Biological Models for Protecting Different Land Use in Arid Areas China
Authors
Abstract
There are more than 750 counties in 13 provinces and autonomous regions
constituting 30% of China lands which are facing serious problem of desertification. These
areas are mainly distributed in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas in the western part of
Northeast China, North central china and most of northwest china. Biological methods are the
ultimate way for drift sand stabilization and a fundamental approach for the development and
proper utilization of desert. There are 12 deserts in two physiographical situations (hilly and
low land situations) where some successful biological methods for combating desertification
have been documented. These methods were used on the basis of land use and the best plant
species which are suitable for these harsh conditions. The land uses that are suffering most
from desertification are agricultural areas, highways, railways, roads, cities, industrial places
and mining areas. The important plant species used for combating desertification are
Hedysarum laeve, H. scoparium, Amorpha fruticosa, Lespedeza bicolor, Caragara
microphylla, C. korshinskii, Artemisia halodendron, A. sphaerocephala, Astragalus
adsurgens, Ulmus pumila, Hippophae rhamnoides, Haloxylon ammodendron, Calligonum
mongolicum. Transplanted seedlings, direct sowing, use of cutting, and air seeding techniques
were used for greening areas degraded by wind and water erosion. Different models have
been applied for protecting agricultural areas, cities, highways, railways and roads, industrial
or mining and reservoir properties. Some successful models which have been employed are
shelter forest system in oases, shelter system for sand fixation in agricultural areas,
transportation, industrial or mining and reservoir properties.
