Journal of Arid Environments最新文献

{"title":"The impact of browsing intensity on argan trees in the Essaouira region of Morocco","authors":"Boujemaa Fassih ,&nbsp;Mohamed Ait-El-Mokhtar ,&nbsp;Aicha Nait Douch ,&nbsp;Abderrahim Boutasknit ,&nbsp;Raja Ben-Laouane ,&nbsp;Badia Aganchich ,&nbsp;Said Wahbi","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pastoralism is a cornerstone of the argan forest ecosystem in Morocco, where the argan tree supports food production and livelihoods. However, overbrowsing threatens this ecosystem, underscoring the need for sustainable management strategies. This study assessed the impact of three browsing intensities on argan trees in the Essaouira region: no-browsing, moderate-browsing (managed browsing or the Agdal system), and heavy-browsing systems. Measurements of argan physiological and biochemical traits and soil parameters revealed significant differences among the three-browsing intensities. Heavily browsed argan trees exhibited reduced photosynthetic efficiency, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic pigments content, and leaf area index, while no-browsing system maintained optimal performances. The Agdal strategy significantly enhanced plant health compared to heavy browsing, improving physiological indicators and soil quality. Soil traits including electrical conductivity, moisture, and organic matter and total nitrogen content were notably better under managed browsing, promoting healthier argan ecosystems. Additionally, browsing intensity affected leaf biochemistry: overbrowsing induced a decline in protein content, while it enhanced total soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide content, and antioxidant enzymes activity (catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenoloxidase), reflecting heightened stress responses. Overall, even if the non-browsed trees performed best, the moderate-browsing system (Agdal) may be the most suitable of the three browsing systems, since it will be able to meet goats’ feed needs while ensuring the sustainability of the argan forest ecosystem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105472"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144913054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Traditional irrigation knowledge for sustainable water resource management in arid Environments: Insights from the MENA region","authors":"Tarek Ben Hassen ,&nbsp;Hamid El Bilali ,&nbsp;Mohammad S. Allahyari ,&nbsp;Chedli Baya Chatti","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105466","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Integrating traditional irrigation knowledge with modern sustainable water management practices offers valuable solutions to water scarcity in arid regions. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant climate challenges, including low rainfall, rising temperatures, and recurrent droughts. As sustainable agriculture requires harmony between humans and nature, managing scarce water resources is crucial for adapting to climate change and ensuring agricultural resilience in these arid environments. Communities in this region have historically addressed water scarcity by developing traditional and locally adapted irrigation techniques, such as Qanats and rainwater harvesting. These methods have been essential in conserving water resources and mitigating environmental stressors that impact agricultural productivity. This paper examines how traditional irrigation practices contribute to the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems and the preservation of fragile arid ecosystems in the face of climate uncertainties. The study provides: (i) an analysis of water scarcity issues and the effects of climate change on arid ecosystems in the MENA region, (ii) an exploration of traditional irrigation knowledge and technologies, emphasizing their role in water conservation and ecosystem health, and (iii) a discussion of socio-economic, institutional, and technological barriers to broader adoption of these practices. Case studies from various MENA countries illustrate how traditional practices enhance resilience and support conservation efforts. The paper highlights the importance of culturally appropriate strategies integrating human dimensions into ecosystem management, fostering sustainable and adaptive solutions for the region's challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105466"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of the landscape on hunting in a conservation area in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil","authors":"Natália das Neves Ramos Correia ,&nbsp;Juliana Mondinne Mendes de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Pablo Riul ,&nbsp;Kallyne Machado Bonifácio ,&nbsp;Denise Dias da Cruz","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hunting provides important resources and incomes for millions of people, especially in biodiversity-rich developing countries. Several factors, including the ecology of the target species, personal preferences, food taboos of populations, and landscape features, influence hunting. This study aimed to define the poaching strategies and landscape effects on poaching in the Sete Cidades National Park (PARNA), a conservation unit in the Brazilian Cerrado. Data collected from official reports showed that infractions against wildlife represented the third-largest category of notices, but only two were related to hunting activity. Mapping traces of illegal hunting on the PARNA identified 21 hunting traces under five categories, including the <em>tocaia</em> and <em>ceva</em> (hunting strategies used in the study region), suggesting a relationship between hunting and the percentage and density of shrub formations. No correlation was found between the landscape diversity and hunting intensity. However, a possible association was found between mapped poaching traces, roads, and old poaching routes. A disparity was observed between the number of hunting traces mapped and the number of PARNA infraction notices, demonstrating the need to increase inspections, especially in the southern part.