R. K. Chaturvedi, S. K. Pandey, Anshuman Tripathi, Laxmi Goparaju, Arun Jyoti Nath, A. S. Raghubanshi, S. R. Gupta, J. S. Singh
Tropical dry forests and savannas are critical yet understudied ecosystems that regulate global biogeochemical cycles and support biodiversity. However, their functioning is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances and climate change. Here, we present a decade‐long study (2005–2014) examining litterfall dynamics and nutrient cycling across protection gradients (permanently protected [PP], moderately protected [MP], and unprotected [UP] stands) in India's Vindhyan plateau, where forests are transitioning to savannas due to land‐use change. Using field measurements, satellite data, and ecological modeling, we quantified how protection status mediates ecosystem processes in these contrasting biomes. We found that protection status overrides biome differences in driving ecosystem function. PP stands maintained 35%–50% higher annual litterfall (6.4 vs. 3.2 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ) and double the nutrient return rates (2.54 vs. 1.19 Mg ha −1 yr −1 ) compared to UP stands, facilitated by microclimatic buffering (3°C–5°C cooler soils, 15%–20% higher humidity) and reduced disturbance. Forests exhibited “elastic resilience,” resisting degradation until abrupt collapse under high disturbance, whereas savannas showed “graded resilience,” declining linearly with disturbance intensity. Alarmingly, MP stands displayed limited recovery, suggesting passive protection alone is insufficient for restoration. Disturbances disrupted nutrient cycling, with UP areas showing 20%–25% higher nutrient use efficiency (NUE)—a short‐term survival strategy that reduces long‐term nutrient availability. Savanna UP sites are projected to lose 30%–40% of litterfall capacity by 2035, risking irreversible degradation. Landsat data revealed a 6.3% decline in forest cover (2002–2014), exacerbating fire‐prone feedback loops. Our findings underscore that protection is paramount for maintaining tropical dry ecosystem functions. Forests require fire suppression, while savannas need grazing management. We advocate for landscape‐scale conservation integrating protected cores with buffered use zones. This study provides a framework for managing biome‐specific resilience in the face of global change, emphasizing urgent, targeted interventions to avert ecosystem collapse.
热带干燥森林和稀树草原是调节全球生物地球化学循环和支持生物多样性的重要生态系统,但研究不足。然而,它们的功能日益受到人为干扰和气候变化的威胁。在这里,我们提出了一项长达十年的研究(2005-2014),研究了印度温德扬高原的凋落物动态和养分循环,这些凋落物跨越保护梯度(永久保护[PP],中等保护[MP]和未保护[UP]),由于土地利用变化,森林正在向稀树草原过渡。利用野外测量、卫星数据和生态模型,我们量化了保护状况如何在这些不同的生物群系中调节生态系统过程。我们发现保护状态在驱动生态系统功能方面超越了生物群系差异。与UP林分相比,PP林分的年凋落物量高出35%-50%(6.4比3.2 Mg ha - 1年−1年−1),养分返还率翻倍(2.54比1.19 Mg ha - 1年−1年−1),这得益于小气候缓冲(3°C - 5°C较冷的土壤,15%-20%较高的湿度)和干扰减少。森林表现出“弹性恢复力”,在高干扰下抵抗退化直至突然崩溃,而稀树草原表现出“分级恢复力”,随干扰强度线性下降。令人担忧的是,MP展台显示出有限的恢复,这表明仅靠被动保护不足以恢复。干扰破坏了养分循环,UP地区的养分利用效率(NUE)提高了20%-25%,这是一种短期生存策略,会降低长期养分的可用性。预计到2035年,热带草原UP地区将失去30%-40%的凋落物容量,面临不可逆转的退化风险。Landsat数据显示,2002-2014年森林覆盖率下降了6.3%,加剧了火灾易发反馈循环。我们的发现强调了保护对于维持热带干旱生态系统功能至关重要。森林需要灭火,而稀树草原需要放牧管理。我们提倡景观尺度的保护,将受保护的核心与缓冲的使用区域结合起来。该研究为面对全球变化管理生物群系特有的恢复力提供了框架,强调了避免生态系统崩溃的紧急、有针对性的干预措施。
{"title":"Disturbance Mediated Changes in Litter Turnover and Nutrient Use Efficiency Facilitate Vegetation Shifts in Tropical Dry Ecosystems: Insights From a 10‐Year Vegetation Management Study","authors":"R. K. Chaturvedi, S. K. Pandey, Anshuman Tripathi, Laxmi Goparaju, Arun Jyoti Nath, A. S. Raghubanshi, S. R. Gupta, J. S. Singh","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70334","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70334","url":null,"abstract":"Tropical dry forests and savannas are critical yet understudied ecosystems that regulate global biogeochemical cycles and support biodiversity. However, their functioning is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances and climate change. Here, we present a decade‐long study (2005–2014) examining litterfall dynamics and nutrient cycling across protection gradients (permanently protected [PP], moderately protected [MP], and unprotected [UP] stands) in India's Vindhyan plateau, where forests are transitioning to savannas due to land‐use change. Using field measurements, satellite data, and ecological modeling, we quantified how protection status mediates ecosystem processes in these contrasting biomes. We found that protection status overrides biome differences in driving ecosystem function. PP stands maintained 35%–50% higher annual litterfall (6.4 vs. 3.2 Mg ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> yr <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) and double the nutrient return rates (2.54 vs. 1.19 Mg ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> yr <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) compared to UP stands, facilitated by microclimatic buffering (3°C–5°C cooler soils, 15%–20% higher humidity) and reduced disturbance. Forests exhibited “elastic resilience,” resisting degradation until abrupt collapse under high disturbance, whereas savannas showed “graded resilience,” declining linearly with disturbance intensity. Alarmingly, MP stands displayed limited recovery, suggesting passive protection alone is insufficient for restoration. Disturbances disrupted nutrient cycling, with UP areas showing 20%–25% higher nutrient use efficiency (NUE)—a short‐term survival strategy that reduces long‐term nutrient availability. Savanna UP sites are projected to lose 30%–40% of litterfall capacity by 2035, risking irreversible degradation. Landsat data revealed a 6.3% decline in forest cover (2002–2014), exacerbating fire‐prone feedback loops. Our findings underscore that protection is paramount for maintaining tropical dry ecosystem functions. Forests require fire suppression, while savannas need grazing management. We advocate for landscape‐scale conservation integrating protected cores with buffered use zones. This study provides a framework for managing biome‐specific resilience in the face of global change, emphasizing urgent, targeted interventions to avert ecosystem collapse.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145673875","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}
