A method for conserving Ulmus pumila var.sabulosa
By establishing mechanical and plant sand barriers in sparse elm forests in sandy areas, a three-dimensional vegetation structure of trees, shrubs and grasses was formed, which solved the problems of vegetation degradation and wind erosion in sparse elm forests in sandy areas, and achieved rapid sand fixation and long-term ecological restoration.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENYANG INST OF APPL ECOLOGY CHINESE ACAD OF SCI
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-17
AI Technical Summary
Overgrazing and wind erosion have led to vegetation degradation in sparse elm forests in sandy areas. Elm roots have been eroded by wind, soil erosion beneath the canopy has increased, elm trees have died, and ecological stability has been compromised.
The method combines mechanical and plant-based sand barriers, including the construction of low-rise grass checkerboard sand barriers, high-rise windbreaks, and plant-based sand barriers within protective fences. By utilizing the sand-fixing capabilities of different plants, a three-dimensional vegetation structure of trees, shrubs, and grasses is formed.
It can quickly stabilize sand, restore vegetation cover, protect the root system of elm trees, and improve the stability and ecological value of sparse elm forests in sandy areas.
Smart Images
Figure CN118435830B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of sandy land tree conservation technology, and specifically relates to a method for the conservation of elm trees in sandy land. Background Technology
[0002] Sparse forests of *Ulmus pumila* are an important component of sandy land ecosystems. They are climax communities of cryptic sandy vegetation adapted to semi-arid and semi-humid climates, serving as crucial plant communities for windbreak and sand fixation, protecting the ecological environment of sandy areas and surrounding land resources. They are also important gene banks for drought-resistant psammophytes and vital refuges and habitats for grassland wildlife, playing a significant role in maintaining regional ecological stability. Over the past half-century, human disturbances, such as deforestation, overgrazing, and the establishment of artificial forest communities, have damaged the ecological environment of *Ulmus pumila* sparse forests to varying degrees. In particular, excessive grazing and trampling by livestock have significantly reduced the vegetation cover, height, and density in sandy areas. Grasslands have no opportunity to recover, leading to large-scale vegetation degradation, a decrease in the proportion of perennial herbs, an increase in the proportion of annual and biennial herbs, the death or disappearance of large numbers of shrub communities, reduced carrying capacity, an increase in bare sand areas, and the reactivation of sand dunes.
[0003] Overgrazing in sparse elm forests leads to livestock resting and seeking shade under the tree canopy. This results in severe degradation of the vegetation beneath the canopy due to grazing and trampling, causing soil activation. Combined with the wind-blocking effect of the elm canopy, this increases near-surface wind speeds, leading to significantly higher soil erosion rates below the canopy compared to the surrounding surface. Exposed elm roots are exposed, and in severe cases, wind erosion pits form, greatly reducing the root system's support capacity. Elm trees are then blown down and die, disrupting the unique ecological function of sparse elm forests and causing a continuous shrinkage of the forest-steppe area, severely damaging both its ecological and economic value. Therefore, restoring the vegetation beneath the canopy to protect elm roots from wind erosion and ensure elm survival is a pressing applied problem for the ecological conservation of sparse elm forests in sandy areas. Based on the ecological characteristics of sparse elm forests in sandy areas, this paper proposes a method for their conservation, which is of great significance for maintaining the ecological stability of sparse elm forests in semi-arid and semi-humid climate zones. Summary of the Invention
[0004] In response to the problem of wind erosion and death of elm trees in sandy areas, the present invention aims to provide a method for the conservation of elm trees in sandy areas. This method is simple, effective, easy to operate, and has a very obvious conservation effect.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:
[0006] This invention provides a method for the conservation of elm trees in sandy areas, comprising the following steps:
[0007] (1) Identify the types of sand damage to elm trees;
[0008] (2) Establish a protective fence. The protective fence is built with the elm tree as the center, and the sand damage to the elm tree is surrounded by the fence.
[0009] (3) Establish mechanical sand barriers within the protective fence, the mechanical sand barriers including low vertical grass grid sand barriers and high vertical windbreaks;
[0010] (4) Establish plant sand barriers inside the protective fence.
