Land Degradation & Development最新文献

{"title":"Novel Insights Into the Role of Litter‐Soil Continuum for Soil and Water Conservation: A Mechanism‐Based Study of Mixed‐Species Eucalyptus Plantations","authors":"Daihan Fu, Angang Ming, Runxia Huang, Wankuan Zhu, Yuxing Xu, Haoyang Cao, Apeng Du, Hao Fu, Weiwei Shu, Zhichao Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70614","url":null,"abstract":"Large‐scale eucalyptus ( <jats:italic>Eucalyptus</jats:italic> spp.) monocultures in southern subtropical China contribute to land degradation, characterized by severe soil erosion and hydrological imbalance. This study introduces the “litter–soil continuum” framework, treating the litter layer and mineral soil as a coupled system, to assess how converting monocultures to mixed‐species plantations enhances water retention and erosion resistance. We compared four mixed‐species systems: <jats:italic>Eucalyptus</jats:italic> mixed with <jats:italic>Erythrophleum fordii</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>Dalbergia odorifera</jats:italic> , <jats:italic>Parashorea chinensis</jats:italic> , and <jats:italic>Castanopsis hystrix</jats:italic> , with <jats:italic>Eucalyptus</jats:italic> monoculture under uniform site conditions. The study covered an area of 10 ha with 30 systematically sampled plots (100 m <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> each) established along an elevation gradient. Water conservation of the litter−soil continuum was evaluated using a coordinate‐based method, while soil aggregate stability was measured by the percentage of aggregate destruction (PAD) to assess erosion resistance. Mixed plantations, especially those with <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>E. fordii</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> and <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. hystrix</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> , showed significantly higher litter layer thickness and soil aggregate stability ( <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). Compared with monocultures, water‐holding capacity increased by 20% and 30%, and erosion resistance increased by 71% and 78%, respectively ( <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). Mantel tests and structural equation modeling also demonstrated that the semi‐decomposed litter layer serves as a critical interface linking litter and soil, playing a pivotal role in enhancing water storage capacity and aggregate stability. These findings provide mechanistic evidence that <jats:italic>Eucalyptus</jats:italic> plantations mixed with <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>E. fordii</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> and <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>C. hystrix</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> efficiently rehabilitate surface hydrological processes and enhance erosion resistance in degraded plantation ecosystems, suggesting that these species should be prioritized when establishing mixed‐species <jats:italic>Eucalyptus</jats:italic> plantations in erosion‐sensitive subtropical regions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720004","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":"Human Activity Drives Spatial Variability and Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Protected Wetlands of the Sanjiang Plain","authors":"Lei Chen, Kexin Song, Yingfei Liao, Ting Li, Kangjun Zeng, Peizhuo Xu, Tong Yang, Yining Wu, He Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70556","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70556","url":null,"abstract":"Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a pervasive global threat, yet its presence in protected freshwater wetlands remains poorly studied compared to urban and marine environments. In this study, we quantified MPs abundance, characteristics (shape, size, color), polymer composition, and evaluated ecological risk in surface waters of three national nature reserves on the Sanjiang Plain in northeast China. MPs concentrations were highest in Xingkaihu (XKH, 15.22 ± 7.13 particles/L), intermediate in Qixinghe (QXH, 7.4 ± 2.6 particles/L), and lowest in Honghe (HH, 3.1 ± 1.2 particles/L). Fibers, fragments, and films were the predominant particle types, and over 80% of MPs were smaller than 500 μm. White MPs (~27%) were the most common by color. Polymer analysis showed polypropylene (PP, 32%) and polyethylene (PE, 25%) as the dominant types, followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Risk indices showed clear differences: HH had a low overall risk level, while XKH and QXH presented higher potential ecological hazards. To identify MPs' pollution sources across the reserves, we used the Microplastic Diversity Integrated Index to reflect the heterogeneity of pollution inputs. In combination with spatial data on human-related Points of Interest, this approach identified two primary MPs emission sources. Agricultural activities were the dominant contributors in QXH and HH, while tourism-related POI were the major source in XKH. Notably, clear signs of anthropogenic MPs input were evident even in remote wetland habitats, underscoring the far-reaching impact of human activities. Our findings underscore the value of integrating human footprint information into freshwater MPs risk assessments and can inform spatially targeted pollution