Coastal sandy soils pose a challenge for microbial nutrient retention due to low organic matter and high leaching. While plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) show promise, their functional synergies in these ecosystems—particularly beyond phosphorus limitation—remain unclear. We investigated their complementary roles in enhancing soil function and Casuarina equisetifolia growth under nutrient‐depleted conditions. A 150‐day pot experiment evaluated the synergistic effects of PGPR ( Paenibacillus kribbensis LB18/LB19, P. cellulositrophicus LB46, Brucella pseudogrignonensis LQ10) and AMF ( Funneliformis mosseae ) through soil enzymatic activity, nutrient dynamics, and plant growth metrics. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were employed to dissect soil–plant–microbe interactions. Dual PGPR‐AMF inoculation enhanced soil enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase: 1.6‐fold; catalase: +57%) and total nitrogen (18.28 mg g −1 ). However, single inoculation with LQ10 outperformed dual treatments, increasing plant height (+102.2%) and biomass (+254.1%) via root architecture optimization. Indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) synthesis and cellulase activity correlated strongly with nutrient cycling (AN: r = 0.54–0.61; AP: r = 0.56–0.67). SEM identified soil nutrient dynamics ( R2 = 0.506) and antioxidant enzyme networks as growth determinants, with potassium availability ( λ = 0.835) and superoxide dismutase activity ( λ = 0.527) dominating RDA. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that dual inoculation triggered metabolic trade‐offs, suppressing host plant secondary metabolism ( β = −0.514) while concurrently enhancing plant physiological resilience, as evidenced by coordinated upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and osmoprotectant levels. Microbial functional traits (e.g., IAA production, cellulolysis) critically regulate soil–plant feedback in nutrient‐poor systems. We propose a time‐resolved framework for microbial consortia design, where PGPR–AMF synergism is constrained by host carbon allocation thresholds and potassium availability.
海岸带沙质土壤有机质含量低、淋滤率高,对微生物养分保持提出了挑战。虽然促进植物生长的根茎细菌(PGPR)和丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)显示出希望,但它们在这些生态系统中的功能协同作用(特别是在磷限制之外)仍不清楚。研究了它们在养分枯竭条件下增强土壤功能和木麻黄生长的互补作用。通过150天的盆栽试验,通过土壤酶活性、养分动态和植物生长指标,评估了PGPR(克里本拟芽孢杆菌LB18/LB19、P. cellulositrophicus LB46、伪格里诺布鲁氏菌LQ10)和AMF (mosseae)的协同效应。采用结构方程模型(SEM)和冗余分析(RDA)对土壤-植物-微生物相互作用进行了分析。双PGPR - AMF接种提高了土壤酶活性(脱氢酶:1.6倍;过氧化氢酶:+57%)和总氮(18.28 mg g - 1)。单次接种LQ10优于双次接种,通过优化根构型,提高了株高(+102.2%)和生物量(+254.1%)。吲哚- 3 -乙酸(IAA)合成和纤维素酶活性与养分循环密切相关(AN: r = 0.54-0.61; AP: r = 0.56-0.67)。SEM发现土壤养分动态(r2 = 0.506)和抗氧化酶网络是生长的决定因素,钾有效性(λ = 0.835)和超氧化物歧化酶活性(λ = 0.527)主导RDA。结构方程模型(SEM)显示,双重接种引发了代谢权衡,抑制了寄主植物的次生代谢(β = - 0.514),同时增强了植物的生理弹性,这可以通过抗氧化酶和渗透保护剂水平的协同上调来证明。微生物功能性状(例如,IAA生产,纤维素分解)在养分贫乏的系统中对土壤-植物反馈起到关键调节作用。我们提出了一个时间解决的微生物群落设计框架,其中PGPR-AMF协同作用受到宿主碳分配阈值和钾可用性的限制。
{"title":"Rationalizing Microbial Strategies for Coastal Soil Restoration: Functional Complementarity and Trade‐Offs in PGPR – AMF Interactions","authors":"Wei Chu, ChaoXin Shen, LiuTing Zhou, YuHong Cai, Yue Guo, ZeYan Wu, WenXiong Lin, QinGui Su","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70366","url":null,"abstract":"Coastal sandy soils pose a challenge for microbial nutrient retention due to low organic matter and high leaching. While plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) show promise, their functional synergies in these ecosystems—particularly beyond phosphorus limitation—remain unclear. We investigated their complementary roles in enhancing soil function and <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Casuarina equisetifolia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> growth under nutrient‐depleted conditions. A 150‐day pot experiment evaluated the synergistic effects of PGPR ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Paenibacillus kribbensis</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> LB18/LB19, <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>P. cellulositrophicus</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> LB46, <jats:italic>Brucella pseudogrignonensis</jats:italic> LQ10) and AMF ( <jats:italic>Funneliformis mosseae</jats:italic> ) through soil enzymatic activity, nutrient dynamics, and plant growth metrics. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were employed to dissect soil–plant–microbe interactions. Dual PGPR‐AMF inoculation enhanced soil enzymatic activity (dehydrogenase: 1.6‐fold; catalase: +57%) and total nitrogen (18.28 mg g <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ). However, single inoculation with LQ10 outperformed dual treatments, increasing plant height (+102.2%) and biomass (+254.1%) via root architecture optimization. Indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) synthesis and cellulase activity correlated strongly with nutrient cycling (AN: <jats:italic>r =</jats:italic> 0.54–0.61; AP: <jats:italic>r =</jats:italic> 0.56–0.67). SEM identified soil nutrient dynamics ( <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 0.506) and antioxidant enzyme networks as growth determinants, with potassium availability ( <jats:italic>λ</jats:italic> = 0.835) and superoxide dismutase activity ( <jats:italic>λ</jats:italic> = 0.527) dominating RDA. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that dual inoculation triggered metabolic trade‐offs, suppressing host plant secondary metabolism ( <jats:italic>β</jats:italic> = −0.514) while concurrently enhancing plant physiological resilience, as evidenced by coordinated upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and osmoprotectant levels. Microbial functional traits (e.g., IAA production, cellulolysis) critically regulate soil–plant feedback in nutrient‐poor systems. We propose a time‐resolved framework for microbial consortia design, where PGPR–AMF synergism is constrained by host carbon allocation thresholds and potassium availability.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"153 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145673672","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}
Zhongzhi Zhang, Guoping Chen, Junsan Zhao, Haibo Yang
In recent years, the frequency of extreme climate events has risen significantly, exerting profound effects on both terrestrial ecosystems and human well-being. The Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, an ecologically sensitive region, is especially vulnerable to these changes. This study, conducted using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, utilizes trend analysis, Hurst exponent evaluation, correlation analysis, and random forest modeling to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation greenness in the region and its response to extreme climate events. The main results are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2022, vegetation greenness showed significant improvement with an annual growth rate of 0.003 (R2 = 0.69). Over half of the study area exhibited increasing trends across temporal scales, and a general upward trend over the past two decades, despite spring values being consistently lower than other seasons and low-value areas concentrating in the eastern region and urban peripheries. (2) Vegetation stability was relatively low, with one-third of areas showing high interannual variability and two-thirds exhibiting high seasonal variability. (3) The annual mean Hurst index values were all below 0.5, with over 60% displaying anti-persistent increasing trends, suggesting that while the overall trend may continue to rise, future patterns could differ from the past. (4) Vegetation greenness was primarily influenced by extreme temperatures, which had a far greater impact than precipitation events. The key factors identified for vegetation changes were consecutive dry days (CDD), extreme precipitation (R95p), and temperature extremes (TN90p, TX10p, TX90p), each accounting for over 30% of the changes. In conclusion, this study reveals the complex ecological dynamic of concurrent “vegetation growth and vulnerability,” providing a scientific basis for formulating ecosystem conservation and restoration policies in the region.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal Variation of Vegetation Greenness and Its Response to Extreme Climate Events: A Case Study of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, China","authors":"Zhongzhi Zhang, Guoping Chen, Junsan Zhao, Haibo Yang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70297","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70297","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, the frequency of extreme climate events has risen significantly, exerting profound effects on both terrestrial ecosystems and human well-being. The Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration, an ecologically sensitive region, is especially vulnerable to these changes. This study, conducted using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, utilizes trend analysis, Hurst exponent evaluation, correlation analysis, and random forest modeling to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of vegetation greenness in the region and its response to extreme climate events. The main results are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2022, vegetation greenness showed significant improvement with an annual growth rate of 0.003 (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.69). Over half of the study area exhibited increasing trends across temporal scales, and a general upward trend over the past two decades, despite spring values being consistently lower than other seasons and low-value areas concentrating in the eastern region and urban peripheries. (2) Vegetation stability was relatively low, with one-third of areas showing high interannual variability and two-thirds exhibiting high seasonal variability. (3) The annual mean Hurst index values were all below 0.5, with over 60% displaying anti-persistent increasing trends, suggesting that while the overall trend may continue to rise, future patterns could differ from the past. (4) Vegetation greenness was primarily influenced by extreme temperatures, which had a far greater impact than precipitation events. The key factors identified for vegetation changes were consecutive dry days (CDD), extreme precipitation (R95p), and temperature extremes (TN90p, TX10p, TX90p), each accounting for over 30% of the changes. In conclusion, this study reveals the complex ecological dynamic of concurrent “vegetation growth and vulnerability,” providing a scientific basis for formulating ecosystem conservation and restoration policies in the region.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"45 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664970","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}
