As the scarcity of global water intensifies, accurate assessments of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) have become essential for sustainably managing regional water resources and combating the adverse effects of climate change. However, the water resources-ecology-society system is highly complex, involving multidimensional interactions anddynamic internal changes that cannot be fully captured by a single evaluation method. This paper reviews the application status and research progress of coupled-model methods for WRCC evaluation. A systematic comparative analysis reveals the strengths and limitations of the major evaluation methods—systems analysis, comprehensive evaluation, and machine learning—in WRCC evaluation. Particular attention is devoted to the challenges of these methods in arid regions. The dynamic feedback mechanisms, nonlinear modeling capabilities, data-driven characteristics, and applicabilities of different methods are analyzed through a horizontal comparison study. The review also analyzes the suitabilities and limitations of each method in arid regions and explores the feasibility of coupled models, providing new insights for resolving WRCC issues in these areas. Multimodel integration and data-driven optimization will enhance the generalizability and applicability of models in future, facilitating the transition of water resource management from static evaluation to dynamic simulation and precise prediction. These developments will offer scientific support for sustainable water resource utilization in arid regions and worldwide.

The damaging pest Agrilus viduus Kerremans was recorded for the first time in Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang. This pest has entered the core area of wild fruit forest, where it has damaged wild apples and wild apricots. Through field surveys, fixed-point observations, and laboratory rearing, the distribution range, life history, damage characteristics, and host plants of this pest in the wild fruit forest area were preliminarily studied. This pest is distributed in Xinyuan County, Gongliu County, Huocheng County, and Tekes County and has entered the wild fruit forests of Xinyuan County, Gongliu County, and Huocheng County. In terms of its reproduction, this pest exhibits one generation per year, starts to be active in the first half of May and begins to emerge in early July, with the peak emergence period in late July. Adult insects start to lay eggs in mid-July, and the emergence process ends in early August. In early November, the second-and third-instar larvae begin to overwinter. The damage mainly takes the form of larvae boring into the phloem, cambium, and xylem of host plants. When substantial infestation occurs, death of the host can occur. This pest can damage wild apricots, wild apples, and some other economically important fruit trees in the wild fruit forest. The oviposition characteristics of this pest are rather special. Eggs are laid in clusters on the bark surface and then covered with secretions to form egg cases. The distribution of this species’ egg cases is highly correlated with the height of apricot trees, with them mainly being found at heights of 120-240 cm; the distribution of the egg cases is also related to the basal diameter, being found mainly on branches with diameters of 2-3 cm. A literature review and field investigation revealed that this insect is a pest that has been newly introduced into the wild fruit forest of Xinjiang, posing a significant threat and requiring the attention of local authorities. There is an urgent need for physical control, biological control, and chemical control methods to be applied to eradicate it in accordance with its biological characteristics.

The ongoing decline in biodiversity adversely effects ecosystem services. Investigating spatiotemporal changes in land use and habitat quality in the Three River Source Region is crucial for ecological protection and restoration. This study, based on the PLUS model and the InVEST model’s habitat quality module, conducts multi-scenario simulations to predict land use changes and estimate habitat quality. The results are as follows: (1) During the historical period, 9663.53 km² of grassland converted to unused land, represented the largest proportion of total land conversion, whereas unused land converted to grassland only covered 3659.27 km², the grassland degraded into unused land to a relatively serious extent in the Three River Source Region. (2) Multi-scenario predictions for 2030 reveal that the biodiversity conservation scenario performs best, followed by the grassland protection scenario, then the water resources protection scenario, and finally the natural development scenario. (3) Among conversion types, the contribution rate of converting unused land to grassland in enhancing habitat quality is highest at 0.7167, followed by that of converting unused land to water bodies, at 0.2603. Implementing biodiversity protection strategies, resolving the grass-livestock conflict, and enhancing management of unused land, while reducing grassland-to-unused land conversion will help mitigate the decline in habitat quality.

Atmospheric Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) is an important indicator to characterize the water vapor content in the atmosphere, and clarifying the conversion mechanism between PWV and precipitation is of great significance for efficient water resource utilization. This paper takes Xinjiang as the study area, calculates PWV based on multi-source data, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of ERA5 global atmospheric reanalysis data for calculating PWV using radiosounde data as reference, and reveals the conversion relationship between PWV and precipitation with the help of Precipitation Conversion Efficient (PCE). The results show that (1) The PWV calculated by ERA5 has a high accuracy, with correlation coefficients and root mean square errors of 0.98 and 2.6 mm, respectively, compared to the PWV determined by traditional radiosounde data dependent methods. (2) Overall increasing trend of PWV in Xinjiang from 1960-2020, with an increase of 0.1 mm·(10a)^-1; the wavelet spectrum shows that the period of PWV change in the study area is dominated by the short period, which is 2.6 a and 6 a, respectively. (3) From a point perspective, PCE increases with increasing precipitation at the station. From a line perspective, the pattern of change in PCE is “U” type in the direction of longitude and roughly “L” type in the direction of latitude. At the surface scale, the high value areas of PCE were mainly distributed in the forested land, the slope range of 25°-35° and the area above 5000 m above sea level, which were 7.17%, 5.8% and 5.1%, respectively. (4) Typical years of precipitation abundance anomalies vary significantly in PCE, with exceptionally abundant years with strong convergence and strong upward movement of water vapor giving rise to higher PCE, and flat and dry water years with lower PCE. (5) Arctic Oscillation Index and Pacific Decadal Oscillation are the main factors affecting the PCE in the whole of Xinjiang, and there are some differences in the PCE controlled factors among different regions due to differences in climate and topography. The results of the study can provide theoretical references for airborne water resource utilisation and precipitation conversion assessment in Xinjiang.

Based on the data from 19 sounding stations in 2022-2023, this study investigates the temporal and spatial variations of the temperature inversions in the lower, middle, and upper troposphere in northwest China. The results indicated the following: (1) In terms of monthly variations, inversions across all three tropospheric levels exhibit similar patterns, peaking in December and January-February of the following year and reaching a minimum from June to August. (2) In terms of spatial distribution, among the low-level inversions, low-level inversions were most frequent in northern Xinjiang, at 40%-60%; the greatest thickness of low-level inversions was observed in northern Shanxi, exceeding 90 m; the intensity of low-level inversions was stronger in most areas of Xinjiang, ranging from 2 ℃ and 3 ℃. For mid-level inversions, their frequency was highest in Qinghai and decrease outward from this region. High-level inversions were most pronounced in northern Xinjiang, with their frequency decreasing outward from this region. (3) The occurrence of low-level inversions in northwest China is influenced by surface radiation and topography, the occurrence of mid-level inversions is associated with warm advection and subsidence movement, and the occurrence of high-level inversions may be related to the top of the temperate troposphere and ozone. (4) In the summer of northwest China, influenced by solar radiation and surface cooling. below the 0 ℃ isotherm height, the intensity of inversions is stronger; above the 0 ℃ isotherm height, the inversions have weaker intensity.

The impact of surface O₃ on air quality in China has intensified, making it the primary pollutant for air quality management. As a gateway to Northwest China, Xinjiang has undergone rapid economic development, resulting in air quality issues, particularly in Urumqi and Kashgar. In this study, we analyzed the variation characteristics and potential sources of O₃ in these cities and employed a backward trajectory model to explore transmission paths, potential source areas, and influencing factors. The results indicated the following: (1) From 2015 to 2022, O₃ concentrations in Urumqi and Kashgar peaked in 2018, followed by a slight decrease and subsequent stabilization. O₃ concentrations showed significant seasonal variations, with the highest concentrations occurring in summer, alongside weekend effects and diurnal fluctuations. (2) Backward trajectory analysis revealed that from 2015 to 2022, airflow sources in Urumqi and Kashgar were similar, with long-distance airflows primarily originating from the western Central Asian region. Long-distance transport trajectories account for 31.86% of airflow trajectories in Urumqi, compared to 15.42% in Kashgar. Conversely, medium- and short-distance airflows mainly come from local sources, constituting 68.14% of the trajectories in Urumqi and 84.58% in Kashgar. (3) Urumqi and Kashgar encompass extensive potential source areas. In Urumqi, local sources are the primary contributors, while potential sources in Kashgar include both local and external origins. The range of high-value potential source areas expanded in 2022 compared to 2015.