mitigation efforts in wetland ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"140 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147719999","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":"Does Mixing Trees and Crops Enhance Soil Organic Carbon Content in China? Evidence From Integrating Field Experiments With a Meta-Analysis","authors":"Tao Yang, Xueying Ouyang, Bo Wang, Cheng Xu, Xiaomin Ge, Luozhong Tang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70609","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70609","url":null,"abstract":"Mixing trees and crops (MTC) practices are emerging as a viable strategy for promoting sustainable agriculture in developing countries, such as China. While many studies have reported data on the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) and MTC practices, a comprehensive quantitative analysis of their effects on SOC content nationwide in China is still lacking. In the present study, we integrated field experiments with a national-scale meta-analysis to quantitatively analyze the effects of MTC practices on SOC content in China. The findings of the field experiments and subsequent meta-analysis provide evidence indicating that MTC practices significantly enhance SOC content in China. In contrast to single-cropping crop practices, MTC practices in China significantly increased the SOC content by 26.6% overall. In contrast to single-cropping tree practices, MTC practices in China increased the SOC content by 20.0% overall. Nevertheless, it is necessary to acknowledge that there was high variability in the effects of MTC practices on SOC content across different regions of China. Additionally, the effects of MTC practices on SOC content could be affected by climatic conditions, tree age, tree species, crop species, and soil depths. Among them, crop species, tree age, and tree species were the most important factors affecting SOC. Overall, from the perspective of enhancing SOC in China, MTC may be a more preferable sustainable practice than single cropping. However, factors such as economic benefits, food security, and other ecological values should also be considered when formulating sustainable agricultural management strategies.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720002","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":"Effects of Rainfall Conditions and the Soil–Epikarst Structure on the Loss of Nitrogen in Subsurface Flow","authors":"Shimei Yang, Dongdong Liu, Na Feng, Yao Li","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70604","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70604","url":null,"abstract":"The soil–epikarst zone represents the transition zone between the surface soil and the underlying karst topography. High permeability and complex hydrogeology govern water and solute fluxes. The mechanisms governing subsurface leakage and nitrogen transport in response to rainfall are unclear. Experiments simulating laboratory conditions were performed to assess the impact of rainfall and the soil–epikarst structure on subsurface leakage and nitrogen loss. Three rainfall amounts (15, 30, and 60 mm) and three rock proportions (45%, 55%, and 65%) were used to construct the soil–epikarst structure. Under the conditions of this study, subsurface leakage in the soil–epikarst zone occurred at 15 mm of rainfall (subsurface leakage: 57.8%–73.7%), and rainfall ranging from 30 to 60 mm significantly increased the extent of such leakage (subsurface leakage: 75.5%–77.6%). Additionally, the typical water holding capacity of the soil–epikarst structure ranges from 40 to 60 cm. The extent of nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻–N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺–N) loss differed across rainfall amounts. As rainfall increased, NO₃⁻–N loss also increased, whereas NH₄⁺–N loss initially decreased but subsequently increased. Notably, nitrogen loss was exacerbated at a 55% rock proportion, corresponding to the highest subsurface leakage and leakage coefficient, whereas both subsurface leakage and nitrogen loss were attenuated at 45% and 65% rock proportions. In the soil–epikarst zone, inorganic nitrogen loss occurred predominantly in the form of NO₃⁻–N. The amount of NH₄⁺–N loss ranged from 28.35 to 35.50 mg, and the amount of NO₃⁻–N loss ranged from 94.89 to 227.23 mg. The percentage of N loss ranged from 0.35% to 0.97%. Structural equation modeling revealed that the rock proportion, a quantitative indicator of the soil–epikarst structure, has a significant direct negative effect on total N loss, and this effect is associated with its influence on NO₃⁻–N and NH₄⁺–N losses, both of which positively contribute to total N loss. Rainfall regulates subsurface leakage and the transport of inorganic nitrogen in subsurface flow, thereby influencing total N loss. In conclusion, when rainfall ranges from 30 to 60 mm, NO₃⁻–N accounts for more than 70% of the total N loss, and a 55% rock proportion exacerbates nitrogen loss, with the total N loss rate reaching 75.14%. This research enhances the understanding of subsurface leakage and nitrogen loss in the soil–epikarst zone of karst areas with varying rainfall and may guide the development of efficient water and nitrogen management approaches to minimize nitrogen pollution of water sources.