Although extensive studies have explored the influence of stand age on soil microbial diversity and functionality; however, knowledge of ancient trees' impacts on soil microbial communities and multifunctionality is limited. Here, we analyzed the bacterial communities, keystone species, and potential functions associated with young (< 10 years), middle‐aged (about 50 years), and old (1000 years) trees of walnut ( Juglans regia L.) to track microbial‐mediated soil multifunctionality (SMF) on the Xizang Plateau. The SMF increased with the increase in stand age; however, old trees significantly reduced the SMF compared to middle‐aged trees. Old trees substantially decreased microbial diversity and reshaped the microbial community composition, decreasing the relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa like Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Gemmatimonadota. Metagenomic screening indicated that stand age brought about a concurrent reduction in the abundance of carbon (C)‐related genes, such as genes encoding glucoamylase, which breaks down starch, xylanase for hemicelluloses degradation, and endoglucanase for chitin degradation, as well as nitrogen (N)‐related genes, including amoA . Changes in the microbiota characteristics (diversity, composition, and network complexity) are strongly correlated with age‐induced changes in SMF. Our findings demonstrated that ancient trees in periurban areas have a notably negative effect on soil microbial communities and functionality. Thus, comprehending the intricacy of interactions between ancient trees and soil is crucial for formulating sustainable management and ancient tree conservation policies.
{"title":"Ancient Walnut Trees in Periurban Areas Reduce Soil Microbial Network Complexity, Function, and Multifunctionality","authors":"Ai‐Tian Ren, Meng‐Li Wang, He‐Miao Gao, Xiao‐Kan Wang, Ying Zhu, Jia‐Ying Tian, Si‐Kun Liu, Long‐Yi Yuan, You‐Cai Xiong","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70346","url":null,"abstract":"Although extensive studies have explored the influence of stand age on soil microbial diversity and functionality; however, knowledge of ancient trees' impacts on soil microbial communities and multifunctionality is limited. Here, we analyzed the bacterial communities, keystone species, and potential functions associated with young (< 10 years), middle‐aged (about 50 years), and old (1000 years) trees of walnut ( <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Juglans regia</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> L.) to track microbial‐mediated soil multifunctionality (SMF) on the Xizang Plateau. The SMF increased with the increase in stand age; however, old trees significantly reduced the SMF compared to middle‐aged trees. Old trees substantially decreased microbial diversity and reshaped the microbial community composition, decreasing the relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa like Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Gemmatimonadota. Metagenomic screening indicated that stand age brought about a concurrent reduction in the abundance of carbon (C)‐related genes, such as genes encoding glucoamylase, which breaks down starch, xylanase for hemicelluloses degradation, and endoglucanase for chitin degradation, as well as nitrogen (N)‐related genes, including <jats:italic>amoA</jats:italic> . Changes in the microbiota characteristics (diversity, composition, and network complexity) are strongly correlated with age‐induced changes in SMF. Our findings demonstrated that ancient trees in periurban areas have a notably negative effect on soil microbial communities and functionality. Thus, comprehending the intricacy of interactions between ancient trees and soil is crucial for formulating sustainable management and ancient tree conservation policies.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657267","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}
Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is crucial for optimizing the energy structure. The vast area of grassland has become the preferred site for building PV stations. The microenvironment changes caused by the construction of PV power stations have a significant impact on soil nutrient redistribution. However, the soil nutrient status, patterns of stoichiometric distribution, and key driving factors of PV plants are unclear, particularly in alpine meadow regions. To address this issue, multiple plant and soil nutrient variables closely related to soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry were analyzed in heterogeneous PV areas (periphery, between panels, and under panels) in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Compared with the plots around the PV panels, the plant diversity index between panels increased but the aboveground biomass decreased by 18.52%. The installation of PV panels increased soil moisture content and reduced soil bulk density. Soil C∶N did not change much, whereas C∶P and N∶P increased by 11.52% and 10.39%, respectively. MBC∶MBN and MBC∶MBP increased with the increase in shading intensity. Soil enzyme activity was greater in the inter‐panel than in under‐panel areas, and both increased in comparison to the surrounding plots. Structural equation model analysis showed that plant diversity and soil enzyme activity were the common strong driving factors affecting the soil C∶N∶P stoichiometry. The study suggested that vegetation changes in the PV panels of alpine meadow directly affected the soil C, N, and P cycles and stoichiometry, and exerted a short positive effect on soil nutrient recovery.
