Land desertification poses a significant threat to global food security， exerting severe adverse impacts on ecological and social systems， while also resulting in substantial economic losses. With the development of photovoltaic technology and the maturation of its industrial chain， coupled with the favorable solar and thermal conditions as well as cost-effective land availability in arid and semi-arid regions， large-scale construction of photovoltaic power stations has become feasible， and consequently， a novel technique known as photovoltaic desertification control has emerged to effectively combat desertification. This technology represents an innovative approach that integrates photovoltaic power generation， desertification prevention， and water-saving agricultural technology. Its primary objective is to harness the abundant solar energy resources in deserts for clean energy production while simultaneously preventing desertification through a multi-scale spatial layout of engineering， ecological measures， and photovoltaic sand control units （i.e， individual power stations）. This comprehensive strategy aims to enhance the ecological environment and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome for both productivity and ecology. Drawing on relevant literature and the practical experience of our research group， this paper provides a comprehensive review of the development trajectory of photovoltaic desertification control technology. It introduces the concept and benefits of the photovoltaic- soil-vegetation coupling system to enhance understanding， while elucidating the fundamental principles， specific measures， and practical significance of this technology. Furthermore， it presents future prospects for research and implementation. The aim of this review is to provide valuable guidance for the further optimization of photovoltaic desertification control technology and its large-scale application.

Sandy medicinal plants are plant groups with both economic and ecological benefits，and they are widely distributed in the sandy habitats of the arid regions of northwestern China.Comprehensive understanding and utilization of the ecological functions of sandy medicinal plants are of great significance to regional ecological construction and conservation of medicinal resources.Taking the main sandy medicinal plants in arid region as an example，this paper analysed the ecological benefits and mechanisms of sandy medicinal plants in arid areas from the aspects of windbreak and sand fixation，soil fertility enhancement，saline and alkaline land management and species diversity improvement，with a view to providing theoretical basis and reference for their application in the ecological management in arid sandy areas.

Precipitation change is an important regulatory factor for the restoration and functional maintenance of degraded vegetation in arid desert steppe. It is of great significance to study the responses of plant diversity and above-ground net primary productivity （ANPP） to precipitation changes during the restoration of degraded desert steppe ecosystems. Therefore， the research object was the herbage community in the Urat desert steppe in Inner Mongolia， which was drought-treated for 5 years （2017-2021） （control， rain reduction of 20%， 40% and 60%） and then restored for 2 years （2022 and 2023）. We measured species diversity， plant functional traits and ANPP during the restoration process， and studied the legacy effects of different drought intensities and the effects of growing season precipitation changes on the resilience of desert steppe plant communities， providing theoretical basis for ecological restoration of degraded desert steppe. The results showed that： （1） Two years after the drought ended， there was no significant difference in species richness for other treatments and density， plant functional traits and ANPP for all treatments， except that the species richness of 40% treatment was significantly lower than that of the control， indicating that the desert steppe had strong resilience. （2） During recovery， growing season precipitation has significant effects on vegetation restoration： restore 1 year （2022）， the growing season has relatively high， the leaf nitrogen content of 40% treatment was significantly greater than the control， meanwhile， the species richness， density， plant height， specific leaf area， leaf dry matter content， leaf thickness and ANPP for all treatments were not significantly different from the control. However， in the second year of restoration （2023）， the growing season drought significantly reduced the species richness， density， ANPP， SLA and LT， while the leaf carbon and nitrogen content was the opposite. （3） The structural equation model showed that during the restoration process， the change of growing season precipitation indirectly affected species richness and ANPP by influencing LT， and LT was an important factor affecting species richness and productivity during the restoration process. Arid desert steppe has a certain recovery ability after drought relief. The change of growing season precipitation determines the recovery of plant community diversity and productivity in arid desert steppe， and the increase of plants with thicker leaves can promote the recovery process of plant community after drought in arid desert steppe.

To investigate the dynamic characteristics of groundwater table depth （GTD） in different hydrological regions of arid oasis areas under the development of irrigated agriculture， the oasis area in the central part of Sangong River Basin in Xinjiang was selected as the target study region， and this oasis area was divided into three hydraulic units from south to north， i.e.， the alluvial fan oasis area （ADFO）， upper alluvial plain oasis area （APOU） and lower alluvial plain oasis area （APOL）. Using the GTD data of 9 long-term monitoring wells as well as irrigation agriculture development， hydrometeorological and regional socio-economic information from 1995 to 2016， the variation characteristics and influencing factors of GTD were analyzed based on a variety of powerful methods such as ensemble empirical mode decomposition， wavelet analysis and grey correlation degree， and a BP neural network model was developed to predict the change of GTD in the studied region under the future changing environment. We note that the interannual variations of GTD fluctuated greatly in the oasis area of Sangong River Basin， with a continuous downward trend during the past 22 years， especially in ADFO area with an average annual decline rate of 1.03 m. The change points of GTD for all wells were found to have occurred during 2006-2010， which represents the transition period of agricultural irrigation schemes from traditional flood irrigation to water-saving irrigation， and the GTD during the water-saving irrigation period （after 2012） was deeper than that the traditional flood irrigation period （before 2006） in each hydrological region， with an increase of ADFO （12.25-15.59 m） > APOU （5.30-8.23 m） > APOL （1.03-1.71 m）. The main influencing factors of GTD change in the basin are the cultivated land area， groundwater pumping and mountain annual runoff. The simulation and validation results indicate that the BP neural network model coupled with groundwater table depth in different hydrological regions has good modelling accuracy， and under the implementation of the policy of reducing water consumption by returning farmland from 2017 to 2036， the GTD in the ADFO， APOU and APOL will rise by 6.74 m， 2.55 m and 0.35 m， respectively. This study would provide directives for maintaining the sustainability of groundwater in oasis-desert systems in other similar endorheic watersheds.

Ghost dune is a kind of aeolian sand landform which is different from the traditional cumulated dune. It belongs to eroded dune and is a negative landform. This paper takes the fluvial ghost dune in the north of Jiayuguan City in Hexi Corridor as the research object. By comparing satellite images and field sedimentary profile data， this paper verifies and discusses its morphological characteristics， formation model， differences from the lava flow ghost dune and its environmental significance. The results show that： （1） The fluvial ghost dunes are mainly distributed near the mountain pass of the river channel， and most of them present a distribution pattern of approximately parallel arcs arranged at different intervals. The arcs have different lengths， and some of them are buried by the dunes and discontinuous， which is similar to the base of the lee slope of the barchan dune. （2） The fluvial ghost dune sedimentary profile can be divided into three layers： the clay layer composed of silty clay （with mud cracks）， the transition layer dominated by fine sand and extremely fine sand， and the eolian layer dominated by fine sand. The form， sedimentary profile and water accumulation on the leeward slope of the dune in the image all indicate that the fluvial ghost dune is formed by the fluvial water carrying sediment and burying the leeward slope of the dune. （3） The reasonable relationship between topography， dune direction and temporary river direction is the key factor for the formation of fluvial ghost dune， which is easier to form when the lee slope of barchan dune faces the direction of water flow. （4） Compared with lava flow ghost dunes， due to the low density， low viscosity and strong fluidity of the fluvial medium， it usually forms an incomplete ghost dune with a curved shape and is easy to be eroded by wind and vice versa. There are also more water flows than lava flows， which can form multi-stage fluvial ghost dunes.

