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Centaurea melitensis L., known commonly as Malta thistle, is an aggressive and invasive weed species native to the Mediterranean region. This species now occupies a diverse range of ecosystems and climate types across the globe, including the semi‐arid zone of New South Wales, Australia. This semi‐arid climate differs dramatically from its native Mediterranean climate, therefore, we aimed to identify if local adaptations in the seed ecology for C. melitensis have developed. Seeds were collected from mature C. melitensis at Nanya Station, located within the Scotia region of NSW, and then transported to Federation University Australia, Mt. Helen, Victoria. Under laboratory conditions, mature seeds were tested for their germination responses to temperature (17/7, 25/15, 30/20, 35/25°C), photoperiod (12 h light and 12 h dark [L/D], 24 h dark [D]), salinity (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 mM), osmotic potential (0, −0.1, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, and −0.8 MPa), and pH (5, 6, 6.2, 7, 8, 9, and 10). The seeds achieved 100% germination in the 17/7°C treatment, with light not being a limiting factor. The seeds exposed to the 25/15°C (D) and 30/20°C (D) treatments also maintained high germination percentage, whilst germination was significantly reduced in the 35/25°C (D) treatment. The L/D photoperiod maintained a 77.5% germination rate at 35/25°C. Whilst increased salinity reduced seed germination from 97.5% in the control to 6% at 250 mM, this species nevertheless demonstrated resistance to osmotic stress with 23% germination observed at 0.8 MPa. Germination exceeded 90% at all of the soil pH treatments, although mean germination time was significantly reduced when seeds were treated with a solution of pH 10. Our results demonstrate that the C. melitensis seeds collected in Australia's semi‐arid zone demonstrated high germination plasticity and are capable of competitive germination in warmer and drier conditions compared to its native Mediterranean climate. Therefore, management efforts that prioritise restricting the spread of C. melitensis seeds into new environments, for example through practising correct sanitation protocols, coupled with the early detection and control of emerging populations will be critical for C. melitensis management in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing and mapping the geographical variation of soil properties is essential for precision agriculture to maintain the sustainability of the soil and plants. This study was conducted in El-Ismaillia Governorate in Egypt (arid zones), to establish site-specific management zones utilizing certain soil parameters in the study area. The goal of the study is to map out the variability of some soil properties. One hundred georeferenced soil profiles were gathered from the study area using a standard grid pattern of 400 × 400 m. Soil parameters such as pH, soil salinity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), gravel, and soil-available micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) were determined. After the data were normalized, the soil characteristics were described and their geographical variability distribution was shown using classical and geostatistical statistics. The geographic variation of soil properties was analyzed using semivariogram models, and the associated maps were generated using the ordinary co-Kriging technique. The findings showed notable differences in soil properties across the study area. Statistical analysis of soil chemical properties showed that soil EC and pH have the highest and lowest coefficient of variation (CV), with a CV of 110.05 and 4.80%, respectively. At the same time Cu and Fe had the highest and lowest CV among the soil micronutrients, with a CV of 171.43 and 71.43%, respectively. Regarding the physical properties, clay and sand were the highest and lowest CV, with a CV of 177.01 and 9.97%, respectively. Moreover, the finest models for the examined soil attributes were determined to be exponential, spherical, K-Bessel, and Gaussian semivariogram models. The selected semivariogram models are the most suitable for mapping and estimating the spatial distribution surfaces of the investigated soil parameters, as indicated by the cross-validation findings. The results demonstrated that while Fe, Cu, Zn, gravel, silt, and sand suggested a weak spatial dependence, the soil variables under investigation had a moderate spatial dependence. The findings showed that there are three site- specific management zones in the investigated area. SSMZs were classified into three zones, namely high management zone (I) with an area 123.32 ha (7.09%), moderate management zone (II) with an area 1365.61ha (78.49%), and low management zone (III) with an area 250.8162 ha (14.42%). The majority of the researched area is included in the second site zone, which represents regions with low productivity. Decision-makers can identify locations with the finest, moderate, and poorest soil quality by using the spatial distribution maps that are produced, which can also help in understanding how each feature influences plant development. The results showed that geostatistical analysis is a reliable method for evaluating and forecasting the spatial correlations between soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global climate change intensifies, arid land ecosystems face increasing challenges. Vegetation, a key indicator of climate variation, is highly responsive to meteorological factors such as temperature (Tem), precipitation (Pre), and soil moisture (SM). Understanding how fractional vegetation cover (FVC) responds to climate change in arid regions is critical for mitigating its impacts. This study utilizes MOD13Q1-NDVI data from 2000 to 2022, alongside corresponding Tem, Pre, and SM data, to explore the dynamics and underlying mechanisms of SM and FVC in the context of climate change. The results reveal that both climate change and human activities exacerbate vegetation degradation, underscoring its vulnerability. A strong correlation between FVC and both Tem and Pre suggests that these factors significantly influence FVC variability. In conclusion, FVC in the lower reaches of the Heihe River is shaped by a complex interplay of Tem, Pre, SM, and human activities. The findings provide a scientific basis and decision-making support for ecological conservation and water resource management in the lower reaches of the Heihe River, aiding in the development of more effective strategies to address future climate challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) plays a key role in ecological and environmental status assessment because it directly reflects the extent of vegetation cover and its status, yet vegetation is an important component of ecosystems. FVC estimation methods have evolved from traditional manual interpretation to advanced remote sensing technologies, such as satellite data analysis and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image processing. Extraction methods based on high-resolution UAV data are being