{"title":"Photovoltaic Power Station Construction Alters Soil C, N, and P Stoichiometric Characteristics in Alpine Meadows","authors":"Mengyao Liu, Wenbi Wang, Yahong Cao, Miao Tian, Kejie Ou, Junhu Su","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70325","url":null,"abstract":"Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is crucial for optimizing the energy structure. The vast area of grassland has become the preferred site for building PV stations. The microenvironment changes caused by the construction of PV power stations have a significant impact on soil nutrient redistribution. However, the soil nutrient status, patterns of stoichiometric distribution, and key driving factors of PV plants are unclear, particularly in alpine meadow regions. To address this issue, multiple plant and soil nutrient variables closely related to soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry were analyzed in heterogeneous PV areas (periphery, between panels, and under panels) in the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Compared with the plots around the PV panels, the plant diversity index between panels increased but the aboveground biomass decreased by 18.52%. The installation of PV panels increased soil moisture content and reduced soil bulk density. Soil C∶N did not change much, whereas C∶P and N∶P increased by 11.52% and 10.39%, respectively. MBC∶MBN and MBC∶MBP increased with the increase in shading intensity. Soil enzyme activity was greater in the inter‐panel than in under‐panel areas, and both increased in comparison to the surrounding plots. Structural equation model analysis showed that plant diversity and soil enzyme activity were the common strong driving factors affecting the soil C∶N∶P stoichiometry. The study suggested that vegetation changes in the PV panels of alpine meadow directly affected the soil C, N, and P cycles and stoichiometry, and exerted a short positive effect on soil nutrient recovery.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"116 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657273","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}
Conducting mountain ecosystem zoning through ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) plays a crucial role in achieving coordinated management of multiple ecosystem services (ESs). However, research on the interrelationships and underlying mechanisms among ESs across different partitioned zones remains inadequate. In this study, we quantified the spatial and temporal changes of six ESs in the Taihang Mountains, including water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage, food production, net primary productivity (NPP) and biodiversity maintenance, and revealed their trade‐offs/synergies based on the ESBs delineated by the Self‐Organizing Map (SOM) method. We subsequently deployed the Mantel Test to pinpoint the key drivers of ESs for multi ESBs. The results showed that: (1) four of the six ESs demonstrated significant growth, with NPP and biodiversity maintenance increasing substantially across > 90% of the study area. Conversely, soil conservation fluctuated considerably overall, decreasing by 8.89% between 2000 and 2020. (2) Based on the characteristics features of six ESs, the Taihang Mountains were divided into NPP‐biodiversity mutual enhancement (B1), major grain producing (B2), ecological core (B3), ecological fragile (B4), and water resources supply bundles (B5). The trade‐off and synergies of ESs were not immutable, and varied with ESBs. A strong trade‐off between water yield and food production was observed in B2 and B5, while a synergistic relationship was found in B4. The highest synergy effect appeared in the B1 pair. (3) This study proposed a differentiated zoning governance framework: whereas B3 requires strict ecological protection, bundles B1 and B4 should prioritize grassland restoration and conservation, while B5 necessitated curbing uncontrolled urban expansion to safeguard water yield service. Furthermore, grain production in B2 continued to increase in the context of regional warming. This study establishes the ecosystem management framework for typical arid/semiarid mountains, providing a scientific basis for territorial spatial planning and ES optimization.
{"title":"Spatial–Temporal Heterogeneity of Ecosystem Service Interactions and Drivers Across Different Ecological Clusters in the Taihang Mountains","authors":"Feng Wang, Baijun Shang, Xiaogang Zheng, Hui Gao, Jintong Liu, Tonggang Fu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70350","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70350","url":null,"abstract":"Conducting mountain ecosystem zoning through ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) plays a crucial role in achieving coordinated management of multiple ecosystem services (ESs). However, research on the interrelationships and underlying mechanisms among ESs across different partitioned zones remains inadequate. In this study, we quantified the spatial and temporal changes of six ESs in the Taihang Mountains, including water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage, food production, net primary productivity (NPP) and biodiversity maintenance, and revealed their trade‐offs/synergies based on the ESBs delineated by the Self‐Organizing Map (SOM) method. We subsequently deployed the Mantel Test to pinpoint the key drivers of ESs for multi ESBs. The results showed that: (1) four of the six ESs demonstrated significant growth, with NPP and biodiversity maintenance increasing substantially across > 90% of the study area. Conversely, soil conservation fluctuated considerably overall, decreasing by 8.89% between 2000 and 2020. (2) Based on the characteristics features of six ESs, the Taihang Mountains were divided into NPP‐biodiversity mutual enhancement (B1), major grain producing (B2), ecological core (B3), ecological fragile (B4), and water resources supply bundles (B5). The trade‐off and synergies of ESs were not immutable, and varied with ESBs. A strong trade‐off between water yield and food production was observed in B2 and B5, while a synergistic relationship was found in B4. The highest synergy effect appeared in the B1 pair. (3) This study proposed a differentiated zoning governance framework: whereas B3 requires strict ecological protection, bundles B1 and B4 should prioritize grassland restoration and conservation, while B5 necessitated curbing uncontrolled urban expansion to safeguard water yield service. Furthermore, grain production in B2 continued to increase in the context of regional warming. This study establishes the ecosystem management framework for typical arid/semiarid mountains, providing a scientific basis for territorial spatial planning and ES optimization.