Discussing the genesis of karst rocky desertification research based on the correlations between cropland and settlements in typical peak-cluster depressions
This paper attempts to explain the theoretical reasons why local farmers have executed land mismanagement measures such as steep slope land cultivation, in order to reveal the mechanisms of karst rocky desertification (KRD, including light KRD, moderate KRD and severe KRD) through typical case stud...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2016-05-01
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Series: | Solid Earth |
Online Access: | http://www.solid-earth.net/7/741/2016/se-7-741-2016.pdf |
Summary: | This paper attempts to explain the theoretical reasons why
local farmers have executed land mismanagement measures such as steep slope land
cultivation, in order to reveal the mechanisms of karst rocky desertification (KRD,
including light KRD, moderate KRD and severe KRD) through typical case
studies. Firstly, this paper assumes that the low land capacity is the
initial cause of KRD in peak-cluster depression areas. Furthermore, the
ecological quality of the peak-cluster depression zone (a combination of
clustered karst cones with a common base and depressions between cones) is
influenced by the relationship between the area of depressions and the
population of residential areas. Therefore, six typical peak-cluster depression
areas of Guizhou province were selected to compare the distribution
circumstances of cropland, the characteristics of settlements and the
formation of KRD with the help of ALOS images in 2010 (with a resolution of
10 m × 10 m). The results show that there is a negative correlation
between the percentage of the cultivated land and the percentage of KRD at
peak-cluster depressions. The relationship could be concluded by three
situations of the process of KRD, which are low, middle and upper carrying
capacities of land. Severe KRD is only distributed in
peak-cluster depression areas with less flatland, low land capacity and a high
population. The harmonization between population pressure and bearing
capacity of land will influence the ecological qualities in
the peak-cluster depressions. The KRD phenomenon which occurred in
six typical peak-cluster depression areas confirms that the hypothesis
suggested by this paper is correct, and this result will
contribute to understanding the natural mechanisms of KRD and guide the
ecological restoration of KRD land. |
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ISSN: | 1869-9510 1869-9529 |