Semiarid Lands and Deserts

Semiarid Lands and Deserts PDF Author: J. Skujins
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780824783884
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 688

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Book Description
A compendium of current information on arid soils. Provides a comprehensive background of the various soils and biota of arid regions, as well as a detailed account of the current understanding of degradation processes, and includes methodologies for arid land maintenance and rehabilitation and for

Semiarid Lands and Deserts

Semiarid Lands and Deserts PDF Author: J. Skujins
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 9780824783884
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 688

Get Book Here

Book Description
A compendium of current information on arid soils. Provides a comprehensive background of the various soils and biota of arid regions, as well as a detailed account of the current understanding of degradation processes, and includes methodologies for arid land maintenance and rehabilitation and for

Ecophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands

Ecophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands PDF Author: Gerald E. Wickens
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3662037009
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
This book deals with arid and semi-arid environments and their classification, and the physiological restraints and adaptations of plants to the environment. Further, it discusses economic botany and the needs and methods of conserving economic plants. A broad view is taken regarding the definition of economic plants, taking into account their value to the environment as well as to man and to livestock. The individual deserts and associated semi-arid regions are described in separate chapters, providing background information on the regional environments in terms of climate and major plant formations. The economic plants within these formations, their usages, geographical distribution together with their morphological and physiological adaptations are treated in detail.

The Arid Zones

The Arid Zones PDF Author: Kenneth Walton
Publisher: Transaction Publishers
ISBN: 0202369471
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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Book Description


Sustainable Land Use in Deserts

Sustainable Land Use in Deserts PDF Author: Siegmar-W. Breckle
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 364259560X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 473

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Book Description
Changing desert areas for land use implies a lot of ecological problems. These and related ones are dealt with in this book covering various interdisciplinary and international aspects. Large areas in arid and semi-arid regions are already polluted in various ways. One of the biggest problems is the anthropogenic salinization by inadequate means of agriculture and irrigation. Additionally, most arid areas in the world are dramatically overgrazed. Methods and practices of a sustainable land use in deserts are urgently needed in many arid regions. This book gives a broad survey on some of the affected regions of the world as well as some case studies from elsewhere (Aral Sea, Negev desert, Namib desert etc.). Thus, basic and applied sciences are brought together. Water management in deserts, grazing systems or reclamation of desertified areas are among the topics of this book, as well as social and economic aspects.

Desert Encroachment on Arable Lands

Desert Encroachment on Arable Lands PDF Author: United States. Agency for International Development. Office of Science and Technology
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Arid regions
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description


The Arid Lands

The Arid Lands PDF Author: Diana K. Davis
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262034522
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 302

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Book Description
An argument that the perception of arid lands as wastelands is politically motivated and that these landscapes are variable, biodiverse ecosystems, whose inhabitants must be empowered. Deserts are commonly imagined as barren, defiled, worthless places, wastelands in need of development. This understanding has fueled extensive anti-desertification efforts—a multimillion-dollar global campaign driven by perceptions of a looming crisis. In this book, Diana Davis argues that estimates of desertification have been significantly exaggerated and that deserts and drylands—which constitute about 41% of the earth's landmass—are actually resilient and biodiverse environments in which a great many indigenous people have long lived sustainably. Meanwhile, contemporary arid lands development programs and anti-desertification efforts have met with little success. As Davis explains, these environments are not governed by the equilibrium ecological dynamics that apply in most other regions. Davis shows that our notion of the arid lands as wastelands derives largely from politically motivated Anglo-European colonial assumptions that these regions had been laid waste by “traditional” uses of the land. Unfortunately, such assumptions still frequently inform policy. Drawing on political ecology and environmental history, Davis traces changes in our understanding of deserts, from the benign views of the classical era to Christian associations of the desert with sinful activities to later (neo)colonial assumptions of destruction. She further explains how our thinking about deserts is problematically related to our conceptions of forests and desiccation. Davis concludes that a new understanding of the arid lands as healthy, natural, but variable ecosystems that do not necessarily need improvement or development will facilitate a more sustainable future for the world's magnificent drylands.

Spreading Deserts--the Hand of Man

Spreading Deserts--the Hand of Man PDF Author: Erik P. Eckholm
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description
This booklet looks at the problem of desertification.

Reclamation of Arid Lands

Reclamation of Arid Lands PDF Author: Mohammad Jafari
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 331954828X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 275

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Book Description
This book provides an overview of arid and semi-arid lands conditions, their general characteristics, methods of management, conservation, exploitation and reclamation. It also focuses on how to utilize the potential of arid lands with the minimum manipulation and alteration. Arid and semi-arid areas represent a major part of natural ecosystems not only in Iran, but around the world, and mismanagement and inappropriate exploitation of these areas may lead to further gradual degradation. As such, an understanding of the characteristics of these areas is vital if they are to be conserved and reclaimed.

Deserts and Desertification

Deserts and Desertification PDF Author: Yajuan Zhu
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 1839627174
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 212

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Book Description
A desert is an ecosystem in an arid zone in which sand dunes cover the land and sandstorms often occur. Although desert vegetation is sparse, it plays an important role in ecosystem structure and function. Desertification is one of the most severe environmental problems today. Land desertification can be controlled through many measures, such as eco-villages, eco-agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and the combination of engineering and biology. This edited volume provides new insights into the pattern of desert ecosystems and the progress of desertification control. It is a useful resource for researchers in ecology, forestry, and land desertification control.

Hot Deserts and Arid Shrublands

Hot Deserts and Arid Shrublands PDF Author: Michael Evenari
Publisher: Elsevier Publishing Company
ISBN:
Category : Gardening
Languages : en
Pages : 382

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Book Description
This is the second part of a two-volume work which presents an authoritative world-wide view of our knowledge about, and understanding of, hot-desert ecosystems. This includes some semi-arid and arid areas, as well as deserts in the strict sense. The hot deserts are distinguished from the temperate deserts (which form the subject of another volume in the series) by the virtual absence of snowfall, even though frosts may occur. For each major hot-desert region, expert authors have summarized existing knowledge according to a general outline. This includes descriptions of the ecosystem components (climate, soil, flora and fauna), and discussion of interaction between components and overall ecosystem functioning. The information from the regional chapters has been integrated into a world-wide view in the ''synthesis'' chapters. Because of its length, the volume is published in two parts. The first part included the general synthesis chapters, and regional descriptions of the hot deserts of America and Australia. The present volume covers hot deserts of Asia and Africa.