China's desert area is critical for the current and future development of the photovoltaic sector. Combining the construction of photovoltaic power stations with ecological environment repair is an essential prerequisite for the development of the desert-based economy， which must be considered from the basic site selection planning stage. A more comprehensive consideration of environmental factors can help carry out targeted zoning planning for desert areas and implement precise and effective ecological construction work. This paper takes the Badain Jaran Desert and the surrounding desert area as the study area， and adds the environmental constraints affecting the later ecological construction on the basis of the original constraints on photovoltaic power plant siting. It divides the region into four first-level subdivisions according to the suitability for photovoltaic power station construction and further subdivides them into eight sub-zones based on elements such as topography and precipitation. It also puts forward the countermeasures for the ecological construction corresponding to each sub-zone. The ecological construction in areas with less than 50 mm of annual precipitation mainly focuses on the effectiveness of windbreaks and sand fixation， while areas with 50~200 mm of precipitation should have both windbreak and sand fixation as well as ecological restoration effectiveness. In the gobi region， attention should be paid to the protection of the gravel surface， and in the desert region， attention should be paid to the prevention and control of wind and sand hazards.

The development of energy and mineral resources often leads to varying degrees of pollution in the regional ecological environment. Evaluating the status and sources of heavy metal pollution in typical coal mining areas can provide valuable insights for soil pollution prevention and the construction of green mines. This study measured the concentrations of ten metal elements （As， Cd， Co， Cr， Cu， Mn， Ni， Pb， Zn， Fe） in water， vegetation and soil samples collected from typical coal mining areas and their surrounding regions in Hami. The spatial distribution and concentration levels of these metals were systematically analyzed using pollution indexes， the Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index， the Geo-accumulation Index and the Potential Ecological Risk Index. This study assessed the degree of heavy metal pollution and potential ecological risk in the soil of the typical coal mining area in the Hami. Multivariate analysis and the postive matrix factorization （PMF） model were used to identify potential pollution sources of soil heavy metal pollution. The results indicated that the enrichment of heavy metals varied across different mining areast. The pollution indexes and Nemerow Integrated Pollution Index revealed that As， Cu and Zn had the highest levels of enrichment in the study area. According to the Geo-accumulation Index， all the elements were generally at the unpolluted level. Additionally， our results implied that As， Co and Cu were the dominant contributors to ecological risk in the region， accounting for over 77% of the total cumulative risk. Multivariate analysis and the PMF model identified the primary sources of soil heavy metals as a mix of natural factors and transportation （34.57%）， industrial discharge （18.39%）， soil-forming parent materials （18.24%）， transportation （16.67%） and mining activities （12.13%）.

Classical aeolian geomorphology theory holds that each types of dune has individual wind regime and development environments， implying that different types of dunes should not coexist under nearly same wind regime. However， the coexistence of barchan and dome dunes has been observed on both Earth and Mars， contradicting traditional aeolian geomorphology theories， and the development environment and dynamics of such coexisting landforms are currently unclear. This study focuses on the area in the Qaidam Basin where barchan and dome dunes coexist， comprehensively analyzing the morphological characteristics， dynamic changes， and wind regime to explore the causes of their coexistence. The results indicate that the dune morphology in the coexisting areas of the Qaidam Basin is relatively small. Dome dunes are nearly circular or elliptical， while the barchans are characterized fat or short fat. The relationship between the annual migration rate and bottom area of barchan and dome dunes in the same region follows the same power function distribution， and the morphological changes of the dunes exhibit two patterns： evolution from dome dunes to barchan and transformation from barchan to dome dunes. The wind regime is characterized by a bidirectional wind with a distinct prevailing wind and a certain strength of secondary winds. There is a seasonal variation between 78°-95° in the direction of sand transport， and the seasonal variation in the main wind direction or sand transport direction provides the driving force for the coexistence of crescent and dome shaped sand dunes and the transformation of sand dune morphology.

Wind-blown sand disaster is the most important environmental problem faced by large-scale concentrated solar power plant in the gobi area. In order to find out the law of wind-blown sand movement in the gobi concentrated solar power plant， we carried out high-frequency wind-blown sand transport process and wind dynamic environment observation research in west Dunhuang gobi tower concentrated solar power plant. The observation results show that： （1） The construction of large concentrated solar power plant significantly reduces the wind speed near the surface， and the wind speed at the height of 0.5 m and 2 m from the surface decreases by 39.67% and 37.35%， respectively. The annual sand transport potential inside the power station is reduced by 93.62% compared with that outside the power station. （2） The surface sand accumulation results in the decrease of the sand driving wind speed in the power station and the increase of the sand transport rate in the near ground. The u_t of sand generating wind speed at 2 m height in the power station is 7.36 m·s^-1， which is 36.52%-63.2% lower than the general gobi surface. During the observation period， the sediment transport in the 0.05 m height range of the power station is 3.64 times that outside the power station. （3） The wind and sand transport in the power station is intermittent， but near continuous transport occurs in the period of strong dust， and the saltation intermittent parameter γ_ρ is up to 99%. （4） The sediment transport rate in and out of the power station decreases exponentially with the increase of height. The average saltation layer height z_q of the sand in the power station ranges in 0.1-0.35 m， and the average is 0.15 m， which is about 20% lower than the general gobi surface.

Desertification poses a severe challenge to the ecological environment of the Mu Us Desert. However， current desertification monitoring is subject to the limitations of strong subjectivity in visual interpretation and slow data updates. Therefore， there is an urgent needing to develop objective and rapid quantitative monitoring methods for desertification. With the emergence and development of remote sensing cloud computing， such as Google Earth Engine （GEE） not only provide multi-source remote sensing data but also has efficient computational performance， which creates conditions for rapid desertification monitoring. Therefore， based on the GEE platform and Landsat imagery， this study constructs an Albedo-NDVI feature space model for the Mu Us Desert from 2000 to 2022 and uses the Geographic Detector Model to quantitatively analyze the driving factors affecting desertification evolution. The conclusions are as follows： （1） The overall trend of desertification in the study area has improved， with an annual increase in the area of light desertification and non-desertification， and the area of recovery is larger than that of degradation. The spatial distribution shows obvious heterogeneity， with the northwestern area being more heavily desertified， and the southeastern area being lightly desertified and with a faster rate of reversal. （2） The evolution of desertification in the Mu Us Desert is the result of the combined action of multiple factors， among which precipitation and GDP factors have the highest explanatory power over the 22 years， with average q values of 0.078 and 0.105， respectively， which indicated that they are the main driving factors affecting desertification in the study area.