Luis C. Beltrán, Lilia L. Roa‐Fuentes, Henry F. Howe, Julio Campo, Miquel González‐Meler, Enrique Solís‐Villalpando, Anaitzi Rivero‐Villar, Nicholas Glass, Cristina Martínez‐Garza
Conversion of tropical rainforest to pasture reduces soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents. Ecological restoration supports soil nutrient recovery, but the effectiveness of restoration strategies may differ, informing management and choice. We compared soil nutrient concentrations in 0–5 cm and 5–20 cm layers of a 13‐year‐old restoration experiment in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, under natural succession and mixed‐species plantings, with pasture and reference forest as controls, and also examined altitudinal (182–256 m) variation, C 4 ‐derived C, and natural abundance of 15 N. Plantings with animal‐dispersed species had 92% higher C concentration in the upper soil than pasture, likely due to high fine root biomass and decomposition. In addition, animal‐dispersed plantings showed a 122% higher NO 3− :NH 4+ ratio in deeper soil than natural succession, possibly due to greater animal N deposition and enhanced N mineralization and nitrification processes. Other nutrient comparisons placed the three restoration treatments generally between forest and pasture; among restoration treatments, no other differences had p < 0.10. No evidence of nutrient runoff was detected, despite the slope (182–256 masl). C 4 ‐derived C in the upper soil was around 5 times higher in animal‐ and wind‐plantings than in forest, reflecting grass‐to‐forest conversion. In natural succession plots, 15 N natural abundance correlated negatively with Fabaceae basal area, reflecting the legacy effects of leguminous tree species. Overall, differences among restoration strategies were few and minor, indicating that nutrient recovery alone cannot guide the choice between natural succession and mixed‐species plantings; broader ecological and practical objectives should instead shape decisions.
{"title":"Contrasting Soil Carbon, Nutrients, and Isotopic Signatures Across Tropical Rainforest Restoration Strategies on Former Pastures","authors":"Luis C. Beltrán, Lilia L. Roa‐Fuentes, Henry F. Howe, Julio Campo, Miquel González‐Meler, Enrique Solís‐Villalpando, Anaitzi Rivero‐Villar, Nicholas Glass, Cristina Martínez‐Garza","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70291","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70291","url":null,"abstract":"Conversion of tropical rainforest to pasture reduces soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents. Ecological restoration supports soil nutrient recovery, but the effectiveness of restoration strategies may differ, informing management and choice. We compared soil nutrient concentrations in 0–5 cm and 5–20 cm layers of a 13‐year‐old restoration experiment in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, under natural succession and mixed‐species plantings, with pasture and reference forest as controls, and also examined altitudinal (182–256 m) variation, C <jats:sub>4</jats:sub> ‐derived C, and natural abundance of <jats:sup>15</jats:sup> N. Plantings with animal‐dispersed species had 92% higher C concentration in the upper soil than pasture, likely due to high fine root biomass and decomposition. In addition, animal‐dispersed plantings showed a 122% higher NO <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> <jats:sup>−</jats:sup> :NH <jats:sub>4</jats:sub> <jats:sup>+</jats:sup> ratio in deeper soil than natural succession, possibly due to greater animal N deposition and enhanced N mineralization and nitrification processes. Other nutrient comparisons placed the three restoration treatments generally between forest and pasture; among restoration treatments, no other differences had <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 0.10. No evidence of nutrient runoff was detected, despite the slope (182–256 masl). C <jats:sub>4</jats:sub> ‐derived C in the upper soil was around 5 times higher in animal‐ and wind‐plantings than in forest, reflecting grass‐to‐forest conversion. In natural succession plots, <jats:sup>15</jats:sup> N natural abundance correlated negatively with Fabaceae basal area, reflecting the legacy effects of leguminous tree species. Overall, differences among restoration strategies were few and minor, indicating that nutrient recovery alone cannot guide the choice between natural succession and mixed‐species plantings; broader ecological and practical objectives should instead shape decisions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657202","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}
G. G. Sailaja, T. Subramani, C. N. Sridhar, Maja Radziemska
