Showing 8 results for Desertification
A. Khanamani, H. Karimzadeh, R. Jafari,
Volume 17, Issue 63 (6-2013)
Abstract
Soil characteristics are the most powerful factors in desertification phenomenon. The purpose of this study was investigating soil characteristics as indices for evaluating desertification intensity. The most important indicators of the soil that affect desertification were selected in the present study. Soil samples were taken from Segzi desert vicinity located in the east of Isfahan city with surface area of 112,167 ha. Soil indices such as Soil texture, soil gypsum percentage, the content of HCO3-1, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, the percentage of the organic matter, the content of the soil sodium, chloral and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) were selected. All of these indices were calculated on the thirty four soil samples. After ensuring of the normality of the samples by Klomogrov-Smirnov test, the mentioned indices were imported into GIS for delineating soil characteristics maps. To delineate distribution maps of each soil indice, inverse distance weighting and ordinary and discrete Kriging methods were applied, and appropriate method was selected. Each layer was scored based on MEDALUS model, and the final characteristic maps were then generated using soil geometric mean indices. Results showed that the affected areas of the average, severe and very severe classes of desertification were calculated about 66000, 45650 and 517 ha, respectively. The results also revealed that the indices of the organic matter, soil gypsum percentage, electrical conductivity and SAR were the most influential indicators, which affected desertification in the study area.
M. Fathi, R. Jafari, S. Soltani,
Volume 19, Issue 71 (6-2015)
Abstract
Desertification is known as a major crisis in arid regions of Isfahan province. This study aimed to assess the performance of three main desertification models including MEDALUS, MICD and FAO-UNEP for mapping desertification severity in the hotspot of Jarghuyeh region, eastern Isfahan. Different desertification indicators and their related indices were chosen based on the characteristics of the region and fieldwork, and spatially mapped in 27 geomorphologic facies. The desertification severity maps were classified based on the classification scheme for each model in ArcGIS 10 environment, and then comparison of the models and selection of the best one were achieved using IDRISI Tiga 16.03 software. The results of all three models showed that more than 95% of the region can be classified as severe desertification but due to the differences in the number of desertification classes and also indicators and indices only 45% of desertification severity was observed to be similar across the models. Results indicated that the MEDALUS model due to its flexibility to accept new indicators and indices, GIS-based characteristics, and use of geometric mean of indicators in desertification mapping seems to be a suitable model for studying desertification severity in the region. According to this model, 85% and 15% of the area are classified as very severe and severe class of desertification, respectively, which indicates that the rate of desertification is very high and immediate management programs are needed to slow down the desertification process in the region.
M. Mombeni, A. Karamshahi, Graee, F. Azadnia, H. Khosravi,
Volume 19, Issue 72 (8-2015)
Abstract
Desertification is currently a big problem in many countries, especially in developing countries, and includes natural processes and improper human activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential of desertification with an emphasis on water, climate and soil criteria using IMDPA Model in Abbas plain, Ilam province with an area about 18028.8 hectare. Geometric averages for indices including water table fluctuations, EC of water, SAR, irrigation system, annual precipitation, aridity index, drought continuity index, soil texture, soil thickness and Ec of soil were obtained using ArcGIS 9.3 and the status map of each criterion was prepared. The results of climate indicated that 100% of the area is in severe class. The desertification intensity map based on soil criteria demonstrated that over 4843 hectare (28.86 percent of total area) and 13185 hectare (73.13 percent of total area) are in low and moderate classes, respectively. Also, the obtained results from geometric average of water criteria indices showed that 10861.4 hectare (60.2 percent of total area) and 7166.6 hectare (39.75 percent of total area) are in low and moderate classes, respectively. The results also indicated that climate with the value of 2.81 is the most influential criterion in the severity of desertification in the study area. Accordingly, it can be said that the quantitative value of desertification intensity of total area is in moderate class.
S. A. M. Mirmohammady Maibody, S. Dybaie, H. Shariatmadari, N. Baghestani,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (8-2017)
Abstract
The adaptability of Haloxylon appilium to adverse environmental conditions and especially its capability for an appropriate establishment in saline and desert soils has introduced this plant as a suitable means for biological methods to stabilize sand dunes, control erosion and prevent desertification in arid regions. In order to evaluate the ecophysiological characteristics of Haloxylon appilium some characteristics of soils under the long term establishment, survival and development of this plant and ion composition of this plant growing in Yazd province in thirty two growing trees of similar ages and traits within 8 locations of Chah Afzal and Ashkezar were investigated and their height (H), crown diameter (CD) and the above ground biomass index (Yi) were measured. Also, after cutting the trees from their collars, soil profiles were dug underneath the tree locations and soil samples were taken at depths of 0-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-120cm from four sides of each profile. The samples were then analyzed for Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH and Cl, Na, Ca, Mg, K concentrations in 1:5 soil to water extracts. The results showed statistically significant differences in soil parameters between the two regions, except for pH and Mg concentrations. The ion concentration of the plants in the two regions showed statistically significant differences for only Cl in shoots and Ca in roots. Based on the plant growth indices the Chah Afzal and Eshkezar regions were respectively evaluated as suitable and unsuitable for Haloxylon appilium growth. In spite of a higher salinity, the higher Ca and K concentration and lower Na/K ratio of Chah Afzal soils may explain the better plant performance in this region against Eshkezar, however, comprehensive researches on application of Ca and K fertilizer are needed to confirm this hypothesis
S. Pishyar, H. Khosravi, A. Tavili, A. Malekian,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (2-2018)
Abstract
In this study, to study the status of water resources degradation in Kashan region, Isfahan Province, eight indices including: drop in groundwater, water salinity, irrigation efficiency, Well-to-Qanat development ratio, the pumping time, shortage of water supplies for animals and humans and the water negative balance were selected according to previous studies conducted on desertification in Iran and the world. Existing evaluation models were determined. Desertification map of the study area was provided according to MEDALUS model and selected indices. The selected indices were weighted using a multi-criteria decision method and each index having weight more than 0.5 were selected as the most effective indices of desertification. Again, the desertification status map of the study area was prepared by the most effective indices. Finally, the two desertification maps were compared. The results showed that the drop in groundwater, water salinity, the pumping time and water negative balance have the most effect on water resources degradation among selected indices. The results of comparing two groundwater degradation maps showed that based on map provided with eight indices, 87.78 and 8.30 percent of the total area are classified in critical conditions c and b, respectively. While the map provided by the most effective indicators shows that 99.15% of the total area is classified in the critical condition "c" and just 0.849% is classified in the critical condition "b". It can be concluded that to assess desertification status, it is better to first determine the indicators by weighting and prioritizing methods. This will identify the indicators that have not had a significant effect on the desertification phenomenon in the area and prevent their impact on desertification classes and reduction of scores.
