Land Degradation & Development最新文献

{"title":"Divergent Responses of Fungal Communities to Vegetation Structural Complexity in Degraded Roadside Slopes Across Climatic Gradients","authors":"Min Wang, Mingjuan Li, Shuyuan Han, Zihao Sheng, Li He, Yang Yang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70929","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70929","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding how climate and vegetation structural complexity jointly shape fungal communities is essential for effective roadside slope restoration. To address this, we examined restoration effects on fungal diversity, community composition, and ecological networks across three climatically distinct regions: dry‐hot valley, subalpine, and subtropical. In climatically stressful regions (i.e., dry‐hot valley and subalpine), plots with complex vegetation (Herb+Shrub, Herb+Shrub+Tree, and natural sites) harbored higher fungal diversity than herbaceous‐only plots. In contrast, subtropical herbaceous plots supported higher fungal diversity, likely due to disturbance‐induced niche heterogeneity. Fungal community composition differed significantly among climatic regions and vegetation types. Ascomycota was consistently dominant across all sites, whereas Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Rozellomycota exhibited distinct regional distributions. Network analyses revealed larger and more highly connected fungal networks in the subtropical and subalpine regions than in the dry‐hot valley, with topological keystone taxa identified only in the former two regions. Piecewise structural equation modeling further indicated that climate influenced fungal diversity indirectly via soil nutrients, while vegetation diversity exerted a direct effect. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the effects of vegetation complexity on fungal communities are climate‐dependent, underscoring the need to integrate climatic context, vegetation management, soil nutrient regulation, and fungal ecological functions into roadside slope restoration.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149221429","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}

{"title":"Differences in Dust Emission and Near‐Surface Transport Patterns Among Three Surface Substrate Types","authors":"Ruochen Jia, Chaoqun Ba, Jinlei Zhu, Wennong Kuang, Lu Zong, Fang Liu, Yuting Liu, Minghu Liu, Zhiming Xin, Zhimin Liu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70925","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70925","url":null,"abstract":"Soil wind erosion is a major driver of atmospheric dust emissions and land degradation. Many studies have examined dust release from different substrates, but differences in methods and units still limit quantitative understanding of how surface conditions and wind jointly control dust emission and near‐surface transport. A closed‐circuit wind tunnel was used to compare dust emission and vertical transport from dune sand (sand, <jats:italic>D</jats:italic> <jats:sub>50</jats:sub> = 176 μm), farmland soil (sandy loam, <jats:italic>D</jats:italic> <jats:sub>50</jats:sub> = 86 μm), and dry lakebed sediments (sand, <jats:italic>D</jats:italic> <jats:sub>50</jats:sub> = 153 μm). At 14 m s <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> , farmlands transported 6.2–7.2 times more PM <jats:sub>2.5</jats:sub> and 7.1–8.3 times more PM <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> than the other two substrates ( <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; 0.001), while dunes and lakebeds transported more total mass. In the emitted material, dunes contributed the lowest fine particle proportion (PM <jats:sub>63</jats:sub> &lt; 6.6%), farmlands maintained high fine fractions (PM <jats:sub>63</jats:sub> up to 55.5%), and lakebeds produced fine‐rich emissions at low wind speed but shifted towards low fine fractions as speed increased. Vertically, fine‐particle proportions increased with height over farmland soil across all wind speeds. Under the strongest wind, dune sand and dry lakebed sediment showed declining transported‐mass profiles and no significant height trends in particle‐size proportions. These results show that the surfaces that dominate total mass are not the same as those that dominate health‐relevant PM. This unified comparative analysis, grounded in controlled wind‐tunnel observations, supports targeted mitigation through modest‐height windbreaks for fine‐dust control on farmland, surface‐roughness enhancement on dunes, and crust stabilization on dry lakebeds.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149198904","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}

{"title":"A Land Potential‐Based Framework for Wind Erosion and Sand and Dust Storm Source Mitigation","authors":"Kristina E. Young, Nicholas P. Webb, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Matthew A. Bowker, Laura M. Burkett, Brandon L. Edwards, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Carrie‐Ann Houdeshell, Sarah E. McCord","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70913","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70913","url":null,"abstract":"Wind erosion and sand and dust storms are a global challenge. While many management practices to mitigate sources of wind erosion and sand and dust storms have been documented, existing guidance largely emphasizes what practices are available, with limited information on where and under what ecological conditions they should be applied. As a result, mitigation efforts can be ineffective or can exacerbate erosion when implemented without regard to local ecological context. Land potential, or the inherent capacity of land to support vegetation, soil stability, and productivity, provides a basis for aligning mitigation practices with a site's resistance and resilience to erosion. Here, we present a land potential‐based framework to improve the selection, implementation, and evaluation of wind erosion and sand and dust storm source mitigation practices across diverse landscapes. The framework uses land potential assessment with agroecological state concepts to guide decision‐making through the following steps: (1) characterize land potential by soils, topography, and climate to identify resistance and resilience to erosion; (2) identify agroecological states that capture vegetation–soil configurations, thresholds, and feedbacks determining erosion dynamics; (3) identify and monitor wind erosion risk and sand and dust storm source areas; (4) define mitigation targets and benchmarks that guide decision‐making; (5) identify and implement practices to avoid, reduce, reverse, or accept wind erosion; and (6) evaluate mitigation outcomes and adapt management. By linking local‐scale land assessments with mitigation practices, this framework increases the likelihood of successful mitigation and provides scalable decision support for advancing Land Degradation Neutrality and sustainable land management.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"167 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172772","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}