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657264","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 long‐term impacts of intensive agricultural reclamation on the turnover and stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC) in desert ecosystems remain poorly understood, particularly throughout deep soil profiles. Using a paired‐site approach in northwest China, we investigated how the conversion of sandy land to cropland following 15 years of reclamation shaped the vertical distribution (0–200 cm) and composition of SOC fractions, focusing on particulate (POC) and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC). Our results show that over 60% of total SOC stock is stored below 60 cm depth, with deep‐soil carbon increasing significantly from 18.4 t ha −1 in natural land to 27.2 t ha −1 following reclamation, underscoring the critical role of subsoil carbon sequestration in arid regions under land‐use change. Reclamation fundamentally shifted SOC composition from POC dominance to MAOC dominance, with subsoil MAOC increasing by up to 133.9%, indicating enhanced stability. A strong correlation between microbial necromass carbon (MNC) and MAOC in the topsoil suggests a predominantly microbial‐mediated pathway for MAOC formation in surface layers. MAOC correlated negatively with aliphatic‐C and positively with polysaccharide‐C, collectively pointing to microbial transformation and subsequent mineral stabilization as key processes in MAOC formation. Key factors including total nitrogen, available nitrogen, clay content, and soil moisture were identified as primary predictors of MAOC accumulation, with depth‐dependent influences. These findings demonstrate that long‐term reclamation markedly promotes MAOC accumulation and carbon sequestration capacity in deep soil, while clarifying associated biological and physicochemical stabilization mechanisms. These insights into SOC persistence under land‐use change are crucial for developing sustainable soil management and climate‐adaptive agriculture in drylands.
{"title":"Long‐Term Reclamation of Sandy Land Enhances Deep Soil Carbon Storage and Stability via Mineral‐Associated Organic Carbon Accumulation","authors":"Qingqi Wang, Jing Tian, Xu Feng, Wai Yu, Xiaoting Han, Gehong Wei, Honglei Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70347","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70347","url":null,"abstract":"The long‐term impacts of intensive agricultural reclamation on the turnover and stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC) in desert ecosystems remain poorly understood, particularly throughout deep soil profiles. Using a paired‐site approach in northwest China, we investigated how the conversion of sandy land to cropland following 15 years of reclamation shaped the vertical distribution (0–200 cm) and composition of SOC fractions, focusing on particulate (POC) and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC). Our results show that over 60% of total SOC stock is stored below 60 cm depth, with deep‐soil carbon increasing significantly from 18.4 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in natural land to 27.2 t ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> following reclamation, underscoring the critical role of subsoil carbon sequestration in arid regions under land‐use change. Reclamation fundamentally shifted SOC composition from POC dominance to MAOC dominance, with subsoil MAOC increasing by up to 133.9%, indicating enhanced stability. A strong correlation between microbial necromass carbon (MNC) and MAOC in the topsoil suggests a predominantly microbial‐mediated pathway for MAOC formation in surface layers. MAOC correlated negatively with aliphatic‐C and positively with polysaccharide‐C, collectively pointing to microbial transformation and subsequent mineral stabilization as key processes in MAOC formation. Key factors including total nitrogen, available nitrogen, clay content, and soil moisture were identified as primary predictors of MAOC accumulation, with depth‐dependent influences. These findings demonstrate that long‐term reclamation markedly promotes MAOC accumulation and carbon sequestration capacity in deep soil, while clarifying associated biological and physicochemical stabilization mechanisms. These insights into SOC persistence under land‐use change are crucial for developing sustainable soil management and climate‐adaptive agriculture in drylands.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"244 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145657266","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}