Cuscuta plants are classified as quarantine plants due to their parasitic stem characteristics, and it is important to investigate the potential spatial distribution characteristics of Cuscuta plants in China for effective control. In this study, three species of Cuscuta (C. cupulata, C. campestris and C. monogyna) were selected as the research subjects. Based on 932 records of geographical distribution, 144 records of field investigation and 20 environmental variables, the maximum entropy model and ArcGIS were used to predict potential niche distributions under current and future scenarios (2041-2060, 2061-2080) considering of greenhouse gas emissions from SSP2-4.5. The suitable areas for the 3 species of Cuscuta under the current climate conditions and land use date were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The area under the work characteristic curve (AUC) for all subjects was greater than 0.9 indicating high prediction accuracy. (2) The main environmental factors affecting the distribution of the three species of Cuscuta within their habitable zones with a relatively small contribution rate from topographic factors varied, but all of them were dominated by climatic factors. (3) Currently C. cupulata and C. monogyna distributions are concentrated in northern China, while C. campestris is not only distributed in the north, but also concentrated in southeastern China, and in future scenarios they will expand further northward. (4) In the current period, most land areas suitable for these three species of Cuscuta have already been exploited.

Scientifically assessing cloud water resources and studying the distribution and evolution of cloud water resources is of great significance to guide the local weather modification work, accelerate the development and utilization of aerial water resources, and alleviate water shortage. In this study, the monthly reanalysis data of ERA-5 from 1979 to 2022 and the EOF decomposition method were used to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of cloud water resources in the Tarim Basin in summer. The following results were revealed. (1) Regarding spatial distribution, the atmospheric water vapor content in the Tarim Basin was higher in the west, lower in the east, and slightly higher in the north than in the south. The water vapor content of the whole layer in the basin displayed an increasing trend in the past 44 years. (2) The two modes of EOF revealed that the water vapor transport in the basin in summer was mainly consistent in the whole region, followed by more water vapor transport in the southwest and less in the northeast. (3) The total cloud cover and cloud water content in summer were higher in the north and south and lower in the middle of the Tarim Basin, and the cloud cover in the mountainous areas was higher than that in the oasis and desert areas. Meanwhile, the cloud ice water content in the north was higher than that in the south of the basin in summer, and the cloud liquid water content in the south was higher than that in the north. The largest cloud liquid water content in the basin was concentrated in the Pamir Plateau, and the peak value of the cloud ice water content was located in the Tianshan Mountains. (4) The mountainous areas and the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains were dominated by water-bearing medium and low clouds. In contrast, the cloud water thickness in the Tianshan Mountains was deeper, and the cloud ice water content was larger. A significant increase in cloud water content was observed in the mountainous areas of the Kunlun Mountains and the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains, while a decrease was observed in the Tianshan Mountains after 2000. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for assessing aerial cloud water content and weather modification operations in the Tarim Basin.

To examine the mineralization characteristics and their effect on soil organic carbon components in sandy loamy soils following the application of organic fertilizers in conjunction with trace elements, indoor culture experiments and field trials were conducted. We assessed the decomposition rate and residue ratio as well as the influence of varying amounts of organic fertilizer on soil organic carbon, active organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, organo-mineral-bound organic carbon, and microbial carbon content, as well as the level of amino sugars, N-galactosamine, and galactomannan. Compared with the application of organic fertilizers alone, the addition of trace elements to the indoor culture significantly decreased the amount of mineralized organic carbon in the sandy loam soils. In field trials, this addition further increased active organic carbon (1.79%-1.99%), low-active organic carbon (2.20%-4.91%), organo-mineral-bound organic carbon (3.89%-7.95%), and microbial carbon (1.71%-8.10%) content, while also enhancing the level of amino sugars (3.46%-6.32%), N-galactosamine (1.21%-13.32%), galactomannan (2.41%-6.14%), and microbial residual carbon (2.70%-4.99%). However, the increase was less pronounced for high-active organic carbon (0.71%-1.48%) and particulate organic carbon (4.91%-5.86%) content. The addition of micro and trace elements to organic fertilizers may, to some extent, mitigate the mineralization process of organic fertilizers in sandy soils, thereby enhancing the level of labile organic carbon, recalcitrant organic carbon, organic carbon bound with minerals, and microbial biomass carbon in the soil, ultimately promoting the turnover and retention of organic carbon in the soil.

Objective, accurate, and timely evaluation of the spatiotemporal changes and driving forces of ecological environment quality is of great significance for the formulation of ecological protection plans and policies. Taking Alxa Left Banner as an example, this study constructs a Remote Sensing-based Ecological Index (RSEI) for arid regions based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and analyzes the spatiotemporal changes and driving forces of RSEI over the past 30 years (1991-2021). The study shows that: (1) Over the past 30 years, the RSEI of Alxa Left Banner has shown a fluctuating upward trend, with the maximum RSEI in 2012 (0.360) and the minimum in 2007 (0.264). (2) Over the past 30 years, the area of ecological improvement (RSEI>0.2, 3.15%) in Alxa Left Banner is larger than the area of degradation (RSEI<-0.2, 2.48%), with the largest area showing no change (-0.2<RSEI<0.2, 94.37%). Regions with poorer RSEI are mainly distributed in bare land areas, while the RSEI of forest, grassland, farmland, and impervious surface areas has gradually improved. (3) From 1991 to 2021, the Global Moran’s I index ranged between 0.600 and 0.650, indicating a high degree of clustering. (4) According to the results of the linear mixed-effects model, human activities account for 89% of the changes in RSEI, while climate change accounts for 11%. In summary, over the past 30 years, the overall ecological environment quality in the Alxa Desert area has gradually improved, with significant improvements in the northern edge of the Tengger Desert, primarily due to human activities, especially the aerial seeding afforestation projects.

The interaction between wind and water is key in shaping the morphology and spatial distribution of eolian landforms. Quantifying the influence of rivers on eolian landforms has always been challenging. This work selected the Hotan River, which crosses the Taklamakan Desert and the surrounding eolian landforms, as the research object. Based on high-resolution remote-sensing images, DEM and NDVI data, comparing relevant characteristic parameters of typical cross-sections, and analyzing the pattern of eolian landforms and the changes in river channel morphological parameters, the following results were obtained. (1) In the intersection area of the Hotan River and eolian landforms, NDVI=0.05 can be used as a critical value to distinguish the influence of rivers on the pattern of eolian landforms. Consequently, the spatial distribution of the area affected by the Hotan River on eolian landforms is revealed: its area is 20700 km² and its width ranges from 6 to 121 km. (2) The channel morphology of the Hotan River changes little, making it difficult to cause long-distance lateral migration of the river channel; the impact area on the surrounding eolian landforms will not change significantly. In the process of the interaction between wind and water, the Hotan River plays a leading role. Moreover, the southern section belongs to the fully fluvial dominant type, while the northern section belongs to the mostly fluvial dominant type. (3) The distribution pattern of eolian landforms that can be recognized as sabkhas, longitudinal dunes, transverse ridges, and reticulate dunes in sequence from the river channel to both sides results from long-term interactions between wind and water.