Dust is an active component in the earth's surface system， highly sensitive to global climate changes， and capable of influencing global radiation， energy balance， and material cycling through a series of feedbacks. In recent years， an increasing number of remote sensing products have been used to monitor sand and dust storms， such as Dust Aerosol Optical Depth （DOD）. However， quantitative characterization of the relationship between DOD and other remote sensing-derived sand and dust storms indexes with the intensity of sand and dust storms remains limited. This study utilizes sand and dust storms observation data from meteorological stations in northern China and data from the Annual Report on Dust Weather in China to statistically analyze the frequency of dust occurrence （FoO） in northern China and Mongolia from 2001 to 2007， verifying DOD as an indicator for frequency of dust occurrence. Based on these analyses， this study distinguishes sand and dust storms of different intensities in various regions based on DOD and FoO， thereby exploring the spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of sand and dust storms in the study area from 2001 to 2022. The results show that： （1） DOD increases with the intensity of sand and dust storms， from suspended dust to blowing sand and dust， sand and dust storms， and severe sand and dust storms， but DOD threshold values for distinguishing various types of sand and dust storms vary by region. It shows more distinct DOD thresholds in western study area for different dust intensities， with a lower threshold for suspended dust and blowing sand and dust （0.2） compared to central and eastern study area（0.4）. （2） High FoO areas were primarily located in Xinjiang， gobi and deserts in northern Inner Mongolia and southern Mongolia， and deserts in Qaidam Basin， where FoO is generally higher in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. （3） Over the past two decades， FoO has generally declined across northern China， especially in deserts and dune fields of north-central China and the Loess Plateau. In contrast， Mongolia shows a pattern of decreasing FoO in the southeast and increasing FoO in the southwest. （4） Changes in FoO in most areas strongly correlate with vegetation index， NDVI， and spring wind speed， reflecting that reduced near-surface wind speeds and increased vegetation， driven by climate change and extensive ecological restoration efforts， have suppressed dust activity in northern China.

Phenotypic plasticity is a crucial mechanism for plants to adapt to environmental changes. However， its spatial adaptation to large-scale desert photovoltaic power stations remains poorly understood. This study investigated the sand-fixing plants at different positions under and between the photovoltaic panels of large-scale photovoltaic power stations in the southeastern edge of Tengger Desert. It revealed the adaptation mechanisms of sand-fixing plants to photovoltaic power stations from the perspectives of morphology， biomass， and distribution. After implementing ecological restoration， the photovoltaic array significantly altered the individual phenotypes of sand-fixing plants. Plant height， root length， ground diameter， above-ground and below-groundbiomass were significantly reduced under panel compared with inter-panel spaces. There were also varying degrees of differences in inter-panel （lower） spaces. Photovoltaic panels are more conducive to the growth of sand-fixing plants. The root-shoot ratio （R/S） near the rain line of photovoltaic panels is significantly lower than that between them； this serves as an important mechanism for sand fixation plants to adapt to water and light resource redistribution within photovoltaic power stations while conforming to optimal allocation hypothesis. Photovoltaic arrays significantly changed the spatial distribution characteristics of plant communities； species richness， diversity， vegetation coverage， and density were all significantly reduced under PV panels compared with those between them. Photovoltaic arrays also influenced relationships between plant community characteristics and biomass as well as R/S； species richness and plant density regulated both biomass and distribution patterns in sand-fixing vegetation. By modifying environmental conditions such as light and microclimate， photovoltaic arrays exert a significant influence on the growth and R/S of sand-fixing plants. These research findings can serve as a crucial theoretical foundation for promoting sustainable development in large-scale desert photovoltaic power stations and facilitating scientific ecological restoration.

The rhizosphere microbial community significantly influences the growth and adaptation of halophytic plants in saline-alkaline soils. In this study， we selected three species of the genus Kalidium—Kalidium gracile， Kalidium foliatum， and Kalidium sinicum—whose fragmented/localized distributions are found within the Minqin Liangu Cheng National Nature Reserve. Using high-throughput sequencing technology， we analyzed the composition and diversity of the rhizosphere soil bacterial communities associated with these three species and investigated their environmental driving factors. The results showed that the soils in the distribution areas of all three species were classified as saline-alkaline. The distribution areas of K. foliatum and K. gracile primarily contained sulfates and chlorides， while the soil in the distribution area of K. sinicum was predominantly chloride. The dominant phyla in the rhizosphere soil samples of all three species were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota. Notably， the α-diversity index of the rhizosphere soil samples from K. gracile was significantly higher than those of the other two species. Additionally， the distribution of 11 key microbial biomarkers in the rhizosphere soils varied among the different species. A positive correlation was observed between the pH of the rhizosphere soil and bacterial diversity， while the abundance of Flavobacteriales exhibited a negative correlation with salt ion concentrations. The relative abundance of dominant bacteria in the rhizosphere soil communities across the three Kalidium species showed variation that was positively correlated with the total soil salinity and the concentrations of major salt ions. These findings suggest that changes in soil pH and ion concentrations are key factors contributing to the differences in the bacterial community structure of the rhizosphere soils associated with the three Kalidium species in the Minqin Liangu Cheng Nature Reserve， which， to some extent， influence the regional distribution of these halophytic plants.

Aeolian environment is an important research content to analyze the causes of railway sand disasters in sandy areas. In this paper， through field investigation， combined with the analysis of wind data， the characteristics of aeolian environment in dry Taitema Lake section of Golmud-Korla Railway are analyzed. The results show that： （1） The grain size composition of the surface sediments in the dry lake-basin is dominated by very fine sand and silt， accounting for 81.62% of the total particulate matter content. The soil salt content is above 10 g·kg^-1， and the shear strength is 477.19 ± 151.26 kPa. （2） In 2018， 2019 and 2022， the average wind speed at 10 m height is 5.19 m·s^-1， and the average annual sand-driving wind speed （at 10 m height， ≥9 m·s^-1） is 13.02 m·s^-1. The average annual sand-driving wind frequency is 12.66%， mainly in the NE direction， mainly concentrated in April to October. The average frequency of gale （≥ 17 m·s^-1） is 1.64%， accounting for 12.95% of the sand-driving wind. （3） The average annual sand drift potential （DP） can reach 872.4 VU， which belongs to the high wind energy area and narrow single peak wind condition. （4） In 2018， 2019 and 2022， the total sand transport quantity is 2.37 m³·m^-1， and the main directions for sand transport are NE and E. In extreme duststorm weather， the sand transport quantity is large， accounting for 7.1% of the annual sand transport quantity.

The Gonghe Basin is located in a sensitive area of climate change on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau， and is facing serious desertification threats due to extreme climate conditions and irrational human activities. In this study， we used MEDALUS model to evaluate the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of desertification sensitivity from 2000 to 2020 based on the climate quality index （CQI）， vegetation quality index （VQI）， soil quality index （SQI） and management quality index （MQI）， and then analyzed the driving mechanism of desertification sensitivity using Geodetector. The results showed： （1） The land desertification in the study area was mainly characterized by medium to high sensitivity， showing a spatial pattern of high sensitivity in the central region and low sensitivity in the surrounding areas. （2） From 2000 to 2020， the desertification sensitivity of the Gonghe Basin significantly decreased， and the land area with high and extremely high desertification sensitivity had markedly declined. （3） The influence of climate quality index and vegetation quality index on desertification sensitivity was higher than that of soil quality index and management quality index； the desertification sensitivity of Gonghe Basin was affected by both natural and human factors， and the interaction between vegetation quality index and management quality index was the dominant factor of desertification sensitivity.