Amid the backdrop of increasing global extreme weather events and tightening resource constraints on grain crop production. China, as the world's most populous country, faces persistent challenges to grain security. On one hand, grain crop production agglomeration (GCPA) can effectively address grain security challenges by optimizing the spatial layout of agricultural production. On the other hand, it can enhance the efficiency of resource utilization in grain production, thereby ensuring the stability and sustainability of the national grain supply. The study uses 1980 as the baseline and employs a range of analytical methods, including the spatial Gini coefficient, industrial concentration, global Moran's I, and LISA agglomeration map, to investigate the temporal–spatial variation trends and characteristics of GCPA in China from 2000 to 2020. Subsequently, a spatial Durbin model with time and space fixed effects is applied to identify the key factors influencing changes in the level of GCPA. The findings are further contextualized to explore opportunities for leveraging GCPA to promote sustainable land resource development. The results reveal that, from temporal variation trends in GCPA, the overall level of GCPA in China has exhibited a steady upward trend. From temporal variation characteristics in GCPA, the provinces contributing to GCPA have gradually concentrated in Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, and Anhui, demonstrating significant provincial convergence. From spatial variation trends in GCPA, while the global Moran's I of GCPA experienced brief declines in 2009 and 2018, it has generally shown a steadily increasing trend, reflecting strong spatial dependence. From spatial variation characteristics in GCPA, the spatial distribution of GCPA exhibits polarization, with provinces transitioning between high‐high (H‐H) and low‐low (L‐L) agglomeration clusters. This indicates that regions with lower grain production capacity are likely to experience further declines, regardless of their proximity to high‐production regions. The analysis identifies agricultural transportation infrastructure as the most critical factor promoting GCPA. Conversely, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and labor inputs in grain crop production are found to hinder GCPA. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhancing agricultural transportation infrastructure and improving the efficiency of traditional agricultural inputs to elevate GCPA levels, thereby fostering sustainable land resource development.
{"title":"Sustainable Land Production Methods: The Spatiotemporal Evolution, Determinants, and Future Implications of Grain Crop Production Agglomeration in China Under Resource Constraints","authors":"Cheng Li, Feng Wu, Mingxing Zheng, Zhaocai Cui, Irum Shahzadi","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70268","url":null,"abstract":"Amid the backdrop of increasing global extreme weather events and tightening resource constraints on grain crop production. China, as the world's most populous country, faces persistent challenges to grain security. On one hand, grain crop production agglomeration (GCPA) can effectively address grain security challenges by optimizing the spatial layout of agricultural production. On the other hand, it can enhance the efficiency of resource utilization in grain production, thereby ensuring the stability and sustainability of the national grain supply. The study uses 1980 as the baseline and employs a range of analytical methods, including the spatial Gini coefficient, industrial concentration, global Moran's I, and LISA agglomeration map, to investigate the temporal–spatial variation trends and characteristics of GCPA in China from 2000 to 2020. Subsequently, a spatial Durbin model with time and space fixed effects is applied to identify the key factors influencing changes in the level of GCPA. The findings are further contextualized to explore opportunities for leveraging GCPA to promote sustainable land resource development. The results reveal that, from temporal variation trends in GCPA, the overall level of GCPA in China has exhibited a steady upward trend. From temporal variation characteristics in GCPA, the provinces contributing to GCPA have gradually concentrated in Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, and Anhui, demonstrating significant provincial convergence. From spatial variation trends in GCPA, while the global Moran's I of GCPA experienced brief declines in 2009 and 2018, it has generally shown a steadily increasing trend, reflecting strong spatial dependence. From spatial variation characteristics in GCPA, the spatial distribution of GCPA exhibits polarization, with provinces transitioning between high‐high (H‐H) and low‐low (L‐L) agglomeration clusters. This indicates that regions with lower grain production capacity are likely to experience further declines, regardless of their proximity to high‐production regions. The analysis identifies agricultural transportation infrastructure as the most critical factor promoting GCPA. Conversely, excessive use of chemical fertilizers and labor inputs in grain crop production are found to hinder GCPA. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhancing agricultural transportation infrastructure and improving the efficiency of traditional agricultural inputs to elevate GCPA levels, thereby fostering sustainable land resource development.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145651041","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}
To address the gaps in existing research regarding multiscale coupling mechanisms of ecological risk and integrated analysis across vertical–horizontal dimensions in mountainous reservoir catchments, this study focuses on the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) in China and aims to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of ecological risk and their underlying drivers through an integrated framework that combines land use analysis with risk assessment. The study demonstrates theoretical novelty by being the first to apply spatial autocorrelation, Geodetector, and Geographically Weighted Regression (GTWR) models to comprehensively evaluate ecological risk across both horizontal and vertical dimensions in reservoir ecosystems—an approach rarely employed in prior studies of such systems. Based on Landsat imagery, population density, nighttime light data, and climate variables (2000–2020), the study maps risk distribution and identifies key drivers. Results reveal a southwest‐northeast expanding risk pattern, with high‐risk zones concentrated in low‐altitude urbanized areas. Between 2000 and 2020, construction land expanded by 1769.13 km 2 , primarily at the expense of cultivated and ecological land, reflecting intense urbanization