The characteristics of variation in leaf functional traits of different plant types (shrubs, herbaceous plants) in Hexi Corridor and the relationships between these functional traits are extremely important for maintaining the stability of the ecosystem in this region. To explore the mechanisms of adaptation and the ecological strategies of different plant life forms in arid environments, we established survey sites in the eastern, central, and western sections along Hexi Corridor, following a gradient of decreasing natural precipitation from southeast to northwest. We selected 26 dominant desert plant species, including 14 shrubs and 12 herbaceous plants, and analyzed their variability and regional patterns of 14 key leaf functional traits. We also investigated the trade-offs and adaptive strategies among these traits. The following results were obtained: (1) The coefficient of variation for leaf-bound water content (BW), carbon to phosphorus ratio (C:P), plant height (H), and leaf free water content (FW) of dominant desert plant species in the Hexi Corridor exceeds 100%. (2) Plants in different regions of Hexi Corridor displayed diverse survival strategies: plants in the eastern section adopted a “slow-return” strategy, shrubs and herbaceous plants in the central section exhibited “slow-return” and “fast-return” strategies respectively, while shrubs in the western section adopted a “rapid resource acquisition” strategy under resource-rich conditions, and herbaceous plants adopted a “slow-return” strategy under unfavorable soil conditions. The survival strategies of plants are influenced by multiple ecological factors, and they adapt to arid environments through trait optimization and resource allocation.

Drawing upon China’s comprehensive land use data and socioeconomic panel statistics spanning 1980-2020, this study meticulously analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of nonagricultural and nongrain farmland. It aimed to elucidate their underlying patterns of change and driving mechanisms, establishing a solid foundation for sustainable cultivated land utilization and stable food security. Utilizing the SD ellipse and trend analysis, we comprehensively assessed the dynamic evolution traits of these nontraditional agricultural uses. Furthermore, we constructed a comprehensive index system tailored for nonagricultural and nongrain farmlands and developed a partial correlation model to quantitatively assess the relative contributions of various influencing factors. This comprehensive approach offers a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics governing these farmland transitions and their implications for China’s agricultural sustainability and food security. (1) Regarding time, the current situation of nonagriculture farmland in China is getting better, but the nonagriculture phenomenon is still prominent in some areas and tends to intensify further. (2) Regarding space, the degree of nonagriculture is more serious in the northeast, central, and eastern regions, while it is higher in the northwest, south, and some coastal areas of southeast China. The polarization phenomenon exists in the direction of nonagricultural chemical evolution. The nongrain center exhibited a development trend of moving from the southwest to the northeast. (3) Economic factors are the leading driving effect of nonagricultural chemistry, and their degree of influence has decreased in the past ten years. Agricultural production condition is the basic factor of nongrain production, and it is gradually increased by economic factors, such as the output value of grain per acre and the income gap between urban and rural areas. The spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of nonagricultural and nongrain lands in China from 1980 to 2020 can provide a reference for the scientific implementation of cultivated land protection decisions.

The precipitation concentration index (PCI) is a measure of precipitation during the year. Based on the monthly precipitation data of 15 meteorological stations in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB) from 1981 to 2024, the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of PCI, the amount of seasonal precipitation, its frequency and intensity over the last 44 years, and the reasons for a change in PCI were analyzed using a linear equation, Person coefficient, and five mutation tests, including the Mann-Kendall and Cramer tests. The results indicated that (1) The PCI increased from east to west in YZRB, whereas annual precipitation, precipitation frequency, and precipitation intensity decreased from east to west. (2) Over the past 44 years, the PCI decreased at a rate of -0.26 per decade, indicating a trend toward more evenly distributed monthly precipitation throughout the year. Precipitation exhibited an increasing trend from January to July and October (the fastest increase in July), and it decreased in other months (the most in September). Monthly precipitation accounted for the proportion of annual precipitation (MPAP), which increased in February and April-July (the largest in May). MPAP was decreased in other months (the largest decrease in September). (3) The increase of precipitation in spring, summer, and winter was primarily due to the increase in precipitation intensity, whereas the decrease of precipitation frequency played a major role in the decreased amount of precipitation during autumn. Furthermore, the increase in annual precipitation intensity resulted from the significant increase of the Tibetan Plateau-1 index and the western Pacific warm pool intensity index. The decrease in the PCI was related to a decrease in the seasonal difference under the background of warming. (4) The PCI was lower only in the 2000s, but was higher in the other three decades, although there was a sudden change in the early 1990s. The abrupt changes in annual precipitation, frequency, and intensity occurred during the first 10 years of the 2000s and the middle and late 1990s.

This study aimed to clarify the adaptability strategies of Salix psammophila to different environments from the perspective of resource allocation for the stable construction and sustainable management of S. psammophila plantations. S. psammophila plantations in four types of sites (windward slope, leeward slope, interdune land, and flat sand land) were surveyed in the Mu Us Sandy Land in Ningxia. The characteristics of the S. psammophila population, including morphological parameters like basal diameter, branch length, and stem and leaf biomass, were recorded. The effects of topography on the biomass accumulation and distribution between the S. psammophila organs were studied based on the allometric growth model. (1) With growth, S. psammophila tends to reduce the proportion of leaf resources and increase the proportion of stem resources. (2) The site factors significantly impact biomass and its distribution between the S. psammophila organs. The average biomass of branches in the dune (windward and leeward slopes) is significantly higher than that in the interdune land (P<0.05), and the allometric growth index of leaf-stem biomass is significantly higher in the dune than in the interdune and flat sand lands (P<0.05). (3) The main soil factor that affects biomass and its distribution between the S. psammophila organs is soil moisture. Soil moisture of the whole section (0-100 cm) determines the biomass, and soil moisture of the deep layer moisture content (60-100 cm) affects the biomass distribution trade-off between the stem and leaf. The biomass accumulation and allocation of S. psammophila displayed significant differences among different site types, and the effect of deep soil moisture on biomass allocation was more significant than that of full-profile soil moisture. In the future, artificial intervention can be adopted to satisfy the water requirement for S. psammophila growth and realize the stable development of the S. psammophila plantation population.

Wind-sand activities cause surface erosion or accumulation, affecting the safe operation of photovoltaic power plants. This study analyzed the field characteristics of wind speed flow and the erosion variation of photovoltaic panels under different wind speed conditions (6, 8, and 10 m·s^-1) through wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations to elucidate the mechanism of surface wind erosion in desert PV power plants. The research results revealed that (1) photovoltaic panels change the near-surface wind speed and flow field, forming a front plate airflow lifting zone, a bottom plate airflow acceleration zone, a back plate vortex deceleration zone, and a tail plate airflow recovery zone; the wind speed near the surface of the board significantly increases, making it prone to erosion, while the wind speed behind the board decreases, making it prone to accumulation. (2) when the wind direction is reversed, the “narrow tube effect” under the photovoltaic panel leads to increased airflow, and wind erosion is significantly greater than normal airflow. The accumulation behind the panel is related to the deceleration of the vortex on the leeward side. (3) the wind erosion under the edge array panel of the photovoltaic power station is the most severe, while the wind erosion inside the power station array is relatively light; as the height of the photovoltaic modules increases, the wind erosion under the panels is reduced to some extent. The results provide a scientific basis for sand hazard prevention and efficient production of desert photovoltaic power plants.

