Abstract
Based on multi-temporal remotely sensed materials of both 1985 and 2000, we analyzed the effects of land-use types and their conversions on desertification in Mu Us Sandy Land in the agro-pastoral transitional zone of north central China. In this study, the desertified land was classified into five degrees: potential, light, medium, severe and extreme. The results indicate that the extent of desertification expands slightly, while desertification degree is enhanced significantly. About 22.35% of the total land area in the study area is in the desertification course, and the expanded area of both severely and extremely desertified land accounts for 3.67% of the total area of Mu Us Sandy Land. About 9053 km2 of area witnessed changes in land-use types between 1985 and 2000, which accounted for 10.75% of the total. More importantly, the area of conversions among cultivated land, forestland and rangeland added up to 971.6 km2. This research reveals that both improper land-use types and conversions could accelerate the desertification process. Both cultivated land and forestland have more effects on the desertification development than rangeland. Some land-use type conversions, such as rangeland to cultivated land, rangeland to forestland and forestland to cultivated land, are attributed to the acceleration of the desertification development while the opposite can control the desertification development.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alfredo D C, Emilio C, Ana C, 2002. Satellite remote sensing analysis to monitor desertification processes in the crop-rangeland boundary of Argentina. Journal of Arid Environments, 52: 121–133.
Ali T A, 1998. Extent, severity and causative factors of land degradation in the Sudan. Journal of Arid Environments, 38: 397–409.
Barth H J, 1999. Desertification in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Arid Environments, 43: 399–410.
Bielders C L, Michels K, Rajot J L, 2000. On-farm evaluation of ridging and residue management practices to reduce wind erosion in Niger. Soil Science Society of American Journal, 64(5): 1776–1785.
Cao Jun, Wu Shaohong, Yang Qinye, 2004. Adjustment of land use distribution based on desertification status and land adaptability. Transactions of the CSAE, 20(5): 281–285. (in Chinese)
CCICCD, 1994. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/for Desertification Particularly in Africa. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 1.
Chen Baiming, 1997. Studies on land use and land cover change in China and man’s driving force upon it. Natural Resources, 2: 31–36. (in Chinese)
Desmond M, 2004. Effects of grazing practices and fossorial rodents on a winter avian community in Chihuhua, Mexico. Biological Conservation, 116: 235–242.
Ding Yihui, 2002. Predictions of Environmental Changes in China West. Beijing: Science Press, 110–113. (in Chinese)
Dong Guangrong, Jin Heling, Chen Huizhong et al., 1998. Geneses of desertification in semiarid and sub-humid regions of northern China. Quaternary Sciences, 2: 136–144.
Evans J, Geerken R, 2004. Discrimination between climate and human-induced dryland degradation. Journal of Arid Environments, 57: 535–554.
FAO/UNEP, 1984. Provisional methodology for assessment and mapping of desertification. FAO, Rome, 12–58.
Fu B J, Gulinck H, Masum M Z, 1994. Loess erosion in relation to land-use changes in the Ganspoel catchment, central Belgium. Land Degradation & Rehabilitation, 52: 261–270.
Glantz M H, Orlovsky N S, 1983. Desertification: A review of the concept. Desertification Control Bulletin, 9: 15–22.
Hill J, Hostert P, Udelhoven T et al., 1998. Monitoring 20 years of increased grazing impact on the Greek island of Crete with earth observation satellites. Journal of Arid Environments, 39: 165–178.
Hirose K, Kim C K, Kim C S et al., 2004. Wet and dry deposition patterns of plutonium in Daejeon, Korea. Science of the Total Environment, 332: 243–252.
Jia B Q, Zhang Z Q, Ci L J et al., 2004. Oasis land-use dynamics and its influence on the oasis environment in Xinjiang, China. Journal of Arid Environments, 56: 11–26.
Khresat S A, Mohammad M, 1998. Land degradation in north-western Jordan: causes and processes. Journal of Arid Environments, 39: 623–629.
Kosmas C, Gerontidis St, Marathianou M, 2000. The effects of land use change on soils and vegetation over various lithological formation on Lesvos (Greece). Catena, 40: 51–68.
Liu Jiyuan, 1996. Macroscopic Investigation and Dynamic Research of Resource Environment in China by Remote Sensing. Beijing: Science and Technology Press, 51. (in Chinese)
Liu Yanhua, Li Xiubin, 2001. Fragile Ecological System and Sustainable Development. Beijing: The Commercial Press, 56–60. (in Chinese)
Liu Yansui, Zhang Xiaoping, Li Xiaowen et al., 2003. Mechanism and regulation of land degradation in Yulin district. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 13(2): 217–224.
Marlo G M, Jose N, 2000. Processes of desertification by goats overgrazing in the Tamaulipan thornscrub (matorral) in north-eastern Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, 44: 1–17.
Reenberg A, 2001. Agricultural land use pattern dynamics in the Sudan-Sahel: towards an event-driven framework. Land Use Policy, 18: 309–319.
Ren C Y, 2002. Study on the causes of desertification in Mu Us area. Journal of Geological Hazards and Environment Preservation, 13(2): 30–31. (in Chinese)
Shi Peijun, 1997. Today and future of the dynamics of human-earth (earth surface) system. Earth Science Frontiers, 4(1–2): 201–211. (in Chinese)
Stephenne N, Lambin E F, 2001. A dynamic simulation model of land-use changes in Sudano-Sahelian countries of Africa (SALU). Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 85: 145–161.
Su Y Z, Zhao H L, Zhao W Z et al., 2004. Fractal features of soil particle size distribution and the implication for indicating desertification. Geoderma, 122: 43–49.
Tappan G G, Sall M, Wood E C et al., 2004. Ecoregions and land cover trends in Senegal. Journal of Arid Environments, 59: 427–462.
Verburg P H, Veldkamp A, Fresco L O, 1999. Simulation of changes in the spatial pattern of land use in China. Applied Geography, 19(3): 211–233.
Wang T, Wu W, 1999. Land use and sandy desertification in northern China. Journal of Natural Resources, 14(4): 355–358. (in Chinese)
Wang T, Wu W, Xue X et al., 2004. Study of spatial distribution of sandy desertification in North China in recent 10 years. Science in China (Series D), 47(Suppl.): 78–88.
Wu Bo, Ci Longjun, 1998. The developing situation and expanding causes of desertification in Mu Us Sandy land since the 1950s. Quaternary Sciences, 2: 165–174. (in Chinese)
Zeidler J, Hanrahan S, Scholes M, 2002. Land-use intensity affects range condition in arid to semi-arid Namibia. Journal of Arid Environments, 52: 389–403.
Zhu K, Zhang L, Hart W et al., 2004. Quality issues in harvested rainwater in arid and semi-arid Loess Plateau of northern China. Journal of Arid Environments, 57: 487–505.
Zhu Zhenda, Liu S, Di X M, 1989. Situation and Treatment of Sandy Desertification in China. Beijing: Science and Technology Press, 23. (in Chinese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40171040; Knowledge Innovation Project of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, No.CXIOG-A02-03
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hao, C., Wu, S. The effects of land-use types and conversions on desertification in Mu Us Sandy Land of China. J GEOGR SCI 16, 57–68 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-006-0106-2
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-006-0106-2