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105460"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of land use land cover change on catchment hydrological response in 576 Iranian catchments","authors":"Afshin Jahanshahi ,&nbsp;Martijn J. Booij ,&nbsp;Sopan D. Patil ,&nbsp;Hoshin Gupta","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land use and land cover (LULC) changes significantly impact hydrological processes in semi-arid regions like Iran, where national-scale studies are scarce. This study assesses LULC change impacts from 2001 to 2022 on runoff and hydrological drought across Iran's 576 catchments (410,000 km²) using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+). This analysis employs a novel SWAT + framework integrating crop-specific calibrations (e.g., wheat, barley, rice), human interventions (e.g., irrigation, reservoir operations, interbasin diversions), and Curve Number (CN) dynamics, achieving robust performance (NSE: 0.50–0.88; KGE: 0.51–0.90). Evergreen forest loss (4.8 %–2.8 %) and agricultural expansion (20 %–27.8 %) increased annual runoff by 1.21 mm/month, with a 2.7 mm/month rise during the March–May rainy season, driven by 10–15 % reduced canopy interception and 5–10 % CN increases in arid catchments. Hydrological drought frequency rose 15 % in western and central catchments, with duration extending 1.2–1.8 months and severity increasing 5 %, linked to higher surface runoff (1.5–2.7 mm/month). Impacts were pronounced in arid and semi-arid regions (150–300 mm/year precipitation). This study advances LULC impact assessments by integrating runoff and drought analyses with CN dynamics, offering policy strategies like reforestation and precision irrigation for sustainable water management in semi-arid environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144893567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crop growth characteristics in semiarid sandy regions: associations with hydrological years and temporal precipitation patterns","authors":"Jiaqi Fan ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoke Guan ,&nbsp;Yan Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105462","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cultivated land is indispensable for promoting sustainable socioeconomic development. Therefore, investigating crop growth is essential for ensuring the stable utilization of cultivated land. This study assessed the spatial and temporal variations in crop growth across hydrological years and investigated the mechanisms linking the temporal distribution of precipitation to crop phenological responses via an integrated analysis of the MODIS EVI and daily precipitation datasets (2002–2020). The findings indicated significant interannual variability in precipitation throughout the spring maize growing season, with only 23.33 % of the years classified as normal. Spatially, crop performance was better in the eastern and southern regions than in the western and northern regions. Crucially, the alignment between precipitation timing and crop phenological stage emerged as a more significant factor than total precipitation. When the timing of water availability mismatches crop water demands, even high precipitation levels may fail to support optimal growth. To increase water use efficiency, adaptive strategies are proposed: prioritizing water allocation during key growth stages, adopting diverse irrigation approaches, and maintaining water conservancy infrastructures. These outcomes are crucial for promoting the sustainable utilization of cultivated land and safeguarding ecological security in semiarid areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105462"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Farmers’ attitude and intention towards medicinal plants cultivation: experiences from semi-arid areas of Iran","authors":"Ali Akbar Barati ,&nbsp;Ali Asadi ,&nbsp;Hengameh Sardar Shahraki ,&nbsp;Milad Dehghani Pour ,&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Naroui Rad","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105465","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105465","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The livelihoods of a considerable portion of the population in arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in rural communities, depends on small-scale agriculture. Despite the growing global demand for medicinal plants (MPs), little is known about the behavioral mechanisms influencing farmers' adoption decisions in challenging environments like Iran. This study fills this gap by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine farmers' adoption behavior of MPs cultivation, incorporating contextual challenges as external factors. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to 139 randomly selected farmers and all 25 pre-identified experts with specialized knowledge and field experience in medicinal plants in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between challenges, perceived ease of use, usefulness, and adoption behavior. The results revealed that while farmers had a positive attitude toward MPs' usefulness (mean score: 3.18/5), adoption was hindered by low perceived ease of cultivation (mean: 1.77/5). Key challenges included high production costs (ranked 1st by CV = 0.332), lack of marketing infrastructure (CV = 0.333), and technical skill gaps. Crucially, farmers’ intentions were influenced more by perceived ease (β = 0.520) than usefulness (β = 0.185), contrasting with classic TAM predictions. This highlights a disconnect between economic potential and practical feasibility in resource-scarce settings. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the dominance of ease-of-use over usefulness in agricultural technology adoption among low-literacy farmers; quantifying the mediating role of infrastructural and technical barriers on behavioral intentions; and providing actionable insights for policymakers to prioritize skill development and value-chain investments over purely economic incentives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105465"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do nurse plants enhance cactus survival under global warming? Experimental evidence from Coryphantha maiz-tablasensis, a threatened species","authors":"Francisco Arturo Guerra-Coss ,&nbsp;Joel Flores ,&nbsp;José Luis Aragón-Gastelum ,&nbsp;Ernesto I. Badano ,&nbsp;Hugo M. Ramírez-Tobías","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change poses a significant threat to arid and semiarid ecosystems, where drought, high solar radiation, and extreme temperatures limit plant regeneration. This study evaluated whether nurse plants can mitigate the effects of global warming and enhance the survival of <em>Coryphantha maiz-tablasensis</em>, a threatened cactus endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert. The experiment was conducted in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, using open-top chambers to simulate warming in two contrasting habitats: an abandoned agricultural field and beneath the canopy of <em>Neltuma laevigata</em> (mesquite), a common nurse plant. Simulated warming significantly increased air temperature, particularly in open areas. Although rainfall and soil moisture were