summary:

This book presents proceedings of a conference on development and protection of natural resources in arid and semi-arid regions of China: it provides a comprehensive review of geological, geographical, meteorological, hydrological, biological and water conservation research. Developments in agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry are also covered. Descriptions of geographical and environmental variations by regions are the basis for suggested regional management strategies with detailed natural resource development, utilization and protection measures. These proceedings are both a scientific resource and guide for regional natural resource exploitation and utilization in West China.

Authors:

Ci Longjun, Liu yuhua, et al.

Title:

Farmland protection forest systems with narrow forestbelts and small nets

Publisher:

unpublished

Date:

1991

Language:

Chinese

Available:

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Classification:

6Cb

Region:

Xinjiang, China

Summary:

Large areas of farmland protection forests near oases are critical links in oasis protection systems and are essential measures for farmland protection in desertification-prone areas. Afforestation techniques using narrow belts and small nets were first adopted in Xinjiang. They have now been widely applied and have proven successful in promoting desert agriculture and animal husbandry development. The narrow forestbelt is usually four to eight trees wide and loosely structured with a wind-through coefficient of 0.3 under force four wind (on the Beaufort scale). This has an effective protection range equal to 23 times tree height; wind speed is reduced by 40-47 percent on the average within the effective protection range. There are two types of protection forestbelts: high or low density. If the shelterbelt has the wind-through coefficient of 0.75, the effective protection range is 11.1 times tree height and wind speed can be reduced by 22 percent on the average within the effective protection range. The size of the shelterbelt net should take into consideration irrigation, cultivation, field management and farmland protection requirements. Shelterbelt systems with higher densities or shorter distances between shelterbelts has been widely applied in northern China. In order to raise the efficiency of land and water utilization, forestbelts, consisting of' three to four lines of trees are usually established in combination with drainage canal construction and roads. In areas of severe sand flow, shelterbelts should cover a net area of' ten to 13 ha, with a distance between two major belts of 100 to 200 meters and be built against the dominant wind direction. This protection forest model of "narrow belt and small net" has been effective in improving sand flow and climatic conditions.

Authors:

Comprehensive Investigation Team on the Takelamagan Desert, Chinese Academy of Science

Title:

Evaluation and utilization of water resources in the Takelamagan Desert

Publisher:

Science Press. pp. 468, two volumes

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Classification:

2Eb, 5A, 6Aa

Region:

Xinjiang, China

Summary:

Based on four years of field investigation and semi-fixed monitoring of water resources in the Takelamagan Desert, this study discusses the hydrological, water quality and river basin characteristics of inland and out land rivers and their relationship to above ground and underground water. Systematic studies of above ground and underground water distribution patterns, above ground water storage, conservation of above ground water in relation to underground water, drainage characters, hydro-geochemical succession of water resources and geological water-filled layers and their distribution in desert areas are also presented. Stored water levels were calculated and cleaning methods for living-dependent water, investigated and assessed. Recommendations are offered for water resource utilization and exploitation in desert areas.

Author:

Gao Shangwu (Editor)

Title:

Silviculture for sand control forests

Publisher:

China Forestry Press. pp. 243

Date:

1991

Language:

Chinese

Available:

National Library in Beijing

Classification:

6Cb

Region:

North China

Summary:

China has made considerable progress in sand control research and implementation. Based on extensive field investigations and silviculture studies of sand control forests, the author summarizes technical information on sand control silviculture throughout China. Sand flow patterns and controls, desert landscape characteristics and selection and silvicultural techniques for tree, shrub and grass species for sand control forest are discussed from both a theoretical and practical perspective.

Authors:

Li Minggang, Liu Baoshan, et al.

