Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Zhi Zhou ¹, Ying Huang ², Li Zhao ¹, Anqiang Jia ³

Affiliations
1 College of Land Resources, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, 071001, CN
2 Economics and Management, Wuhan University of Engineering Science, Wuhan, 430200, CN
3 Department of Engineering Technology and Surveying Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, US

Abstract

The types and quality of services are provided to humans by ecosystems vary widely across the earth's landscapes. As human population increases, people are placing increasing importance on ecosystem services and the topic has moved to the forefront of human concerns. This paper analyses regional differences in the functioning of ecosystem services related to land-and-water resources based on panel data collected in 2011 and establishes an index system that can be used to evaluate the functioning of ecosystem services. Furthermore, 31 regions were clustered and compared using an evaluation matrix that considers the current level and pace of economic development in those regions. First, results show that a certain level of spatial heterogeneity exists among the ecosystem services provided by land-and-water resources in different regions of China; this heterogeneity is closely connected with the current conditions and speed of economic development. Second, the services provided by ecosystems appear to function and perform better in north, east and northeast China, in areas with stronger economic development, but a limited history of past development. Finally, ecosystem services perform poorly in north China, south China, Tibet, and northwest and southwest China in areas that exhibit different speeds of economic development.

Keywords

Comprehensive Evaluation, Ecosystem Service Function, Spatial Heterogeneity, Land-and-Water Resources.

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Guijun Zhang ¹, Congli Wang ², Hongyan Yang ³, Zhi Zhou ¹, Yigong Zhang ², Li Zhao ¹

Affiliations
1 College of Land and Resources, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei, 071001, CN
2 College of Resources and Environmental, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei, 071001, CN
3 Land Resources Bureau of Shijiazhuang City, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050051, CN

Abstract

Given the increasing pressure imposed by the social economy upon land supply, the improvement and utilization of saline-alkali soil has been included in the development and remediation plans of land resources. However, coastal saline-alkali land cannot be easily improved because of its simple ecosystem structure, weak ecological environment, and exposure to tide invasion. In order to explore viable improvements and sustainable utilization methods as well as to improve the ecological environment quality and utilization efficiency of coastal saline-alkali land, this study performed field experiments on coastal saline-alkali soil by growing plants in the state-owned Zhongjie Friendship Farm in Huanghua City. In the experiments, salt-tolerant plants were planted in a field without any organic fertilizer and soil conditioner, and their survival rates, growth amounts, and states were subsequently analysed. Twelve plant species with certain salt tolerances were selected. The experimental results demonstrate that Lagerstroemia indica L., Rhus typhina Nutt and Lycium chinense (leaf use) grow well in the field as well as show high adaptability and the highest survival rates (100%) among all selected species. Fraxinus americana (fast-growing), Ligustrum vicaryi and Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm have survival rates of over 85%, while Buxus megistophylla, R. typhina Nutt, Hibiscus syriacus Linn., Parthenocissus semicordata (Wall.) Planch., and Fraxinus chinensis Roxb. have high survival rates ranging from 67.5% to 70%. The experimental results also reveal that the adaptability of salt-tolerant plants to coastal saline-alkali soil is higher than their transformation ability. Root growth also has a certain effect on the improvement of soil fertility. This study provides references for the treatment and sustainable utilization of saline-alkali land in a coastal area with moderate salinization.

Keywords

Saline-Alkali Soil, Coastal Area, Salt-Tolerant Plants, Huanghua City.

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