{"title":"Asymmetric Response of Soil Heterotrophic Respiration and Its Temperature Sensitivity in a Desert Steppe Under Climate Change","authors":"Guangyi Lv, Zhanyi Wang, Andreas Wilkes, Xiao Qiu, Chengjie Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70923","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70923","url":null,"abstract":"Soil heterotrophic respiration ( <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> ) and its temperature sensitivity ( <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> ) are important variables reflecting the intensity of feedback between the grassland carbon cycle and climate change. However, the factors regulating <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> and <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> in desert grasslands under climate change remain unclear, and the asymmetric response of <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> during warming and cooling remains unquantified. We collected and measured the physicochemical properties of soils after 8 years of elevated temperature and precipitation (ambient temperature, T0, +2°C, T1, +4°C, T2, ambient precipitation, P0, +25%, P1, and +50%, P2). To quantify the asymmetric response of <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> , we continuously monitored <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> during warming and cooling at six incubation temperature levels in the laboratory (5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, and 30°C). Results indicated that elevated temperature and precipitation significantly affected soil moisture, soil organic carbon, <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> , and <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> . Compared with the T0P0 treatment, the T2P2 treatment enhanced <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> and <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> by 11.72% and 1.56%, respectively. In addition, <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> was significantly affected by periodic changes in incubation temperature during both warming (5°C–30°C) and cooling (30°C–5°C), and <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> was 15.05% higher under warming than cooling. Variation partitioning analysis showed that <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> was primarily governed by soil carbon content, whereas <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> was largely driven by soil water content. In summary, soil carbon and water content are limiting factors for <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> and <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> in the desert steppe, and periodic temperature changes should be taken into account when quantifying <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>h</jats:italic> </jats:sub> and <jats:italic>Q</jats:italic> <jats:sub>10</jats:sub> .","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"232 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149172822","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}

{"title":"Estimation Accuracy Obviously Increased of Soil Organic Carbon Content Based on Habitat Patches Scale Using Interpretable Machine Learning in Southwest China","authors":"Wei Zhou,&nbsp;Jieyun Xiao,&nbsp;Haotian Liu,&nbsp;Lu Xu,&nbsp;Keming Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70869","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70869","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Although machine learning models have been successfully applied to estimate soil organic carbon (SOC), the lack of interpretability research has resulted in the absence of mechanistic explanations for these models. Therefore, in this study, we adopted the following workflow: first, we divided the whole study area into several subregions using land cover types and habitat patch types based on cluster analysis, and then the model driving features of SOC estimation were selected using the recursive feature elimination (RFE) technique. Second, we compared the estimation accuracy and stability of three machine learning models, and explored the optimal feature combinations and model architecture. Finally, the Shapley additive interpretation (SHAP) model was introduced to interpret the selected SOC content estimation model to verify its reliability. The results showed that the divided modeling framework based on habitat patch type achieved the best performance in SOC content estimation: the maximum increase in R² reached 27%, and RMSE decreased by 20% (Habitat Patch 3 vs whole study area). The optimal model combination based on RFE-RF demonstrated good estimation accuracy across the four habitat patches, with <i>R</i>\u0000 ² values of 0.36, 0.49, 0.62, and 0.59, and RMSE values of 22.04, 9.59, 11.67, and 14.57, respectively. Meanwhile, we analyzed the impacts of each input feature on the model prediction from both global and local perspectives. The results showed that DEM, precipitation, and air temperature were the key factors influencing the estimation of SOC content. The SHAP model successfully revealed the relationship between feature variables and SOC, effectively compensating for the limitations of the machine learning model in terms of interpretability.