pressure. Ecological land remained dominant but declined gradually, while other land types—mainly construction land—increased from 2.18% to 5.89% of the total area. Human activities, especially land development, are the dominant drivers, showing significant spatial heterogeneity. Ecological risk exhibited complex temporal dynamics: high‐risk areas decreased by 2.79% in area proportion, yet remained concentrated in low‐elevation zones, where risk levels continued to rise. Low‐risk areas expanded by 3.50% from 2010 to 2020, particularly in mountainous regions, due to ecological restoration efforts such as the Grain for Green Program. The centroid of ecological risk shifted slightly northward, with migration distance accelerating after 2015, indicating increasing spatial uncertainty. The study proposes tiered land management strategies: buffer zone establishment in low‐risk areas, ecological restoration in mid‐risk zones, and systemic governance with early warning systems in high‐risk areas. Offering a scientific basis for ecological risk governance, this research provides actionable insights for sustainable management of large‐scale reservoir ecosystems globally.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal Non‐Stationarity and Driving Mechanisms of Ecological Risk in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area: Integrating Land Use Patterns and Terrain Positioning Into Multi‐Scale Geospatial Modeling","authors":"Hui Li, Haoqiang Sun, Shaolong Sun, Shouyang Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70324","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70324","url":null,"abstract":"To address the gaps in existing research regarding multiscale coupling mechanisms of ecological risk and integrated analysis across vertical–horizontal dimensions in mountainous reservoir catchments, this study focuses on the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) in China and aims to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of ecological risk and their underlying drivers through an integrated framework that combines land use analysis with risk assessment. The study demonstrates theoretical novelty by being the first to apply spatial autocorrelation, Geodetector, and Geographically Weighted Regression (GTWR) models to comprehensively evaluate ecological risk across both horizontal and vertical dimensions in reservoir ecosystems—an approach rarely employed in prior studies of such systems. Based on Landsat imagery, population density, nighttime light data, and climate variables (2000–2020), the study maps risk distribution and identifies key drivers. Results reveal a southwest‐northeast expanding risk pattern, with high‐risk zones concentrated in low‐altitude urbanized areas. Between 2000 and 2020, construction land expanded by 1769.13 km <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> , primarily at the expense of cultivated and ecological land, reflecting intense urbanization pressure. Ecological land remained dominant but declined gradually, while other land types—mainly construction land—increased from 2.18% to 5.89% of the total area. Human activities, especially land development, are the dominant drivers, showing significant spatial heterogeneity. Ecological risk exhibited complex temporal dynamics: high‐risk areas decreased by 2.79% in area proportion, yet remained concentrated in low‐elevation zones, where risk levels continued to rise. Low‐risk areas expanded by 3.50% from 2010 to 2020, particularly in mountainous regions, due to ecological restoration efforts such as the Grain for Green Program. The centroid of ecological risk shifted slightly northward, with migration distance accelerating after 2015, indicating increasing spatial uncertainty. The study proposes tiered land management strategies: buffer zone establishment in low‐risk areas, ecological restoration in mid‐risk zones, and systemic governance with early warning systems in high‐risk areas. Offering a scientific basis for ecological risk governance, this research provides actionable insights for sustainable management of large‐scale reservoir ecosystems globally.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145610894","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}
In the context of accelerated urbanization, elucidating the relationship between urban expansion and land use conflicts (LUCs), and understanding the impact of socio‐natural factors on LUCs, is imperative for sustainable regional development. However, the differential impact of urban expansion patterns (UEPs) on the variation of LUCs and the dominant drivers of this variation, have not been fully explored, hampering the formulation of sustainable urban development plans. To address these gaps, we analyzed the differential impact of three UEPs (edge expansion, infilling expansion and outlying expansion) on LUCs in the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration (CCUA). Subsequently, we employed XGBoost‐SHAP and PLS‐SEM models to explore the dominant factors and driving mechanisms of LUCs under different UEPs from 2000 to 2020, thereby formulating targeted urban development strategies. Key findings included: (1) LUCs intensity has fluctuated downward over the past two decades, exhibiting a spatial evolution characterized by alternating dominance of “agglomeration‐dispersion” patterns. (2) Edge expansion was the dominant pattern triggering LUCs, exhibiting significantly greater scale and intensity than outlying and infilling expansion. (3) These differences were primarily driven by changes in Night‐time lights, whose explanatory power varied across different UEPs. (4) Urbanization factors exerted the strongest positive influence, climate impacts varied depending on UEPs, and geographic environment negatively impacted LUCs. These findings indicated that differentiated spatial optimization strategies should be adopted for different UEPs to achieve sustainable land use. This study provides theoretical and practical references for promoting harmonious human‐land relations in rapidly urbanizing regions.