The arid and semi-arid region in northern China is an important ecological security barrier and a key area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystem has important ecological and production functions， which profoundly affects the ecological environment and， social and economic development of the area. With the intensification of climate change and anthropogenic activities， the plants and soil in the arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystem have undergone significant changes. The responses of plant-soil to precipitation and ecosystem management measures in arid and semi-arid grassland in northern China were reviewed in this paper. The effects of precipitation increase and decrease， grazing， enclosure and nutrient addition on plant characteristics （diversity， functional traits， productivity， etc.） and soil properties （soil physicochemical properties and soil respiration， etc.） were clarified. The changes of grassland plants and soil under precipitation changes and different management measures in arid and semi-arid areas were described systematically. These understanding can provide reference for rational use of grassland resources， restoration of degraded ecosystems and desertification management. At the same time， it can deepen the understanding of the response of grassland ecosystem to climate change and anthropogenic activities， so as to predict the future evolution trend of grassland ecosystem more reliably， and provide reference materials for accurately assessing the risks faced by ecological construction in northern China. The research of ecosystem stability and multi-functionality in the process of desertification land management should be strengthened in the future.

Coral reef coasts are a common type of coast in our country， but widespread coastal erosion has led to severe damage to the growth environment of coral reefs in recent years. The erosion phenomenon at Dengloujiao Coast is also becoming increasingly serious， with large amounts of sandy mud being transported from the coast and accumulating in reef beds， affecting the habitat environment and growth of coral reefs. In this study， we use remote sensing image data and GIS analysis methods to interpret the erosion degree of Dengloujiao Coast from 2010 to 2020， and briefly analyze its causes and propose protective measures. The results show that： （1） The erosion area of Dengloujiao Coastline showed an increasing trend and reached its maximum in 2019-2020， with section II having a consistently large erosion area over the past decade， and the most severe erosion in section II occurred from 2015 to 2017. The erosion of Dengloujiao Coastline has been significant over the past decade， and the rate has accelerated. （2） Based on field investigations， it was found that coastal erosion at Dengloujiao is related to many factors. The sandy coastline serves as the material foundation for coastal erosion， while climate factors and rising sea levels are the fundamental causes. Coral reef death， stormy weather， and human activities exacerbate the rate of coastal erosion. Corresponding protective measures are proposed based on the varying degrees of coastal erosion to mitigate erosion hazards and ensure the safety of the Dengloujiao coastline， creating a suitable living environment for corals. These measures also serve as a reference for the prevention and control of erosion in sandy coral reef coasts.

Ecological stoichiometry is an important means of studying the dynamics of energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems， and is also one of the important fields of ecological research. This study focuses on the surface soil （0-20 cm） of Baidunzi Salt Marsh National Wetland Park in Jingtai， Gansu Province. Based on the distribution characteristics of 8 typical plant communities， 24 sample points were set up to collect soil samples and analyze the differences and correlations between the stoichiometric characteristics of soil organic carbon （SOC）， total nitrogen （TN）， total phosphorus （TP）， and total potassium （TK）. The aim is to reveal the soil ecological stoichiometry characteristics （SOC， TN， TP， TK， C/N， C/P， N/P， N/K） of Baidunzi Salt Marsh National Wetland Park and their relationship with community types and soil physicochemical factors， in order to provide theoretical basis and data support for the scientific management and ecological regulation of Baidunzi Salt Marsh National Wetland Park. The results showed that： （1） the average values of soil SOC， TN， TP， and TK in the study area were 8.20， 0.96， 0.21， 1.85 g·kg^-1， respectively； The mean values of stoichiometric ratios C/N， C/P， N/P， and N/K are 10.34， 52.96， 7.54， and 0.99， respectively； （2） There were significant differences （P<0.05） in the ecological stoichiometry of soil among different plant communities， with soil SOC content being highest in the Tamarix chinensis community and lowest in the Phragmites australis community； The soil TN content is the highest in the Salicornia europaea community， which is twice that of the Suaeda glauca community； The soil TP content in the Tamarix chinensis community is the highest， which is 4.50 times that of the Salicornia europaea community； The soil TK content in the Tamarix chinensis community is the highest， 8.8 times that of the Nitraria sibirica community； （3） There is a highly significant correlation （P<0.01） between soil SOC， TN， and TP content in the study area； （4） Redundancy analysis （RDA） shows that soil available phosphorus， pH， and aboveground biomass are important factors in explaining the variation of soil ecological stoichiometry characteristics， with a contribution rate of 68.1% to soil ecological stoichiometry characteristics. In summary， the soil SOC， TN， TP， and TK contents in the study area are lower than the average level of Chinese swamp wetland soil， indicating that the soil SOC， TN， TP， and TK contents in the study area are relatively scarce； There are significant differences in soil ecological stoichiometry among different plant communities， and soil available phosphorus， pH， and aboveground biomass are the main soil physicochemical factors affecting the soil ecological stoichiometry characteristics of Baidunzi Salt Marsh National Wetland Park； The soil N/P ratio was significantly lower than 14， indicating that soil TN content is the main factor limiting the growth of shrubs in wetland parks.

The coastline of China is intricate and complex， with sandy coastlines occupying a significant proportion. In recent years， research on aeolian sand control of sandy coasts has garnered widespread attention， which is of great importance for ensuring ecological safety， economic development， and social stability in coastal areas. This paper comprehensively reviews the research progress on aeolian sand control of sandy coasts in China， and analyzes the research findings over the years regarding the types and causes of coastal aeolian disaster， prevention and control measures， as well as resource utilization and protection. The research indicates that coastal aeolian disaster primarily manifest as erosion and accumulation， influenced by both natural factors and human activities. The integrated engineering for China's coastal Aeolian control combines diverse strategies of sand fixation， biological management， and rational resource utilization. By precisely observing and simulating the laws of wind and sand movement， it scientifically guides the formulation and implementation of protective measures. Currently， China's sandy coastlines face challenges in technical simulation， adaptability to specific environments， and stability of energy supply in sand and dust prevention and control efforts. In the future， it is necessary to deepen the exploration of the movement patterns of sand and dust in characteristic environments， optimize governance strategies， break through technological bottlenecks， and strengthen international cooperation to jointly address the challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels， contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global coastal ecological environment protection.

The source of dust has always been the focus of social attention， but the amount and contribution of dust between Mongolia and the China are not so clear. In this paper， typical dust monitoring product by remote sensing from 2019 to 2024 were used to establish the response relationship between dust flux， meteorological elements and sand sources， which considered the meteorological elements and surface condition corresponding to the mass of dust generated in the generation stage of dust weather. The trend of dust generation and intensity by the source are quickly evaluated by using model or real data. On this basis， the results by multi-temporal remote sensing are used to estimate the dust source， and the application effects of four typical dust processes were analyzed， as well as， the uncertainty of the model. The results showed that： （1） The scatter-point fitting of the monitoring data was verified with R²=0.84 and the mean absolute error （MAD）=25.2 kg·km^-2·min^-1. （2） The model could predict the impact of local dust release and provide quantitative assessment of the contribution from different dust sources， which could provide scientific basis for desertification control.