increasingly studied in the fields of ecology and remote sensing. However, research on UAV-based FVC extraction against the backdrop of the high soil reflectance in arid regions remains scarce. In this paper, based on 12 UAV visible light images in differentiated scenarios in the Ebinur Lake basin, Xinjiang, China, various methods are used for high-precision FVC estimation: Otsu's thresholding method combined with 12 Visible Vegetation Indices (abbreviated as Otsu-VVIs) (excess green index, excess red index, excess red minus green index, normalized green–red difference index, normalized green–blue difference index, red–green ratio index, color index of vegetation extraction, visible-band-modified soil-adjusted vegetation index, excess green minus red index, modified green–red vegetation index, red–green–blue vegetation index, visible-band difference vegetation index), color space method (red, green, blue, hue, saturation, value, lightness, 'a' (Green–Red component), and 'b' (Blue–Yellow component)), linear mixing model (LMM), and two machine learning algorithms (a support vector machine and a neural network). The results show that the following methods exhibit high accuracy in FVC extraction across differentiated scenarios: Otsu–CIVE, color space method ('a': Green–Red component), LMM, and SVM (Accuracy > 0.75, Precision > 0.8, kappa coefficient > 0.6). Nonetheless, higher scene complexity and image entropy reduce the applicability of precise FVC extraction methods. This study facilitates accurate, efficient extraction of vegetation information in differentiated scenarios within arid and semiarid regions, providing key technical references for FVC estimation in similar arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the nuclear industry in the countries of the Arabian Gulf demands an investigation of its potential impact on the environment and human activities. It should involve routine monitoring of radionuclide from existing nuclear facilities as well as modelling of accidental release of radioactivity. Agriculture is usually considered the human activity which is the most endangered with radioactive pollution. Although the traditional concept of low-developed agriculture in the United Arab Emirates has been already described from a radioecological point of view, herein, the recent trends of agriculture are recorded. Due to climatic changes and population increase, the use of saline lands will be more pressing. Apart from it, the risk assessment for nuclear events, which was formed mainly for temperate zones, neglected another aspect of arid zones which is underground water reservoirs refilled with episodic heavy rains. The sandy or saline soils are not an effective barrier for the migration of radionuclide deposited in topsoil. A hypersaline environment could prevent the adsorption of radionuclide on soil particles and allow their high bioavailability for halophyte plants. The new principal challenges in radioecological research in arid zones are impacts on (i) saline agriculture, (ii) underground water reservoirs, and (iii) proposal for countermeasures in order to minimise the impact of radioactive contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the well-known potential of agroforestry systems to sustain livelihoods and ecosystem services, their targeted adoption in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa is low. To address this, we used questionnaires with 279 farmers to understand their socio-economic characteristics determining the adoption of agroforestry technologies and to record the preferred tree species in the Koulikoro region of Mali and West-Central region of Burkina Faso. The result of a binary logistic regression showed that income, off farm activities, average number of owned sheep, cooperative membership, forage security, and maintained trees and shrubs fostered the adoption of agroforestry technologies. Contrarily, the adoption of agroforestry technologies was negatively influenced by household size and crop yield. Our data show that agroforestry parklands are the most popular agroforestry technology. The most common agroforestry tree species in the study region was Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. The dominance of V. paradoxa within these parklands may be partly explained by the tree's adaptation to severe drought and fire hazards, which are common to the study region. The study also revealed that smallholder farmers in Mali maintained trees on farms mainly for food security, whereas in Burkina Faso trees were mainly kept for maintaining soil fertility. We conclude that in all initiatives aimed at promoting the adoption of agroforestry in the study region, efforts should be made to consider farmers' socioeconomic characteristics, tree preferences, and perceptions (as identified in this study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological and environmental problems of arid zones have become an urgent global concern. Current research on ecological risk is based mainly on the dominant functions of land use, with a primary focus on land use landscape projections and less consideration of potential risks to ecosystems, system resilience and interactions between nature and future sustainable development. In this study, a potential–connectivity–resilience ecological risk assessment model based on the SDGs was constructed using multisource data to spatially quantify indicators at the grid scale in the Turpan and Hami regions of Xinjiang, China. This model was used as a basis for studying ecological risk in arid zones from a production–living–ecological space (PLES) perspective. The results revealed that, during the period 2000–2020, PLESs in the Turpan and Hami regions presented significant spatial similarity, with an increasing trend in overall risk. The production space in the Turpan and Hami regions showed a parabolic trend of increasing and then decreasing, whereas the living space and ecological space in the Hami region showed continuous linear upward trends. The state of ecological security in the Turpan and Hami regions is gradually deteriorating, and comprehensive ecological protection and restoration measures are urgently needed to rationally allocate the structure and layout of the production-–living-–ecological space. The study of ecological risk from a PLES perspective not only helps in fully understanding the development trend of the arid zone; it also provides new ideas and methods for evaluating regional ecological environmental safety and scientific references for formulating regional sustainable development, ecological risk prevention and control and the rational allocation of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violation of nomadic forms of pasture use leads to vegetation degradation, periodic large-scale outbreaks of deflation and desertification, and transformation of the physicochemical properties of sandy soils in the arid zone. Practice has shown that an effective means of restoring their production potential is the creation of multi-tiered vegetation cover—forest and pasture lands. The purpose of this study is to assess the current state, feed