</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 16","pages":"11926-11940"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70869","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148836261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-Term Operation of Photovoltaic Power Stations Promotes Soil Carbon Sequestration but Induces Stoichiometric C:N:P Imbalance in Desert Ecosystems","authors":"Anlin Wang,&nbsp;Fenghua Sun,&nbsp;Longfei Chen,&nbsp;Hong Yang,&nbsp;Panxing He,&nbsp;Zhanjun Wang,&nbsp;Xudong Wu,&nbsp;D. M. Sabra,&nbsp;Rui Ma,&nbsp;Jianhua Xiao","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70815","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70815","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil carbon-nitrogen-phosphorus (C:N:P) stoichiometry governs nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration in desert ecosystems, yet how large-scale photovoltaic (PV) deployment, a cornerstone of global carbon neutrality, shifts these stoichiometric balances and whether such shifts enhance or degrade long-term land function remain unresolved over decadal timescales. To resolve this uncertainty, this study selected six photovoltaic power stations with operational durations of 1, 3, 7, 9, 12, and 14 years, quantified the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and the variations of their stoichiometric ratios across three microhabitat types (under panels, SUP; between panels, SBP; panel-front leading edges, PFL), and identified their key environmental drivers. Results showed that SOC, TN, and TP contents significantly increased across all panel positions with prolonged PV operation. Crucially, by year 14, we identified a pronounced asymmetric accumulation pattern: SOC accumulated significantly faster (increasing by 182.61%–204.35% relative to control) compared to TN (37.31%–54.48%) and TP (50.11%–80.23%). This asymmetric accumulation led to a significant rise in C:N and C:P ratios, signifying a progressive shift toward stoichiometric C:N:P imbalance, particularly in the SUP microhabitat. Both random forest and PLS-PM analyses identified operation duration and panel position as the primary drivers of these stoichiometric shifts, mediated by soil available nutrients. Climatic factors exerted positive effects on TP accumulation but negative effects on SOC, C:P, and N:P ratios. This study reveals that while long-term photovoltaic operation significantly enhances carbon sequestration, it concurrently induces stoichiometric C:N:P imbalance. These findings highlight the necessity of implementing position-specific management (e.g., targeted nutrient regulation) to mitigate nutrient imbalance risks, thereby ensuring the long-term stability and sustainability of desert PV carbon sinks.</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 16","pages":"11682-11696"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70815","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148836268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant Trait- and Soil-Mediated Responses of Herbaceous Aboveground Biomass Across Community Types Along a Degradation Gradient in the Desert Steppe","authors":"Huaihai Wang,&nbsp;Zhaobin Song,&nbsp;Ya Hu,&nbsp;Ping Yue,&nbsp;Jingjuan Qiao,&nbsp;Xiaoxue Zhang,&nbsp;Zhengjiaoyi Wang,&nbsp;Fangwei Hao,&nbsp;Xiaoan Zuo","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70867","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70867","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Grassland degradation profoundly alters the structure and function of desert steppe ecosystems. However, the responses of herbaceous aboveground biomass (Herb-AGB) to degradation across different plant community types and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we quantified changes in Herb-AGB, species richness, plant density, community-weighted mean (CWM) traits, functional diversity, and soil properties along a degradation gradient (based on ≥ 40%, 60%–90%, &gt; 90% reduction in Herb-AGB relative to nondegraded (ND) for moderately, severely, and extremely degraded, respectively) in herb-dominated and shrub-dominated communities of the Urat desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. We aimed to reveal the contrasting mechanisms regulating Herb-AGB between the community types. We found that the degradation significantly reduced perennial grasses AGB (PG-AGB) and total Herb-AGB (total effect: −0.915 for herb-dominated and −0.859 for shrub-dominated communities), whereas AGB of annual and biennial species remained largely unchanged. Importantly, the dominant drivers of Herb-AGB differed between community types, with CWM traits (plant height, <i>R</i>\u0000 ² = 0.43, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) primarily governing herb-dominated communities, whereas soil available inorganic nitrogen (AIN, <i>R</i>\u0000 ² = 0.14, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) served as the primary limiting factor for biomass production in shrub-dominated communities. Across both community types, soil pH and PG-AGB acted as key mediators: degradation reduced Herb-AGB not only directly but also indirectly by increasing soil alkalinity (pH effect increasing from −0.181 to −0.276, PG-AGB effect increasing from 0.684 to 0.786). Compared with herb-dominated communities, soil properties exerted stronger regulatory effects on biomass production in shrub-dominated communities. These results demonstrate that degradation modifies both the magnitude and the mechanisms of biomass regulation depending on community type in desert steppe. Effective grassland restoration should therefore adopt community-specific strategies, emphasizing the recovery of dominant plant functional traits in degraded herb-dominated communities, while integrating shrub removal or density control with soil improvement measures in shrub-dominated stages. Our findings provide a mechanistic basis for developing targeted management practices to sustain productivity and ecosystem functioning in degraded arid grasslands.