A. M. Ghaeminia, M. A. Hakimzadeh, R. Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, F. Dehghani,
Volume 23, Issue 4 (2-2020)
Abstract
One of the reasons for soil salinization is the accumulation of salts in it by transmission through water and wind. In order to investigate the phenomenon of transfer of salts with dust in the arid regions of the north of Yazd- Ardakan plain, field samples were taken using 32 MDCO sediments traps with uniform dispersion in an area of 20,000 hectares at some stage in 4 seasons of 2017. After washing the sediment collector with a liter of distilled water in the field and transferring the samples to the laboratory, for the quantitative analysis of saline dust, similar to measuring the Water Electrical Conductivity (ECw), the Total Soluble Solids (TDS) were additionally measured through evaporation technique. The form and distribution of the dust particle size were additionally investigated using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) tool. Within the qualitative examine of salts, effective cations and anions in salinity including Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++, C1-, HCO-3 and SO-4 were measured The results confirmed that, in general, the fallout was 11.1 g.m-2 of soluble material with dust particles (13.28%) in the course of only 12 months. Particles with a diameter of 5 to 10 microns were the most frequent. Considering the high correlation between C1- and Na+ in the spring, autumn and winter, due to the high correlation between Ca++ and SO-4 in summer dust, sodium chloride (NaCl) and gypsum (CaSO4) 2H2O)), the most abundant composition of dust- containing salts could be expected in these seasons. By determining the percentage of solutes in the fallout dust, it was observed that the impact of the amount of the deposited salt from dust was slight and insignificant in the short time period; with the assumption of no change in the rate of subsidence, it was anticipated that it would explain the poor salinity in non- saline mass soils for up to 10 cm in 72 years. In general, the capability of airborne salt in increasing the soil salinity in the study area can be in long- term periods. Therefore, it is recommended to investigate other environmental effects of this phenomenon in order to identify its hazards.
A. Norouzi, M.r. Ansari,
Volume 25, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
At present, the occurrence of dust storms is one of the most important environmental problems in Khuzestan Province, and the south and southeast regions of Ahwaz have been recognized as one of the interior dust sources and are the priority of corrective operations. Given that land use change is one of the desertification factors in the mentioned region, therefore, modeling its changes is necessary and provides useful information for planners to control and revive the degraded lands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the CA-Markov model in predicting land use changes in the dust source of south and southeast of Ahwaz based on two long-term and short-term approaches. In the long-term approach, land use maps of 1986 and 2002 years and in the short-term approach, land use maps of 2002 and 2007 years have been used to predict land use for the year 2016 and then the simulation results were validated. The results showed that the values of allocation error, quantity error, and kappa coefficient for the long-term approach were 42.55%, 13.95%, and 0.08 respectively, and for the short-term approach were 12.56%, 10.42%, and 0.22 respectively, which indicates the weak ability of the CA-Markov model to evaluate the desertification trend in the dust Source of south and southeast Ahwaz. Use of uniform transition rule throughout the simulation period without considering the factors and processes affecting land use change, the non-same trend of land use change during study periods, changes due to human activities, drought, and long forecast period can be the reasons for the poor performance of the CA-Markov model to predict the desertification trend the dust Source of south and southeast Ahwaz.
A.s. Hosseini Khezrabad, A.a. Vali, A.h. Halabian, M.h. Mokhtari,
Volume 27, Issue 4 (12-2023)
Abstract
Desertification is one of the most serious ecological environmental problems in the arid regions. Quantitative assessment of the desertification process is important for the prevention and control of desertification. In this research, the IMDPA model was used to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative desertification situation in the northwest of Yazd. Three criteria of soil, vegetation, and wind erosion were considered in this model. Several indicators were defined for each criterion with a weight of 0 (low) to 4 (very severe). The geometric mean of all three criteria was used to prepare a map of sensitive areas to desertification in ArcGIS. The results indicated that more than 92% of the research area was in the extreme class of desertification, and only the dunes work unit was in a very intense class. Finally, the whole of the research area with a final score of 3.04 was placed in the extreme class of desertification intensity. Also, the soil criterion with the highest weight score of 3.26 has had the greatest impact on the desertification of the northwest region of Yazd. Therefore, it is necessary to implement remedial and revitalization operations in this region according to the expansion of the phenomenon of desertification and the high influence of the soil criteria. The results of the research showed the intensity of desertification, the potential, and the sensitivity of the region to the phenomenon of desertification can be referred to as a departure from the natural functioning of the system.