[0011] The types of sand damage to elm trees include the following:
[0012] The area beneath the tree canopy was buried by quicksand;
[0013] The area beneath the tree canopy forms hard, wind-eroded depressions.
[0014] Large, undulating wind-eroded pits and steep slopes formed beneath the tree canopy.
[0015] For the type of sand damage where the area beneath the tree canopy is buried by shifting sand, the measures adopted are to construct the low-lying vertical grass checkerboard sand barrier and the plant sand barrier within the protective fence.
[0016] For the type of sand damage that forms large undulating wind erosion pits and steep slopes under the tree canopy, the method of filling with topsoil or leveling the steep slopes is adopted to flatten the undulating surface, and the low vertical grass grid sand barrier and plant sand barrier measures are established within the protective fence.
[0017] The low-rise straw grid sand barrier is made of rice straw, reeds or wheat straw, buried 20-25cm underground and exposed 20-25cm above ground, with a size of 1-2m × 1-2m.
[0018] For sand damage types that form hard, wind-eroded depressions beneath the tree canopy, the measures adopted include constructing a tall, upright windbreak and a plant-based sand barrier within the protective fence.
[0019] The elevated windbreak is constructed by driving multiple rows of wooden stakes with a spacing of 1 to 2 meters into wind-eroded depressions. The stakes are 0.5 to 1.0 meters high. A wire is tied to the top and bottom of each row of stakes, and a reed curtain or willow mat with a height of 0.5 to 1.0 meters is tied to the wire to form multiple rows of elevated windbreaks.
[0020] The establishment of plant sand barriers involves planting shrubby sand-fixing plants and sowing semi-shrubby and herbaceous sand-fixing plants to form plant sand barriers.
[0021] Semi-shrubs were selected as pioneer plants, shrubs as mid-to-late stage sand-fixing plants, and herbaceous plants as late stage sand-fixing plants.
[0022] The shrubs include Astragalus membranaceus and Caragana microphylla, and the shrubs are planted to create a plant sand barrier;
[0023] The semi-shrub plants include Artemisia argyi and Artemisia argyi, and the herbaceous plants include Lysimachia christinae, Leymus chinensis and Leymus chinensis. The semi-shrub plants and the herbaceous plants are used to establish plant sand barriers by sowing.
[0024] The spacing between plants and rows for shrubs is 1m×1m. The shrub seedlings are 1-2 year old seedlings. In northern regions, the planting period is in spring, from March to April, before the shrub seedlings turn green again.
[0025] The seed ratio for sowing is 1:20 for semi-shrubs and herbs, and the sowing amount after mixing is 3-5 kg / mu. Sow in furrows with a furrow depth of 1-3 cm and a furrow spacing of 20-30 cm.
[0026] The advantages and beneficial effects of this invention are:
[0027] 1. This invention is based on the principles of restoration ecology and fluid mechanics, and uses mechanical measures in combination with biological measures to combine temporary and long-term sand control, so as to achieve the purpose of rapid sand fixation by low and high vertical sand barriers and long-term sand fixation by plants.
[0028] 2. This invention constructs a three-dimensional vegetation structure of trees, shrubs and grasses to form a windbreak-sand-fixing community structure. Based on the succession law of psammophytic to xerophytic plant communities, it constructs a stable community structure with a reasonable configuration of plants that can rapidly fix sand and have strong drought resistance.
[0029] 3. This invention is simple in principle, low in cost, and easy to promote. It protects the root system of elm trees from wind erosion and has important ecological significance for ensuring the stability of sparse elm forests in sandy areas. Attached Figure Description
[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the low-vertical grass checkerboard conservation method used in this invention when the area below the tree canopy is buried by quicksand;
[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a single cell of the low-rise vertical grass grid in this invention;
[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sowing furrow direction within a single cell of the low vertical grass grid in this invention;
[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the method for protecting the soil under the canopy of elm trees from wind erosion in this invention using a vertical windbreak.