The spatial distribution pattern of sandy land is the result of long-term erosion， transport and accumulation by wind after the sediment sinks by the action of running water. To quantitatively assess the spatial distribution pattern of sandy land and analyze its change characteristics， we selected Gonghe Basin， located in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau， as the study area. Utilizing landuse data from 1980 to 2020， this study adopted the geographical barycenter model and introduced the Migration Intensity Model to calculate the barycenter and migration intensity of sandy land， enabling an analysis of change characteristics of spatial distribution pattern of sandy land in the Gonghe Basin. The main conclusions are as follows： The migration distance of sandy land in the Gonghe Basin decreases from northwest to southeast. The Shazhuyu River Basin has the greatest distance at 43.43 km， followed by the combined area of the Shazhuyu River Basin and the western Longyangxia Basin at 39.93 km. The area including the Shazhuyu River Basin， western， and eastern Longyangxia Basin has a smaller distance of 31.88 km， with the smallest distance of 5.74 km in the eastern Longyangxia Basin. The predominant migration direction of sandy land throughout the basin is toward the southeast （99.46°-126.80°）. The migration intensity in the basin decreases from northwest to southeast， with values of 0.83 in the Shazhuyu River Basin， 0.61 in the combined Shazhuyu River and western Longyangxia basins， 0.30 in the Shazhuyu River， western and eastern Longyangxia basins， and 0.15 in the eastern Longyangxia basin. The analysis reveals that the spatial distribution pattern of sandy land in the Gonghe Basin exhibits limited temporal variation， indicating a relative stability shaped by the long-term influence of regional environmental factors.

The rise of nitrogen nitrogen （N₂O） concentration has exacerbated global warming. In recent years， China has faced the phenomenon of severe expansion of grassland desertification， and the response to the study of grass soil N₂O of grassland soil is increasing. However， there is a lack of systematic studies on the changes in N₂O emissions from grassland soils due to anthropogenic disturbances in terms of soil physicochemical properties and microorganisms and environmental factors. Therefore， this paper reviews the response mechanisms of grassland soil N₂O emissions to different disturbance types. Results showed that： ammonium nitrogen （NH{}_{\mathrm{4}}^{+}-N） and nitric nitrogen （NO{}_{\mathrm{3}}^{-}-N） are substrates for soil microbial nitrogen and nitrification. Rather than reducing soluble organic matter （DOM） to restrict nitrifying microorganisms， suppression of functional denitrification genes and denitrification potentials， and eventually lead to a reduction in potential N₂O emissions of the soil. Cutting the soil temperature of the sandy grassland and reducing the activity of soil enzymes， inducing soil microorganisms and activity， inhibit the breathing of microorganisms， and affect the soil nitrogen cycle. The change of fire to the flux of soil N₂O is related to the intensity and duration of fire interference. Therefore， future research should further explore its internal mechanisms to provide theoretical support for grassland scientific management and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Graphene is a new type of carbon material. Its unique material properties enable it to effectively adsorb soil moisture and nutrient ions， which has a positive effect on soil improvement in arid areas. However， there are few studies on the application of graphene in arid areas. To investigate the effects of graphene on grass growth and soil nutrients in arid areas. Using Astragalus adsurgens， Elymus sibiricus， and Elymus dahuricus as materials， five addition levels of graphene were set （C₀：0 mg·L^-1， C₁：25 mg·L^-1， C₂：50 mg·L^-1， C₃：100 mg·L^-1， C₄：200 mg·L^-1）.Conduct seed germination experiments and pot experiments， and determine grass growth indicators and soil physicochemical properties.The results showed that： （1） The germination and growth of grass seeds with graphene addition showed promotion at concentrations of 25 and 50 mg·L^-1， and inhibition at a concentration of 200 mg·L^-1.Under C₁ treatment， the plant height and leaf length of Elymus sibiricus increased by 38.81% and 31.55%， respectively， compared to C₀ treatment （P<0.05）， under C₂ treatment， the total fresh weight of Astragalus adsurgens significantly increased by 51.94% （P<0.05） compared to C₀ treatment， while under C₄ treatment， the germination potential of Elymus dahuricus decreased by 45.46% compared to C₀ treatment. （2） Graphene can increase soil water content and regulate soil nutrients. Under C₄ treatment， the soil organic matter and total nitrogen content of Elymus sibiricus increased by 22.51% and 17.82% （P<0.05）， respectively， compared to C₀ treatment； The content of alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen and available potassium in the soil of Astragalus adsurgens increased by 52.56% and 14.99% （P<0.05） in C₄ treatment compared to C₀ treatment， respectively； The alkaline nitrogen and available phosphorus in the soil of Elymus dahuricus increased by 48.37% and 19.58% （P<0.05） in C₄ and C₁ treatments compared to C₀ treatments， respectively. （3） The optimal addition amounts of graphene for Astragalus adsurgens， Elymus sibiricus， and Elymus dahuricus are 50， 25， and 25 mg·L^-1， respectively. In general， the moderation of the graphene addition can promote grass growth and improve soil nutrient utilization efficiency， but high concentration graphene addition will have an inhibitory effect on grass growth.

Grasping the sustainability status and development trend of the human-land system is very important to promote the regional sustainability. In this study， Wushen Banner in the Mu Us Sandy Land， Zhenglan Banner in the Otindag Sandy Land， Naiman Banner in the Horqin Sandy Land were selected as study areas. This research constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system including four aspects of the intensity of human activity， the deterioration of resource-energy status， the degree of environmental pollution and the regulatory capability. The portfolio empowerment-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution and a triangular model were used to assess the sustainability level and development trend of the human-earth system during the period of 2000-2020. The results showed that： （1） It is evident that there is considerable spatial variation in the sustainability of human-land systems in the sandy areas of Inner Mongolia. However， the overall trend is one of improvement. （2） The characteristics of the subsystem changes indicate an overall fluctuating upward trend in the intensity of human activities in the study area from 2000 to 2020. This is evidenced by the fluctuating downward trend in the deterioration of the state of resources-energy and the degree of environmental pollution， as well as the ability to regulate and control the index， which showed an obvious upward trend. （3） From the perspective of overall sustainability， the Wushen banner demonstrated a notable shift from unsustainable practices to a more environmentally conscious approach， exhibiting a significant improvement in sustainability and ecological reflection from 2000 to 2020. Similarly， the Zhenglan and Naiman banners displayed a transition from unsustainable activities to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious path， with a notable advancement in sustainability and ecological reflection from 2000 to 2020. With the development of social economy and the increase of ecological governance， Sandy places in Inner Mongolia are actively exploring the road of green development. However， the balance between socio-economic development and resource and energy utilization， ecological and environmental protection is still facing challenges. In order to promote the sustainable development of the region， a differentiated management of the human-earth system is necessary for different dominant factors.