Limestone mining is a major contributor to cement production in South India's Ariyalur region. However, its impact on regional hydrogeological systems, particularly, the Kallar River and adjacent groundwater reserves, requires further investigation. This study employs an integrated approach combining groundwater table elevation data, hydrodynamics, hydrogeochemical analysis, and geospatial systems to evaluate the effects of mining activities. The Kallar River's flow direction is found to be opposite to the dip of the limestone beds. The presence of marl (CaCO3 + clay) occasionally induces seepages and slope failures in the mines, though not at a significant rate. The shows a semiconfined to confined aquifer system with limestone formations of low permeability and limited water yield. The groundwater samples (May 2024, 33 samples) assessed for water quality showed pH is within the limits and a significant proportion of samples exceeded permissible limits for TDS (27.27%), Na+ (39.39%), K+ (18.18%), Ca2+ (3.03%), Mg2+ (6.06%), HCO3− (12.12%), Cl− (15.15%), SO42− (12.12%), and NO3− (24.24%). Hydrogeochemical analysis using Piper and Gibbs plots indicates a dominance of Ca–Mg–Cl–SO4 type water, governed by rock–water interactions and anthropogenic influences. The Nitrate Pollution Index and classified 49% of samples as Clean, and WAWQI classified over 52% of samples as safe for human consumption. Overall, minimal environmental deterioration was noted, with limited hydrological connectivity between the Kallar River and adjacent mine sites. The study recommends ecological restoration measures and the construction of protective embankments to ensure the sustainability of groundwater resources over a longer period in this sensitive limestone terrain.
{"title":"Hydrogeological and Hydrogeochemical Impacts of Limestone Mining on Groundwater in the Kallar River Basin, South India","authors":"G. G. Sailaja, T. Subramani, C. N. Sridhar, Maja Radziemska","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70343","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70343","url":null,"abstract":"Limestone mining is a major contributor to cement production in South India's Ariyalur region. However, its impact on regional hydrogeological systems, particularly, the Kallar River and adjacent groundwater reserves, requires further investigation. This study employs an integrated approach combining groundwater table elevation data, hydrodynamics, hydrogeochemical analysis, and geospatial systems to evaluate the effects of mining activities. The Kallar River's flow direction is found to be opposite to the dip of the limestone beds. The presence of marl (CaCO<sub>3</sub> + clay) occasionally induces seepages and slope failures in the mines, though not at a significant rate. The shows a semiconfined to confined aquifer system with limestone formations of low permeability and limited water yield. The groundwater samples (May 2024, 33 samples) assessed for water quality showed pH is within the limits and a significant proportion of samples exceeded permissible limits for TDS (27.27%), Na<sup>+</sup> (39.39%), K<sup>+</sup> (18.18%), Ca<sup>2+</sup> (3.03%), Mg<sup>2+</sup> (6.06%), HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (12.12%), Cl<sup>−</sup> (15.15%), SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> (12.12%), and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> (24.24%). Hydrogeochemical analysis using Piper and Gibbs plots indicates a dominance of Ca–Mg–Cl–SO<sub>4</sub> type water, governed by rock–water interactions and anthropogenic influences. The Nitrate Pollution Index and classified 49% of samples as Clean, and WAWQI classified over 52% of samples as safe for human consumption. Overall, minimal environmental deterioration was noted, with limited hydrological connectivity between the Kallar River and adjacent mine sites. The study recommends ecological restoration measures and the construction of protective embankments to ensure the sustainability of groundwater resources over a longer period in this sensitive limestone terrain.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"219 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145664552","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 succession in aquatic and littoral habitats has received much less attention than terrestrial habitats have. We sampled differently aged successional stages at five different types of post‐mining sites, that is, sandpits, stone quarries, clay quarries, brown coal spoil heaps and black coal subsidences, across the Czech Republic, Central Europe. They ranged in age since creation from 1 to 89 years. The chronosequence approach was adopted. The succession was described based on plant species identity and selected life‐history traits of these species. Alongside vegetation data, the effects of environmental variables, namely age, water depth, pH, conductivity, elevation, area and substratum type (mainly the proportion of organic material) on vegetation development were analysed. Altogether, 254 vascular plant species and 7 charophytes were identified. The types of mining sites differed in species composition and number of species per plot with the littorals of sandpits being the most species‐rich habitat. The water table was one of the main driving factors alongside age and accumulation of organic material. The successional stages (young, middle, late) significantly differed in their vegetation composition in littoral habitats in sandpits and in aquatic habitats of sandpits and brown coal spoil heaps only. The succession of littoral vegetation prevailingly runs towards more compact vegetation dominated by tall perennial graminoids, while aquatic vegetation was mostly characterised by random occurrence of species and partly affected by accumulation of nutrients in later stages. Spontaneous succession in aquatic and littoral habitats leads to valuable semi‐natural vegetation and can thus be considered to be a reliable restoration method of such post‐mining sites in Central Europe.
{"title":"Aquatic and Littoral Successions in Various Post‐Mining Sites—Patterns and Possible Use in Ecological Restoration","authors":"Anna Müllerová, Klára Řehounková, Karel Prach","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70345","url":null,"abstract":"Vegetation succession in aquatic and littoral habitats has received much less attention than terrestrial habitats have. We sampled differently aged successional stages at five different types of post‐mining sites, that is, sandpits, stone quarries, clay quarries, brown coal spoil heaps and black coal subsidences, across the Czech Republic, Central Europe. They ranged in age since creation from 1 to 89 years. The chronosequence approach was adopted. The succession was described based on plant species identity and selected life‐history traits of these species. Alongside vegetation data, the effects of environmental variables, namely age, water depth, pH, conductivity, elevation, area and substratum type (mainly the proportion of organic material) on vegetation development were analysed. Altogether, 254 vascular plant species and 7 charophytes were identified. The types of mining sites differed in species composition and number of species per plot with the littorals of sandpits being the most species‐rich habitat. The water table was one of the main driving factors alongside age and accumulation of organic material. The successional stages (young, middle, late) significantly differed in their vegetation composition in littoral habitats in sandpits and in aquatic habitats of sandpits and brown coal spoil heaps only. The succession of littoral vegetation prevailingly runs towards more compact vegetation dominated by tall perennial graminoids, while aquatic vegetation was mostly characterised by random occurrence of species and partly affected by accumulation of nutrients in later stages. Spontaneous succession in aquatic and littoral habitats leads to valuable semi‐natural vegetation and can thus be considered to be a reliable restoration method of such post‐mining sites in Central Europe.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657204","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}
Globally, the sociological, ethnological, economic, demographic, and psychological aspects of migration have been studied extensively. However, a critical gap remains in the systematic quantitative assessment of its ecological effectiveness, particularly concerning planned ecological resettlement projects (ERP). This study examined the interrelationships among ERP implementation, climate change (CC), land use and land cover (LULC) change, net primary productivity (NPP), and soil erosion (SE) dynamics. We propose a new spatiotemporal analytical framework integrating geostatistical methods to explore how ERP influences land‐use patterns, soil conservation, and land productivity. Focusing on 19 counties and districts in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the study utilizes MODIS‐derived NPP data, LANDSAT‐based LULC classification, SE, ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) meteorological data (2001–2022), and demographic statistics from the Ningxia Statistical Yearbook (1985–2022) to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes and drivers of ecological quality in out‐ and in‐migration areas before and after ERP implementation. Key findings include: (1) All 19 counties participated in the ERP, resettling approximately 974,800 migrants between 1999 and 2020. (2) The project substantially reconfigured land‐use patterns. In out‐migration areas, the urban impervious area increased by 152.5%, while cropland decreased by 31.7%. Conversely, in in‐migration areas, the urban impervious area increased by 262.0%, while cropland increased by 30.1%. (3) Although regional NPP demonstrated an overall increasing trend, the per‐unit‐area growth rate (∂NPP) of dominant land covers—cropland and grassland—was markedly higher in out‐migration areas (83.7%, 80.8%) than in‐migration areas (18.1%, 38.2%). These results provide robust support for the targets or indicators of the SDGs and offer valuable insights for policymakers devising social‐ecological migration and land rehabilitation strategies.
{"title":"Eco‐Effectiveness of the Ecological Resettlement Project for Millions of People in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China: Based on the Assessment of Long‐Term NPP , SE, and LULC","authors":"Haoran Xu, Jingjing Wang, Jiajia Guo, Wenqing Xing, Tingting Li, Chao Ma","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70312","url":null,"abstract":"Globally, the sociological, ethnological, economic, demographic, and psychological aspects of migration have been studied extensively. However, a critical gap remains in the systematic quantitative assessment of its ecological effectiveness, particularly concerning planned ecological resettlement projects (ERP). This study examined the interrelationships among ERP implementation, climate change (CC), land use and land cover (LULC) change, net primary productivity (NPP), and soil erosion (SE) dynamics. We propose a new spatiotemporal analytical framework integrating geostatistical methods to explore how ERP influences land‐use patterns, soil conservation, and land productivity. Focusing on 19 counties and districts in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the study utilizes MODIS‐derived NPP data, LANDSAT‐based LULC classification, SE, ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) meteorological data (2001–2022), and demographic statistics from the Ningxia Statistical Yearbook (1985–2022) to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes and drivers of ecological quality in out‐ and in‐migration areas before and after ERP implementation. Key findings include: (1) All 19 counties participated in the ERP, resettling approximately 974,800 migrants between 1999 and 2020. (2) The project substantially reconfigured land‐use patterns. In out‐migration areas, the urban impervious area increased by 152.5%, while cropland decreased by 31.7%. Conversely, in in‐migration areas, the urban impervious area increased by 262.0%, while cropland increased by 30.1%. (3) Although regional NPP demonstrated an overall increasing trend, the per‐unit‐area growth rate (∂NPP) of dominant land covers—cropland and grassland—was markedly higher in out‐migration areas (83.7%, 80.8%) than in‐migration areas (18.1%, 38.2%). These results provide robust support for the targets or indicators of the SDGs and offer valuable insights for policymakers devising social‐ecological migration and land rehabilitation strategies.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657210","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}
Wang Yihong, Li Jing, Wang Suqin, Chen Xinyang, Wang Rong, Tan Zhaoxian, Qu Jiapeng
The plateau pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ) is recognized as an ecosystem engineer on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Despite the critical roles that soil microbiomes play in ecosystem functioning, little is known about how the disturbance behaviors of plateau pikas alter soil microbial community. Here, we investigated the impact of plateau pika disturbance across a gradient of intensities—high (1587 ± 89 burrows·ha −1 ), medium (667 ± 42 burrows·ha −1 ), and low (41 ± 5 burrows·ha −1 )‐on soil microbial composition, community assembly processes, functional profiles, and co‐occurrence network patterns using 16S rRNA sequencing. The results revealed that pika disturbance significantly altered soil microbial composition. Specifically, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria , Rokubacteria and Entorrhizomycota showed a significant increase with disturbance intensity. Furthermore, the disturbance altered both bacterial and fungal β diversity, resulting in a clear separation between microbial communities under low and high disturbance intensities. Soil pH, carbon and nitrogen contents were significantly correlated with both bacterial and fungal community compositions. Stochastic processes, particularly dispersal limitation, predominate in microbial community assembly and become more pronounced with greater disturbance. Furthermore, higher disturbance intensity resulted in a marked reduction in secondary metabolic functions and increased the complexity of microbial co‐occurrence networks. These findings demonstrate that plateau pika activity drives the restructuring of soil microbiomes across the disturbance gradient. This study provides an ecological perspective for integrating microbial metrics into alpine grassland management and for evaluating the ecological trade‐offs in managing pika populations on the QTP.
{"title":"Disturbance Gradients of Plateau Pika ( Ochotona curzoniae ) Reshape Soil Microbiome Communities in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Ecosystems","authors":"Wang Yihong, Li Jing, Wang Suqin, Chen Xinyang, Wang Rong, Tan Zhaoxian, Qu Jiapeng","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70355","url":null,"abstract":"The plateau pika ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Ochotona curzoniae</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> ) is recognized as an ecosystem engineer on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Despite the critical roles that soil microbiomes play in ecosystem functioning, little is known about how the disturbance behaviors of plateau pikas alter soil microbial community. Here, we investigated the impact of plateau pika disturbance across a gradient of intensities—high (1587 ± 89 burrows·ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ), medium (667 ± 42 burrows·ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ), and low (41 ± 5 burrows·ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> )‐on soil microbial composition, community assembly processes, functional profiles, and co‐occurrence network patterns using 16S rRNA sequencing. The results revealed that pika disturbance significantly altered soil microbial composition. Specifically, the relative abundance of <jats:italic>Proteobacteria</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>Rokubacteria</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Entorrhizomycota</jats:italic> showed a significant increase with disturbance intensity. Furthermore, the disturbance altered both bacterial and fungal β diversity, resulting in a clear separation between microbial communities under low and high disturbance intensities. Soil pH, carbon and nitrogen contents were significantly correlated with both bacterial and fungal community compositions. Stochastic processes, particularly dispersal limitation, predominate in microbial community assembly and become more pronounced with greater disturbance. Furthermore, higher disturbance intensity resulted in a marked reduction in secondary metabolic functions and increased the complexity of microbial co‐occurrence networks. These findings demonstrate that plateau pika activity drives the restructuring of soil microbiomes across the disturbance gradient. This study provides an ecological perspective for integrating microbial metrics into alpine grassland management and for evaluating the ecological trade‐offs in managing pika populations on the QTP.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"76 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657205","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}
Igor Bogunovic, Paulo Pereira, Marija Galic, Aleksandra Percin, Ivica Kisic, Vilim Filipovic, Lana Filipovic, Xiaoyan Tang, Sun Geng, Sebastiano Trevisani
Soil degradation on abandoned or poorly managed terraces in the Mediterranean region poses a significant threat to the resilience of agroecosystems, particularly in hillside olive groves where erosion and nutrient depletion accelerate land abandonment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short‐term effects of five different soil management practices (grass cover, organic mulch, herbicide application, pile burning and tillage) on soil physical and chemical properties, hydrological responses and nutrient and pollutant losses. A field trial with replicated microplots (five per treatment, 25 in total) on a Rendzic Leptosol was conducted on degraded terraces in southern Croatia. Natural rainfall events were monitored in 2024 (spring to autumn) to quantify runoff and sediment yield. Results showed that mulch and grass treatments significantly improved bulk density, water‐holding capacity and aggregate size while reducing runoff, sediment loss and nutrient export. In contrast, herbicide and fire treatments resulted in pronounced compaction, increased runoff and up to nine times higher losses of C, N, P, K and Cu compared to covered plots. Sediment was consistently enriched in nutrients and contaminants compared to soil, with element concentrations up to three times higher, especially under herbicide, fire and tillage. The study provides new insights into erosion‐induced chemical enrichment and degradation processes on Mediterranean terraces and emphasises the effectiveness of protective measures based on soil cover. The results highlight the disproportionate importance of exposed soils for the transport of fine, chemically enriched sediments and confirm that soil cover, particularly mulch or vegetation, provides substantial protection against both on‐site degradation and nutrient export from the site.
{"title":"Tillage, Mulch, Fire and Cover: Soil Management Impacts on Degraded Terraces in Mediterranean Olive Groves","authors":"Igor Bogunovic, Paulo Pereira, Marija Galic, Aleksandra Percin, Ivica Kisic, Vilim Filipovic, Lana Filipovic, Xiaoyan Tang, Sun Geng, Sebastiano Trevisani","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70352","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70352","url":null,"abstract":"Soil degradation on abandoned or poorly managed terraces in the Mediterranean region poses a significant threat to the resilience of agroecosystems, particularly in hillside olive groves where erosion and nutrient depletion accelerate land abandonment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short‐term effects of five different soil management practices (grass cover, organic mulch, herbicide application, pile burning and tillage) on soil physical and chemical properties, hydrological responses and nutrient and pollutant losses. A field trial with replicated microplots (five per treatment, 25 in total) on a Rendzic Leptosol was conducted on degraded terraces in southern Croatia. Natural rainfall events were monitored in 2024 (spring to autumn) to quantify runoff and sediment yield. Results showed that mulch and grass treatments significantly improved bulk density, water‐holding capacity and aggregate size while reducing runoff, sediment loss and nutrient export. In contrast, herbicide and fire treatments resulted in pronounced compaction, increased runoff and up to nine times higher losses of C, N, P, K and Cu compared to covered plots. Sediment was consistently enriched in nutrients and contaminants compared to soil, with element concentrations up to three times higher, especially under herbicide, fire and tillage. The study provides new insights into erosion‐induced chemical enrichment and degradation processes on Mediterranean terraces and emphasises the effectiveness of protective measures based on soil cover. The results highlight the disproportionate importance of exposed soils for the transport of fine, chemically enriched sediments and confirm that soil cover, particularly mulch or vegetation, provides substantial protection against both on‐site degradation and nutrient export from the site.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657271","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}
Forest ecosystems play a critical role in the global carbon cycle. As a significant terrestrial carbon sink, plantations exhibit carbon stock patterns that are shaped by tree species composition, stand structure, and environmental conditions. Here, we investigated typical plantation types in the Mufu Mountain, Hubei Province. Total carbon stock and its distribution across different stand types were quantified by establishing permanent monitoring plots and conducting tree surveys, applying general biomass models to estimate biomass, and employing elemental analysis to measure soil carbon content. Our results indicated that total carbon stock ranged from 37,452.54 to 184,909.38 kg/ha among six forest subplots in the Mufu Mountain. Broadleaf and coniferous stands accumulated substantially more carbon than Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz. forests. Higher soil temperature, illuminance, and increased shrub cover promoted carbon accumulation in trees and shrubs. In contrast, multiple environmental factors regulated carbon stock in herbaceous plants, litter, and soil organic matter, demonstrating clear carbon pool‐specific effects. Our findings clarify key environmental drivers of carbon dynamics in subtropical plantations, and based on these results, we propose concrete management strategies including the selection of high‐carbon stock tree species, maintenance of understory shrub layers, and implementation of strategic canopy thinning to enhance forest carbon sequestration.
{"title":"Carbon Stock and Environmental Variations of Typical Plantations in Mufu Mountain in Hubei Province, China","authors":"Mingyang Ding, Yi Yang, Jiaoyang Xu, Shaoqiang Wang, Lunche Wang, Chunbo Huang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70337","url":null,"abstract":"Forest ecosystems play a critical role in the global carbon cycle. As a significant terrestrial carbon sink, plantations exhibit carbon stock patterns that are shaped by tree species composition, stand structure, and environmental conditions. Here, we investigated typical plantation types in the Mufu Mountain, Hubei Province. Total carbon stock and its distribution across different stand types were quantified by establishing permanent monitoring plots and conducting tree surveys, applying general biomass models to estimate biomass, and employing elemental analysis to measure soil carbon content. Our results indicated that total carbon stock ranged from 37,452.54 to 184,909.38 kg/ha among six forest subplots in the Mufu Mountain. Broadleaf and coniferous stands accumulated substantially more carbon than <jats:italic>Phyllostachys edulis</jats:italic> (Carrière) J. Houz. forests. Higher soil temperature, illuminance, and increased shrub cover promoted carbon accumulation in trees and shrubs. In contrast, multiple environmental factors regulated carbon stock in herbaceous plants, litter, and soil organic matter, demonstrating clear carbon pool‐specific effects. Our findings clarify key environmental drivers of carbon dynamics in subtropical plantations, and based on these results, we propose concrete management strategies including the selection of high‐carbon stock tree species, maintenance of understory shrub layers, and implementation of strategic canopy thinning to enhance forest carbon sequestration.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657263","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}