productivity, attractiveness, and sustainability of forest pastures and to develop proposals for their optimization. This research was carried out through a comprehensive study of natural objects on temporary trial plots using standard methods of agroforestry, geobotanical and soil research, and statistical data processing. It has been established that on the thick blown sands of the Nogai steppe in forest pastures with a tree layer of Robiniapseudoacacia and Ulmuspumila, the forage yield increases to 2–3 t/ha (in terms of hay) and, depending on the seasons of the year, is 1.5–3.5 times higher than that on natural pastures. On the fine sands of the Black Lands, there are forest pastures formed by plantings of Krascheninnikovia ceratoides and Calligonum aphyllum. At the age of 30–40 years, they produce 1.5–3 t/ha of dry food, which is 1.4–2 times higher than in the surrounding steppe. On weakly and unwinnowed sands of the Astrakhan Trans-Volga region, in 20- to 60-year-old forest–pastures with protective fodder plantings of Haloxylon aphyllum, C. aphyllum, and K. ceratoides, the consumed mass of shrubs is 0.1–4 t/ha, while the grass stand is 0.3–1 t/ha, which is 20% more than in the open steppe. Pastures with tree and shrub layers attract animals and are more resistant to deflation. The functional durability of silvopastures depends on the technology of their creation, maintenance, and operation regime. The most important measures are fire protection and rationing of the pasture load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Karoo region of South Africa, which includes the Succulent and Nama Karoo biomes, supports a unique avian fauna, with ten bird species occurring exclusively in this arid-zone region and many others exhibiting a strong preference for this habitat. To better determine the conservation status of these birds, we conducted point counts to estimate population densities of bird species occurring in the South African Karoo region in 2017 and 2018. We also used data of the South African Bird Atlas Projects (SABAP2) to estimate the species' ranges and to determine population trends. Although the population densities are naturally low for most species, their ranges are very large, and reporting-rate trends appear stable for most species. Our analysis reveals that none of the Karoo bird species are currently of serious conservation concern. However, the Red Lark Calendulauda burra and Sclater's Lark Spizocorys sclateri should be considered regionally Near Threatened as they are habitat specialists with inferred declining populations and are not currently protected within any designated conservation areas. Given the rapid transformation of landscapes linked to mining and alternative energy developments currently underway in the Karoo, combined with the poor representation of bird species in protected areas, it is imperative that special attention be paid to the conservation of bird species endemic to the Karoo, and that appropriate mitigation measures be taken by developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep farming in arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria is confronted with large fluctuations in the availability of fodder, which is all the more restrictive for pregnant ewes whose needs are at a maximum and constitute a major obstacle to the development of this sector. This study aims to evaluate the influence of the physiological stage on the energy, nitrogen and mineral status of Ouled-Djellal ewes living in arid zones (Biskra), by determining the plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, urea and calcium. Blood samples were taken from 40 ewes divided into two groups according to their physiological stage (pregnant and empty). The obtained results showed that the physiological stage had a significant influence only on blood glucose, being higher in empty sheep than in pregnant sheep (P

Background. The issue of the use of hydrophilic polymers in forestry in the arid conditions of the Volgograd region has been little studied and remains very relevant. The changing natural and climatic conditions of the region require careful selection of an assortment of tree and shrub species and preparations that improve their growth, development and resistance to environmental factors. Purpose. Study of the influence of polymer materials on the species of hanging birch (Betula pendula Roth.), branched tamarix (Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.), black poplar (Populus nigra L.) in arid conditions. Materials and methods. The effect of three forms of Hydrosous polyacrylamide (HS) was studied: granular in doses 0, 30, 60, 120, 480, 960, 1920 kg/ha, powdered at a dose of 480 kg /ha, saturated with macro- and micro-fertilizers at a dose of 480 kg/ ha on birch and tamarix with the use of fine-drip irrigation, the distance between the centers of the seed rows are 40 cm . The seeding rate of class 1 seeds was 7 g/1 m of the seeding groove. The experiment also included options with mulching birch crops with sawdust 1-2 mm thick, peat 1-2 mm and straw 2-3 cm. In the variant of the experiment with black poplar, sowing seeds in a hydrogel suspension, sowing seeds in water, sowing seeds with dry hydrogel granules, sowing dry seeds (control) were used. Freshly harvested seeds, stirring periodically, were germinated for 36 hours in a hydrogel suspension and an aqueous medium. 5 kg of hydrogel polymer, 100 kg of peat, 10 m3 of water and 40 kg of seeds were used for the preparation of the hydrogel suspension, 0.5 polymer, 10 g of humus and 4 g of seeds were added per 1 ha or 1 liter of water. Results. According to the results of the experiment, birch seedlings grew and developed better in the variant with the introduction of a granular polymer of 960 kg / ha – the diameter of the root neck was 4.8 mm, when the polymer was applied at a dose of 1600 kg / ha, the first shoots after sowing appeared after 14 days. When taking soil samples in tamarix crops, its moisture content was 25.8% in the experiment variant with a polymer dosage of 1600 kg/ha, the best density was observed in the experiment variant with a polymer dosage of 3200 kg/ha. The size and yield of 2-year-old tamarix seedlings when hydrophilic polymers were introduced into the soil turned out to be better in the experiment variant with a dose of 1600 kg/ha. The black poplar showed the best growth results in the variant of sowing in a suspension of hydrogels, the linear growth of seedlings in height was 9.6 cm. Conclusions. Sowing germinated seeds of black poplar (Populus nigra L.) in a liquid medium in the presence of hydrogels and fertilizers allows to increase seed germination, reduce the time of emergence of mass seedlings, accelerate growth rates, improve the quality of seedlings. Polyacrylamide Hydrosous allows you to increase soil moisture, lower its density, which is important for the arid conditions of the research region. During the growth and development of plants under the influence of Hydrosous, the diameter of the root neck of seedlings increased, the dynamics of growth in height and the dates of the appearance of the first shoots decreased.

