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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (2): 159-169.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2022.00084

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Desertification sensitivity assessment in Horqin Sandy Land

Yu Ren1(), Bo Zhang1(), Xidong Chen2   

  1. 1.College of Geography and Environmental Sciences,Northwest Normal University,Lanzhou 730070,China
    2.College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics,North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power,Zhengzhou 450045,China
  • Received:2022-06-05 Revised:2022-07-27 Online:2023-03-20 Published:2023-04-12
  • Contact: Bo Zhang

Abstract:

Horqin Sandy Land is one of the four sandy lands in China. It is also an important part of the sandstorm source in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. The intensification of desertification directly affects the climate environment in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Based on the MEDALUS model, remote sensing and geographic information system technology are used to evaluate the desertification risk of Horqin Sandy Land. The desertification sensitivity index map of Horqin Sandy Land was constructed using soil quality, vegetation quality, climate quality and management quality indices. The results showed that the area with extremely high desertification sensitivity in Horqin Sandy Land was about 2 986.60 km2, accounting for 2.02% of the total area of the study area. The area with high desertification sensitivity was about 6 678.00 km2, accounting for 4.52%; The middle area was about 89 633.18 km2, accounting for 60.71%; The low area was about 48 352.20 km2, accounting for 32.75%. The result showed: (1) MEDALUS model is applicable in the evaluation of desertification sensitivity of Horqin Sandy Land. The assessed areas with extremely high desertification sensitivity index are concentrated in the hinterland of Horqin Sandy Land, both sides of Laoha River, the central and eastern part of Wengniute Banner, northwest of Naiman Banner and the middle part of Kulun Banner. (2) The influence of soil quality index on desertification sensitivity is higher than that of vegetation quality index, climate quality index, and management quality index. Therefore, improving the soil quality is likely to be an effect way to reduce the risk of land desertification in Horqin Sandy Land. (3) With the land use type as the main driving force, the desertification risk has increased in Tongliao City, northwest of Changling County, Horqin Left-wing Middle Banner, Shuangliao city and northern Zhangwu County. In addition, slope has little effect on desertification sensitivity in Horqin Sandy Land.

Key words: Horqin Sandy Land, land desertification, MEDALUS, GIS, quality index, sensitive index

CLC Number: