The degraded landscapes can be turned into large‐scale ecological restoration programs, but the question of their economic efficiency is the main concern of sustainability science. This paper analyzes Grain for Green Program (GFGP) on the Loess Plateau in north China as a flagship program of restoring subsidies to fight the erosion and land degradation on steep slopes. Based on multi‐temporal data of the MODIS and panel analysis of watersheds, we compared ecological and economic results during two periods of time, before and after restoration (2002–2004) and (2022–2024). We used a difference‐in‐differences (DiD) framework to compare pre‐barrier treated watersheds (slope exceeding 15) to be reforested with control basins (slope less than 15) to continue with cultivation and isolate a restoration effect. Findings demonstrate a considerable and spatially uniform vegetation enhancement in the treated territory where the average NDVI and NPP growth were 15%–20% and 60%, correspondingly. Among the 428 treated basins, about 318 (74) of them reported a positive diD NDVI effect, which validated the high biomass recovery and vegetation stabilization. Land‐cover shifts also indicated that the forest and shrub vegetation replaced cropland and grassland, which was effective in rehabilitating the slopes. The program brought about high economic returns in addition to ecological recovery. According to literature‐based estimation of valuation of ecosystem services, it is estimated that altogether ¥1.75 trillion RMB of benefits came out of the work of GFGP in 2017, and the net benefits were estimated to be ¥637 billion RMB, after subsidies and opportunity costs of the same amounts are considered as equivalent to a net gain of approximately ¥21,900 ha/yr. −1. These returns are higher than cost of conversion of croplands and subsidy payments, which indicate the high economic reasons of ecological investments.
{"title":"Cost–Benefit Analysis of Restoration Subsidies: Economic Returns Versus Land Degradation Losses in Northern China Using Remote Sensing and Panel Data","authors":"Xulong Dai","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70559","url":null,"abstract":"The degraded landscapes can be turned into large‐scale ecological restoration programs, but the question of their economic efficiency is the main concern of sustainability science. This paper analyzes Grain for Green Program (GFGP) on the Loess Plateau in north China as a flagship program of restoring subsidies to fight the erosion and land degradation on steep slopes. Based on multi‐temporal data of the MODIS and panel analysis of watersheds, we compared ecological and economic results during two periods of time, before and after restoration (2002–2004) and (2022–2024). We used a difference‐in‐differences (DiD) framework to compare pre‐barrier treated watersheds (slope exceeding 15) to be reforested with control basins (slope less than 15) to continue with cultivation and isolate a restoration effect. Findings demonstrate a considerable and spatially uniform vegetation enhancement in the treated territory where the average NDVI and NPP growth were 15%–20% and 60%, correspondingly. Among the 428 treated basins, about 318 (74) of them reported a positive diD NDVI effect, which validated the high biomass recovery and vegetation stabilization. Land‐cover shifts also indicated that the forest and shrub vegetation replaced cropland and grassland, which was effective in rehabilitating the slopes. The program brought about high economic returns in addition to ecological recovery. According to literature‐based estimation of valuation of ecosystem services, it is estimated that altogether ¥1.75 trillion RMB of benefits came out of the work of GFGP in 2017, and the net benefits were estimated to be ¥637 billion RMB, after subsidies and opportunity costs of the same amounts are considered as equivalent to a net gain of approximately ¥21,900 ha/yr. −1. These returns are higher than cost of conversion of croplands and subsidy payments, which indicate the high economic reasons of ecological investments.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"90 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vegetation effects on slope runoff and sediment yield depend on plant types and vertical structures, yet underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently quantified. We conducted simulated rainfall experiments (60, 90, 120 mm h −1 ) on a taproot‐type grass ( Coronilla varia ) and a fibrous‐root‐type grass ( Juncus effusus ) to assess canopy and root contributions to runoff and soil loss control. The results indicated that both species significantly reduced erosion, with sediment reduction exceeding runoff reduction. The mechanisms by which the canopies and root systems of different vegetation types reduce runoff and sediment exhibited marked differences. Compared with bare slopes, C. varia and J. effusus reduced runoff by 18%–69% and sediment yield by 67%–100% under different treatments. Roots dominated the control effect, contributing 73%–92% for runoff and 55%–87% for sediment. J. effusus roots and canopy achieved mean runoff reduction effectiveness of 53% and 5%, markedly higher than C. varia (18% and 3%). In sediment reduction effectiveness, the root system of J. effusus excelled at 90 mm h −1 (83%), while C. varia performed better at 60 mm h −1 (54%). Although the overall sediment reduction effectiveness of C. varia was lower, its canopy exerted a stronger regulatory influence on sediment reduction under high rainfall intensity conditions. Both species decreased soil erodibility ( J. effusus 93%, C. varia 83%) and increased critical shear stress (216% and 153%). These results highlight the superior runoff and erosion control of fibrous‐root‐type species, though dense roots may pose slope‐failure risks under prolonged heavy rainfall. This study provides practical guidance for vegetation‐based slope stabilization and soil conservation in China's Loess Hilly and Gully Region.
植被对坡面径流和产沙量的影响取决于植物类型和垂直结构，但其潜在机制尚未充分量化。我们在主根型草（Coronilla varia）和纤维根型草（Juncus effusus）上进行了模拟降雨实验（60、90和120 mm h−1），以评估冠层和根系对径流和土壤流失控制的贡献。结果表明，两种物种均显著减少了侵蚀，且泥沙减少量大于径流减少量。不同植被类型的冠层和根系减少径流和泥沙的机制存在显著差异。与裸坡相比，不同处理下，黑曲霉和油松减少了18% ~ 69%的径流量，减少了67% ~ 100%的产沙量。根系对径流和泥沙的贡献率分别为73% ~ 92%和55% ~ 87%。黑松根和冠层的平均径流减少效率分别为53%和5%，显著高于黑松（18%和3%）。在减沙效果方面，叶松根系在90 mm h−1时的减沙效果最好（83%），而黑曲霉根系在60 mm h−1时的减沙效果最好（54%）。在高降雨强度条件下，虽然变异金雀花的总体减沙效果较低，但其冠层对减沙的调节作用较强。两种植物均降低土壤可蚀性（叶松93%，变异松83%），增加临界剪应力（216%和153%）。这些结果强调了纤维根类型物种优越的径流和侵蚀控制能力，尽管在长时间的强降雨下，浓密的根系可能会造成边坡破坏的风险。该研究为黄土丘陵沟壑区基于植被的边坡稳定与土壤保持提供了实践指导。
{"title":"Effects of Taproot‐Type and Fibrous‐Root‐Type Grass Cover Structures on Runoff and Sediment Yield Processes on Slopes in the Loess Hilly and Gully Region","authors":"Zimiao He, Gangxiang Yuan, Haoqiang Tong, Shilong Hao, Zhihong Yao, Zhe Liu, Ran Wei, Ting Li, Yinghong Guo, Douhuan Heng, Peiqing Xiao","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70575","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70575","url":null,"abstract":"Vegetation effects on slope runoff and sediment yield depend on plant types and vertical structures, yet underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently quantified. We conducted simulated rainfall experiments (60, 90, 120 mm h <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) on a taproot‐type grass ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Coronilla varia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> ) and a fibrous‐root‐type grass ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Juncus effusus</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> ) to assess canopy and root contributions to runoff and soil loss control. The results indicated that both species significantly reduced erosion, with sediment reduction exceeding runoff reduction. The mechanisms by which the canopies and root systems of different vegetation types reduce runoff and sediment exhibited marked differences. Compared with bare slopes, <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. varia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> and <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>J. effusus</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> reduced runoff by 18%–69% and sediment yield by 67%–100% under different treatments. Roots dominated the control effect, contributing 73%–92% for runoff and 55%–87% for sediment. <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>J. effusus</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> roots and canopy achieved mean runoff reduction effectiveness of 53% and 5%, markedly higher than <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. varia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> (18% and 3%). In sediment reduction effectiveness, the root system of <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>J. effusus</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> excelled at 90 mm h <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (83%), while <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. varia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> performed better at 60 mm h <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (54%). Although the overall sediment reduction effectiveness of <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. varia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> was lower, its canopy exerted a stronger regulatory influence on sediment reduction under high rainfall intensity conditions. Both species decreased soil erodibility ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>J. effusus</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> 93%, <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. varia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> 83%) and increased critical shear stress (216% and 153%). These results highlight the superior runoff and erosion control of fibrous‐root‐type species, though dense roots may pose slope‐failure risks under prolonged heavy rainfall. This study provides practical guidance for vegetation‐based slope stabilization and soil conservation in China's Loess Hilly and Gully Region.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guangqin Wu, Pengwei Ding, Yong Wang, Yingchong Yang, Yiwen Yao, Li Tian, Xudong Peng, Quanhou Dai
Monitoring soil erosion in karst regions poses significant challenges because of the complex geological structures, particularly in forestland characterised by frequent root activity where rainfall-runoff processes remain poorly understood. In this study, the mechanisms underlying the control of underground fissure development on runoff generation and sediment transport in karst forests were investigated. Indoor simulated rainfall experiments were conducted on custom-designed karst slope systems configured with varying degrees of underground fissure development. The results revealed a distinct threshold effect for the rainfall intensity: at intensities ≤ 60 mm h−1, compared with bare land, surface runoff and the sediment yield were reduced by 12.33% and 19.32%, respectively, in forestland. However, this regulatory function was absent under extreme rainfall (90 mm h−1), with surface runoff on forested slopes surpassing that on bare slopes. Furthermore, erosion pathways shifted from subsurface-dominated (30 mm h−1) to surface-dominated regimes under extreme rainfall. Notably, the relationship between the degree of fissure development and leakage followed a nonlinear pattern, indicating the existence of a critical fissure threshold that triggered a surge in underground water and soil loss. In conclusion, the rainfall intensity, vegetation cover and degree of fissure development interactively drive a surface–underground synergistic response. This study contributes to the theoretical framework of karst erosion and provides a systematic basis for curbing rocky desertification.
监测喀斯特地区的土壤侵蚀带来了重大挑战，因为地质结构复杂，特别是在以根系活动频繁为特征的林地，人们对降雨径流过程知之甚少。本文探讨了地下裂隙发育对喀斯特森林产流输沙的控制机制。在不同地下裂隙发育程度的岩溶边坡系统上进行室内模拟降雨试验。结果表明，与裸地相比，在降雨强度≤60 mm h−1时，林地地表径流量和产沙量分别减少12.33%和19.32%；然而，在极端降雨（90 mm h−1）条件下，这种调节功能不存在，森林坡地地表径流量大于光秃秃坡地。此外，在极端降雨条件下，侵蚀路径从地下主导（30 mm h−1）转变为地表主导。值得注意的是，裂缝发育程度与渗漏之间呈非线性关系，表明存在一个引发地下水和土壤流失激增的临界裂缝阈值。综上所述，降雨强度、植被覆盖度和裂缝发育程度相互作用，驱动地表-地下协同响应。该研究为喀斯特侵蚀研究提供了理论框架，为治理石漠化提供了系统依据。
{"title":"Control of Fissure Development on Soil Erosion in Karst Forestland Revealed by Simulated Rainfall Experiments","authors":"Guangqin Wu, Pengwei Ding, Yong Wang, Yingchong Yang, Yiwen Yao, Li Tian, Xudong Peng, Quanhou Dai","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70540","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70540","url":null,"abstract":"Monitoring soil erosion in karst regions poses significant challenges because of the complex geological structures, particularly in forestland characterised by frequent root activity where rainfall-runoff processes remain poorly understood. In this study, the mechanisms underlying the control of underground fissure development on runoff generation and sediment transport in karst forests were investigated. Indoor simulated rainfall experiments were conducted on custom-designed karst slope systems configured with varying degrees of underground fissure development. The results revealed a distinct threshold effect for the rainfall intensity: at intensities ≤ 60 mm h<sup>−1</sup>, compared with bare land, surface runoff and the sediment yield were reduced by 12.33% and 19.32%, respectively, in forestland. However, this regulatory function was absent under extreme rainfall (90 mm h<sup>−1</sup>), with surface runoff on forested slopes surpassing that on bare slopes. Furthermore, erosion pathways shifted from subsurface-dominated (30 mm h<sup>−1</sup>) to surface-dominated regimes under extreme rainfall. Notably, the relationship between the degree of fissure development and leakage followed a nonlinear pattern, indicating the existence of a critical fissure threshold that triggered a surge in underground water and soil loss. In conclusion, the rainfall intensity, vegetation cover and degree of fissure development interactively drive a surface–underground synergistic response. This study contributes to the theoretical framework of karst erosion and provides a systematic basis for curbing rocky desertification.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"101 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147518967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The implementation of the belt and road initiative (BRI) in Central Asia, home to one of the 36 Biodiversity Hotspots, poses socioecological challenges to local groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), potentially hindering progress of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Urgent GDE conservation is therefore critical to align the interests of the BRI and GBF. Using a newly released high-resolution global GDE dataset, we analyzed the spatial distribution pattern, protection status, and conservation priorities of GDEs across Central Asia. The region hosts more than one-third of the worldwide dryland GDEs, with Kazakhstan alone accounting for 13.4% of the total and covering 42.1% of its territory. Yet the representation of protected GDEs (GDEs within protected areas) remains critically low (Jacob's index < 0), particularly under strict protection levels. In Biodiversity Hotspots, this shortfall is even more pronounced (Jacob's index ≈ −1). Spatial prioritization identified potential protected areas mainly in Kazakhstan (37.5%), China (28.8%), Mongolia (17.9%), and Uzbekistan (7.9%). In Central Asian Hotspots, implementing these priorities could raise protection coverage to 25.8%. These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts targeting GDEs in Central Asia. Such efforts are essential to harmonize the goals of the BRI with the ambitions of the GBF, facilitating mutual progress rather than conflict between development and biodiversity conservation.
{"title":"Using Spatial Prioritization to Guide Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystem Conservation in Central Asia Under the Belt and Road Initiative","authors":"Can Yang, Geli Zhang, Jinwei Dong","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70574","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70574","url":null,"abstract":"The implementation of the belt and road initiative (BRI) in Central Asia, home to one of the 36 Biodiversity Hotspots, poses socioecological challenges to local groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), potentially hindering progress of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Urgent GDE conservation is therefore critical to align the interests of the BRI and GBF. Using a newly released high-resolution global GDE dataset, we analyzed the spatial distribution pattern, protection status, and conservation priorities of GDEs across Central Asia. The region hosts more than one-third of the worldwide dryland GDEs, with Kazakhstan alone accounting for 13.4% of the total and covering 42.1% of its territory. Yet the representation of protected GDEs (GDEs within protected areas) remains critically low (Jacob's index < 0), particularly under strict protection levels. In Biodiversity Hotspots, this shortfall is even more pronounced (Jacob's index ≈ −1). Spatial prioritization identified potential protected areas mainly in Kazakhstan (37.5%), China (28.8%), Mongolia (17.9%), and Uzbekistan (7.9%). In Central Asian Hotspots, implementing these priorities could raise protection coverage to 25.8%. These findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts targeting GDEs in Central Asia. Such efforts are essential to harmonize the goals of the BRI with the ambitions of the GBF, facilitating mutual progress rather than conflict between development and biodiversity conservation.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147507717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bioinoculants are increasingly used in land restoration programs to alleviate environmental stress during tree establishment and to enhance vegetation recovery in degraded ecosystems. However, their effects on native soil microbiota remain insufficiently understood, particularly in highly vulnerable environments, limiting their large‐scale application. In salt‐affected lands of Senegal, restoration strategies rely on Casuarinaceae species inoculated with a multi‐kingdom bioinoculant composed of salt‐tolerant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen‐fixing bacteria. While this strategy successfully enhanced tree growth and understory vegetation, its consequences for soil microbial diversity and functions have never been assessed. The objective of this study was to assess whether bioinoculation alters soil microbiota and to determine the relative influence of bioinoculation compared with salinity and host plant identity. We hypothesized that bioinoculation reshapes both soil bacterial and fungal microbial communities, with implications notably on soil nutrient cycling, but that these effects are constrained by salinity and Casuarinaceae species. Our results show that bioinoculation reduced overall fungal diversity without affecting rare taxa, whereas bacterial diversity was primarily driven by salinity and host plant identity, with effects largely confined to dominant bacterial groups. Functional predictions revealed marked shifts, with bioinoculation associated with a decrease in potential bacterial pathogen guilds, while increasing salinity promoted potential fungal pathogen guilds. Bacterial‐mediated nitrogen cycling responded jointly to salinity and host plant identity, whereas nitrogen‐fixing bacterial taxa were specifically promoted by bioinoculation. Overall, our findings demonstrate that bioinoculation can significantly modify soil microbial diversity and predicted functions in salt‐affected soils, but that its effects may be overridden by strong environmental constraints and host plant effects. These results highlight ecological trade‐offs associated with bioinoculant use and emphasize the need to integrate soil microbial responses into sustainable salt‐affected land restoration strategies.
