Afforestation and the impacts on soil and water conservation at decadal and regional scales in Northwest China

Zhang, Wentai; Hu, Guiqing; Yu, Dian; Weindorf, David C.; Sheng, Jiandong

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.03.003

Cited by 32 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…2a). The result is consistent with previous research based on long-term official and synthesized data, which also found a decreasing trend of soil erosion areas in four provinces (e.g., Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang), especially after 2000 (Zhang et al, 2016). Secondly, a regional forest LUF increase trend occurs in the northwestern NCP ( Fig.…”

Section: Land Cover Change Induced By Erpssupporting

confidence: 92%

Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust concentrations in the North China Plain: a case study

Long

Tie

et al. 2018

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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Abstract. In recent decades, the Chinese government has made a great effort in initiating large-scale ecological restoration programs (ERPs) to reduce the dust concentrations in China, especially for dust storm episodes. Using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land cover product, the ERP-induced land cover changes are quantitatively evaluated in this study. Two obvious vegetation protective barriers arise throughout China from the southwest to the northeast, which are well known as the “Green Great Wall” (GGW). Both the grass GGW and forest GGW are located between the dust source region (DSR) and the densely populated North China Plain (NCP). To assess the effect of ERPs on dust concentrations, a regional transport/dust model (WRF-DUST, Weather Research and Forecast model with dust) is applied to investigate the evolution of dust plumes during a strong dust storm episode from 2 to 8 March 2016. The WRF-DUST model generally performs reasonably well in reproducing the temporal variations and spatial distributions of near-surface [PMC] (mass concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter between 2.5 and 10 µm) during the dust storm event. Sensitivity experiments have indicated that the ERP-induced GGWs help to reduce the dust concentration in the NCP, especially in BTH (Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei). When the dust storm is transported from the upwind DSR to the downwind NCP, the [PMC] reduction ranges from −5 to −15 % in the NCP, with a maximum reduction of −12.4 % (−19.2 µg m−3) in BTH and −7.6 % (−10.1 µg m−3) in the NCP. We find the dust plumes move up to the upper atmosphere and are transported from the upwind DSR to the downwind NCP, accompanied by dust decrease. During the episode, the forest GGW is nonsignificant in dust concentration control because it is of benefit for dry deposition and not for emission. Conversely, the grass GGW is beneficial in controlling dust erosion and is the dominant reason for [PMC] decrease in the NCP. Because the air pollution is severe in eastern China, especially in the NCP, and the contribution of dust episodes is significant, the reduction of dust concentrations will have important effects on severe air pollution. This study illustrates the considerable contribution of ERPs to the control of air pollution in China, especially in springtime.

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Section: Land Cover Change Induced By Erpssupporting

confidence: 92%

Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust concentrations in the North China Plain: a case study

Long

Tie

et al. 2018

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

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“…The result is consistent with the previous research 249 based on long-term official and synthesized data, which also found a decreasing trend 250 of soil erosion areas in four provinces (e.g. Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and 251 Xinjiang), especially after 2000 (Zhang et al, 2016). Secondly, a regional forest LUF 252 increase trend occurs in the northwestern NCP (Fig.…”

Section: Land Cover Change Induced By Erps 242supporting

confidence: 86%

Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust pollution in North China Plain: a case study

Long

Tie

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract:In recent years, Chinese government has taken great efforts in initiating 17 large-scale ecological restoration programs (ERPs) to reduce the dust pollutions in 18China. Using a satellite measurement product of Moderate Resolution Imaging 19 Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the changes in land cover are quantitatively evaluated in 20 this study. We find that grass and forest are increased in berried lands and deserts in 21 northwestern China, which locate in the upwind regions of the populated areas of the 22North China Plain (NCP) in eastern China. As a result, the changes in land cover 23 could produce important impacts on the dust pollutions in eastern of China. To assess 24 the effect of ERPs on dust pollutions, a regional transport/dust model (WRF-DUST, 25Weather Research and Forecast model with dust) is applied to investigate the 26 evolution of dust pollutions during a strong dust episode (from 2 to 8 March 2016). 27The calculations are intensively evaluated by comparing with the measured data. quantitatively assessed using the WRF-DUST model. We find that the ERPs 37 significantly reduce the dust pollutions in NCP, especially in the heart area of NCP 38 (BTH, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei). During the episode when the dust storm was 39 transported from the DSR to NCP, the reduction of dust pollutions induced by ERPs 40 ranges from -5% to -15% in NCP, with the maximum reduction of -15.3% (-21.0 µg 41 m -3 ) in BTH, and -6.2% (-9.3 µg m -3 ) in NCP. Because the air pollution is severe in 42 eastern China, especially in NCP, the reduction of dust pollutions has important 43 effects on the severe air pollutions. This study shows that ERPs help to reduce air 44 pollutions in the region, especially in springtime, suggesting the important 45 contributions of ERPs to the air pollution control in China. 46

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“…Afforestation is usually successful above the isohyet of 200 mm mean 200 mm mean annual rainfall and, occasionally, at a lower annual rainfall, if the introduced or reintroduced species is appropriate (i.e., does not require more water than the environment can provide) and if the causes of the degradation have been discontinued or strongly mitigated [7]. Numerous researchers have investigated the benefits associated with afforestation to sequester C and to restore degraded soils and ecosystems in arid and semiarid regions [5,[8][9][10][11][12]. However, this restoration ability cannot be assumed, since some researchers have reported negative or neutral effects of afforestation on the soil C content at some sites [13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvements in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Capacities after Shrub Planting to Stabilize Sand Dunes in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

Chen

Wang

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Caragana microphylla, a native perennial leguminous shrub, is widely used for desertification control in China's Horqin Sandy Land. We investigated the effects of afforestation using C. microphylla in areas with fixed and active dunes on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in the soil total and light-fraction (LF) organic matter. Compared to the values in the control areas, soil organic carbon (SOC) storage to a depth of 100 cm increased by 88%, 74%, and 145% at 9, 15, and 31 years after shrub planting, respectively; the corresponding values were 68%, 61%, and 195% for total nitrogen (TN) storage, 109%, 199%, and 202% for LF organic carbon storage, and 203%, 337%, and 342% for LF nitrogen storage. The soil light-fraction (LF) organic matter contributed significantly to total SOC and TN storage, despite the low proportion of total soil mass accounted for by the LF dry matter. Thus, afforestation using C. microphylla was an effective way to sequester C and to restore degraded soils, but the process was slow; it would take more than 100 years to fully restore SOC storage in active dunes through afforestation with C. microphylla in the Horqin Sandy Land.

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Afforestation and the impacts on soil and water conservation at decadal and regional scales in Northwest China

Cited by 32 publications

References 29 publications

Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust concentrations in the North China Plain: a case study

Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust concentrations in the North China Plain: a case study

Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust pollution in North China Plain: a case study

Improvements in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Capacities after Shrub Planting to Stabilize Sand Dunes in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

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