Accurate identification for ecological restoration is essential for promoting sustainable ecological development. Longnan City, as a crucial water source conservation area and ecological security barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, plays a critical role in maintaining the regional ecological balance. This study used the InVEST model to evaluate ecosystem services and combined the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) method with circuit theory to construct the ecological security pattern of Longnan City, then analyze its evolution. The results showed: (1) From 2000 to 2022, the number of ecological source areas increased, primarily distributed in the Kang County, Hui County, and Cheng County. The spatial distribution exhibited a pattern of higher density in the south and lower in the north. (2) The average resistance value first decreased then increased, while the length of ecological corridors initially increased and later decreased, during the study period with a net reduction of approximately 508.94 km. Spatially, the corridors shifted from central to southeastern regions. (3) Ecological bottleneck areas, primarily dominated by forests, croplands, and grasslands, were concentrated in low-resistance zones. Their total area decreased annually, with a net reduction of about 144.84 km² over the study period. Ecological obstacles also decreased in both number and area, mainly clustered in Wudu County, Li County, and Tanchang District. Thus, the research results provide a scientific foundation for the formulation of ecological restoration plans and promotion of high-quality regional economic development in Longnan City. The findings provide scientific support for formulating ecological restoration plans and promoting high-quality economic development in Longnan City.

To more accurately obtain precipitation distributions in remote areas, this study combined the high-resolution advantages of radar and the wide-coverage detection of satellites. By integrating radar and satellite-derived precipitation, we generated high-precision quantitative precipitation estimation products. Using the strong convective events in Xinjiang on August 12 and 13, 2023, as an example, we used radar reflectivity for precipitation inversion based on cloud classification and Z-R relationships. We fed the Himawari 9 satellite brightness temperature and IMERG precipitation into a BP neural network model to establish the relationship between the average brightness temperature and the average rainfall intensity. Subsequently, we used the instantaneous brightness temperature of the Himawari 9 satellite to invert the momentary precipitation through the BP neural network model. We also proposed two precipitation data fusion schemes: Scheme I uses a uniform correction value to integrate radar and satellite precipitation, whereas Scheme Ⅱ further considers the precipitation intensity levels for comparison. Finally, we obtained high-precision precipitation inversion products for Xinjiang. The results showed that: (1) Cloud classification based on brightness temperature can finely estimate precipitation within the radar range, and brightness temperature differences can reduce the impact of non-precipitating clouds to some extent. (2) The root mean square error (RMSE) of the satellite precipitation inversion was 1.793 mm·h^-1, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.572, indicating reasonable model accuracy. The binary classification score indicated that the model can accurately invert precipitation in over 70% of the areas. (3) The fusion of precipitation by the two schemes slightly improved the accuracy of short-duration light rain distributions. Scheme Ⅱ outperformed Scheme I for short-duration moderate rain but showed a slight decline for short-duration heavy rain compared with Scheme I, indicating that the asynchrony between satellite observation and near-surface precipitation had some impact. (4) Under a 95% confidence interval, the P-values for the RMSE and R² differences between the two schemes and satellite inversion were all less than 0.005, while the P-value for Scheme Ⅱ compared with Scheme I was greater than 0.05. Both fusion schemes significantly improved the accuracy of the satellite precipitation; however, the improvement of Scheme Ⅱ, which considers the precipitation intensity levels, over Scheme I was minimal.

Against the backdrop of a gradual decline in global atmospheric nitrogen deposition, the legacy effects of long-term nitrogen addition on alpine grassland ecosystems remain unclear. This study investigated such legacy effects on plant communities in alpine grasslands through a 16-year controlled experiment conducted in the Bayinbuluke alpine grassland of the central Tianshan Mountains. The results revealed that: (1) Four years after the end of fertilization and regarding the functional traits of the dominant species, high nitrogen treatment (N15) significantly increased the plant height (+20%), leaf area (+16%), and specific leaf area (+5%) of Leymus tianschanicus but reduced the plant height (-23%) and specific leaf area (-1.5%) of Festuca kryloviana. Moreover, the legacy effects on F. kryloviana gradually weakened over the recovery time. (2) At the community level, long-term nitrogen addition exhibited positive legacy effects on rhizomatous grasses but adverse legacy effects on brunch grasses, significantly enhancing the cover and aboveground net primary productivity of the community. However, these legacy effects exhibited a diminishing trend over time. Under the N15 treatment, the increase in community cover declined from 32% to 18%, while the ANPP decreased from 64% to 44%. (3) Regarding soil chemical properties, adding nitrogen had significant positive legacy effects on the total soil nitrogen content but no significant legacy effects on the total soil phosphorus or organic carbon content. The negative legacy effect on soil pH gradually weakened, with the inhibitory effect under N15 treatment decreasing from -3.4% in 2023 to -1.4% in 2024. Soil total phosphorus and organic carbon content exhibited low correlations with vegetation characteristics, and the four soil factors collectively explained only a small proportion of the vegetation variation. This study demonstrates that, against the background of reduced or ceased atmospheric nitrogen deposition, historical nitrogen deposition continues to exert persistent legacy effects on grassland ecosystems, with some of these effects gradually diminishing over the recovery time.

Salinization in the irrigation areas of watersheds in downstream arid regions exacerbates soil degradation, crop yield reduction, and river water salinization, severely limiting agricultural production and harming ecological stability. It arises in a manner influenced by the depth of groundwater and poor irrigation and drainage management. Scientifically formulating measures to regulate soil water-salt is key to addressing these issues. In this study, field experiments were conducted in a typical farmland area of the riparian zone by the downstream part of Aksu River. Based on dynamic observations and field survey data, an unsaturated model was established using the HYDRUS-1D software to simulate soil water and salt transport patterns during the cotton growing season, determine appropriate regulatory strategies, and explore the relationship between the stable groundwater evaporation depth and riparian soil structure. The results revealed that the identification and validation accuracy of the soil moisture content and total dissolved solids were 0.862 and 0.752 with root mean square errors of 0.033 and 0.008, respectively, indicating that the model was highly reliable. Irrigation infiltration accounted for 85% of the total soil water recharge, introducing 127.164 mg·cm^-2 of salt, while soil water discharge to groundwater accounted for 59.67% of the total discharge, removing 267.78 mg·cm^-2 of salt. The water balance error was 9.2% and the desalination rate was 33.89%. Considering the demand for water for crops and soil salinity dynamics, setting the irrigation water depth to 70 cm while maintaining the groundwater depth at approximately 220 cm can effectively reduce the soil salinity in the root zone. In sandy loam structures, the position of the loam layer has little effect on the critical evaporation depth of groundwater (150 cm), but significantly influences the stable evaporation depth and actual evaporation. If the loam layer is closer to the surface, the stable evaporation depth becomes shallower and the actual evaporation decreases. The findings provide a reference for preventing salinization and managing water resources in arid regions.

Based on the 2022 daily precipitation data from weather stations in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, this study evaluated the accuracy of three datasets from the China Meteorological Administration: the Multi-source Precipitation Analysis System (CMPAS), Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS), and Global Atmospheric Reanalysis (CRA)—via error indices and grading methods. The results indicate: (1) CMPAS exhibits the lowest error and highest correlation, making it the most reliable for annual precipitation analysis. (2) CMPAS monthly data align closely with observations, while CRA overestimates and CLDAS underestimates precipitation in most months. (3) During two large-scale precipitation events, CLDAS best captures accumulated rainfall, while CMPAS more accurately reflects precipitation centers, intensities, timing, and location. Overall, CMPAS is the most effective dataset for analyzing precipitation in the region, supporting improved monitoring of sparse areas and laying a solid foundation for climate operations and disaster prevention.

Using hourly precipitation data collected from automatic weather stations (AWS) in eastern Gansu Province during the summer months from 2010 to 2021, a total of 50 regional heavy rain showers were identified. An analysis was then conducted to examine the spatiotemporal distribution and intensity of such events in eastern Gansu Province. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: (1) The intensity of the heavy rain showers primarily ranged between 20 and 30 mm·h^-1, which accounted for more than 60% of such events. Intensities exceeding 40 mm·h^-1 represented less than 10% of such events. Notably, short bouts of intense precipitation with intensities exceeding 50 mm·h^-1 occurred in 74% of the heavy rain showers in the studied region. (2) In the studied region, heavy rain showers mainly occur from mid-June to late August, peaking in the period from late July to mid-August. While such events occur throughout the year, the interannual variability in their occurrence is significant and closely associated with the position of the Western Pacific subtropical high, the transport of abnormally warm water vapor from the South China Sea or East China Sea, and significant baroclinic features resulting from the interaction of weather systems at mid- and low latitudes. (3) The area typically affected by heavy rain showers in eastern Gansu Province accounts for only 3.17% of its total area. However, there are notable regional variations in the spatial distribution of these events, with areas struck by high-intensity rainfall being primarily located in the Taizishan region, the western section of the Qinling Mountain, Liupan Mountain, and Ziwu Mountain. Additionally, areas affected by rainfall of extreme intensity, exceeding 40 mm·h^-1, are concentrated in these high-incidence centers. (4) There is a clear pattern in the distribution of stations recording heavy rain showers under different circulation patterns. Stations associated with the eastward-moving plateau trough type are dispersed and most abundant. Meanwhile, stations related to the subtropical high’s southwestern airflow type record the lowest median number of such events. Finally, stations experiencing shear between two high-pressure systems are concentrated, while those associated with the northwest airflow type are the least numerous. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the events with heavy rainfall intensity among these circulation types. However, rainfall intensities between 30 and 50 mm·h^-1 are more likely to occur in the two high-shear types.

Pixel-based classification struggles with the accurate identification of glacier changes in areas with similar spectral characteristics, particularly in debris-covered areas where spectral features closely resemble the surrounding mountains and rocks, thereby resulting in low extraction accuracy. This study investigates the Yinsugaiti and Yalong Glaciers using Google Earth Engine to integrate spectral indices, microwave texture features, and topographic data. An object-based (OB) machine learning algorithm is applied for automated glacier extraction and compared to pixel-based (PB) classification methods. The results show the following. (1) The OB classification approach, integrating multi-feature fusion, significantly improved the glacier extraction accuracy. The OB_RF classifier achieved an overall accuracy of 98.1%, a Kappa coefficient of 0.97, and an F1-score of 98.67%, outperforming the OB_CART and OB_GTB classifiers. When compared to PB_RF, the overall accuracy, Kappa coefficient, and F1-score increased by 1.7%, 0.024, and 5.57%, respectively. (2) Between 2001-2022, the Yinsugaiti and Yalong Glaciers retreated at average annual rates of 0.08% and 0.13%, respectively. (3) Supraglacial debris was primarily distributed below 5000 and 4800 m on the Yinsugaiti and Yalong Glacier, respectively. Over the same period, debris-covered areas on both glaciers expanded upward.

Climate change has increased the frequency of long-term droughts and heavy rainfall events, impacting ecosystems’ carbon cycle. Therefore, understanding how soil enzyme activity in different dry/wet conditions affects organic carbon mineralization can help deepen our understanding of the carbon cycle mechanism and advance the goal of global carbon neutrality. This study was based on the unique terraces built to control erosion in the Loess Plateau, and three treatments of flooding stress, drought stress, and wet/dry cycles were designed to monitor soil enzyme activity and organic carbon mineralization. The results indicate that the wet/dry cycle has a transient stimulating effect on organic carbon mineralization, and the cumulative mineralized organic carbon occurs between the drought and flooding stress. At the same time, the wet/dry cycle will increase the activity of carbon and nitrogen cycle-related enzymes; however, the enzyme activity will gradually decrease and stabilize as the number of cycles increases. The enzyme activity in all three water treatment conditions was limited by carbon and phosphorus, and the carbon limitation was more substantial with increasing wet/dry cycles. After the fourth alternating wet/dry cycle, the phosphorus limitation exceeded the flooding and drought stress treatments. When the soil was under drought stress, flooding stress, or wet/dry cycles, the enzyme activity factors that limit organic carbon mineralization were different. The direct effect of the phosphatase factor under drought stress was 99%, the direct impact of EAA_C/N (carbon cycle- /nitrogen cycle-related enzyme) and xyloglucosidase factor under flooding stress was 87%, and the direct effect of the interaction between factors under drought and flooding stress was only 1% and 13%. Under wet/dry cycle conditions, the direct impact of phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase factor was 75%, the direct effect of interaction between factors was 25%, and the wet/dry cycle significantly increased the interaction between factors. This study provides theoretical support for clarifying the role of Loess Terrace.

To explore the differences in the responses of different soil microbial community characteristics to grazing intensity, grasslands with different grazing intensities in the middle section of the northern slopes of Tianshan Mountains were selected as a focus for this study. Combining field investigation and indoor analysis, the changing patterns of soil microbial community characteristics with grazing intensity and their intrinsic correlation with soil factors were analyzed. The results showed that Actinobacteria and Ascomycota were the dominant phyla of bacteria and fungi, respectively. Compared with the findings upon heavy grazing, light grazing significantly increased the alpha diversity of microbial communities (P<0.05) and promoted the accumulation of soil microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents. Redundancy analysis and Mantel test showed that the soil microbial community characteristics were positively correlated with the soil total nitrogen and negatively correlated with the soil bulk density (P<0.05). Furthermore, the structural equation model showed that grazing negatively impacted the microbial diversity, richness, biomass, and OTUs characteristics by increasing the bulk density and reducing the soil nutrients (P<0.05). Compared with other indicators, soil microbial community diversity was more sensitive to grazing. In summary, light grazing is conducive to improving the microbial community, and reasonable regulation of grazing intensity is a feasible strategy to ensure the stable development of microbial communities.

Incorporating agricultural irrigation water into the global trade chain and determining its sustainability is vital for ensuring water and food security. However, the issue of sustainability in the virtual water of crop trade has received limited attention, due to the conflict between economic benefits and water resource utilization. Thus, based on the crop production and trade matrix data from the Food and Agriculture Organization, this study conducted physical trade flow and spatial correlation analyses as well as multiscale geographically weighted regression to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal distribution, the spatial correlation characteristics, and the driving factors of net exported virtual water sustainability in global crop trade from 2000 to 2019. Based on the findings, the sustainable and unsustainable net exported virtual water volumes in global crop trade (especially cotton) exhibited a fluctuating upward trend (approximately 0.20 Gm³ per year) over the past two decades. However, due to agricultural technological advancements, the proportion of unsustainable virtual water in the total virtual water trade volume decreased from 42.31% to 41.40%. Although the spatial analysis revealed considerable spatial clustering of unsustainable net exported virtual water volumes between 2000 and 2009, as shown by global and local Moran’s I statistics, this clustering trend weakened and became more dispersed over the past decade. Moreover, the increase in net exported virtual water was mainly driven by changes in cultivated land area, with agricultural value-added having a significant negative impact on virtual water in trade. Overall, these results highlight the importance of implementing stringent food security policies in order to facilitate the sustainable development of the global virtual water trade in crops and to further reduce the proportion of unsustainable water use.