[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the neutral windbreak of the present invention;
[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the direction of the sowing furrows between the vertical windbreaks in this invention.
[0036] In the picture: 1 is a protective fence, 2 is a low vertical grass checkerboard sand barrier, 3 is a vertical windbreak, 4 is a wooden stake, 5 is a wire, 6 is a reed curtain, and 7 is a sowing furrow. Detailed Implementation
[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0038] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the present invention provides a method for the conservation of elm trees in sandy areas, comprising the following steps:
[0039] (1) Identify the types of sand damage to elm trees;
[0040] (2) Establish protective fence 1. The protective fence 1 is to build a fence with the elm tree as the center and surround the sand damage of the elm tree inside the fence.
[0041] (3) Mechanical sand barriers are built inside the protective fence 1. The mechanical sand barriers include low vertical grass grid sand barriers 2 and high vertical windbreak barriers 3.
[0042] (4) Establish a plant sand barrier inside the protective fence 1.
[0043] The types of sand damage to elm trees include the following: the area beneath the canopy is buried by shifting sand; a hard, wind-eroded depression forms beneath the canopy; and deep, undulating wind-eroded pits and steep slopes form beneath the canopy. Specifically, a protective fence 1 with dimensions of 8m×8m or 10m×10m should be constructed. The size and location of the protective fence 1 should be adjusted according to the location and area of the sand damage, and the sand damage to the elm trees should be included within the protective fence 1.
[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, for the type of sand damage where the area below the tree canopy is buried by quicksand, a low vertical grass grid sand barrier 2 and a plant sand barrier are constructed within the protective fence 1.
[0045] For sand damage types that form large undulating wind erosion pits and steep slopes under the tree canopy, the method of filling with topsoil or leveling the steep slopes is adopted to flatten the undulating surface. Low vertical grass grid sand barriers 2 and plant sand barriers are built within the protective fence 1.
[0046] like Figure 2 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the low-standing grass grid sand barrier 2 is made of rice straw, reeds or wheat straw, buried 20-25cm underground and exposed 20-25cm above ground, and has a size of 1-2m × 1-2m.
[0047] like Figure 4 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, for the type of sand damage that forms a hard wind erosion depression under the tree canopy, a measure is adopted to build a high vertical windbreak 3 and a plant sand barrier inside the protective fence 1.
[0048] like Figure 5 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the tall windbreak 3 is constructed by driving multiple rows of wooden stakes 4 with a spacing of 1 to 2 meters into wind-eroded depressions. The wooden stakes 4 are 0.5 to 1.0 meters high. A wire 5 is tied to the upper and lower ends of each row of wooden stakes 4. A reed curtain 6 or willow mat with a height of 0.5 to 1.0 meters is tied to the wire 5 to form multiple rows of tall windbreaks 3.
[0049] In embodiments of the present invention, establishing a plant-based sand barrier involves planting shrubby sand-fixing plants and sowing semi-shrubby and herbaceous sand-fixing plants to form a plant-based sand barrier.
[0050] Specifically, semi-shrubs were selected as pioneer plants, shrubs as mid-to-late-stage sand-fixing plants, and herbaceous plants as late-stage sand-fixing plants. Shrubs included *Hedysarum fruticosum* and *Caragana microphylla*, which were planted using seedlings to establish sand barriers. Semi-shrubs included *Artemisia ordosica* and *Artemisia halodendron*, while herbaceous plants included *Agropyron crispum*, *Elymus dahuricus*, and *Elymus sibiricus*. Both semi-shrubs and herbaceous plants were planted using seeds to establish sand barriers.
[0051] Furthermore, for the seedling planting method, the spacing between plants and rows of shrubs is 1m × 1m. Shrub seedlings are 1-2 year old. In northern regions, the planting period is in spring, from March to April, before the shrub seedlings turn green again. For the sowing method, the seed ratio is semi-shrub:herb = 1:20, and the sowing rate after mixing is 3-5 kg / mu. Sowing is done in furrows, with a furrow depth of 1-3 cm and a furrow spacing of 20-30 cm.
