Water

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20 pages, 8217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Analysis of Regional Vegetation Correlation with Climate and Phenology in the Midsection of Maowusu Sandland

by Zekun Li, Bing Xu, Delong Tian, Jun Wang and Hexiang Zheng

Water 2024, 16(5), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050623 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 839

Abstract

It is essential to monitor the dynamics of vegetation at different scales in space and time to promote the sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystems. We used the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform to perform a comprehensive analysis of the changes in normalized [...] Read more.

It is essential to monitor the dynamics of vegetation at different scales in space and time to promote the sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystems. We used the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform to perform a comprehensive analysis of the changes in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) Mann-Kendall (MK) + Sen trend in the hinterland region of the Maowusu sandland in China over the last two decades. We performed bias-correlation studies using soil and climate data. Furthermore, we performed a partial Mantel test to analyze the spatial and temporal fluctuations of vegetation health-related indices. Additionally, we developed a logistic dual model of the phenology index using the Lenvenberg–Marquardt technique. The objective was to uncover the factors contributing to the regional shifts in vegetation dynamics. We provide a comprehensive analytic method designed to monitor vegetation over some time and forecast its future recovery. The findings indicate that over the past 20 years, more than 90% of the regional NDVI in the study area has exhibited a consistent and significant upward trend. This trend is primarily influenced by the adverse impact of temperature and the beneficial impact of precipitation. Additionally, long-term phenological indicators in the study area reveal that the vegetation’s growth cycle commences on the 125th day of the year and concludes on the 267th day of the year. This suggests that the shorter duration of the vegetation’s growth season may be attributed to the local climate and unfavorable groundwater depth conditions. levated temperatures throughout the next spring and autumn seasons would significantly affect the wellbeing of plants, with soil moisture being a crucial determinant of plant development in the examined region. This study presents a wide range of analytical tools for monitoring vegetation over a long period and predicting its future recovery. It considers factors such as vegetation health, phenology, and climatic influences. The study establishes a solid scientific foundation for understanding the reasons behind regional vegetation changes in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation)

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16 pages, 1583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Water Utilization on the Dynamic Total Efficiency of China’s Agricultural Production

by Ying Feng, I-Fang Lin, Ching-Cheng Lu and Hsiu-Hsiu Lin

Water 2023, 15(7), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071266 - 23 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1390

Abstract

Water resources are very important to agricultural production. In recent years, the change rate of agricultural cultivated land area in China has been very low, so it is not easy to increase its area and improve production capacity. To measure the impact of [...] Read more.

Water resources are very important to agricultural production. In recent years, the change rate of agricultural cultivated land area in China has been very low, so it is not easy to increase its area and improve production capacity. To measure the impact of China’s water resources on agricultural efficiency from 2012 to 2016, this research applies the dynamic SBM model, conceives agricultural water as an external input, and uses the cultivated land area as an immutable intertemporal variable. The empirical results show that (1) the agricultural efficiency of Beijing, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Xinjiang are not affected by agricultural water. (2) The average value of China’s overall agricultural efficiency increased from 0.834 to 0.910, indicating that agricultural water is a positive efficiency factor. (3) Jilin, Chongqing, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Hubei are the five administrative regions with the most improvement in agricultural efficiency. (4) Insufficient agricultural productivity is the main factor affecting agricultural efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation)

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Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 7047 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Critical Review of Innovations and Perspectives for Providing Adequate Water for Sustainable Irrigation

by Ahmed Abou-Shady, Muhammad Saboor Siddique and Wenzheng Yu

Water 2023, 15(17), 3023; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173023 - 22 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1684

Abstract

Global climatic change intensifies the water crisis, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In this regard, the provision of enough water for irrigation is a serious dilemma because the agricultural sector consumes the largest amount of water (70% withdrawal and 90% consumption). In [...] Read more.

Global climatic change intensifies the water crisis, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In this regard, the provision of enough water for irrigation is a serious dilemma because the agricultural sector consumes the largest amount of water (70% withdrawal and 90% consumption). In this review, we have summarized recent innovations that have emerged as unconventional techniques to supply adequate water for irrigation purposes. We present the principles and basics of seven approaches: the Sahara Forest Project (SFP), water extraction from the air (WEA), aquifer recharge, the treatment of marginal water using a magnetic field, desalination and wastewater treatment (DWT), electro-agric technology (E-AT), and the Toshka Project. The SFP is currently being utilized in Aqaba, Jordan, and DWT is considered a common practice worldwide, whereas some of these innovations are still under investigation to ensure their feasibility for large-scale applications, such as E-AT. The Toshka Project is considered a wonderful idea that utilizes the water stored behind the High Dam in Lake Nasser, Egypt. Several approaches have been adopted to reduce the amount of water being used for irrigation, as the current amount of freshwater is insufficient for the requirements of increased agricultural consumption, particularly in hot, arid, and semi-arid regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation)

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