lower under the mesquite canopy, cactus survival was substantially higher in this habitat—100 % in control plots and 95 % in warming plots—compared to 90 % survival in open control plots and complete mortality in open warming plots. These findings indicate that direct exposure to elevated temperatures and solar radiation is lethal to saplings. The results underscore the critical role of <em>N. laevigata</em> in buffering microclimatic extremes and supporting cactus regeneration. Incorporating nurse plants into conservation and restoration strategies may help reduce population loss under future climate change scenarios and ensure the long-term persistence of threatened cactus species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105461"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144866131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determining the best strategies to improve agricultural water productivity in arid and semi-arid regions: An ordinal priority approach","authors":"Sasan Esfandiari Bahraseman ,&nbsp;Ali Firoozzare ,&nbsp;Flavio Boccia ,&nbsp;Fateme Pourmohammad ,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Ameri","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The exponential growth of the world's population has significantly increased the demand for food. Agriculture, as the main provider of food, faces severe constraints due to limited water resources. In this context, improving agricultural water productivity is one of the most effective solutions to address water crises, ultimately leading to increases in both the quantity and quality of agricultural products. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the most effective strategies for improving agricultural water productivity in arid and semi-arid regions, with a particular focus on Mashhad County in Iran. Through interviews with experts and the use of the Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA), four criteria (operational effectiveness, social acceptance, economic efficiency, and ecological sustainability) and 27 strategies were identified and prioritized. The results revealed that institutional and policy interventions received the highest priority, followed by capacity-building and awareness interventions, and irrigation technology interventions. Agronomic and genetic interventions, as well as water resource management interventions, received the lowest priority. The findings and recommendations of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers, water managers, and agricultural stakeholders to develop and implement effective strategies to improve water productivity, enhance food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in arid and semi-arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105458"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144842848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A perfect storm: unprecedented expansion of the Namib Desert and cascading desertification processes in the northernmost Succulent Karoo","authors":"Norbert Jürgens ,&nbsp;Antje Burke ,&nbsp;Pieter van Wyk ,&nbsp;Alexander Gröngröft ,&nbsp;Jens Oldeland","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105459","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105459","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arid regions are characterized by high unpredictability of rainfall. Consequently, ecosystems along their margins are naturally oscillating but usually resilient. Here, we report the severe and potentially irreversible degradation of vegetation, ecosystems, and biodiversity in the northernmost more than 1 million ha of the Succulent Karoo, a global biodiversity hotspot. In our study, we use monitoring data spanning 45 years to disentangle different processes of change which started decades ago. The regionally important, vulnerable ecosystem “Gariep silty plains” is inhabited by the species-rich vegetation alliance Brownanthion pseudoschlichtiani. The cushion-like dwarf shrub scorpionstail (Brownanthus pseudoschlichtianus, Aizoaceae) is the dominant plant species protecting the soil and facilitating silt sedimentation. Following disturbances, this vegetation type is thinning and losing perennial plant species. This allows aeolian erosion, which – as a tipping point - turns the silty topsoil into sandy soil across extensive areas. Increased mobilisation of aeolian sand causes abrasion and sedimentation, which buries vast landscapes. The newly developed sandy topsoils are invaded by species-poor grassland communities partly typical for the Namib Desert biome. We present a novel S&amp;T model and discuss cascading effects which threaten nature, farmland and infrastructure. Farming, mining, road construction and climate change may be interacting drivers of degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105459"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Location differences in senescence and leaf macronutrient concentrations for selected tree species in the savannah woodlands of Botswana","authors":"G.L. Modutlwe ,&nbsp;C. Munyati ,&nbsp;B. Moseki","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trees are a core component of savannah vegetation content, with vital ecosystem functions. Therefore, determining location differences in their senescence time and leaf macronutrient (MN) concentrations can yield indicators of differences in habitat quality. In this work, senescence time and MN levels in three common tree species (<em>Colophospermum mopane</em>, <em>Grewia flava</em>, <em>Vachellia erioloba</em>) in the semi-arid savannah woodlands of Botswana were studied, at three temperature and rainfall-contrasted study sites. Chlorophyll (Chl) levels in sample tree leaves were measured weekly in the March–May (autumn) period using a chlorophyll meter that utilised the blue + red absorption and green reflectance Chl properties. In the same period, sampling tree Green Leaf Index (GLI) values were computed from periodic (approximately every five days) cloud-free 10 m resolution Sentinel-2 MSI images. Some image dates coincided with the Chl measurement dates, which facilitated predictive modelling using GLI values. Leaf MN concentrations were determined once-off, during the peak phenology period. Graphical plots of measured Chl and GLI values indicated the onset of senescence, through the commencement of sustained reductions. Trees in the hotter, more arid site generally had earlier senescence and lower nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations than same species trees in cooler, higher rainfall sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"231 ","pages":"Article 105457"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}