Shoreline vegetation restoration and utilization technology

Author: Sun Qisi / Han Jianguo / Wei Zhijun, etc.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: This book is part of the "Sericulture and Ecological Environment Construction Series." The increasing desertification and deterioration of the ecological environment pose a serious threat to China's ecological security and the sustainable development of society and the economy. Combating desertification, restoring vegetation, and promoting eco-economic coordination are urgent tasks. Based on an introduction to the distribution, current status, development trends, and formation factors of sandy lands in China, as well as the characteristics of vegetation, grassland resources, and soil microbiology in these areas, this book elaborates in detail on the principles of vegetation restoration in sandy lands and proposes techniques for restoring and improving vegetation, establishing artificial grasslands and crop rotation systems, establishing shrub grasslands, establishing alfalfa and sand-fixing grassland, sand-fixing barriers, rodent control measures, eco-grassland development technologies, and the rational utilization of grasslands in sandy areas. This book can serve as a reference and tool for researchers, educators, and practitioners engaged in soil and water conservation, desertification control, grassland science, and agricultural and pastoral industries. It can also be used as a textbook for technical training and extension.
[Preface] The contradiction between ecological degradation and resource utilization has deepened people's awareness of the importance of ecological protection. Desertification is one of China's most severe ecological issues, posing a serious threat to the sustainable development of the economy and attracting widespread attention from society. Accelerating the restoration and rational utilization of vegetation in sandy areas has become an urgent priority. Improving the ecological conditions in grassland areas hinges on restoring and establishing grassland vegetation. As the cornerstone of ecosystems, grasslands offer multiple ecological functions, including preventing soil erosion, regulating climate, windbreak and sand fixation, enhancing soil fertility, absorbing and regulating various pollutants, and protecting biodiversity. Additionally, grasslands provide significant economic benefits, offering abundant livestock products such as meat, milk, leather, and wool, as well as tourism products to improve people's living standards and living environments. Therefore, grasslands in sandy areas play an irreplaceable role in maintaining regional and national ecological balance and promoting regional economic development.
China's sandy lands are primarily distributed in arid and semi-arid regions, where the natural environment is harsh, water and nutrient resources are scarce, and grassland carrying capacity is low. In recent decades, with climate trends becoming drier and human and livestock activities causing excessive interference, vegetation in sandy grasslands has suffered severe damage, leading to a series of ecological issues and posing serious threats to grassland pastoralism and people's livelihoods. Numerous studies and practices have demonstrated that grasslands are the most stable vegetation type in arid and semi-arid regions. This has solidified the dominant role of grasslands in the restoration and reconstruction of vegetation in sandy areas in China. Only by restoring and establishing grassland vegetation can the ecological conditions in sandy areas and even the entire country be improved, allowing ecosystems to enter a virtuous cycle, achieving eco-economic coordination, and elevating the production and living standards of pastoral farmers.
To adapt to the development of China's desertification control efforts and grassland production needs, meet the technical requirements of various ecological management projects and grassland construction, and advance the development of grassland industries in sandy areas, we have summarized over two decades of research achievements in grassland science and reviewed extensive literature to compile this book, "Techniques for Vegetation Restoration and Utilization in Sandy Lands." The main content of this book is based on our over two decades of research and has been integrated and refined. The authors who contributed to this book (Wang Zongli, Sun Qizhong, Liu Yaxue, Wang Yuqing, Ma Zhiguang, Zhang Zhiru from the Grassland Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Han Jianguo from China Agricultural University; Wei Zhijun from Inner Mongolia Agricultural University; Zhou Yanlin and Zhao Ji from Inner Mongolia University; Yan Deren from the Inner Mongolia Academy of Forestry Sciences; Wu Quan from the Inner Mongolia Land Consolidation Center; Zhao Shufen from the Grassland Work Station of Linxi County, Inner Mongolia; Xing Cheng from the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Bureau of Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia) have previously undertaken and completed national projects such as the "Comprehensive Improvement and Technology for Degraded Grasslands (202099)" under the "948" program, the "Key Technologies and Demonstration for Grassland Vegetation Restoration and Reconstruction (2004BA528B01)," the "Key Technologies, Integration, and Industrial Development of High-Quality Alfalfa Production (2002BA518A03)," the "Efficient Development Technology of Grassland Pastoralism in the North China (960160104)," and the "Study on Cashmere Goats in Sandy Shrub Grasslands of the Ordos Plateau (85-011-03)." They have also participated in the Ministry of Agriculture's "Seven-Five" project "Testing of Degraded Grassland Improvement Technology" and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's "Key Research Project of the 15th Five-Year Plan" "Rational Utilization of Different Types of Natural Pasture (20010607)." Additionally, they contributed to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences President's Fund project "Decline Patterns and Restoration Techniques of Sand Vetch Grasslands."
This book focuses on introducing the distribution of sandy lands in China, the characteristics of vegetation and microbial ecology, the principles and improvement techniques of vegetation restoration, the establishment of artificial grasslands and crop rotation systems, the establishment of shrub grasslands, the establishment of alfalfa and sand-fixing grasslands, sand-fixing barriers, rodent control techniques, the development of eco-grassland industries in sandy areas, and the rational utilization of sandy grasslands. This book can serve as a reference and tool for researchers, educators, and practitioners engaged in soil and water conservation, desertification control, grassland science, and agricultural and pastoral industries. It can also be used as a textbook for technical training and extension.