Ecophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands

Ecophysiology of Economic Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
Author: Gerald E. Wickens
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 348
Release: 2013-04-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662037009

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

Agriculture in Semi-Arid Environments

Agriculture in Semi-Arid Environments
Author: A.E. Hall
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3642673287

The semi-arid zones of the world are fragile ecosystems which are being sub stantially modified by the activities of mankind. Increasing human populations have resulted in greater demands on semi-arid zones for providing human susten ance and the possibility that this may enhance desertification is a grave concern. These zones are harsh habitats for humans. The famines that resulted from drought during the late 1960's and the 1970's in the African Sahel illustrated the unreliability of present agricultural systems in this zone. Large fluctuations in ag ricultural production have occurred in semi-arid zones of Australia, North Ameri ca, and the Soviet Union due to periodic droughts, even though considerable ag ricultural technology has been devoted to agricultural development in these zones. The challenge to mankind is to manage these different semi-arid zones so that pro ductivity is increased and stabilized, and environmental deterioration is decreased. Irrigation can be used to increase and stabilize agricultural production in semi-arid zones as discussed in Volume 5 of this series, Arid Zone Irrigation. The present volume, Agriculture in Semi-Arid Environments, focuses on dryland farming in semi-arid zones, and is relevant to the large areas of the world where rainfall is limiting and where water is not available for irrigation. This volume is designed to assist agricultural development in these areas and consists of reviews and analyses of available information by scientists working in Africa, Australia, and at the U ni versity of California.

Arid and Semi-arid Environments

Arid and Semi-arid Environments
Author: Michael Hill
Publisher: Hodder Murray
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2002
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9780340800324

Arid and Semi-Arid Environments focuses upon major themes in the study of desert landscapes, processes and landforms. The book considers the physical causes of aridity, the desert hydrological cycle and the problems of water supply. Particular attention is paid to desert ecosystems and how they are related to aridity. A detailed study is made of the wide range of landforms which are unique to desert areas and how they were formed. Evidence in the landscape of past climates is examined in relation to the current debate on desertification.

Drought in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions

Drought in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
Author: Kurt Schwabe
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 510
Release: 2013-07-08
Genre: Science
ISBN: 940076636X

Offering a cross-country examination and comparison of drought awareness and experience, this book shows how scientists, water managers, and policy makers approach drought and water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions of Spain, Mexico, Australia, South Africa and the United States.

Water Management in Arid and Semi-arid Regions

Water Management in Arid and Semi-arid Regions
Author: Phoebe Koundouri
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2006-01-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1845429974

Water deficiency in many arid and semi-arid regions in Southern Europe is becoming a major constraint for economic welfare and sustainable regional development. These regions are characterised by high spatial and temporal imbalances of water demand and supply, seasonal water uses, inadequate water resources and poor institutional water management. The aim of this book is to formulate appropriate strategies and guidelines for water management necessary for the formulation and implementation of integrated sustainable management of water resources. Lessons are learned from various case studies, which examine competing water use patterns, compare governance structures and how these have evolved in response to scarcity, and structural and non-structural instruments to address water deficiency. Water Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions will appeal to policymakers in relevant countries as well as to scholars and researchers of environmental studies and economics.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones

Climate Change and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones
Author: Karmaoui, Ahmed
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 432
Release: 2019-02-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1522573887

Ecosystems provide services that are crucial and beneficial to the human population. The management and conservation of these services can assure the wellbeing of the local population. Climate Change and Its Impact on Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones is an essential reference source that studies the effects of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services in dry regions and examines various strategic local, national, and international policy developments to help overcome these impacts. Featuring research on topics such as poverty reduction, climate change, and adaption policies, this book is ideally designed for environmentalists, policymakers, government officials, academicians, researchers, and technology developers who want to improve their understanding of climate change impact, vulnerability, and sustainability, and the strategic role of adaptation and mitigation.

Engineering Hydrology of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions

Engineering Hydrology of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
Author: Mostafa M. Soliman
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 514
Release: 2010-06-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 143985839X

The natural scarcity of water in arid and semiarid regions, aggravated by man-made factors, makes it difficult to achieve a reliable water resources supply. Communities in these areas pay the price for thousands of years of water manipulation. Presenting important insight into the complexities of arid region hydrology, Engineering Hydrology of Arid

Groundwater Modelling in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

Groundwater Modelling in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas
Author: Howard S. Wheater
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages:
Release: 2010-09-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1139489720

Arid and semi-arid regions face major challenges in the management of scarce freshwater resources under pressures of population, economic development, climate change, pollution and over-abstraction. Groundwater is commonly the most important water resource in these areas. Groundwater models are widely used globally to understand groundwater systems and to guide decisions on management. However, the hydrology of arid and semi-arid areas is very different from that of humid regions, and there is little guidance on the special challenges of groundwater modelling for these areas. This book brings together the experience of internationally leading experts to fill a gap in the scientific and technical literature. It introduces state-of-the-art methods for modelling groundwater resources, illustrated with a wide-ranging set of illustrative examples from around the world. The book is valuable for researchers, practitioners in developed and developing countries, and graduate students in hydrology, hydrogeology, water resources management, environmental engineering and geography.

Dryland Ecohydrology

Dryland Ecohydrology
Author: Paolo D'Odorico
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2006-01-09
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781402042591

Ecohydrology emerges as a new field of research aiming at furthering our understanding of the earth system through the study of the interactions between the water cycle and vegetation. By combining the analysis of biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems, this volume provides a synthesis of material on arid and semiarid landscapes, which is currently spread in a number of books and journal articles. The focus on water-limited ecosystems is motivated by their high sensitivity to daily, seasonal, and decadal perturbations in water availability, and by the ecologic, climatic, and economic significance of most of the drylands around the world. Conceived as a tool for scientists working in the area of the earth and environmental sciences, this book presents the basic principles of eco-hydrology as well as a broad spectrum of topics and advances in this research field. The chapters collected in this book have been contributed by authors with different expertise, who work in several arid areas around the World. They describe the various interactions among the biological and physical dynamics in dryland ecosystems, starting from basic processes in the soil-vegetation-climate system, to landscape-scale hydrologic and geomorphic processes, ecohydrologic controls on soil nutrient dynamics, and multiscale analyses of disturbances and patterns.

Extractive Industries in Arid and Semi-arid Zones

Extractive Industries in Arid and Semi-arid Zones
Author: Joachim Gratzfeld
Publisher: IUCN
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2003
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 2831707412

This publication aims to contribute to planning and management approaches that minimize land degradation and desertification in arid and semi-arid zones as a result of extractive industries operations. Both operational and policy guidance are included to help those government departments responsible for the licensing, planning and monitoring of extractive industries activities to take account of environment and development issues in their decision-making.