</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 16","pages":"11900-11911"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70867","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148687904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ecological Network Characteristics of Cultivated Land Carbon Flows in Major Grain-Producing Regions: Case Study of Jingzhou City, China","authors":"Xuehan Lin,&nbsp;Lu Zhang,&nbsp;Ziling Huang,&nbsp;Shuo Ge,&nbsp;Maomao Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70864","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70864","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Land-use changes related to cultivated land significantly affect the regional carbon budget in major grain-producing regions, yet the ecological network characteristics of cultivated land carbon flows remain insufficiently understood. This study developed an integrated framework that combined ecological network analysis with spatial analysis to assess cultivated land carbon flows in Jingzhou City, China (2000–2020). Network flow analysis revealed that harmful flows dominated throughout, first intensifying then easing, driven by the conversion of cultivated land to transportation and industrial land. Spatial analysis showed that beneficial flows were concentrated southeast of the geometric center before shifting westward, while harmful flows remained centered near the geometric center, oscillating between the southeast and northwest. Network structure analysis identified cultivated land as the central hub, consistently dominating driving weight across all periods, while its own traction weight was also substantial and rose steadily. Network utility analysis revealed a pronounced structural imbalance: exploitation and control relationships along with competition relationships dominated (92.86%) while mutualism relationships remained minimal (7.14%). The ecological utility index remained below 1 throughout the study period, indicating a persistently negative ecological effect. These findings provide a framework and insights for low-carbon land-use management in Jingzhou City and other comparable regions facing similar development pressures.</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 16","pages":"11848-11866"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70864","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148717372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal Analysis of Rice Cropping Patterns and Land Degradation Driven by Land Use and Land Cover Change in Jiangsu, China","authors":"Xiaofang Chen,&nbsp;Fukang Deng,&nbsp;Juanito Chan","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70700","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70700","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examines recent single-season rice (SSR) dynamics, land use/land cover (LULC) transition, and land degradation in Jiangsu Province, China, using an integrated remote-sensing workflow on Google Earth Engine within a recent 2021–2024 monitoring framework. Annual SSR maps for 2021–2024 were produced from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery using phenology-based pseudo-label generation and annual random forest classification. Annual LULC transitions were derived from the ESRI 10 m land-cover product, and degradation patterns were assessed from Landsat-based EVI2 trends. Classification results showed stable, high accuracy across all years, supporting reliable interannual comparisons. SSR remained concentrated in the north-central agricultural belt, but the total mapped area declined by 2.17% over the study period, indicating a gradual contraction rather than an abrupt collapse. Cropland remained the dominant land class, yet net cropland change was negative, with crops-to-built conversion representing the largest loss pathway. Degradation analysis showed that improvement dominated at the provincial scale, whereas decline was spatially selective and concentrated in localized hotspots linked to crop stress and transition zones. The study demonstrates that agricultural pressure in Jiangsu is uneven and transition-driven, providing spatial evidence for targeted cropland protection, climate-resilient land management, and remote-sensing-based agricultural monitoring for sustainable regional planning decisions. The study advances recent agricultural monitoring in Jiangsu by linking rice-system change, land-cover transition, and degradation hotspots within one transition-focused spatial framework.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 16","pages":"11651-11670"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148915646","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}

{"title":"The Impact of New Agricultural Operating Entities on Farmers' Adoption of Green Production Practices: Evidence From China","authors":"Xiaoying Zhao,&nbsp;Qingzhi Liu,&nbsp;Zeyuan Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70861","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.70861","url":null,"abstract":"<p>New agricultural operating entities (NAOEs) are the organizational core of modern agricultural systems, yet whether and how they draw smallholders into green production remains empirically unsettled. Using survey data from 803 vegetable growers in Shandong Province, China, and combining the coefficient of variation method, propensity score matching, 2SLS, and mediation analysis, this study finds that growers linked to NAOEs exhibit a green production index that is 9.7 percentage points higher across a 14-behavior index spanning pre-production, in-production, and post-production stages. The effect operates through two of four theorized pathways: easing factor endowment constraints and improving transaction efficiency. Standardizing the production process and realizing product value addition are not significant, which we attribute to loose contractual ties, high supervision costs, and underdeveloped benefit-sharing mechanisms. Among driving models, production services yield the largest effect (14.3%), followed by industrial chain extension (13.3%), new technology penetration (12.1%), and industry integration (8.2%); participating in multiple models raises the effect to 25.5%, with the pairing of new technology penetration and industry integration the strongest combination (22.1%).</p>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"37 16","pages":"11791-11812"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ldr.70861","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148836265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}