{"title":"What Dominates Land Use Conflicts Across Different Urban Expansion Patterns?—Evidence From the Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration, China","authors":"Weijie Li, Jinwen Kang, Yong Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70326","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70326","url":null,"abstract":"In the context of accelerated urbanization, elucidating the relationship between urban expansion and land use conflicts (LUCs), and understanding the impact of socio‐natural factors on LUCs, is imperative for sustainable regional development. However, the differential impact of urban expansion patterns (UEPs) on the variation of LUCs and the dominant drivers of this variation, have not been fully explored, hampering the formulation of sustainable urban development plans. To address these gaps, we analyzed the differential impact of three UEPs (edge expansion, infilling expansion and outlying expansion) on LUCs in the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration (CCUA). Subsequently, we employed XGBoost‐SHAP and PLS‐SEM models to explore the dominant factors and driving mechanisms of LUCs under different UEPs from 2000 to 2020, thereby formulating targeted urban development strategies. Key findings included: (1) LUCs intensity has fluctuated downward over the past two decades, exhibiting a spatial evolution characterized by alternating dominance of “agglomeration‐dispersion” patterns. (2) Edge expansion was the dominant pattern triggering LUCs, exhibiting significantly greater scale and intensity than outlying and infilling expansion. (3) These differences were primarily driven by changes in Night‐time lights, whose explanatory power varied across different UEPs. (4) Urbanization factors exerted the strongest positive influence, climate impacts varied depending on UEPs, and geographic environment negatively impacted LUCs. These findings indicated that differentiated spatial optimization strategies should be adopted for different UEPs to achieve sustainable land use. This study provides theoretical and practical references for promoting harmonious human‐land relations in rapidly urbanizing regions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145610896","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}
Soil acidification in tea plantations, while beneficial for tea plant growth within an optimal pH range, has become a pressing environmental issue. However, limited research has examined its spatial distribution and projected changes under global climate change. To fill this gap, we compiled a nationwide soil database through literature‐based meta‐analysis and developed a predictive model using a random forest algorithm to assess soil acidity patterns and their dynamics in Chinese tea plantations. The database includes 1718 topsoil (0–25 cm) pH records. Key contributors to soil pH variations include precipitation, temperature, and nitrogen application rate, although their correlations vary regionally. The predictions indicate that tea‐planting soils in the southern Yangtze and southern regions are highly acidified, with 87.50% and 48.32% of the areas having pH below 4.5, respectively. Conversely, 11.99% of the tea‐planting soils in the northern Yangtze region exceed pH 5.5, and 96.11% of the southwestern soils maintain optimal acidity for tea cultivation. Under increased precipitation (+20%), pH is projected to rise in the northern Yangtze and southwestern regions, but decline in the southern Yangtze and southern areas. Similarly, a temperature rise of 1.5°C and 2.5°C would raise soil pH in the southwestern, southern Yangtze, and southern regions but lower it in the northern Yangtze region. These findings highlight the urgent need for region‐specific soil pH management strategies, especially in the southern Yangtze and southern regions, to combat acidification and sustain tea production in China.