[0052] Example 1
[0053] The conservation method for bare spots buried in sand under the canopy of elm trees involves the following steps:
[0054] 1. Construct an 8m x 8m protective fence 1 centered on the elm tree, including the bare sand-buried spots within the protective fence 1.
[0055] 2. On the bare patches buried by quicksand within the protective fence 1, use a shovel to insert straw into the quicksand and roll it into 1m×1m straw squares. The straw squares are buried 20cm underground and 25cm above ground, used to block wind and stabilize the sand.
[0056] 3. The selected semi-shrub, shrub, and herbaceous sand-fixing plants are Artemisia argyi, Caragana microphylla, and Agropyron cristatum, respectively.
[0057] 4. In March, plant one two-year-old seedling of *Caragana microphylla* in each grass square.
[0058] 5. Mix the seeds of Artemisia argyi and Artemisia argyi thoroughly at a ratio of 1:20 and use them for sowing.
[0059] 6. From May to July, dig sowing furrows 2cm deep within the grass beds, with a furrow spacing of 25cm. The sowing rate after mixing the seeds is 3kg / mu.
[0060] This embodiment can achieve the conservation effect of "sand fixation, greening, and sand burial prevention" for elm trees.
[0061] Example 2
[0062] The conservation method for hardened wind-eroded depressions under the canopy of elm trees involves the following steps:
[0063] 1. Construct an 8m×8m protective fence 1 centered on the elm tree, including the wind erosion depression within the protective fence 1.
[0064] 2. On the wind-eroded depression inside the protective fence 1, drive wooden stakes with a row spacing of 2m and a spacing of 1.0m along the vertical direction of the prevailing wind. The stakes should be 1.0m high. Tie a wire to the top and bottom of each row of stakes.
[0065] 3. Tie reed curtains with a height of 1.0m to the wire between the wooden stakes to form multiple rows of windbreaks and sand barriers.
[0066] 4. Selected semi-shrubs, shrubs, and herbaceous plants as sand-fixing plants: Artemisia argyi, Astragalus membranaceus, Leymus chinensis, and Leymus chinensis.
[0067] 5. In March, plant 2-year-old Astragalus membranaceus seedlings with a spacing of 1m × 1m between windbreaks and sand barriers.
[0068] 6. The seed ratio for sand-fixing plants is 1:10:10 for semi-shrub Artemisia argyi, 1:10 for herbaceous Leymus chinensis, and 1:10 for herbaceous Leymus chinensis. Mix the seeds evenly and sow at a rate of 3 kg / mu.
[0069] 7. From May to July, dig sowing furrows 2 cm deep between windbreaks and sand barriers, with a spacing of 25 cm between the sowing furrows.
[0070] This embodiment can achieve the conservation effect of "wind resistance, greening, and wind erosion prevention" for elm trees.
[0071] Example 3
[0072] The conservation method for the large, undulating wind-eroded pits and steep slopes formed beneath the canopy of elm trees involves the following steps:
[0073] 1. Construct a 10m×10m protective fence 1 centered on the elm tree, including the wind-eroded pits and steep slopes within the protective fence 1.
[0074] 2. Inside the protective fence 1, the deep wind erosion pits are filled and the steep slopes are leveled to prevent soil erosion from exposing the roots of the elm trees and causing them to fall.
[0075] 3. On the leveled ground within the protective fence 1, use a shovel to insert straw into the quicksand and roll it into 1m×1m straw squares. The straw squares are buried 20cm underground and 25cm above ground for windbreak and sand fixation.
[0076] 4. Selected semi-shrub, shrub, and herbaceous sand-fixing plants as Artemisia argyi, Caragana microphylla, and Agropyron cristatum, respectively.
[0077] 5. In March, plant one two-year-old seedling of *Caragana microphylla* in each grass square.
[0078] 6. Mix the seeds of Artemisia argyi and Artemisia argyi thoroughly at a ratio of 1:20 and use them for sowing.
[0079] 7. From May to July, dig sowing furrows 2cm deep within the grass beds, with a furrow spacing of 25cm. The sowing rate after mixing the seeds is 3kg / mu.