The scenarios that occur in the educational context to improve educational well-being are new and require special attention, such as the conditions and environment in which learning occurs. In this sense, climate change must be taken into account and the conditions linked to increased temperatures are becoming more frequent, accompanied by a decrease in precipitation. In this study we have analyzed how these changes affect the University of Extremadura. To do this, we have carried out an analysis using the Martonne Aridity Index with a set of 10 combinations of global (GCM) and regional (RCM) climate models, under two representative concentration pathway scenarios RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5. and for a reference period (1971-2005) and three future periods (2006-2035, 2036-2065 and 2066-2095). The results obtained indicate that the region will be more vulnerable to climate change in the near future, and show that all university campuses will be affected by increased temperatures, and will be in semi-arid conditions by the end of the century, 2066-2095. However, the Plasencia Campus will remain in the Mediterranean typology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To combat desertification and lessen its effects on the impacted population, the Algerian government chose fodder plantation strategy by introducing Atriplex canescens, an invasive plant with high fodder value brought from the USA. A. canescens into Algerian pastures can potentially alter the floristic procession of the areas into which it is introduced. The objective of this work is to analyze the effect of planting A. canescens on the biodiversity and soil properties of a steppe pasture. In a planted rangeland, a floristic study is carried out using the linear method. Physico-chemical analyzes of the soil of this rangeland are carried out on a thickness of 0-40 cm. The results showed presence of 58 species, 46 genera and 22 families, with the predominance of Aster-aceae and Poaceae. The specific contribution of the two locale species Macrochloa tenacissima and Artemisia campestris decreases as soon as A. canescens is present in the rangeland. The soils water content is ranged from 0.356 to 1.291. Total nitrogen content in the planted rangeland, was within the normative range of 0.021 to 0.02 g/kg. A lowest value of pH 7.38 is observed in the plantation and the highest value 8.26 is measured in the non-planted rangeland. Electrical conductivity ranged from 0.155 mmhos/cm to 0.428 mmhos/cm. Sodium content varies from a minimum of 1.407g/kg to a maximum of 3.423 g/kg observed in the planted rangeland. Assimilable phosphorus levels are very low, almost traces. The observed potassium values are between 0.465 g/kg and 1.207 g/kg. Overall, A. canescens contributes to soil fertility but in the long term, it can compete with the presence of local plant species, particularly perennial ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing and mapping the geographical variation of soil properties is essential for precision agriculture to maintain the sustainability of the soil and plants. This study was conducted in El-Ismaillia Governorate in Egypt (arid zones), to establish site-specific management zones utilizing certain soil parameters in the study area. The goal of the study is to map out the variability of some soil properties. One hundred georeferenced soil profiles were gathered from the study area using a standard grid pattern of 400 × 400 m. Soil parameters such as pH, soil salinity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), gravel, and soil-available micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) were determined. After the data were normalized, the soil characteristics were described and their geographical variability distribution was shown using classical and geostatistical statistics. The geographic variation of soil properties was analyzed using semivariogram models, and the associated maps were generated using the ordinary co-Kriging technique. The findings showed notable differences in soil properties across the study area. Statistical analysis of soil chemical properties showed that soil EC and pH have the highest and lowest coefficient of variation (CV), with a CV of 110.05 and 4.80%, respectively. At the same time Cu and Fe had the highest and lowest CV among the soil micronutrients, with a CV of 171.43 and 71.43%, respectively. Regarding the physical properties, clay and sand were the highest and lowest CV, with a CV of 177.01 and 9.97%, respectively. Moreover, the finest models for the examined soil attributes were determined to be exponential, spherical, K-Bessel, and Gaussian semivariogram models. The selected semivariogram models are the most suitable for mapping and estimating the spatial distribution surfaces of the investigated soil parameters, as indicated by the cross-validation findings. The results demonstrated that while Fe, Cu, Zn, gravel, silt, and sand suggested a weak spatial dependence, the soil variables under investigation had a moderate spatial dependence. The findings showed that there are three site- specific management zones in the investigated area. SSMZs were classified into three zones, namely high management zone (I) with an area 123.32 ha (7.09%), moderate management zone (II) with an area 1365.61ha (78.49%), and low management zone (III) with an area 250.8162 ha (14.42%). The majority of the researched area is included in the second site zone, which represents regions with low productivity. Decision-makers can identify locations with the finest, moderate, and poorest soil quality by using the spatial distribution maps that are produced, which can also help in understanding how each feature influences plant development. The results showed that geostatistical analysis is a reliable method for evaluating and forecasting the spatial correlations between soil properties.

Fractional vegetation cover (FVC) plays a key role in ecological and environmental status assessment because it directly reflects the extent of vegetation cover and its status, yet vegetation is an important component of ecosystems. FVC estimation methods have evolved from traditional manual interpretation to advanced remote sensing technologies, such as satellite data analysis and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image processing. Extraction methods based on high-resolution UAV data are being increasingly studied in the fields of ecology and remote sensing. However, research on UAV-based FVC extraction against the backdrop of the high soil reflectance in arid regions remains scarce. In this paper, based on 12 UAV visible light images in differentiated scenarios in the Ebinur Lake basin, Xinjiang, China, various methods are used for high-precision FVC estimation: Otsu’s thresholding method combined with 12 Visible Vegetation Indices (abbreviated as Otsu-VVIs) (excess green index, excess red index, excess red minus green index, normalized green–red difference index, normalized green–blue difference index, red–green ratio index, color index of vegetation extraction, visible-band-modified soil-adjusted vegetation index, excess green minus red index, modified green–red vegetation index, red–green–blue vegetation index, visible-band difference vegetation index), color space method (red, green, blue, hue, saturation, value, lightness, ‘a’ (Green–Red component), and ‘b’ (Blue–Yellow component)), linear mixing model (LMM), and two machine learning algorithms (a support vector machine and a neural network). The results show that the following methods exhibit high accuracy in FVC extraction across differentiated scenarios: Otsu–CIVE, color space method (‘a’: Green–Red component), LMM, and SVM (Accuracy > 0.75, Precision > 0.8, kappa coefficient > 0.6). Nonetheless, higher scene complexity and image entropy reduce the applicability of precise FVC extraction methods. This study facilitates accurate, efficient extraction of vegetation information in differentiated scenarios within arid and semiarid regions, providing key technical references for FVC estimation in similar arid areas.

This paper investigates the electromagnetic scattering characteristics in arid zone and proposes methods for monitoring and improving ecological agriculture, vegetation landscape and desertification in arid zone, based on the modified small slope approximation (SSA) electromagnetic scattering model. The dielectric properties of dryland soils are studied in the paper, and the variation curves of soil dielectric constant with humidity and electromagnetic frequency are plotted. In order to reproduce the geomorphological features of the dryland areas, a two-dimensional geometric model of the ground environment is established using Monte Carlo methods combined with Gaussian spectral functions. An algorithm model based on the modified SSA is developed, and the algorithm was validated and analyzed to verify its reliability. In the simulations, the southeastern region of Ejina Banner, Inner Mongolia was taken as a typical arid region, and the simulation parameters are obtained from the actual measurement data of the region. The study finds that the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of the arid zone are influenced by soil water content, ground roughness and incident wave electromagnetic frequency, and there is regularity. The results of this paper can be effectively combined with remote sensing technology to contribute to many researches on soil moisture inversion and ecological condition of vegetation, which are important in many aspects such as irrigation control, ecological research, vorticity covariance, and climatology of slope stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiments were carried out to evaluate the comparative efficacy of different postemergence weedicides on weeds in wheat crop at Adaptive Research Farm Karor, Distt. Layyah and at farmer's field a.i. Chak No. 116/TDA, tehsil Karor, Distt. Layyah during Rabi crop season 2022-23 under irrigated conditions. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RBCD) with three replications. Four different herbicides were applied as post-emergence treatments viz. Buctril Super 60 % EC (Bromoxynil + MCPA) @ 1125 ml ha-1, Bromoxynil 40 % EC @1250 ml ha-1, Findus Extra 60 WG (Mesosulfuron-Methyl + Iodosulfuron-Methyl-Sodium) @ 240 g ha-1 and Clean wave (Imino Pyralid + Fluroxyber) @ 800 ml ha-1. An untreated control was also included in the trials. All herbicides decrease the weeds population over control up to nine days in both locations and maximum grain yield 4533.35 kg ha-1 and 4635.50 kg ha-1 were produced in Adaptive Research Farm Karor, and at farmer's field a.i. Chak No. 116/TDA, Tehsil Karor, Distt Layyah respectively, where Buctril Super 60 % EC (Bromoxynil + MCPA) @ 1125 ml ha-1 was applied. Therefore, it is recommended that Buctril Super 60 % EC (Bromoxynil + MCPA) may be applied @ 1125 ml ha-1 for offering the control of broad leaves weeds and increase grain yield of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Population-monitoring programs often use direct (e.g. live capture or spotlighting) or indirect (e.g. scats sightings) observations to estimate population abundance. Such methods, however, are often inadequate for rare, elusive, or cryptic species due to the difficulty in achieving sufficient encounters or detection rates. The mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus), a small native Australian macropod, listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, is difficult to capture, susceptible to capture myopathy, and not easily sighted in their dense habitat; consequently, the population size cannot always be estimated. The use of molecular markers to identify individual genotypes from non-invasively collected samples is increasingly being used in wildlife conservation and may be an alternative approach for mala. Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of noninvasive scat DNA sampling to estimate the population abundance of mala. Methods. A panel of microsatellite markers was developed for the identification of individual mala via profiling of their scats. Scats were systematically collected from a wild mala population located in an 1100-ha fenced reserve in Western Australia. Individual genotypes were determined using the microsatellite markers, and the abundance of mala was estimated using the genotypes with spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) and mark–resight analyses. Key results. The genetic markers proved variable and with sufficient exclusionary power to confidently identify unique individuals (mean locus genotyping error rate: 3.1%). Individual genetic identification from scat sampling, when used with traditional mark–recapture/resight analytical models, provides feasible estimates of population abundance. This is the first reliable abundance estimate of this mala population, suggesting a >70% increase in population size since the initial reintroduction of 64 individuals in 2011–13. Conclusions. Given the inherent difficulties in surveying mala, this approach would be valuable to ensure effective monitoring of the few remaining fenced and island mala populations to prevent further decline of this vulnerable species. Implications. This is the first study to identify species-specific microsatellite markers for mala and use genetic-capture sampling with scat DNA to estimate the abundance of a mala population. The study provides an evaluation of a valuable species monitoring technique that can be applied to other rare, elusive, or cryptic threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological and environmental problems of arid zones have become an urgent global concern. Current research on ecological risk is based mainly on the dominant functions of land use, with a primary focus on land use landscape projections and less consideration of potential risks to ecosystems, system resilience and interactions between nature and future sustainable development. In this study, a potential–connectivity–resilience ecological risk assessment model based on the SDGs was constructed using multisource data to spatially quantify indicators at the grid scale in the Turpan and Hami regions of Xinjiang, China. This model was used as a basis for studying ecological risk in arid zones from a production–living–ecological space (PLES) perspective. The results revealed that, during the period 2000–2020, PLESs in the Turpan and Hami regions presented significant spatial similarity, with an increasing trend in overall risk. The production space in the Turpan and Hami regions showed a parabolic trend of increasing and then decreasing, whereas the living space and ecological space in the Hami region showed continuous linear upward trends. The state of ecological security in the Turpan and Hami regions is gradually deteriorating, and comprehensive ecological protection and restoration measures are urgently needed to rationally allocate the structure and layout of the production-–living-–ecological space. The study of ecological risk from a PLES perspective not only helps in fully understanding the development trend of the arid zone; it also provides new ideas and methods for evaluating regional ecological environmental safety and scientific references for formulating regional sustainable development, ecological risk prevention and control and the rational allocation of resources.

