Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 926-936.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.06.08

• Land and Water Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Land graveling characteristics and monitoring indicators of the Alxa Plateau

WEN Wenjie1,2(),PEI Hao1,3(),BA Gen1,4,WU Yongjun1,5,LIU Zhiming1,6   

  1. 1. Inner Mongolia Desert Ecological Meteorological Center, Hohhot 010051, Inner Mongolia, China
    2. Inner Mongolia Ecological and Agricultural Meteorological Center, Hohhot 010051, Inner Mongolia, China
    3. Inner Mongolia Meteorological Bureau, Hohhot 010051, Inner Mongolia, China
    4. Alxa League Meteorological Bureau, Alxa League 750306, Inner Mongolia, China
    5. Dongwuzhumuqin Banner Meteorological Bureau, Xilin Gol 026300, Inner Mongolia, China
    6. Siziwang Banner Meteorological Bureau, Ulanqab 011899, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2022-11-21 Revised:2023-02-16 Online:2023-06-15 Published:2023-06-21

Abstract:

Foundation data from which to develop indicators to monitor and evaluate the graveling land of the Alxa Plateau is required. To address this, the characteristics of surface gravel coverage (Gc), surface gravel mass per unit area (Gm), gravel mass content in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil depths [Gmc (0-5 cm), Gmc (5-10 cm)], and their relationships in the land graveling areas of the Alxa Plateau were assessed and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, Duncan multiple comparisons, univariate linear regression, and correlation analysis. The average total Gc was 39.49% and the average total Gm was 3544.04 g·m-2. The Gc and Gm values at 4-8 and 8-16 mm were significantly higher when compared with the other particle sizes (P < 0.05). The coefficients of variation for Gc and Gm with a particle size of 4-8 mm were the smallest and most stable. The spatial distribution patterns of the Gc and Gm showed gradual increases from east to west and south to north. Different particle sizes (total) of the Gm and Gc showed extremely significant linear regression (P < 0.01 ), Gm could also be a good evaluation of the land graveling level. According to the classification threshold at the graveling level for Gc, the corresponding classification for Gm was determined. Except for the 2-4 mm and > 32 mm particles, the correlations between particle sizes in the Gc, Gm, and Gmc in the 0-5 cm soil layer were significantly greater when compared with the 5-10 cm soil layer, and the correlations between total Gc, Gm, and Gmc in the 0-5 cm soil layer were significantly greater when compared with the 5-10 cm soil layer. A surface gravel coverage threshold of 25% was determined for the Gobi, which is a graveling land type. The results of this study provide indicator data on which to base the monitoring and assessment of graveling land in the Alxa Plateau and other regions.

Key words: land graveling, gravel coverage, surface gravel mass per unit area, gravel mass content, Alxa Plateau