Agricultural solar thermal resources are the core advantage in the national strategy of the Tarim Basin’s western development. However, there has been no comprehensive quantitative assessment of the potential for developing agricultural solar thermal resources in the Tarim Basin. Based on the analysis of the inter-annual trend and spatial pattern characteristics of agricultural solar thermal resources in 42 counties in the Tarim Basin, this study established a comprehensive evaluation index system and used the entropy-weight TOPSIS method and Mann-Kendall trend test to evaluate the potential for developing agricultural solar thermal resources in the Tarim Basin. The results revealed that (1) between 1990 and 2020, the agricultural solar thermal resources in the Tarim Basin, including annual sunshine hours, annual solar radiation, annual active heat accumulation above 10 ℃, and annual mean temperature, exhibited an upward trend, while the number of days with at least three hours of effective sunshine and annual evaporation displayed a downward trend. (2) a significant spatial imbalance was observed in the agricultural solar thermal resources in the Tarim Basin, and different indicators displayed different spatial differentiation patterns, forming obvious spatial features of high and low agricultural solar thermal resources aggregation distribution. (3) a significant spatial difference was observed in the potential for developing agricultural solar thermal resources in the Tarim Basin, with an average score of 0.199. The highest score of 0.578 was observed in Zhalay County, which was more than six times higher than in Keping County, with 0.094. These results reveal a “multicore” distribution pattern. The findings can provide a realistic reference for the development and utilization of agricultural solar thermal resources in the Tarim Basin and help improve the local resource utilization efficiency.

In this study, the typical desert plants, Haloxylon ammodendron and Nitraria tangutorum in the sand-blocking and sand-fixing belt of the Hexi Corridor were studied, Through the combination of field survey, sample collection, indoor analysis and statistics, To explore the adaptation strategies of desert plants to arid environment. Select Minqin oasis the sand-blocking and sand-fixing belt and Gaotai oasis the sand-blocking and sand-fixing belt. The natural vegetation sealing protection zone from the upper direction and the downwind tree irrigation shelterbelt, and the sand resistance and sand fixation belt with consistent spatial structure characteristics, Set three 10 m×10 m H. ammodendron quadrats and three 10 m×10 m N. tangutorum quadrats. The spatial distribution characteristics of the main leaf parameters and the environmental factors were analyzed. It aims to provide data support for the evaluation of leaf functional traits in two desert plants. Results showed that, Typical desert plants can adapt leaf functional traits to soil and climatic conditions under specific habitat conditions: (1) Leaf dry material content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA) were significantly different (P<0.05), Leaf organic carbon (LOC), leaf nitrogen (LN) and leaf phosphorus (LP) showed significant differences in the two habitats (P<0.001). (2) Principal component analysis as indicated, The top three index factors affecting the leaf traits of Minqin plants are LN, C:N and C:P; The top three index factors affecting the leaf traits of Gaotai plants are LP, C:N and N:P. (3) Redundancy analysis showed that, soil water content (SWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), and air dryness (AD) are the main limiting environmental factors affecting the functional traits of the two desert plants.

This study investigated the community structure and function of generalized and specialized fungal species (GFS and SFS, respectively) in the soil and roots of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forests and their relationship with soil physicochemical properties, aiming to identify key microbial mechanisms affecting ecosystem functioning in P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests. Using high-throughput sequencing technology, we analyzed the differences in the community structure and functional groups of GFS and SFS in the soil and roots of natural forests and plantations (24 a, 35 a, 44 a) of P. sylvestris var. mongolica in the Hulunbuir Desert. The results were as follows: (1) The soil and root-associated GFS retained 169 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in total, the soil SFS retained 603 OTUs, and the root-associated SFS retained 216 OTUs, including Tricholoma and Suillus in soil GFS; and Tricholoma, Suillus, and Cadophora in root-associated GFS; Penicillium in soil SFS; and Acephala in root-associated SFS. (2) The relative abundance of symbiotic nutritive fungi accounted for 28.49%-47.21% of soil GFS, and the dominant ecological functional group was ectomycorrhizal fungi, which showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing with forest age. Saprophytic nutritive fungi accounted for 17.01%-40.01% of soil SFS. The relative abundance of saprophytic nutritive fungi in plantation forests was lower than that in natural forests, and it showed a tendency of increasing and decreasing followed by increasing with forest age. Symbiotic trophic fungi accounted for 43.25%-54.45% of the root-associated GFS; the dominant ecological functional group was ectomycorrhizal fungi, which showed an increasing trend with increasing forest age, and the relative abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi in natural forests was higher than that in plantation forests. (3) The soil organic matter and available phosphorus content of natural P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests were significantly higher than those of plantation forests (P<0.05). In plantation forests, with increasing forest age, the soil organic matter (SOM), total phosphorus (TP), available nitrogen (AN), and available phosphorus in the soil increased significantly (P<0.05), whereas the soil pH decreased but not significantly (P>0.05). GFS was mainly dominated by SOM, soil NH₄⁺-N, and TP (P< 0.05). Furthermore, the community variability of root-associated SFS was regulated by total nitrogen (P<0.05), whereas soil SFS was significantly affected by only TP, AN, and NO₃^--N (P<0.05). The drivers of fungal community structure showed significant ecological niche differentiation. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the ecological functions of fungi in the soil and roots of P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests, providing a basis for the sustainable management and protection of P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests in the Hulunbuir Desert.

This study examines the surface deformation characteristics and deformation rate prediction of large-scale landslides in the upper regions of the Yellow River between the Longyang and Jishi Gorge riverbanks. The study area was the Xijitan giant landslide within the Guide region of the upper Yellow River. The Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Rader（SBAS-InSAR）technology was employed to monitor the surface deformation of the Xijitan giant landslide and analyze, its deformation rates and variation characteristics for the period 2019-2022. The results show that the following. (1) The maximum surface deformation rate of the landslide body was -96 mm·a^-1, with a maximum cumulative deformation of 464.71 mm. Distinct deformation zones were observed along the front and rear edges of the landslide body, with surface deformation rates ranging across -96-16 mm·a^-1. (2) The cumulative deformation of characteristic points on a landslide body, determined using SBAS-InSAR technology, exhibited a maximum cumulative deformation of -140.50 mm. (3) The long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network model was used to predict the cumulative deformation of these points, and the results were compared with those obtained using Support Vector Machine（SVM） and Back Propagation（BP） neural network models. The LSTM model demonstrated high prediction accuracy, with an absolute error within 5 mm and a goodness-of-fit (R²) greater than 0.8. This confirmed the effectiveness of the LSTM model in predicting the cumulative surface deformation of landslides. Thus, the findings of this study provide data support and practical guidance for the enhanced monitoring of giant landslide deformation in the upper Yellow River region and the early detection of potential landslides.

Stoichiometric homeostasis of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in the plant-soil-microbial continuum is crucial for the maintenance of nutrient cycling stability in fragile ecosystems. To address the challenges of imbalanced C:N:P stoichiometry in eolian sandy soils and the uncertain effects of organic amendments in the Horqin Sandy Land, this study conducted a field experiment to compare the impacts of biochar and straw additions on the stoichiometric characteristics of C, N, and P within an oat cultivation system. The experimental design included a control group (CK), biochar amendment treatments (low B1: 3%, medium B2: 5%, and high B3: 10% by mass), and straw amendment treatments (low S1: 3%, medium S2: 5%, and high S3: 10% by mass). Grounded in ecological stoichiometry and homeostasis theory, this study systematically analyzed the C:N:P response characteristics of oat plants, soil, and microbial communities. The results showed that (1) Biochar amendments (B2 and B3) significantly enhanced the C-N-P cycling efficiency of the oat system and demonstrated superior regulation over elemental allocation compared with straw addition. While biochar had negligible effects on C, N, and P content in oat shoots, it considerably increased these nutrients in the roots. Under the B3 treatment, root C, N, and P content increased by 45.2%, 65.2%, and 71.4%, respectively, relative to the control (CK), outperforming straw S3 by 28.7%, 60.2%, and 14.5%. Soil C, N, and P pools exhibited even greater responses: biochar B3 elevated soil C (240.2% vs. CK; 118.4% vs. S3), N (157.8% vs. CK; 81.4% vs. S3), and P (81.2% vs. CK; 17.5% vs. S3) contents. Microbial biomass followed a similar trend, with C, N, and P increasing by 95.3%, 88.7%, and 134.7% over CK, and by 61.2%, 21.7%, and 43.5% over S3, respectively. Additionally, biochar significantly reduced the C:N and C:P ratios in the shoots, roots, and microbial biomass while increasing these ratios in the soil. This bidirectional regulatory effect was not observed with straw treatment. (2) The homeostasis of oat roots under biochar and straw addition exhibited weaker stability and higher sensitivity to exogenous nutrient inputs compared with stems, leaves, and microorganisms. (3) The C, N, and P concentrations in the plants and microbial biomass of different organs of jasmine followed the order of C>N>P, and the C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios followed the order of N:P>C:P>C:N. Collectively, biochar amendments significantly enhanced the C sequestration capacity and elemental stoichiometric stability of the plant-soil-microbial continuum by improving the oat’s N and P assimilation efficiency. The high-dose biochar (B3 treatment) demonstrated the most pronounced effects. This study establishes a mechanistic foundation for sustainable management of sandy agroecosystems and provides practical guidelines for using biochar as a carbon-negative soil amendment in arid regions.

Desertification is a serious environmental problem globally, severely restricting the sustainable development of regional economies. In recent years, clay minerals have been widely used for improving wind-eroded and sandy soil, and bentonite with its unique 2:1 layered structure has particularly good prospects for application in the improvement of wind-eroded and sandy soil. In this study, the effects of different proportions of bentonite [without bentonite addition (B0), 2% bentonite addition (B2), and 4% bentonite addition (B4)] on the physical and chemical properties of wind-eroded and desertified soil and plant growth were studied. The results showed the following: (1) Bentonite addition increased the content of fine-grained soil and improved the soil’s water retention and water holding capacity (12%-88%). (2) The shear strength of wind-eroded and sandy soil supplemented with B2 and B4 bentonite was increased by 150% and 205%, respectively, compared with that upon B0 treatment. (3) Bentonite addition can lead to crust formation on the sandy surface, which is beneficial for sand fixation. (4) Among the treatments, B4 bentonite addition significantly increased plant coverage, biomass, and plant height by 32%-33%, 56%-85%, and 71%-107%, respectively. In summary, the addition of bentonite not only improved the soil’s water retention capacity, improved the soil’s physical properties, and fixed the sandy surface, but also promoted plant growth.

In the Aksu River Basin, 20% of the domestic and irrigation water comes from groundwater, making it crucial to understand the distribution and formation of high-arsenic (As) groundwater in the area. Based on the hydrochemical and isotope results, graphical methods were used to analyze the hydrochemical characteristics of the groundwater and the spatial distribution and forms of arsenic, revealing the As occurrence environment combined with geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeochemical processes. The results revealed that the single-structure phreatic water is alkaline oxidizing brackish water, the phreatic water in the confined water area is alkaline weakly oxidizing saline water, and the confined water is alkaline reducing fresh water. The As content ranged from 0.05 to 160 µg·L^-1, with a rate exceeding the standard of 19.5%. The hydrochemical types of high-As groundwater are mainly Cl·SO₄-Na, SO₄·Cl-Na·Ca, and Cl-Na, distributed in confined and phreatic water in the area downstream of the Aksu and Tailan Rivers at a depth of 10-42 m. From the mountainfront to the fine soil plain, the occurrence environment changes from weakly oxidizing to reducing. The As content and saturation index of the groundwater generally exhibited an increasing trend. The single-structure phreatic water and confined water were mainly controlled by the water-rock interaction. In contrast, the phreatic water in the confined water areas was mainly controlled by the evaporation concentration. The distribution of groundwater As is mainly related to structural factors, with realgar dissolution being the primary natural source. The arid climate and the geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological conditions create external conditions for the enrichment of high-As groundwater. Factors like pH, desulfurization process, Eh, and groundwater circulation patterns affect As release. This study helps us understand the formation and evolution of high-As groundwater in the Aksu River Basin, which is crucial for ensuring water supply safety.

In this study, we analyzed meteorological data from 1980 to 2020, hydrological runoff data, and future climate models from CMIP6 in the Jinghe River Basin. The CMIP6 climate data was processed using the delta downscaling method and coupled with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool hydrological model to investigate the variations in blue-green water due to climate change in the basin. The results showed that under the SSP1-2.6 pathway, the blue-green water content in the study area exhibited an insignificant upward trend. Under the SSP3-7.0 pathway, the blue water content showed an insignificant downward trend, while the green water content showed a significant upward trend. Similarly, under the SSP5-8.5 pathway, the blue water content showed an insignificant downward trend, and the green water content also exhibited an insignificant upward trend. The average annual blue water volume under the three pathways decreased compared to the historical period, with annual averages of 128.8 mm, 117.2 mm, and 126 mm, respectively. Conversely, the average annual green water volume increased, recording values of 372.7 mm, 369.3 mm, and 372.1 mm, resulting in a green water coefficient higher than that of the historical period. The spatial distribution of blue-green water increased from northwest to southeast, with consistent spatial distribution characteristics across each pathway.

Malus sieversii, a state-protected species and the progenitor of cultivated apples, is an important germplasm resource within the genus Malus. In this study, we aimed to compare the structural characteristics of chloroplast genomes across various populations of M. sieversii, clarify the lineage divergence pattern, and trace the evolutionary history of this species. We used the Illumina NovaSeq platform to conduct whole-genome sequencing of individuals from 16 different populations, with one sample representing each population. After conducting quality control on the sequencing data, we conducted genome assembly and functional annotation. Subsequently, we conducted a comprehensive structural analysis and lineage differentiation studies on the assembled genomes. The chloroplast genome length in M. sieversii ranged from 160195 to 160279 base pairs (bp), exhibiting a typical tetrad structure. In total, 131 genes were identified within the chloroplast genome, along with 48-58 long repeats and 93-101 simple sequence repeats. Notably, variations in the IR region between M. sieversii and other species in the genus were minimal, predominantly occurring in noncoding regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. sieversii clusters into three distinct lineages: lineage I, primarily occupying the eastern part of the distribution range, and lineages II and III, predominantly found in the west. The divergence time between lineages I and II was approximately 1.74 million years ago (Ma), while the divergence between lineages I, II, and III was around 2.28 Ma. These findings indicate that the lineage divergences of M. sieversii were significantly influenced by climate changes during the Quaternary period. Compared to internationally distributed populations, M. sieversii in China shows relatively low genetic diversity. Therefore, tailored conservation strategies should be implemented for M. sieversii across different regions, with particular emphasis on protecting genetically diverse populations in the Tacheng area.

The effect of environmental factors on the seed germination of two medicinal plants, Asclepias curassavica and Amaranthus tricolor, was studied using PEG-6000, NaCl, and pH gradient solutions to simulate drought, salt, and acidity stresses, respectively. The results provide the basis for their cultivation in arid, saline-alkali areas and the production of high-quality medicinal materials. The findings revealed that the seed germination percentage and index of A. curassavica and A. tricolor decreased with increasing PEG and NaCl concentrations. After 14 days of stress, the nongerminated seeds could rapidly germinate after rehydration and did not lose their vitality. TTC staining of the nongerminated seeds after rehydration revealed that the seeds remained active; the viable seed proportion of the two medicinal plants was significantly higher than in the control or did not decrease significantly, with mean values of 84% and 90%, respectively. At pH 3-6, the A. curassavica and A. tricolor seed germination percentages were 57% and 83%, while the nongerminated seeds of A. curassavica and A. tricolor lost their vitality. The percentages of dead seeds were 10% and 15%, and the proportions of viable seeds were 91% and 87%, respectively, for A. curassavica and A. tricolor. The two medicinal plants displayed a certain tolerance to drought and salt stress and a strong tolerance to acid stress during germination. The two plants can adopt different germination strategies, such as advanced or delayed germination or dormancy, to adapt to their environmental stresses. This study clarified the seed germination characteristics and differences of A. curassavica and A. tricolor under three abiotic stress factors. It provides a theoretical basis for producing and improving the quality of two medical plants.

Plant-based sand-fixing agents are ecofriendly materials that effectively stabilize sand without polluting the soil, and their decomposition products promote plant growth. This study investigated the physical characteristics of consolidated layers formed by plant-based sand-fixing agents and their effects on soil water movement in sandy farmland using water infiltration and evaporation simulation experiments with three plant-based sand-fixing agents (Artemisia desertorum, flax, and black locust) and six application rates (0.5 g·m^-2, 1.0 g·m^-2, 2.0 g·m^-2, 3.0 g·m^-2, 4.0 g·m^-2, and 5.0 g·m^-2). Wind-sand soil sprayed with the same amount of pure water served as the control (CK). The results showed the following: (1) The soil physical properties were altered. The compressive strength of the consolidated layer was in the order of black locust >flax >Artemisia desertorum>CK. The average compressive strength of the consolidated layer treated with the three agents increased by 109.38%, 95.06%, and 58.46% compared with CK, respectively. The compressive strength of the same agent increased with concentration. Soil bulk density increased with higher application rates, with a maximum increase of 3.76% compared with CK. Meanwhile, the total porosity and saturated and minimum water-holding capacity decreased by up to 44.55%, 47.65%, and 53.62%, respectively, compared with CK. (2) The water infiltration rate was effectively reduced. The infiltration times were as follows: flax (29.53 min)≈black locust (29.52 min) >Artemisia desertorum (29.03 min) >CK (26.08 min). As the application rate increased, the infiltration time showed a U-shaped trend for black locust and flax agents, whereas Artemisia desertorum increased gradually. (3) The soil water evaporation rates were significantly reduced. For all three agents, the application rates of 2.0-4.0 g·m^-2 demonstrated the most pronounced effects. (4) Application rates of 2.0-4.0 g·m^-2 improved water retention and prevented excessively slow water infiltration. This study provides theoretical support for the exploration of new sand-fixing agents and their application in the prevention of wind erosion in sandy farmland soils.

The success of sand fixation projects in deserts is dependent on soil hydrothermal conditions, which are essential for the healthy growth of sand fixation plants. Vertical pipe surface drip irrigation is a new water-saving and temperature-control conservation technology focused on combating soil drought and surface heat stress on seedlings. However, the mechanisms regulating hydrothermal distribution and migration status remain unclear, and its widespread application in sand-fixing areas lacks a theoretical formulation. Thus, this study constructed a mathematical model of soil water-heat migration for vertical tube surface drip irrigation using HYDRUS-2D software. The study investigated the effects of key irrigation parameters (drip head flow rate and irrigation water temperature) and vertical tube parameters (tube diameter and burial depth) on soil water-heat distribution and migration. The accuracy of the constructed model was confirmed through indoor experiments. Consequently, a single-factor analysis was conducted involving nine simulation scenarios to study the impacts of four influencing factors—drip head flow rate (1, 2, and 3 L·h^-1), irrigation water temperatures (10, 20, and 30 ℃), riser diameter (9.6, 11.6, and 13.2 cm), and riser depth (15, 20, and 25 cm) to obtain the distributions and migration patterns of the soil hydrothermal properties. The results showed the following. (1) Soil hydrothermal changes during irrigation occurred through water-heat coupling influenced by irrigation water temperature. Dynamic changes were most pronounced in the early stage of irrigation, particularly in the inner surface layer of the tube. Over time, these changes stabilized. Water infiltration from the bottom holes of the tube into the surrounding soil increased the soil moisture rapidly before stabilizing. Further, the soil temperature was affected by the irrigation water temperature, exhibiting slight increases or decreases. (2) The diameter of the vertical tube had a minimal effect on the soil hydrothermal changes during drip irrigation. However, the burial depth had a significant influence on the soil moisture but minimal impact on the thermal environment. Outside the tube, the soil moisture distribution around the tube formed a distinct pattern, with the bottom of the tube functioning as a dividing line. Above this line, the soil moisture content at the same point decreased as the burial depth increased, while below this line, the soil moisture content increased with greater burial depth. (3) The drip head flow was a critical factor in determining the soil moisture status although its impact on the soil temperature distribution was limited. The larger the drip head flow, the higher the soil moisture content at the same points outside the pipe. (4) The influence of the irrigation water temperature on the soil moisture distribution was relatively weak; however, it directly influenced the soil temperature. Higher irrigation water temperatures resulted in increased soil temperature at the same points inside and outside the pipe. (5) When adjustments to the vertical tube’s diameter and burial depth were not feasible, soil hydrothermal conditions in the root zone could be effectively regulated by adjusting the drip head flow rate and irrigation water temperature. Thus, this study offers a scientific basis for the design, operation, and management of a vertical pipe surface drip irrigation project for sand fixation plants.

The classification of the ground substrate is a fundamental basis for conducting ground substrate surveys and monitoring. It reveals the synergistic coupling relationship between the ground substrate and the surface cover layer, which aids in understanding the mechanisms of interaction between the ground substrate and the ecological environment from both the surface cover and subsurface spatial elements. This study targeted the Sangong River Basin in Xinjiang, a typical inland river basin in an arid region. Based on the heterogenous distribution of the mountain-oasis-desert landscape in arid regions, a three-tier classification and zoning system for ground substrates was developed, considering the distribution area, elevation range, and main surface cover of the surface substrates. The overall classification was divided into four primary categories, 17 secondary categories, and 28 tertiary categories. Considering the physical and chemical properties of the soil and the distribution characteristics of vegetation root systems, the suitable survey depth for ground substrates in the southern mountainous area was 50 cm; in the central plain area, it was 3 m; and in the northern desert area, it was less than 10 m. Additionally, based on the differentiation characteristics of Net Primary Productivity in vertical zonal ecosystems, the rationality of the classification system was validated, reflecting the role of ground substrate layers in nurturing and supporting land cover. These results provide theoretical and technical support for future natural resource surveys, monitoring, and scientific management decisions in arid regions.

In heterostylous plants, the floral morph composition and frequency of populations are a consequence of mating events over generations. “Homostyly” with anthers and stigmas at the same level within a flower is a floral morph that frequently appears in the evolution of heterostyly and is often accompanied by breakdown of the heteromorphic incompatibility system and the decline of genetic diversity. To explore the formation of the H-morph and its effects on the population, we studied five Limonium aureum populations exhibiting a widely distributed floral morph (H-morph), similar to “homostyly,” in the southern margin of Tarim Basin. The floral morph composition and heterostylous syndrome were investigated by field observations and hand pollination experiments. Meanwhile, the genetic diversity and genetic structure were studied using SSR molecular markers. The results showed the following: (1) The Atushi (ATS) population consisted only of the H-morph, while the remaining four populations were composed of the long- and short-styled morph, and H-morph. All populations had a moderate level of genetic diversity, dimorphism of stigma-pollen morphology, and a strict heteromorphic incompatibility system, revealing that the floral morphs with different pollen ornamentation and stigma papilla cell morphology were compatible. (2) Genetic structure analysis, principal coordinate analysis, and phylogenetic analysis showed that the ATS population had emerged earlier and was independent of the other four populations phylogenetically, with a significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance. (3) The H-morphs of the two types of populations may be at different stages of the evolution of heterostyly. The self-incompatibility of the H-morph and the heteromorphic incompatibility system of the population maintained the population’s genetic diversity.