{"title":"Beneficial and Adverse Effects of Bio‐Inoculation on Predicted Functional Microbial Communities in Salt‐Land Restoration","authors":"Pape Ibrahima Djighaly, Nathalie Diagne, Estelle Tournier, Mariama Ngom, Maimouna Cissoko, Pierre Tisseyre, Daouda Ngom, Valérie Hocher, Sergio Svistoonoff, Hervé Sanguin","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70568","url":null,"abstract":"Bioinoculants are increasingly used in land restoration programs to alleviate environmental stress during tree establishment and to enhance vegetation recovery in degraded ecosystems. However, their effects on native soil microbiota remain insufficiently understood, particularly in highly vulnerable environments, limiting their large‐scale application. In salt‐affected lands of Senegal, restoration strategies rely on <jats:italic>Casuarinaceae</jats:italic> species inoculated with a multi‐kingdom bioinoculant composed of salt‐tolerant arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen‐fixing bacteria. While this strategy successfully enhanced tree growth and understory vegetation, its consequences for soil microbial diversity and functions have never been assessed. The objective of this study was to assess whether bioinoculation alters soil microbiota and to determine the relative influence of bioinoculation compared with salinity and host plant identity. We hypothesized that bioinoculation reshapes both soil bacterial and fungal microbial communities, with implications notably on soil nutrient cycling, but that these effects are constrained by salinity and <jats:italic>Casuarinaceae</jats:italic> species. Our results show that bioinoculation reduced overall fungal diversity without affecting rare taxa, whereas bacterial diversity was primarily driven by salinity and host plant identity, with effects largely confined to dominant bacterial groups. Functional predictions revealed marked shifts, with bioinoculation associated with a decrease in potential bacterial pathogen guilds, while increasing salinity promoted potential fungal pathogen guilds. Bacterial‐mediated nitrogen cycling responded jointly to salinity and host plant identity, whereas nitrogen‐fixing bacterial taxa were specifically promoted by bioinoculation. Overall, our findings demonstrate that bioinoculation can significantly modify soil microbial diversity and predicted functions in salt‐affected soils, but that its effects may be overridden by strong environmental constraints and host plant effects. These results highlight ecological trade‐offs associated with bioinoculant use and emphasize the need to integrate soil microbial responses into sustainable salt‐affected land restoration strategies.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147519241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qiaowen Lin, Mengxin Xu, Peter Sammonds, Sheng Ye, Rui Qi, Lu Zhang
Population aging has always been considered a driving force for farmland abandonment, which aggravates global food insecurity. However, using big survey data from 11,750 rural households across China, an inverted U-shaped change was found regarding the relationship between them with the extreme point of aging rate around 27%. Before the aging rate reaches its extreme point, it positively promoted the abandonment of arable land. After this point, the aging rate suppressed the occurrence of it. In addition, the mediation effect between them was revealed. The proportion of household agricultural income played a partial mediating role between population aging and farmland abandonment, and the proportion of mediating effect accounted for 28.5% after Sobel test. Heterogeneity of this influence at the individual, household, and village levels was also uncovered. At the individual level, the inverted U-shaped effect of aging on farmland abandonment is significant in the male group or farmers below junior high school education, but not significant in the female group or farmers above junior high school education. At the household level, the inverted U-shaped impact is very significant in households with agricultural subsidies or impoverished households, but not significant in households without agricultural subsidies or households with general income. At the level of the village, the inverted U-shaped impact is very significant among villages located in mountainous areas or villages far away from large or medium-sized cities. This study initializes a more comprehensive perspective encompassing the complexity of the real scenario, which contributes to better management of rural aging and agricultural sustainable development.