Microscopic techniques can be applied to solve taxonomic problems in the field of plant systematic and are extremely versatile in nature. This study was focused on the new approaches to visualizing the imaging, tool to cover the micro‐structural techniques applied to the pollen study of Amaranthaceae floral biology. In this detailed study, we used light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to examine the shape and changes in pollen of 16 types of Amaranthaceae plants from the salty arid zone of Riyadh Saudi Arabia. We observed subtle variations among the studied species through meticulous examination of morpho‐palynological features such as symmetry, size, shape, pore ornamentation, and exine characteristics. The pollen grains were round and had rough or prickly outer coverings. They had different numbers of tiny pores; some were slightly sunken. These findings were utilized to develop a pollen taxonomy key, facilitating accurate identification and classification of Amaranthaceous species. Our results shed light on the taxonomic significance of pollen morphology for species differentiation within the Amaranthaceae family. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights into the influence of geographical and ecological factors on pollen diversity and evolution. This study of pollen imaging visualization of Amaranthaceous species contributes to the opportunity for taxonomic evaluation and fill knowledge gaps in studies of Amaranthaceous flora identification using classical microscopic taxonomic tools for their accurate identification. Research Highlights: The pollen characters of selected Amaranthaceae species were visualized using scanning electron microscopy to observe sculptural wall pattern.The comprehensive Amaranthaceous pollen examination approach allowed us to accurately identify their micromorphology.This high‐resolution imaging technique provided detailed insights into the surface structures and ornamentation of the pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicinal plants of the desert can be a potential source of natural bioactive compounds with applications in health and food preservation. This work aimed to investigate the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of twenty-three plants from the arid zone of Viesca, Mexico. The antioxidant potential was determined by three methods (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH). Two extraction methods and three different concentration levels (1:10 mg/mL, 1:25 mg/mL, and 1:50 mg/mL) were evaluated. According to the results, Turnera diffusa (Damiana), Gutierrezia sarothrae (Hierba de San Nicolas), and Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) present the largest content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity. The highest values of antioxidant activity were achieved using a solid/liquid ratio of 1:50 g/mL for T. diffusa and G. sarothrae and 1:25 mg/mL for L. frutescens. The maceration method was the most suitable for extracting antioxidant compounds from T. diffusa and L. frutescens, while ultrasound-assisted extraction was more efficient for G. sarothrae. The HPLC-MS analysis showed the presence of important phenolic compounds. This study shows for the first time that three plants that naturally grow in Viesca have great potential as a source of natural antioxidant compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate monitoring of vegetation phenology is critical for carbon sequestration and sink enhancement. Vegetation phenology in arid zones is more sensitive to climate responses; therefore, it is important to conduct research on phenology in arid zones in response to global climate change. This study compared the applicability of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), which is superior in arid zones, and global solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (GOSIF), which has a high spatial resolution, in extracting vegetation phenology in arid zones, and explored the mechanism of the differences in the effects of environmental factors on the phenology of different vegetation types. Therefore, this study employed a global solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (GOSIF) dataset to determine the start and end of the vegetation growth season (SOSSIF and EOSSIF, respectively) in the arid zone of Northwest China from 2001 to 2019. The results were compared with those from the EVI-based MODIS climate product MCD12Q2 (SOSEVI and EOSEVI). Variations in the sensitivity of these climatic datasets concerning temperature, precipitation, and standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were assessed through partial correlation analysis. Results: Compared to the MCD12Q2 climatic products, SOSSIF and EOSSIF closely matched the observed climate data in the study area. Spring onset was delayed at higher altitudes and latitudes, and the end of the growing season occurred earlier in these areas. Both SOSSIF and EOSSIF significantly advanced from 2001 to 2019 (trend degrees −0.22 and −0.48, respectively). Spring vegetation phenology was chiefly influenced by precipitation while autumn vegetation phenology was driven by both precipitation and SPEI. GOSIF-based climate data provides a more accurate representation of vegetation phenology compared to traditional vegetation indices. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the potential ability of EVI and SIF to reveal the influence of vegetation phenology on the carbon cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withania coagulans is a valuable medicinal plant with high demand, but its wild growth and local usage pose a threat to its natural habitat. This study aims to understand the plant’s growth, anatomy, and physiology in different environmental conditions to aid in conservation and re-vegetation efforts. Fifteen differently adapted populations of Withania coagulans were collected from diverse ecological regions, viz., (i) along the roadside, (ii) hilly areas, (iii) barren land, and (iv) wasteland to unravel the adaptive mechanisms that are responsible for their ecological success across heterogenic environments of Punjab, Pakistan. The roadside populations had high values of photosynthetic pigments, total soluble proteins, root endodermis thickness, stem and leaf cortical thickness, and its cell area. The populations growing in hilly areas showed better growth performance such as vigorous growth and biomass production. Additionally, there was enhanced accumulation of organic osmolytes (glycine betaine and proline), chlorophyll content (chl a/b), and enlarged epidermal cells, cortical cells, vascular bundles, metaxylem vessels, and phloem region in roots. In case of stem area, epidermal thickness, cortical thickness, vascular bundle, and pith area showed improved growth. However, the barren land population showed significant increase in carotenoid contents, vascular bundle area, and metaxylem area in roots, and xylem vessels and phloem