Discussing the genesis of karst rocky desertification research based on the correlations between cropland and settlements in typical peak-cluster depressions

Abstract

Abstract. This paper attempts to explain the theoretical reasons why local farmers have executed land mismanagement measures such as steep slope land cultivation, in order to reveal the mechanisms of karst rocky desertification (KRD, including light KRD, moderate KRD and severe KRD) through typical case studies. Firstly, this paper assumes that the low land capacity is the initial cause of KRD in peak-cluster depression areas. Furthermore, the ecological quality of the peak-cluster depression zone (a combination of clustered karst cones with a common base and depressions between cones) is influenced by the relationship between the area of depressions and the population of residential areas. Therefore, six typical peak-cluster depression areas of Guizhou province were selected to compare the distribution circumstances of cropland, the characteristics of settlements and the formation of KRD with the help of ALOS images in 2010 (with a resolution of 10 m × 10 m). The results show that there is a negative correlation between the percentage of the cultivated land and the percentage of KRD at peak-cluster depressions. The relationship could be concluded by three situations of the process of KRD, which are low, middle and upper carrying capacities of land. Severe KRD is only distributed in peak-cluster depression areas with less flatland, low land capacity and a high population. The harmonization between population pressure and bearing capacity of land will influence the ecological qualities in the peak-cluster depressions. The KRD phenomenon which occurred in six typical peak-cluster depression areas confirms that the hypothesis suggested by this paper is correct, and this result will contribute to understanding the natural mechanisms of KRD and guide the ecological restoration of KRD land.

Human–desertification coupling relationship in a karst region of China

“…The scarcity of flat land available in the karst region leads farmers to expand arable land to steep slopes, which causes soil erosion and aggravates KRD. This worsens cultivated soil properties and impoverished resident livelihoods in the karst region (Li et al, 2016). Meanwhile, social-economic development can motivate the government and residents to pay attention to the environment and provide more funds for controlling and combatting KRD (Yang et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2016).…”

Soil erosion evolution and spatial correlation analysis in a typical karst geomorphology using RUSLE with GIS

“…Many factors affect the evolution of soil erosion in karst areas (Karamesouti et al, 2016;Krklec et al, 2016;Y. B. Li et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2016;Wu et al, 2016) because of the complicated natural conditions (Bai et al, 2013a, b;Tian et al, 2016).…”

Kualitas Permukiman di Basin Wonosari dan Perbukitan Kars Gunungsewu di Kabupaten Gunungkidul

“…Banyaknya permukiman penduduk yang terdapat di wilayah ini akan berpengaruh terhadap tingginya tingkat pencemaran dan kerusakan lingkungan. Namun, memang lebih sedikit penduduk yang memilih untuk tinggal di daerah karst karena daerah karst diketahui rentan terhadap erosi sehingga menjadikan masyarakat kurang nyaman untuk tinggal di daerah tersebut (Li et al, 2016). Umumnya, kualitas permukiman akan lebih baik jika permukiman tersebut berada di wilayah yang datar dibanding wilayah yang bergunung (Hasan et al, 2016).…”

“…Selain itu, memang lebih sedikit penduduk yang memilih untuk tinggal di daerah karst karena daerah karst diketahui rentan terhadap erosi sehingga membuat masyarakat kurang nyaman untuk tinggal di daerah tersebut (Li et al, 2016). Bukti empiris menyatakan bahwa daerah dengan aksesibilitas yang kurang akan memiliki kualitas hidup yang rendah.…”