{"title":"How Does Population Aging Affect Farmland Abandonment? An Inverted U-Shaped Relationship From the Large-Scale Survey Data in China","authors":"Qiaowen Lin, Mengxin Xu, Peter Sammonds, Sheng Ye, Rui Qi, Lu Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70506","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70506","url":null,"abstract":"Population aging has always been considered a driving force for farmland abandonment, which aggravates global food insecurity. However, using big survey data from 11,750 rural households across China, an inverted U-shaped change was found regarding the relationship between them with the extreme point of aging rate around 27%. Before the aging rate reaches its extreme point, it positively promoted the abandonment of arable land. After this point, the aging rate suppressed the occurrence of it. In addition, the mediation effect between them was revealed. The proportion of household agricultural income played a partial mediating role between population aging and farmland abandonment, and the proportion of mediating effect accounted for 28.5% after Sobel test. Heterogeneity of this influence at the individual, household, and village levels was also uncovered. At the individual level, the inverted U-shaped effect of aging on farmland abandonment is significant in the male group or farmers below junior high school education, but not significant in the female group or farmers above junior high school education. At the household level, the inverted U-shaped impact is very significant in households with agricultural subsidies or impoverished households, but not significant in households without agricultural subsidies or households with general income. At the level of the village, the inverted U-shaped impact is very significant among villages located in mountainous areas or villages far away from large or medium-sized cities. This study initializes a more comprehensive perspective encompassing the complexity of the real scenario, which contributes to better management of rural aging and agricultural sustainable development.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"59 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147506822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wei Yan, Lei Wang, Min Min, Jiayu Kang, Hui Zou, Xuejun Duan
Farmland use transition, defined as the reconfiguration of farmland utilization patterns over time, plays a critical role in balancing food security, land conservation, and rural sustainability. Despite its importance, township-scale transition processes remain insufficiently understood, limiting the ability to formulate locally adapted and regionally coordinated strategies. This study aims to capture farmland use transition through spatial morphology and functional dimensions at the township scale in provincial China, and to investigate the spatial effects of this transition. Spatial Markov chains and bivariate Moran's I were employed to assess spillover effects and correlations with ecosystem services (ESs). The empirical results revealed that the farmland use transition process in Jiangsu Province experienced periods of rapid development, differentiation, and slow decline. Spatially, high transition values concentrated in central and northern Jiangsu, while suburban townships and southern areas exhibited relatively lower levels, with spatial morphology and functional morphology displaying divergent patterns. The spatial spillover effects influenced transitions in neighboring townships, with regional disparities. Traditional agricultural regions exhibited stronger spatial spillover effects, whereas urbanized regions showed more pronounced negative influences. Farmland use transition exhibited distinct spatial correlations with ESs across spatial and functional dimensions. Water conservation and recreation services showed negative effects with correlation coefficients of −0.090 and −0.230, whereas habitat quality and carbon storage tended to exhibit more positive impacts with correlation coefficients of 0.264 and 0.359. This study enhances the understanding of fine-scale dynamics and spatial effects of farmland use transition, offering insights to support farmland resource management policies.
{"title":"Spatio-Temporal Farmland Use Transition and Its Spatial Effects on Ecosystem Services at the Township Scale in China: A Case of Jiangsu Province","authors":"Wei Yan, Lei Wang, Min Min, Jiayu Kang, Hui Zou, Xuejun Duan","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70504","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70504","url":null,"abstract":"Farmland use transition, defined as the reconfiguration of farmland utilization patterns over time, plays a critical role in balancing food security, land conservation, and rural sustainability. Despite its importance, township-scale transition processes remain insufficiently understood, limiting the ability to formulate locally adapted and regionally coordinated strategies. This study aims to capture farmland use transition through spatial morphology and functional dimensions at the township scale in provincial China, and to investigate the spatial effects of this transition. Spatial Markov chains and bivariate Moran's I were employed to assess spillover effects and correlations with ecosystem services (ESs). The empirical results revealed that the farmland use transition process in Jiangsu Province experienced periods of rapid development, differentiation, and