introduction of a suitable vetch as winter crop in cold drylands of iran is highly important. line vp-2670 with origin of turkey was selected from icarda nursery during 2002 and was evaluated along with other selected lines and local checks over nine years in different stations and on-farm conditions. vp-2670 with mean 3500 kgha-1 dry biomass over environments, high stability and protein conten...

Links between water and carbon (C) cycles in drylands are strongly regulated by biocrusts. These widespread communities the intershrub spaces of able to use non-rainfall inputs (NRWI) (fog, dewfall vapour) become active fix dioxide (CO2), converting biocrusts into main soil C contributors during periods which vegetation remains inactive. In this study, we first evaluated influence biocrust type...

Active restoration is frequently implemented to restore degraded drylands globally, yet predicting the overall success of these projects remains challenging. Here, we aim explore if vegetation spatial patterns can be used monitor ecosystem recovery and anticipate practices. We combined field surveys high-resolution drone images analyze how change after large-scale straw checkerboards in sand du...

Drylands are expected to be affected by greater global drought variability in the future; consequently, how dryland ecosystems respond events needs urgent attention. In this study, Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Standardized Precipitation Evaporation (SPEI) were employed quantify resistance of ecosystem productivity drylands northern China between 1982 2015. The relationships temporal t...

Global warming alters surface water availability (precipitation minus evapotranspiration, P–E) and hence freshwater resources. However, the influence of land–atmosphere feedbacks on future P–E changes underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that soil moisture (SM) strongly impacts changes, especially in drylands, by regulating evapotranspiration atmospheric inflow. Using model...

Declines in terrestrial water storage (TWS) exacerbate regional scarcity and global sea level rise. Increasing evidence has shown that recent TWS declines are substantial ecologically fragile drylands, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, by synergizing satellite observations model simulations, we quantitatively attribute trends during 2002–2016 major climate zones to three mechanistic driv...

In drylands, scientific research shows that mobile livestock systems derive the maximum social, environmental and economic benefits from these areas. These ensure both short-term security in case of shocks and, right conditions, investment capacity. However, it is difficult to develop indicators understand assess their contribution territorial development, as they sit at intersection between se...

This edited volume is devoted to the examination of the implications of the inevitable changes wrought by global change on the welfare and livelihoods of tens of millions of people who live in dryland regions. Global change is more than just climate change and the ramifications of changing trade patterns (geopolitical and economic aspects), the shift to the market economy, demographic factors (...