area in stems and leaves. The wasteland population surpassed the rest of the populations in having greater root dry weight, higher shoot ionic contents, increased root area, thick cortical, and vascular bundle area in roots. Likewise, cortical thickness and its cell area, and pith area in stems, whereas large vascular bundles, phloem region, and high stomatal density were recorded in leaves. Subsequently, natural populations showed the utmost behavior related to tissue organization and physiology in response to varied environmental conditions that would increase the distribution and survival of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problems of low accuracy of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) estimates in arid areas and to optimise ETc for precision irrigation in agriculture.Taking walnut in Wensu County, Aksu Region, Xinjiang as the research object, based on the multivariate time series data of walnut fertility, deep learning sequence models such as LSTM, GRU and BiLSTM were utilized to estimate the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) of walnut in arid zones under different micro-irrigation techniques. The results showed that the coefficient of determination (R2) of the LSTM, GRU and BiLSTM models were up to greater than 0.95 for both microirrigation techniques, and the BiLSTM model was relatively optimal. For the 3 g microirrigation technique, the R2, RMSEV and RPDV of the BiLSTM model were 0.978, 0.294 and 6.965 mm/d respectively. For the Hg microirrigation technique, the R2, RMSEV and RPDV of the BiLSTM model were 0.970, 0.339 and 6.026 mm/d respectively.With different scenarios of missing meteorological environmental variables, the BiLSTM model was used to estimate R2 > 0.98 for walnut crop evapotranspiration under different microirrigation techniques, with a range from 0.958 to 0. 986 under 3 g microirrigation technique, RMSEV ranged from 0.235 to 0.412 and RPDV ranged from 5.028 to 8.494. Under Hg microirrigation technique, R2 ranged from 0.942 to 0.979, RMSEV ranged from 0.288 to 0.477 and RPDV ranged from 4.253 to 6.905. Using the deep learning BiLSTM model, we can efficiently estimate the evapotranspiration of the walnut crop in arid zones with different micro-irrigation technologies. The evapotranspiration can provide a scientific theoretical reference for intelligent irrigation of walnut and agricultural water management.

Wetlands in the arid zone of northwest China have ecological values such as climate regulation, water conservation, and biodiversity maintenance. However, in the context of global warming and economic development, the degree of natural and human interference in the wetlands has been increasing, and wetland health problems are becoming increasingly severe. The current comparative research on the ecosystem health evaluation of natural and constructed wetlands and their sustainable development in the arid zone of northwest China is not perfect, so we selected the natural (Dunhuang Xihu Wetland) and constructed wetlands (Suzhou District Wetland) as research objects. The ecosystem health evaluation system has been developed from 5 levels of the drive, pressure, state, impact, and response (DPSIR). The ecological health status and impact factors were evaluated for the two wetlands using socioeconomic data combined with remote sensing technology from 2000 to 2019. The results showed that 1) the ecological health of natural and constructed wetlands was in a medium healthy state, and the ecological health values of the wetlands showed a trend of decreasing and then increasing from 2000 to 2019, with 2005 as the turning point. The ecological health status of natural wetlands (0.46) was better than that of constructed wetlands (0.42). 2) The main reasons for the degradation of constructed wetlands (-3.20%) were the urban population expansion and blind agricultural reclamation of wetlands, while the degradation of natural wetlands (-6.45%) was dominated by extreme climatic conditions and overuse of water resources. These results provide case support and a theoretical basis for the conservation management and sustainable development of wetland ecosystems in the arid zone.

This investigation is a study of the spatial propagation of a flood through the execution of two processes integrated into Geographic Information Systems to produce maps of potential flood zones. Based on Multicriteria Assessment (MCDA) techniques, the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to identify areas with different potential degrees of flooding, and the hydrodynamic behavior of the extension is analyzed in terms of flooding in relation to different maximum flows, using the Nays2D solver of the iRIC software. For MCDA, four essential parameters were used for the evaluation of flood zones in the middle and lower course of the Acha–Arica: land use, elevation, slope of the land and distance to the river were used for the establishment of potential zoning. While photogrammetry procedures and a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model, together with base calculation conditions such as roughness, edge, discharge and time, were used for the hydrodynamic simulation of flooding for four different maximum flows of 42, 57, 84 and 114 m3/s. The results indicate that the AHP technique allows quite a coherent prediction of flood zones to be made with a limited amount of data. Hydrodynamic simulation with Nays2D allowed a simulated graphic representation of the extension to be obtained that reflects conditions very close to the actual conditions in which these events take place. Validation was performed by comparing the results with each other and with other sources of documentary records which showed high similarities between flood zones obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative breeding, where more than two individuals invest in rearing a single brood, occurs in many bird species globally and often contributes to improved breeding outcomes. However, high temperatures are associated with poor breeding outcomes in many species, including cooperative species. We used data collected over three austral summer breeding seasons to investigate the contribution that helpers make to daytime incubation in a cooperatively breeding species, the Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor , and the ways in which their contribution is influenced by temperature. Helpers spent a significantly higher percentage of their time foraging (41.8 ± 13.7%) and a significantly lower percentage of their time incubating (18.5 ± 18.8%) than members of the breeding pair (31.3 ± 11% foraging and 37.4 ± 15.7% incubating). In groups with only one helper, the helper's contribution to incubation was similar to that of breeders. However, helpers in larger groups contributed less to incubation, individually, with some individuals investing no time in incubation on a given observation day. Helpers significantly decrease their investment