slow decline. Spatially, high transition values concentrated in central and northern Jiangsu, while suburban townships and southern areas exhibited relatively lower levels, with spatial morphology and functional morphology displaying divergent patterns. The spatial spillover effects influenced transitions in neighboring townships, with regional disparities. Traditional agricultural regions exhibited stronger spatial spillover effects, whereas urbanized regions showed more pronounced negative influences. Farmland use transition exhibited distinct spatial correlations with ESs across spatial and functional dimensions. Water conservation and recreation services showed negative effects with correlation coefficients of −0.090 and −0.230, whereas habitat quality and carbon storage tended to exhibit more positive impacts with correlation coefficients of 0.264 and 0.359. This study enhances the understanding of fine-scale dynamics and spatial effects of farmland use transition, offering insights to support farmland resource management policies.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147506821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiyu Wang, Muhammad Wasif Hanif, Muhammad Asim Afridi, Tong Tian
This study examines how farmers respond to ecosystem deterioration in degraded farming areas in rural China and how these responses influence local ecosystem resilience. A structured survey of 480 smallholder households was used to measure perceived ecosystem deterioration, short-term exploitative coping, ecosystem-based adaptation practices, inclusive land governance, and local ecosystem resilience on seven-point scales. Hierarchical regression was used to test mediation and moderation hypotheses. The results show that stronger perceived deterioration leads to more short-term exploitative coping but does not clearly increase ecosystem-based adaptation or directly improve resilience. Short-term exploitative coping lowers local ecosystem resilience, while ecosystem-based adaptation raises it. Both coping paths link perceived deterioration to resilience in opposite ways. Inclusive land governance weakens the link between perceived deterioration and exploitative coping, while strengthening the link to ecosystem-based adaptation. Overall, the findings show that governance plays an important role in guiding farmer responses towards climate-resilient land management.
{"title":"Ecosystem Deterioration, Adaptation Pathways and Resilience Under Inclusive Land Governance in Degraded Chinese Landscapes","authors":"Xiyu Wang, Muhammad Wasif Hanif, Muhammad Asim Afridi, Tong Tian","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70513","url":null,"abstract":"This study examines how farmers respond to ecosystem deterioration in degraded farming areas in rural China and how these responses influence local ecosystem resilience. A structured survey of 480 smallholder households was used to measure perceived ecosystem deterioration, short-term exploitative coping, ecosystem-based adaptation practices, inclusive land governance, and local ecosystem resilience on seven-point scales. Hierarchical regression was used to test mediation and moderation hypotheses. The results show that stronger perceived deterioration leads to more short-term exploitative coping but does not clearly increase ecosystem-based adaptation or directly improve resilience. Short-term exploitative coping lowers local ecosystem resilience, while ecosystem-based adaptation raises it. Both coping paths link perceived deterioration to resilience in opposite ways. Inclusive land governance weakens the link between perceived deterioration and exploitative coping, while strengthening the link to ecosystem-based adaptation. Overall, the findings show that governance plays an important role in guiding farmer responses towards climate-resilient land management.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147496103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Minglu Ji, Yuan Miao, Huan Qi, Jiahui Ma, Cancan Zhao, Xiongde Dong, Dong Wang, Yu Shi, Peng Su, Guoyong Li
Microplastics persisting in soil can modify soil structure and nutrient status and alter biological activity, thereby influencing soil respiration. However, the mechanisms by which microplastics regulate soil respiration remain poorly understood. In this study, a field experiment was conducted in a winter wheat farmland to examine the effects of microplastic type (polypropylene and polyethylene) and particle size (13 and 500 μm) on soil respiration and to identify the associated driving factors. Soil respiration was significantly increased by microplastics, with a greater impact observed for 13 μm than for 500 μm microplastics. Microplastics increased root biomass and microbial biomass carbon, whereas they reduced aboveground biomass and soil available nitrogen content. Structural equation modeling indicated that the microplastic‐induced increment in soil respiration was primarily driven by root biomass. Microplastics stimulated root growth by changing soil physical structure, such as reducing bulk density, increasing soil porosity, and altering aggregate stability, thereby promoting soil respiration. Overall, this study highlights that microplastics can substantially alter belowground carbon dynamics by reshaping plant–soil–microbe interactions, and provides a scientific basis for evaluating the ecological consequences of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.