{"title":"Acidification Alert: Understanding the Dynamics of Soil Acidity in Chinese Tea Plantations","authors":"Shiqi Xi, Haojie Cao, Ning Ma, Ting Li, Zijun Zhou, Xiaojing Liu, Guiyin Wang, Shirong Zhang, Xiaoxun Xu, Yulin Pu, Yongxia Jia, Hao Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70339","url":null,"abstract":"Soil acidification in tea plantations, while beneficial for tea plant growth within an optimal pH range, has become a pressing environmental issue. However, limited research has examined its spatial distribution and projected changes under global climate change. To fill this gap, we compiled a nationwide soil database through literature‐based meta‐analysis and developed a predictive model using a random forest algorithm to assess soil acidity patterns and their dynamics in Chinese tea plantations. The database includes 1718 topsoil (0–25 cm) pH records. Key contributors to soil pH variations include precipitation, temperature, and nitrogen application rate, although their correlations vary regionally. The predictions indicate that tea‐planting soils in the southern Yangtze and southern regions are highly acidified, with 87.50% and 48.32% of the areas having pH below 4.5, respectively. Conversely, 11.99% of the tea‐planting soils in the northern Yangtze region exceed pH 5.5, and 96.11% of the southwestern soils maintain optimal acidity for tea cultivation. Under increased precipitation (+20%), pH is projected to rise in the northern Yangtze and southwestern regions, but decline in the southern Yangtze and southern areas. Similarly, a temperature rise of 1.5°C and 2.5°C would raise soil pH in the southwestern, southern Yangtze, and southern regions but lower it in the northern Yangtze region. These findings highlight the urgent need for region‐specific soil pH management strategies, especially in the southern Yangtze and southern regions, to combat acidification and sustain tea production in China.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145610892","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 development of thermokarst lakes on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) serves as a prominent indicator of permafrost degradation driven by climate warming and increased humidity. However, quantitative observations of surface change and relationships between lakes and permafrost during thermokarst development remain inadequate. This study utilized long‐term terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to capture high‐resolution data on the surface contour changes of the lake in the Beiluhe Basin over 3 years. Between June 2021 and September 2023, the area of BLH‐B Lake increased by 19.23% to 6634 m 2 , with a maximum shoreline retreat distance of 14.37 m. Lake expansion exhibited pronounced seasonal characteristics, closely correlated with temperature and precipitation variations, with the most significant changes occurring during thawing periods. Notably, the lake expanded by up to 505 m 2 during extreme rainfall events in the 2022 thawing period, accounting for 47.20% of the total expansion observed over 3 years. Integrated geophysical methods, including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR), revealed substantial permafrost degradation, particularly along the northwestern and western shores, where talik formation occurred within 40 m of the lakeshore. Heat from groundwater flow within the active layer and direct solar radiation contributes to accelerated permafrost degradation around the lake. The integration of TLS with geophysical methods revealed both surface contour changes and subsurface permafrost conditions, providing a comprehensive view of the dynamics of thermokarst lakes. This integrated monitoring approach proves effective for studying thermokarst lake evolution, offering critical quantitative insights into permafrost degradation processes on the QTP and providing essential baselines for climate change impact assessment.
{"title":"Deformation Characteristics of a Thermokarst Lake by Integrated Methodology in Permafrost Regions of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Peifeng He, Fujun Niu, Lunyang Zhao, Wenji Su, Chenglong Jiao, Yunhui Huang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70340","url":null,"abstract":"The development of thermokarst lakes on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) serves as a prominent indicator of permafrost degradation driven by climate warming and increased humidity. However, quantitative observations of surface change and relationships between lakes and permafrost during thermokarst development remain inadequate. This study utilized long‐term terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to capture high‐resolution data on the surface contour changes of the lake in the Beiluhe Basin over 3 years. Between June 2021 and September 2023, the area of BLH‐B Lake increased by 19.23% to 6634 m <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> , with a maximum shoreline retreat distance of 14.37 m. Lake expansion exhibited pronounced seasonal characteristics, closely correlated with temperature and precipitation variations, with the most significant changes occurring during thawing periods. Notably, the lake expanded by up to 505 m <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> during extreme rainfall events in the 2022 thawing period, accounting for 47.20% of the total expansion observed over 3 years. Integrated geophysical methods, including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR), revealed substantial permafrost degradation, particularly along the northwestern and western shores, where talik formation occurred within 40 m of the lakeshore. Heat from groundwater flow within the active layer and direct solar radiation contributes to accelerated permafrost degradation around the lake. The integration of TLS with geophysical methods revealed both surface contour changes and subsurface permafrost conditions, providing a comprehensive view of the dynamics of thermokarst lakes. This integrated monitoring approach proves effective for studying thermokarst lake evolution, offering critical quantitative insights into permafrost degradation processes on the QTP and providing essential baselines for climate change impact assessment.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"172 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145608867","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}
Yang Zhang, Yan Zhang, Yan Gao, Neil B. McLaughlin, Chenchen Lou, Xuewen Chen, Dandan Huang, Jinyu Zheng, Aizhen Liang, Christoph Müller
Conservation tillage is crucial for rehabilitating degraded cropland, securing crop production and lessening greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, the optimal nitrogen (N) application level that balances crop productivity with environmental effects following long‐term conservation tillage remains unclear. Based on a 9‐year conservation tillage experiment of black soil in Northeast China, an in situ microplot experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2023, including six N fertilization levels: 240 (N240, conventional N fertilization level by local farmers), 210 (N210), 180 (N180), 150 (N150), 120 (N120) and 0 kg N ha −1 (N0, control). The systematic effects of N fertilization on crop production, N fertilizer agronomic efficiency (NAE), GHG emissions and N balance were evaluated by using TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution). N fertilization significantly enhanced crop production ( p < 0.05), especially maize grain yield was increased by 27.7%–36.2% in high N fertilization treatments (N180, N210 and N240) over that for N0. The NAE increased with the increase of N fertilization and exhibited a positive nonlinear correlation with the N fertilization level elevating ( R2 = 0.61), whereas no notable variation in NAE was found across high N fertilization treatments. Moreover, global warming potential (GWP) showed an upward trend with the increase of N fertilization, while greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) did not show a consistent trend. Analysis of the annual N balance suggested that, except for the N deficit observed in N0. Based on the TOPSIS method, the integrated evaluation showed that N180 ranked first with the total score of 0.61. Overall, from the perspective of crop production, nutrient utilization and the environment, an N fertilization level of 180 kg N ha −1 after long‐term conservation tillage is beneficial for ensuring food security while mitigating global change. This study provided scientific data for optimizing N management and promoting sustainable development of the black soil granary in Northeast China.
