J.Geogr.Sci.2023,33(3):529-546DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11442-023-2095-9©2023SciencePressSpringer-VerlagLong-termpassiverestorationofseverelydegradeddrylands–divergentimpactsonsoilandvegetation:AnIsraelicasestudyIlanSTAVI1,2,ManuelPULIDOFERNÁNDEZ3,EliARGAMAN41.DeadSeaandAravaScienceCenter,Yotvata88820,Israel;2.EilatCampus,Ben-GurionUniversityoftheNegev,Eilat88100,Israel;3.Geo-EnvironmentalResearchGroup,UniversityofExtremadura,Cáceres10071,Spain;4.SoilErosionResearchStation,MinistryofAgriculture&RuralDevelopment,POB30,BetDagan50250,IsraelAbstract:Landdegradationaffectsextensivedrylandsaroundtheworld.Duetolong-termmisuse,theIsraeliSdeZindrylandsitehasfacedseveredegradation.Thestudyobjectivewastoassessthefeasibilityofpassiverestorationinrecoveringthesite.Thestudywasconductedinfourland-unitsalongapreservation-degradationcontinuum:(1)anareathathasnotfacedanthropogenicdisturbances(Ecologicalland);(2)anareathatwasproclaimedasanationalparkinthe1970s(Rehabilitation);(3)anareathatwasprone,untilrecently,tomod-erateanthropogenicpressures(Triangle);and(4)adirtroadthatwassubjectedtolong-termoff-roadtraffic(Dirtroad).Soilwassampledandanalyzedforitsproperties.ThesoilphysicalqualityfollowedthetrendofEcologicalland>Rehabilitation>Triangle>Dirtroad.Specifically,highsoilsalinityinthelatterthreeland-unitsisattributedtolong-termerosionalprocessesthatexposedtheunderlyingsalichorizons.Herbaceousandshrubbyvegetationcoverwasalsomonitored.TheherbaceousvegetationcoverfollowedthetrendofEcologicalland(86.4%)>Rehabilitation(40.3%)>Triangle(26.2%)>Dirtroad(2.1%),whiletheshrubbycoverwas2.8%intheEcologicalland-unit,andpracticallyzerointheotherland-units.Itseemsthatdespitetheeffectivenessofpassiverestorationinrecoveringthesoil’sphysicalproperties,therecoveryofvegetationislimitedbytheseveresoilsalinity.Keywords:activerehabilitation;ecosystemfunctions;land-usechange;landdegradationanddesertification;annualvs.perennialplants;self-restoration1IntroductionProcessesoflanddegradationareprevalentw...