[0080] This embodiment can achieve the conservation effects of "land preparation, greening, and lodging prevention" for elm trees.
[0081] This invention, based on the principles of restoration ecology and fluid mechanics, utilizes a combination of mechanical and biological measures to achieve both temporary and long-term sand control, enabling rapid sand fixation with low and high vertical sand barriers and long-term sand fixation with vegetation. By constructing a three-dimensional vegetation structure of trees, shrubs, and grasses, this invention forms a windbreak-sand-fixing community structure. Based on the succession pattern of psammophytic to xerophytic plant communities, it constructs a stable community structure with a rational configuration of plants that rapidly fix sand and possess strong drought resistance.
[0082] This invention is simple in principle, low in cost, and easy to promote. It protects the root system of elm trees from wind erosion and has important ecological significance for ensuring the stability of sparse elm forests in sandy areas.
[0083] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, extensions, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for conserving elm trees in sandy areas, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Identify the types of sand damage to elm trees; (2) Establish a protective fence. The protective fence is built with the elm tree as the center, and the sand damage to the elm tree is surrounded by the fence. (3) Establish mechanical sand barriers within the protective fence, including low vertical grass grid sand barriers and high vertical windbreaks; (4) Establish plant sand barriers within the protective fence; The types of sand damage to elm trees include the following: The area beneath the tree canopy was buried by quicksand; Hard, wind-eroded depressions form beneath the tree canopy; The area beneath the tree canopy has formed deep, undulating wind-eroded pits and steep slopes. For the type of sand damage where the area beneath the tree canopy is buried by shifting sand, the measures adopted are to construct the low-lying vertical grass checkerboard sand barrier and the plant sand barrier within the protective fence; For the sand damage type that forms large undulating wind erosion pits and steep slopes under the tree canopy, the method of filling with topsoil or leveling the steep slopes is adopted to flatten the undulating surface, and the low vertical grass grid sand barrier and plant sand barrier measures are established within the protective fence. For the type of sand damage that forms hard wind erosion depressions under the tree canopy, the measures of building the high windbreak and the plant sand barrier inside the protective fence are adopted. The establishment of plant sand barriers involves planting shrubby sand-fixing plants and sowing semi-shrubby and herbaceous sand-fixing plants to form plant sand barriers; semi-shrubby plants are selected as pioneer plants, shrubby plants are selected as mid-to-late stage sand-fixing plants, and herbaceous plants are selected as late stage sand-fixing plants.
2. The method for conserving elm trees in sandy areas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The low-rise straw grid sand barrier is made of rice straw, reeds or wheat straw, buried 20-25cm underground and exposed 20-25cm above ground, with a size of 1-2m × 1-2m.
3. The method for conserving elm trees in sandy areas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elevated windbreak is constructed by driving multiple rows of wooden stakes with a spacing of 1 to 2 meters in wind-eroded depressions. The stakes are 0.5 to 1.0 meters high. A wire is tied to the top and bottom of each row of stakes, and a reed curtain or willow mat with a height of 0.5 to 1.0 meters is tied to the wire to form multiple rows of elevated windbreaks.
4. The method for conserving elm trees in sandy areas according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shrubs include Astragalus membranaceus and Caragana microphylla, and the shrubs are planted to create a plant sand barrier; The semi-shrub plants include Artemisia argyi and Artemisia argyi, and the herbaceous plants include Lysimachia christinae, Leymus chinensis and Leymus chinensis. The semi-shrub plants and the herbaceous plants are used to establish plant sand barriers by sowing.
5. The method for conserving elm trees in sandy areas according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spacing between plants and rows for shrubs planted by the seedling method is 1 m × 1 m. The shrub seedlings are 1-2 year old seedlings. In northern regions, the planting period is in spring, from March to April, before the shrub seedlings turn green again. The seed ratio for sowing is 1:20 for semi-shrubs and herbs, and the sowing amount after mixing is 3-5 kg / mu. Sow in furrows with a furrow depth of 1-3 cm and a furrow spacing of 20-30 cm.