保护性耕作对于恢复退化耕地、保障作物生产和减少温室气体排放至关重要。然而，在长期保护性耕作下，平衡作物生产力和环境影响的最佳氮素施用量仍不清楚。在东北黑土9年保护性耕作试验的基础上，于2021 - 2023年进行了6个施氮水平（240 （N240，当地农户常规施氮水平）、210 （N210）、180 （N180）、150 （N150）、120 （N120）和0 kg N ha - 1（对照））的原位小样试验。利用TOPSIS （Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution）评价了施氮对作物生产、氮肥农艺效率（NAE）、温室气体排放和氮素平衡的系统影响。施氮显著提高了作物产量（p < 0.05），特别是高氮处理（N180、N210和N240）玉米产量较N0增产27.7% ~ 36.2%。NAE随施氮量的增加而增加，与施氮水平的升高呈非线性正相关（r2 = 0.61），而高施氮处理NAE差异不显著。全球变暖潜势（GWP）随施氮量的增加呈上升趋势，而温室气体强度（GHGI）的变化趋势不一致。年氮平衡分析表明，除N0年存在氮亏缺外。基于TOPSIS法进行综合评价，N180以总分0.61排名第一。总体而言，从作物生产、养分利用和环境的角度来看，长期保护性耕作后180 kg N ha - 1的施氮水平有利于确保粮食安全，同时减缓全球变化。本研究为东北黑土粮仓优化氮素管理，促进可持续发展提供了科学依据。
{"title":"Nitrogen Management Trade‐Offs Between Crop Production and Environmental Impact After Long‐Term Conservation Tillage in Northeast China: A TOPSIS ‐Based Evaluation","authors":"Yang Zhang, Yan Zhang, Yan Gao, Neil B. McLaughlin, Chenchen Lou, Xuewen Chen, Dandan Huang, Jinyu Zheng, Aizhen Liang, Christoph Müller","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70338","url":null,"abstract":"Conservation tillage is crucial for rehabilitating degraded cropland, securing crop production and lessening greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Yet, the optimal nitrogen (N) application level that balances crop productivity with environmental effects following long‐term conservation tillage remains unclear. Based on a 9‐year conservation tillage experiment of black soil in Northeast China, an in situ microplot experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2023, including six N fertilization levels: 240 (N240, conventional N fertilization level by local farmers), 210 (N210), 180 (N180), 150 (N150), 120 (N120) and 0 kg N ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> (N0, control). The systematic effects of N fertilization on crop production, N fertilizer agronomic efficiency (NAE), GHG emissions and N balance were evaluated by using TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution). N fertilization significantly enhanced crop production ( <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 0.05), especially maize grain yield was increased by 27.7%–36.2% in high N fertilization treatments (N180, N210 and N240) over that for N0. The NAE increased with the increase of N fertilization and exhibited a positive nonlinear correlation with the N fertilization level elevating ( <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 0.61), whereas no notable variation in NAE was found across high N fertilization treatments. Moreover, global warming potential (GWP) showed an upward trend with the increase of N fertilization, while greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) did not show a consistent trend. Analysis of the annual N balance suggested that, except for the N deficit observed in N0. Based on the TOPSIS method, the integrated evaluation showed that N180 ranked first with the total score of 0.61. Overall, from the perspective of crop production, nutrient utilization and the environment, an N fertilization level of 180 kg N ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> after long‐term conservation tillage is beneficial for ensuring food security while mitigating global change. This study provided scientific data for optimizing N management and promoting sustainable development of the black soil granary in Northeast China.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145608982","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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