Title:

Establishing sand control systems in Shapotou area along the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway

Publisher:

unpublished

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

The State Science and Technology Commission

Classification:

6Ca, 6Cb

Region:

Ningxia, China

Summary:

Baotou-Lanzhou Railway is the major transportation route that connects northwestern and North China. In the Shapotou area of Zhong Wei county, Ningxia Autonomous Region, the railway passes for 55 km through the Tenggei Desert, where large net-shaped or semilunar moving sand dunes are prevalent. Average annual precipitation is 185.6 mm; dry local climate and moving sand dunes threaten the safety of railway transportation through the area. To help guarantee safe passage. sand control plans and operating designs were developed, which included both mechanical and biological methods such as building up sand-binding grasses in blocks of 1 m x 1 m to reduce the wind speed and flow of sand, engineering approaches to sand fixation and sand retardation and forest belts. Based on 30 years of field research and practice, comprehensive sand control systems along railways are now well established and ensure safe railway transportation. Between 1958 and 1986 over 202.61 million tons of goods and 22.16 million people traveled safely by railway through Shapotou area.

Authors:

Sun Lida, Zhu Jinzhao, et al.

Title:

Techniques for assessing the multiple benefits of forest soil and water conservation systems on the Loess Plateau

Publisher:

unpublished

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

The State Science and Technology Commission

Classification:

6B

Region:

Loess Plateau

Summary:

The work presents theoretical and operational modalities for the systematic study of multiple benefits of the conservation in established, protected forests areas on the Loess Plateau. These include methods for monitoring forests and shrub forests, mathematical models and forest density management maps. Types of benefits are identified and analyzed. A series of assessment criteria is offered which includes 64 criteria for assessing 25 distinct geographical types of Loess Plateau and 11 integrated indices for a three-level assessment. GIS techniques were introduced and a multiple benefits prediction system was applied based on the development of additional software to match the GIS. Estimates and predictions were diagrammed for 340 000 km² of soil and water conservation forest areas. The results provide scientific guidance in vegetation construction and comprehensive management of conservation systems on the Loess Plateau.

Authors:

Wang Zunqin, Zhu Shouquan, Yu Renpei, Li Liqun, Shan Guangzong, You Wenrui, Zeng Xianxiu, Zhang Suiwen, Zhang Lijun and Song Ronghua

Title:

Saline soil in China

Publisher:

Science Press. pp. 573

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Classification:

2A, 2Ea, 2Eb, 3Bd, 4Bc, 6Cc, 6E

Region:

China

Summary:

This book presents a comprehensive and systematic discussion of the formation of saline soil and control methods in China, based on research and practical experience accumulated over the past 30 years, including a large number of field investigations and laboratory analyses. Conditions for and processes of soil salinisation, types, characteristics and regional distinctions, plant growth response, water and salt movement in the soil, salinisation projections and control techniques are discussed. The book introduces successful experiences for comprehensive control of soil salinisation in experimental areas that represented various saline soil regions of China, and which can then be applied to salinisation control on a larger scale. There are 81 800 000 ha of various types of saline land in China; 17 330 000 ha are threatened with salinisation.

Authors:

Xia Xuncheng, Li Congshun, Zhou Xingjia, Zhang Henian, Huang Peizhen and Pan Borong

Title:

Control of desertification and sand-driving wind disasters in Xinjiang Autonomous Region

Publisher:

Science Press. pp. 186

Date:

1991

Language:

Chinese

Available:

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Classification:

1, 3Aa, 6Db

Region:

Xinjiang, China

Summary:

The author introduces research findings on desert characteristics and processes, including the causes, occurrence and development of sand flow deserts in Xinjiang Autonomous Region and recommends basic strategies and methods to control sand-driving wind disasters. Case studies, which include detailed control measures and photographs. discuss areas on the southern margin of the Takelamagan Desert, the Guerbantonggute Desert, the Tulufan Basin and areas around highways and railways. In Xinjiang, there are 423 000 km² of desert (the largest in China); oasis areas are shrinking due to the gradual invasion of moving sand.

Authors:

Xiang Kaifu, Shi Jiashen, et al.