This study aims to investigate the effects of different plant community types on wind speed and sediment transport in the Ulan Buh desert area. Three typical vegetation communities with Haloxylon ammodendron， Zygophyllum xanthoxylum， Tetraena mongolica， and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus as the dominant species were selected for wind and sand dynamic observations. The research results show that the roughness coefficient Z₀ of vegetation communities is related to the vegetation coverage c， vegetation height h， and wind speed U_Z by the function Z₀=a₀ch+b₀U_Z +c₀ （where a₀>0 and b₀<0）. The sediment transport rate can be described by the exponential function model Q=exp（a₁ch+b₁v² +c₁）， where the wind speed v， vegetation factors， and sediment transport rate Q are related. Wind speed， as a key factor affecting roughness and sediment transport rate， is negatively correlated with roughness and positively correlated with sediment transport rate. Vegetation factors are positively correlated with roughness and negatively correlated with sediment transport rate. By establishing a multi-factor comprehensive relationship， it is possible to more accurately analyze the effects of plant community wind and sand movement， where the sediment transport rate changes with the influence factors in an exponential function manner. The coefficients of the fitting results and the contribution rates of the influencing factors can be used as quantitative indicators to evaluate the influence range of vegetation factors on roughness and sediment transport rate. In the Ulan Buh desert along the Yellow River， the Zygophyllum xanthoxylum+Tetraena mongolica community with a tight underlying surface structure has the most significant effects on roughness and sediment transport rate compared to other communities.

In recent decades， climate change and unsustainable water resource exploitation have disrupted the natural balance of inland lake ecosystems in China， leading to the shrinkage of lakes and the exposure of dry beds prone to wind erosion and salt-dust storms， which pose greater environmental risks than typical sandstorms. This study investigates the dry lakebed of Chahan Lake on the Bashang Plateau， a critical upwind area for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Through field observations， ground surveys， and sediment sampling， the spatial-temporal patterns of springtime aeolian activity and influencing factors were analyzed. Results show that aeolian activity decreases over spring due to weakening winds， increasing precipitation， and the formation and fragmentation of surface salt crusts. Early spring sees much stronger activity than late spring. A high-risk zone for salt-dust release， covering 10.27 km²， was identified in the southwestern lake center and a 0.72 km² sand accumulation area downwind， with maximum sand transport intensity reaching 88 336.60 g·m⁻¹·d⁻¹.

As a key taxon under the plantations in a desert-oasis ecotone， analyzing the spatial pattern of annual herbaceous species can help to reveal the structural characteristics of the community， and gain a deeper understanding of their ecological processes， intra and inter specific relationships， and Mechanism of environmental adaptation. In this study， we took three typical annual herbaceous species of the Agriophyllum squarrosum， Bassia dasyphylla and Halogeton arachnoideus under different plantation ages （5， 10， 20， 30 and 40 a） in a desert-oasis ecotone of the Hexi Corridor as the research objects， and analyzed the spatial pattern of the populations by point pattern analysis. The results showed that： （1） With the increase of the plantation ages of Haloxylon ammodendron plantations， the dominant species of annual herbaceous species under the plantation changed， from the 5-year-old community of Agriophyllum squarrosum-Bassia dasyphylla to the community of Bassia dasyphylla-Halogeton arachnoideus at 40 years. （2） With the increase of the plantation ages， the initial aggregation distribution of Agriophyllum squarrosum changed to random distribution. The initial aggregation distribution of Bassia dasyphylla changed from the initial aggregation distribution to the random distribution， and then from the random distribution to the aggregation distribution. The aggregation distribution of Halogeton arachnoideus changed from local scale to large-scale aggregation distribution. The uncorrelated scale of Agriophyllum squarrosum and Bassia dasyphylla gradually expanded with the increase of plantation ages， while the scale of the positive correlation between Bassia dasyphylla and Halogeton arachnoideus expanded. There was no spatial correlation between Agriophyllum squarrosum and Halogeton arachnoideus at all time and scales. （3） With the increase of plantation ages， the soil water content increased significantly， and the soil total nitrogen content decreased first and then increased， reaching the maximum value at 40 year-old. When the soil pH decreased， the electrical conductivity， Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ content changed consistently， and all of them increased significantly after 30 year-old. （4） In addition to the characteristics of annual herbaceous species， the environmental factors were mainly affected by the soil water content （2~5 cm）， Ca²⁺ and Na⁺， and were also restricted by the spatial correlation between different herbaceous plants. In general， the annual herbaceous species in a desert-oasis ecotone were mainly aggregated， and different populations were independent or mutually promoted.

Aeolian sand ripple is a wavy microtopography caused by wind on a sandy surface. Its morphological features are mostly governed by wind speed and particle size. However， few studies have investigated the influence of sand particle size distribution. As a result， the understanding of the elements influencing the morphology of sand ripples is incomplete， and the development of numerical simulation and other research methodologies is severely constrained. This research， which is based on wind tunnel experiments， sets up nine groups to observe the morphology of sand ripples at different particle size ratios. It utilizes Matlab software to extract the characteristic parameters of the sand ripples and examines their development process and saturation morphology. It is expected to provide experimental data and a comparative reference， supplementing the previous work. The following are the primary conclusions： （1） More than 30% of relatively fine sand can effectively promote the formation of sand ripples. The presence of relative coarse sand raises the upper limit of the sand ripple wavelength and sand ripple index. （2） The intervention of sand gradation parameters affects the complexity of the development process of sand ripples， so that the time to reach the stable saturation stage does not decrease linearly with the rise of wind speed. （3） The sand ripples created by the two- and three-size mixed sands become more intricate and inhomogeneous as the wind speed increases. The particle size ratio of fine sand to coarse sand is 1∶1， which allows for faster stability and better balance. In the group of equal ratio and double particle size， the particle size ratio of fine sand to medium sand = 1∶1 promotes the formation and growth of sand ripples. The sand ripple under non-equivalent double particle size conditions reveals that the windward slope has a shorter wavelength than the leeward slope. Under high wind speeds， the non-equal ratio double particle size and equal ratio three particle size groups can develop more effectively.

This study investigates the characteristics of macrozoobenthos community structure in the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin， as well as the distribution variability between the mainstem and tributaries. A total of 18 sampling sites on the main stream of the Yellow River and its tributary Taohe River in Gansu were investigated in July-August 2023 to study the composition and quantity of macrozoobenthos. Seventy-seven species of macrozoobenthos were collected， including 62 species of arthropods， 11 species of mollusks， and 4 species of annelids. The numbers of macrozoobenthos collected from the main stream and its tributaries were 32 and 66 species respectively， and there were 21 common species. Across the entire study area， the dominant species were Anisogammarus sp.， Radix ovata， and Radix auricularia. Significant spatial variability in macrozoobenthos was observed in the study area. The density of macrozoobenthos in tributaries was higher than that in the mainstem， while the biomass in tributaries was lower than in the mainstem.Functional feeding taxa analysis revealed that longitudinal transport capacity in the mainstem was zero， while the tributaries exhibited a more comprehensive range of parameters. Independent samples t-tests showed that the macrozoobenthos Margalef richness index was highly significant （P<0.01） between the mainstem and tributaries， indicating that macrozoobenthos richness was significantly higher in tributaries than in the mainstem. Pearson correlation analysis and redundancy analysis （RDA） demonstrated that among various environmental factors， dissolved oxygen （DO）， water temperature （WT）， total dissolved solids （TDS）， salinity， altitude， and pH had a greater impact on the distribution of benthic animals in both the main stream and tributaries of the Yellow River Basin.