in incubation on hot days (>35.5°C), while breeders tend to maintain incubation effort as temperatures increase. Our results demonstrate that pied babblers share the workload of incubation unequally between breeders and helpers, and this inequity is more pronounced during hot weather. These results may help to explain why recent studies have found that larger group size does not buffer against the impacts of high temperatures in this and other cooperatively breeding species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of ESTOA: Revista de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad de Cuenca is the property of ESTOA Revista de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo de la Universidad de Cuenca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study is the first record of medicinal plants in the southwest of the Coahuila state, an arid zone where extreme dry conditions prevail. One hundred twenty-two residents (in sixteen communities) were interviewed. The residents were questioned with a questionnaire-guided ethnomedical survey protocol about the various plants used. Seventy-seven species of medicinal plants belonging to 36 botanical families were cited. The highest use-value (UV) was calculated for Lippia graveolens Kunth (0.30); Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (0.20); Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (0.16); Mentha spicata L. (0.15) and Salvia officinalis L. (0.10). Informant consensus factor (ICF) about usages of medicinal plants ranges from 0.41 to 0.80; the highest level of agreement was determined between the informants and Respiratory System Diseases (0.80). The highest fidelity level (FL) values (100%) were identified in Flourensia cernua DC., Artisia ludoviciana Nutt., and Parthenium incanum Kunth to Gastro-intestinal System Diseases; Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Bougainvillea berberidifolia Heimerl, and Lippia graveolens Kunth to Respiratory System Diseases (RSD) and Cyclolepis genistoides D.Don and Ephedra antisyphilitica Berland. ex C.A.Mey. to Obstetrics, Gynecology and Urinary tract Diseases. These last two medicinal plant species (“palo azul” and “pitoreal”) used by the rural communities in Viesca in the treatment of urinary tract infections and kidney stones have not been reported previously. These findings can provide new research directions for further phytochemical studies. The present study revealed that the residents are rich in ethno-medicinal knowledge and actively use medicinal plants to treat various diseases. New phytochemical and pharmacological research are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential and safety of the identified plants.

The spatial and temporal evolution process of the water and soil resource carrying capacity in artificial oases in the arid zone of China was accurately revealed. This study constructs a water and soil resource analysis system based on system dynamics. It integrates cloud theory and hierarchical analysis to analyze the evolutional trend of the water and soil resource carrying capacity in irrigation areas. The spatial analysis technique was used to obtain a raster map of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the influencing factors, and analyze the evolutionary characteristics of the water and soil resources carrying capacity by integrating multi-source data. The results showed that: (1) the evaluation clouds of water and soil resources carrying capacity in 2002, 2010, and 2018 were (0.5034, 0.0236, 0.0071), (0.5586, 00218, 0.0062), and (0.5989, 0.0249, 0.0061), respectively. This showed that the carrying capacity of water and soil resources was transitioning from ‘critical bearing’ to ‘good bearing’, but the evolution rate was gradually decreasing; (2) from 2002 to 2018, the size of the ‘good bearing’ area increased by 8.38%, while the size of the ‘severe bearing’ area decreased by 6.4%; (3) the degree of dramatic evolution of the carrying capacity of water and soil resources is: continuous change > pre-change > post-change > continuous stable > repeated change; (4) the serious carrying capacity area shows a spatial pattern of decreasing in an arc from the town to the surrounding areas. The results showed that water and soil resource-carrying capacity of the irrigation area shows a healthy and continuous spatial and temporal evolution trend. HIGHLIGHTS Coupling SD, multilevel fuzzy theory and cloud model were used to assess the carrying capacity of water and soil resources.; Based on Arc GIS and ENVI we showed the spatial distribution characteristics of regional environmental conditions.; The carrying capacity of water and soil resources shows a healthy evolution trend, and the evolution rate slows down gradually.;

Abstract In this paper frequency analysis of annual extreme daily rainfall of 14 gauging stations located in an arid zone of Iran were performed using parametric and nonparametric approaches. The parametric methods include normal, two- and three-parameter log-normal, two-parameter gamma, Pearson and log-Pearson type III, extreme value type I (Gumbel), generalized extreme value and generalized logistic distributions. The nonparametric approach is Fourier series method. The data were fitted to all of above mentioned models and the results showed that the goodness of fit of the data to Fourier series is much better than other parametric methods. Thus the Fourier series can be used as an alternative approach for frequency analysis of extreme daily rainfall in an arid zone. In addition, the quantiles can be calculated by the Fourier series.

The current study was undertaken with an aim to record and analyse the data related to basic reproductive parameters such as length of estrous cycle, estrus duration, pre-ovulatory follicle size at ovulation, day of ovulation, length of gestation and days of occurrence of foal heat in respect of Kathiawari mares for a period of thirteen consecutive breeding seasons (2010-2023). The mares were monitored closely for their estrus signs, examined with transrectal ultrasonography for the size of the follicle variation and to determine the size of the follicle at ovulation. The mares were inseminated with the frozen thawed semen collected from Kathiawari stallions. This is the first time ever report that live foals have been obtained using frozen semen via artificial insemination in kathiawari horses. The data on reproductive indices of the mares of Kathiawari breed in India are scanty and there are no available reports on reproductive characteristics of Kathiawari breed until today in the literature. The results of the present findings are of much useful and may serve as a ready reckoner for the reproductive traits of Kathiawari breed reared under arid region. The differences in the reproductive parameters observed in relation to other breeds of Indian horses may be attributed to breed differences and other environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]