Title:

Multiple benefits of shelterbelts systems; site classification and evaluation for semi-arid steppe sandyland

Publisher:

unpublished

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

The State Science and Technology Commission

Classification:

Ec, 6B

Region:

China

Summary:

This study develops a site classification system and evaluation method for forest site zones, regions, sub-regions. types, groups and plant communities in semi-arid steppe sandyland. Based on productivity measurements qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted; the same site was used to evaluate different tree species and different sites were used to evaluate the same tree species. Comprehensive indexes are proposed to evaluate the technical and economic characters of protected forests: (1) effective value of warm and moist wind occupancy in shelterbelt networks on farmland, (2) daily and seasonal rate of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration of crops, increments of organic mater and vitamin content in crop seeds, (3) improvements in the physical and chemical characters of soil. Improvements from shelterbelt networks on rangeland included increased occurrences of warm and moist wind and solar radiation, as well as improved grass yields and quality. Sand fixation forests can improve the ecological environment by fixing flowing sand and reducing the amount of sand-bearing wind. Improved plant and animal populations in protection forest areas led to social. economic and ecological benefits. Benefit assessment indices which integrated both economic and technical aspects were developed for protected forest areas.

Authors:

Zhang Ruilin, Bao Xitian, Mo Fangzhang, Zhang Shufan and Zhang Guozhen

Title:

A study on afforestation techniques for rangeland shelterbelts

Publisher:

unpublished

Date:

1988

Language:

Chinese

Available:

The State Science and Technology Commission

Classification:

6Cb, 6Db

Region:

Inner Mongolia, China

Summary:

Based on the structure, function and succession mechanisms of desertificated rangeland in arid or semi- arid regions, field trials to establish shelterbelts were conducted on cattle rangeland (6 400 ha.) in the Keerqing Sandy Land area of Balinyou county between 1971 and 1984. A comprehensive land use plan was developed to promote utilization of rangeland resources while maintaining a stable and balanced ecosystem. Low-yielding desertificated rangeland was improved through high diversity of plant species, increased community hierarchies and high forage biomass. Seventy-nine shelterbelts, totaling 60 km in length, were established to cross each other, thereby forming 77 nets. Thirty-three ha of "umbrella forest" (a shaded place for livestock in summer) and 100 ha of sand-fixation shrub vegetation were included in the protection system One thousand one hundred ha of different types of forests were established as shelterbelts; plant cover increased from less than one percent to 16.8 percent for 3 300 ha of rangeland and grass above-ground biomass increased by 417 kg/ha or 21.67 percent. Forage quality was increased by 53.3 percent and the mean height of grass, 109.59 percent. This shelterbelt rangeland model has been applied to 313 000 ha of rangeland on which 16 700 ha of shelterbelts forests have been constructed.

Authors:

Zhao Yu, Jin Zhengping, Zhi Peijun and Hao Yunchong

Title:

The application of remote sensing technology on soil erosion in Inner

Mongolia

Publisher:

Science Press. pp. 379

Date:

1989

Language:

Chinese

Available:

Chinese Academy of Forestry

Classification:

2Ca

Region:

Inner Mongolia, China

Summary:

Remote sensing information gathered in the 1970s and 1980s provided analytical data for this study of soil erosion dynamics in Inner Mongolia. This "environment and soil erosion" approach relies on field site surveys and monitoring methods, remote sensing analysis and mapping, classification units and distribution patterns, development processes, regionalization, the negative influence degree analysis and control strategies and methods. A "Soil Erosion Map of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region" is included in the annex. Total land area of Inner Mongolia is 1 183 000 km²; desertification, soil erosion, rangeland degradation and secondary salinisation of irrigated land are increasing. This book is a guide for dealing with problems of land degradation at an operational level.

Authors:

Zhu Lingyi and Bao Yin

Title:

Site evaluation of tree and shrub lands in the Maowusu Desert region(Mu Us Desert region)

Publisher:

China Forestry Press. pp. 204

Date:

1993

Language:

Chinese

Available:

National Library in Beijing

Classification:

2Eb

Region:

Inner Mongolia, China

Summary:

Based on 30 years of research in the Mu Us Desert region, the author introduces a site evaluation system using measurements of biomass at various locations. The study addresses natural and socio-economic conditions in Maowusu Desert region, technical aspects of site classification, evaluation and mapping methods (using both domestic and foreign research) and silviculture and management of tree and shrub lands. The current status of site classification and evaluation techniques adopted for desert regions in China is described. Quantitative site evaluation methods using multiple shrub or tree species were first applied to site assessment in the Mu Us Desert region.