Granule ripples are a type of small aeolian bedform， and airflow serves as the direct source of power for the initiation and transportation of sand particles， playing a crucial role in the morphological development. Owing to the challenges of landform scale and the constraints of available technology， there is currently a lack of accurate measurements regarding the airflow structure on the surface of these dunes. This study conducted field measurements of the morphology and surface airflow of typical granule ripples in the Sanlongsha area， analyzed the morphological characteristics and surface airflow structure， and preliminarily explored the feedback mechanism between airflow and terrain. The results indicate： （1） The granule ripples are generally aligned in parallel， featuring markedly asymmetrical slopes on both sides， with a wavelength and height measuring 3.37 m and 0.18 m， respectively， and a ripple Index （RI， wavelength/height） of 18.76. （2） On the windward slope， the airflow velocity gradually increases， the turbulence intensity decreases sequentially， the airflow direction deflects to the west， and at the crest， it is nearly perpendicular to the crest line； on the leeward slope， the wind speed is lower， the wind direction changes significantly， and the turbulence intensity is high， with airflow separation and the appearance of vortices. （3） Compared to the upper level （0.22 m）， the airflow on the windward slope accelerates more violently and deflects to a greater angle to the west at a closer distance near the ground （0.05 m）. （4） The larger the wavelength， the greater the wind speed at the crest， which helps to transport coarser particles to the crest， promoting the development of granule ripples and the formation of larger and higher ripples. This exploration of how morphology affects airflow structure and how airflow， in turn， reshapes the granule ripple morphology， helps to reveal the intrinsic mechanisms of granule ripple morphological dynamics and understand the formation and development process of transverse ridges on Mars.

Habitat quality was an important basis for human well-being and the realization of sustainable development. Based on the land use data in 2000， 2010 and 2020 of the Gonghe Basin， the InVEST was applied to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in habitat quality， and the PLUS model was used to predict the spatial pattern under different development scenarios in 2030， and to explore the driving factors of regional habitat quality. The results show that： （1） From 2000 to 2020， the main land use types in the Gonghe Basin were grassland and unused land， with an overall increase in grassland area and a significant decrease in unused land. The spatial distribution pattern was characterized as low in the central part and high around of habitat quality， with a trend of increasing and then decreasing over the past 20 years. （2） The habitat quality index under the natural growth， ecological protection， and urban expansion scenarios in 2030 was 0.5332， 0.5369， and 0.5309， respectively. Under the ecological protection scenario， the area of forest land and grasslands was larger， which was more conducive to the improvement of habitat quality in the study area. （3） Land use was the dominant factor of changes in habitat quality， followed by soil type and NDVI. The expansion of construction land was the main reason for the decline in regional habitat quality over the past 10 years. The results of the study can provide a scientific basis for the ecological protection and sustainable utilization of land resources in the Gonghe Basin.

Identification of detrital heavy minerals was carried out using a multiple-window grain size strategy range of 1-5 Φ wide on 73 aeolian sand samples （surface， subsurface， and shallow sections） from 51 sites in the core area of the Kumtagh Desert located in the north and south regions. The samples were consequently subjected to particle size analysis and density testing for certain specimens. The findings indicate that the dominant constituent of the shifting dune in the Kumtagh Desert is medium-fine sand， exhibiting an average sediment density of 2.63 g·cm^-3， approximately 30% of the dark particles comprise heavy components， primarily composed of rock debris and containing a minor proportion of heavy minerals. The number of mineral species， the contents of heavy components， quartz， carbonates， amphibole group， epinete group， stable heavy minerals and ferric metal minerals， as well as the mineral indices of Q/F， Q/（F+L）， ZTR and UM/SM in sediments exhibit an increase with decreasing particle size. Conversely， the content of rock debris， plagioclase， potassium feldspar， and the heavy mineral index GZi in light and heavy fractions exhibited respectively a decrease corresponding to the reduction in particle size. The 1-5 Φ detrites contain a total of 10 light minerals， predominantly quartz and plagioclase. Among the heavy minerals， there are 35 different types， with epidote， hornblende， and limonite being the most abundant， while garnet stands out as the characteristic mineral. The concentration of both light and heavy rock debris is significantly high. The sediment maturity in the study area is significantly low， with a slightly higher level observed in the northern part of the desert compared to the southern part. Both mineral characteristics and mineral indexes indicate that the sand in the northern region has undergone more intense weathering and sedimentary sorting than its counterpart in the south. The aeolian sand debris primarily originates from the Altyn Tagh， which is adjacent to the southern part of the desert. This sand can be considered as "turn into desert sand near the source" redeposited through wind-driven activation of ancient and modern alluvial and palaeo-lacustrine sediments.

As the core of traditional windbreak and sand fixation measures， artificial vegetation's minimum coverage is a key parameter for the design and construction of various desertification control projects. This paper utilizes the vegetation and biological soil crust coupling dynamics model established by previous researchers to calculate the minimum vegetation coverage under stable surface conditions. The main conclusions are as follows： First， this model can serve as a theoretical basis for plant sand fixation； second， in areas with high sand transport and low rainfall， there are two types of stable surfaces， where the minimum required vegetation coverage for fixing sand is 0.02-0.12； third， based on the average annual precipitation and sand transport potential， the Hexi Corridor region is divided into areas of natural recovery， plant sand fixation， and engineering sand fixation， in order to develop targeted sand control strategies that are suited to local conditions.

The Great Green Wall project （GGWP） has achieved remarkable accomplishments in combating desertification， effectively curbing ecological degradation and establishing an internationally leading “Chinese model.” The key to its success lies in China’s persistent and continually deepening science-based strategies for combating desertification. This paper systematically reviews and summarizes the transformative process and core connotations of scientific sand control in the GGWP. The main advances are reflected in three deepening aspects： （1） Conceptual deepening： Shifting from a struggle for survival to scientific concepts such as “harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature” and “greening according to water availability，” with an emphasis on systematic governance and sustainability. （2） Technological deepening： Technological innovation has played a vital role throughout， evolving from traditional methods to a new stage of “Technology-Driven Combating Desertification 2.0，” integrating remote sensing， big data， water-saving irrigation， superior germplasm， biological sand fixation， and intelligent equipment， thus increasing precision and efficiency. （3） Effectiveness deepening： Progressing from single-target ecological restoration to the coordinated improvement of ecological， economic， and social benefits， along with the establishment of a comprehensive scientific evaluation system. The scientific practices of combating desertification in the GGWP provide invaluable experience and Chinese wisdom for ecological restoration and sustainable development in arid and semi-arid regions， both in China and worldwide. This paper also offers targeted recommendations for building a greener， more ecological， more beautiful， and happier “Three Norths，” serving as a reference for policy-making.

