Effects of Wind Erosion Control Measures on Vegetation Dynamics and Soil-Surface Materials through Field Observations and Vegetation Indices in Arid Areas, Southeastern Tunisia

Ameni Khatteli (), Abderrazak Tlili, Mohamed Chaieb and Mohamed Ouessar
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Ameni Khatteli: Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification (LR16IRA01), Institut des Régions Arides (IRA), University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Abderrazak Tlili: Laboratory of Pastoral Ecosystems and Valorization of Spontaneous Plants and Associated Microorganisms (LR16IRA03), Institut des Régions Arides (IRA), University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Mohamed Chaieb: Laboratory of Biology & Ecophysiology of Plants in Arid Environments, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia
Mohamed Ouessar: Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification (LR16IRA01), Institut des Régions Arides (IRA), University of Gabes, Medenine 4119, Tunisia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: Effective land management in the Djeffara plain, southeastern Tunisia, is being constrained by increasing land degradation issues due to arid climate conditions and soil erosion. Thus, this study aims to assess the impact of the integrated control measures, namely windbreaks and controlled grazing, on the restoration of land cover dynamics in six managed rangeland areas. Land cover changes were monitored using satellite data and the derived vegetation indices (the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI)) from Landsat 8 (OLI), both within and outside the protected areas. The findings reveal that the implemented protection measures lead to an increase in vegetation cover, diversity, and plant density. They play an important role in stabilizing the upper soil layer. The oldest protected areas, particularly those that are well-maintained with controlled seasonal grazing, experienced a reduction in sand movement. The reintroduction of grazing should, however, be controlled to prevent degradation risks. The results show strong correlations between vegetation cover and both calculated vegetation indices, (0.73 < R 2 < 0.91), with more accurate estimating for the SAVI. The findings of this research can guide decision-makers for restoring degraded rangelands and planning effective control measures for wind erosion.

Keywords: dryland; wind erosion; management; plant communities; GIS; vegetation index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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