{"title":"Microplastics Type and Size Influence Soil Respiration by Mediating Root Biomass in Cultivated Agricultural Ecosystem, N orth C hina","authors":"Minglu Ji, Yuan Miao, Huan Qi, Jiahui Ma, Cancan Zhao, Xiongde Dong, Dong Wang, Yu Shi, Peng Su, Guoyong Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70569","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70569","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics persisting in soil can modify soil structure and nutrient status and alter biological activity, thereby influencing soil respiration. However, the mechanisms by which microplastics regulate soil respiration remain poorly understood. In this study, a field experiment was conducted in a winter wheat farmland to examine the effects of microplastic type (polypropylene and polyethylene) and particle size (13 and 500 μm) on soil respiration and to identify the associated driving factors. Soil respiration was significantly increased by microplastics, with a greater impact observed for 13 μm than for 500 μm microplastics. Microplastics increased root biomass and microbial biomass carbon, whereas they reduced aboveground biomass and soil available nitrogen content. Structural equation modeling indicated that the microplastic‐induced increment in soil respiration was primarily driven by root biomass. Microplastics stimulated root growth by changing soil physical structure, such as reducing bulk density, increasing soil porosity, and altering aggregate stability, thereby promoting soil respiration. Overall, this study highlights that microplastics can substantially alter belowground carbon dynamics by reshaping plant–soil–microbe interactions, and provides a scientific basis for evaluating the ecological consequences of microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Felipe Bachion de Santana, Rebecca. L. Hall, Longnan Shi, Owen Fenton, Victoria Lowe, Giulia Bondi, Lilian O'Sullivan, Karen Daly
Soil compaction is a significant form of soil degradation in Europe, reducing agricultural productivity, limiting carbon sequestration and increasing greenhouse gases emissions. In response, the forthcoming European Union Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law requires spatial assessment of topsoil and subsoil compaction risk at district, that is, sub‐national or regional scale. This study applies MIR spectroscopy to develop a novel risk assessment approach for topsoil and subsoil compaction risk (likelihood of becoming compacted) at this required scale, with a spatial resolution of 4 km 2 from 10,000 pits with potential for nationwide application. Topsoil compaction risk was determined using MIR predictions of soil particle size combined with organic matter content and soil drainage classes, while subsoil inherent compaction risk was obtained by combining subsoil texture class with packing density (both obtained by spectroscopy models) and climatic indicators of soil wetness. To have reliable MIR predictions, only representative samples were predicted, and spectral control charts were used to identify unrepresentative samples. By integrating soil meteorological variables, the models were also able to highlight areas where subsoil compaction risk intensifies during wet periods. Such findings are particularly significant on agricultural landscapes where soils frequently reach saturation and remain at field capacity for extended periods. This study illustrates how spectroscopy‐based models offer a fast, cost‐effective, and scalable alternative to fulfil requirements and implementation of Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law. The resulting compaction risk maps can be used by policymakers and regulatory agencies as practical tools to identify high‐risk areas thereby protecting soils into the future.
{"title":"Estimating Soil Compaction Risk at Regional Scales Using Meteorological Data and Soil Spectroscopy","authors":"Felipe Bachion de Santana, Rebecca. L. Hall, Longnan Shi, Owen Fenton, Victoria Lowe, Giulia Bondi, Lilian O'Sullivan, Karen Daly","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70537","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70537","url":null,"abstract":"Soil compaction is a significant form of soil degradation in Europe, reducing agricultural productivity, limiting carbon sequestration and increasing greenhouse gases emissions. In response, the forthcoming European Union Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law requires spatial assessment of topsoil and subsoil compaction risk at district, that is, sub‐national or regional scale. This study applies MIR spectroscopy to develop a novel risk assessment approach for topsoil and subsoil compaction risk (likelihood of becoming compacted) at this required scale, with a spatial resolution of 4 km <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> from 10,000 pits with potential for nationwide application. Topsoil compaction risk was determined using MIR predictions of soil particle size combined with organic matter content and soil drainage classes, while subsoil inherent compaction risk was obtained by combining subsoil texture class with packing density (both obtained by spectroscopy models) and climatic indicators of soil wetness. To have reliable MIR predictions, only representative samples were predicted, and spectral control charts were used to identify unrepresentative samples. By integrating soil meteorological variables, the models were also able to highlight areas where subsoil compaction risk intensifies during wet periods. Such findings are particularly significant on agricultural landscapes where soils frequently reach saturation and remain at field capacity for extended periods. This study illustrates how spectroscopy‐based models offer a fast, cost‐effective, and scalable alternative to fulfil requirements and implementation of Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law. The resulting compaction risk maps can be used by policymakers and regulatory agencies as practical tools to identify high‐risk areas thereby protecting soils into the future.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147492849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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