In this study， we selected the loess-paleosoil sequence from Amiola-South profile in Maqu County to analyze its grain size， and combined with magnetic susceptibility and Rb/Sr， in an attempt to reveal the sedimentological and kinetic characteristics of typical profile sediments and their relationship with climate evolution. The results showed that： （1） The particle size was divided into five terminal components： EM1 is the fine particulate matter transported by suspension and the clay particles produced by soil formation； EM2 is the effect of wind on the transport of floodplain materials in warm and humid climates. EM3 is the sand carried by the westerly and East Asian winter winds； EM4 is coarse particulate matter transported from near-source areas by severe sandstorms or strong winter winds； and EM5 is the lakeside setting of the ancient Zoige lake. （2） In the area of Amiola Mountain， due to the retreat of the water of the ancient Zoige lake， the land was exposed around 15.5 ka BP and began to accept stable wind and dust accumulation， 15.5-8.5 ka BP was cold and dry， 8.5-3.0 ka BP turned warm and wet， and 3.0 ka BP turned dry and cold so far. Wavelet analysis shows that the East Asian monsoon has a main cycle of 5.6 ka and a sub-cycle cycle of 2.1 ka and 3.5 ka.

In southern piedmont of Langshan Mountain， shrub branch and soil of gobi Ammopiptanthus mongolicus community were collected in the growing season of two years， analyzed by stable oxygen isotope to clarify the inter-annual dynamics of water sources. The results showed that： In 2021， A. mongolicus， Nitraria sphaerocarpa and Convolvulus tragacanthoides mainly used shallow and deep soil water after heavy rain in spring. During the drought event within summer， the first two shrubs mainly used deep soil water， whereas the latter shrub mainly used shallow and deep soil water. Three shrubs increasingly used shallow soil water in autumn. In 2022， A. mongolicus and Caragana korshinskii mainly used deep soil water in drought spring and autumn. Three shrubs mainly used shallow and deep soil water after heavy rain in summer. C. tragacanthoides mainly used shallow and deep soil water in spring， but it mainly used deep soil water in autumn. There was less rainfall in the growing seasons in 2021， A. mongolicus used more deep soil water. However， there was more rainfall in 2022， C. tragacanthoides used more shallow soil water. Both of N. sphaerocarpa and C. korshinskii competed deep soil water with A. mongolicus. Thus， there was inter-annual variation and inter-specific competition of water source in gobi A. mongolicus community.

The developmental characteristics and regularity of Phragmites australis populations are significantly influenced by environmental changes in desert oases， resulting in unique stoichiometric characteristics of silicon （Si） and nitrogen （N）. This article takes five types of P. australis landscape habitats （sand dune， desert steppe， interdune lowland， saline grassland， and wetland） in the desert oasis of the Hexi Corridor as the research objects to explore the stoichiometry and homeostasis characteristics of Si and N in P. australis. The results indicated that there were significant differences in soil Si content and Si/N， as well as Si and N content and Si/N in different growth stages and organs of P. australis. P. australis Si （SiO₂） and soil Si （SiO₂） contents were both high， but soil available Si （H₄SiO₄） content was low， resulting in relatively low Si/N of P. australis， and the growth of P. australis was limited by Si. There were significant positive correlations between Si and N content， Si/N and soil Si， N content， Si/N， as well as groundwater depth， and no correlation was observed with groundwater Si， N content， and Si/N in the five habitats， and there was a certain degree of synergy and stability in the coupling effect of Si and N nutrients in P. australis. Si， N， and Si/N of reed in different habitats had high homeostasis， and the homeostasis of Si/N in P. australis was higher than that of the element itself （HI_Si/N>HI_Si>HI_N>4）. Compared with Si and N nutrition， Si/N in P. australis was less affected by the external environment， and the growth process of P. australis regulated the nutrient supply according to a certain Si and N absorption ratio.

The research on vegetation abrupt changes and their driving factors in arid regions and along aridity gradients is still insufficient. Studying vegetation abrupt changes and their influencing factors is of significant importance for the scientific formulation of dryland ecosystem management policies. This study uses the enhanced vegetation index （EVI） sequence data of China from 2000 to 2020 to detect vegetation abrupt changes by employing a multi-model trajectory diagnosis method. The direction of vegetation abrupt changes is determined based on threshold parameters， and attribution analysis is conducted using the partial least squares structural equation modeling （PLS-SEM）. The results indicate that 21.99% of the vegetation in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China experienced abrupt changes， with 78.28% being positive and 21.72% negative. The highest rates of positive abrupt changes were observed in hyper-arid and arid zones， while the highest rate of negative abrupt changes was found in semi-humid zones. Population footprint and precipitation were identified as the primary driving factors for both positive and negative vegetation abrupt changes. The main factors contributing to vegetation abrupt changes in semi-humid， semi-arid， and arid to hyper-arid zones are temperature， precipitation， and human activities， respectively. As the aridity gradient increases， the contribution of population footprint to abrupt changes significantly rises， while the contribution of precipitation shows an initial increase followed by a decrease.

Checkboard sand barriers are currently the most widely used measure for wind and sand protection， and the specifications of the sand barriers directly determine their protective effectiveness. Through systematic wind tunnel experiments， this study obtained wind speed data for plant fiber net sand barriers with different specifications at various heights and positions， and analyzed their flow field structure， wind speed profiles， and windbreak efficiency. The results indicate： （1） Sand barriers with different specifications exhibit similar flow field structures， and could be functionally divided into four parts： a pre-barrier deceleration zone， an obstacle-encountered lift zone， a flow concentration and acceleration zone， and an internal vortex deceleration zone within the sand barriers. （2） For the same specification of sand barriers， wind speed profiles vary at different positions. Far upstream from the sand barriers， the wind speed profiles exhibit logarithmic changes. As approaching the sand barriers， the wind speed profiles begin to deviate from logarithmic distribution， particularly between two sand barriers， the wind speed profiles show irregular changes. （3） As the height of the sand barriers increases， the windbreak efficiency also shows a certain increasing trend. Sand barriers with height-to-spacing ratios of 0.25 and 0.1 exhibit relatively high windbreak efficiency， while those with a height-to-spacing ratio of 0.05 have less ideal windbreak efficiency. The above research findings can provide a reference for the scientific configuration of sand barriers in windbreak and sand-fixation practices.

The grain size characteristics are the basis for the study of granule ripple systems and the prerequisite for a deeper understanding of their morphological and developmental processes. In this paper， the grain size characteristics of granule ripple sediments in Dunhuang Yardang， Sanlongsha and Xinjiang Tokexun areas were analysed through large-sample survey and indoor experiments. The results indicate that granule ripples are primarily distributed in four small-scale terrain types： the gobi undulating terrain， yardang corridors， terraces （yardang terrace and foothill denudation terrace）， and dune windward slopes. The regularity of crest surface grain size characteristic parameters can be observed. The larger the mean grain size， the greater the degree of separation， the more symmetrical the grain size frequency distribution curve， and the broader and flatter the peaks. In contrast to the previous understanding that the ripple crests were the coarsest and the ripple troughs the finest， the present study indicates that this is not the case. Our findings indicate that the surface grain size reaches its coarsest at the windward slope in close proximity to the crest position， and its finest at the leeward slope in close proximity to the trough position. Furthermore， the grain size characteristics of similar laminae in the mixed layer of the profile is found to be similar， and exhibit a trend whereby the grain size becomes finer with the deepening of the laminae.