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720001","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 Field Guide for Soil Erosion Risk Assessment in Olive Orchards Across Mediterranean Conditions for End‐Users and Stakeholders","authors":"I. Domenech‐Carretero, G. Guzmán, M. A. Soriano, J. Montoliu, J. A. Gómez","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70607","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70607","url":null,"abstract":"Soil erosion control poses a crucial challenge to the sustainability of Mediterranean olive groves. To facilitate field‐level decision‐making, we have developed a field guide oriented to use in any type of olive orchard across the Mediterranean. It enables users to assess erosion risk and identify tailored, site‐specific soil conservation strategies. The guide combines two complementary approaches: (i) a management‐based appraisal using a developed Erosion Risk Index (ERI) derived from RUSLE simulations and (ii) a visual assessment of erosion symptoms through an Erosion Symptom Index (ESI). This diagnosis is linked to tables of specific recommendations, which include an appraisal of their costs and effectiveness. The <jats:italic>ERI</jats:italic> was developed using over 6000 simulated scenarios, and the guide was evaluated through three approaches: comparison with long‐term erosion measurements, correlation with soil quality indicators and field evaluations in commercial orchards. Furthermore, participatory workshops with farmers, technicians and academics confirmed the guide's usability and replicability across diverse stakeholder profiles and case studies. Collectively, the field guide provides a comprehensive approach for evaluating erosion risk and guiding suitable interventions. The cost‐effectiveness analysis of the recommended practices further supports informed decision‐making. This free tool offers practical support for improving soil conservation in Mediterranean olive grove systems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720036","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":"Agroforestry and Sustainable Environment: Climate Resilience Perspective for BRICS Economies","authors":"Hui Xu, Xiaohan Gu, Chaowen Bi, Xiao Gu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70551","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70551","url":null,"abstract":"This study empirically explores the heterogeneous impacts of agricultural and natural resource-based activities on CO₂ emissions. This study examines the impact of agricultural, forestry, and fishery value-added, renewable energy consumption, trade openness and natural resource rents on environmental degradation in BRICS economies over the period 1992–2023. To estimate the models, this study utilizes quantile regression (QR) method, which provides efficient and unbiased estimates across different quantiles of the distribution. The results show that agricultural, forestry, and fishery value added (AGRFFC) and trade openness positively affect CO₂ emissions at all quantiles. However, renewable energy consumption and natural resource rents negatively affect CO₂ emissions at all quantiles. For robustness check, this study uses the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors method, which corrects heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation in the models. The results of the Driscoll-Kraay standard errors regression method are consistent with the findings of the quantile regression method. The results of panel causality test show that there is uni directional causality from agricultural and natural resource-based activities to CO₂ emissions. The findings of this research confirm the existence of a bi-directional causal link between GDP and CO₂ emissions as well as a bi-directional causal link between trade openness and CO₂ emissions. However, there is no evidence of a causal link between the REC and CO₂ emissions. The findings suggest that there are interdependent variables (CO₂ and key factors AGRFFC, GDP, TRD) that require an integrated policy response to address the interdependencies. The results show an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to reduce emissions through transforming trade, agriculture, and energy systems from their current state into sustainable future forms while simultaneously addressing emissions at their source.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720000","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":"Land Degradation Vulnerability in Central India: A Multidimensional Assessment Using Biophysical and Socioeconomic Indicators","authors":"Amit Kumar, Gowtham Govindaraj, Muthu Rajkumar, T. Mohanasundari","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70606","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70606","url":null,"abstract":"Land degradation poses a significant environmental challenge to ecological sustainability and rural livelihoods, especially in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This study used a multidimensional approach by integrating biophysical and socioeconomic indicators under six dimensions: soil, climate, terrain, land use, hazards, and socioeconomic conditions. All variables were normalised using a min-max method and combined through an equal-weight composite index to maintain consistency and avoid subjective bias for creating the district-level land degradation vulnerability index (LDVI). Spatial statistical validation was conducted using Spatial Autocorrelation (Global Moran's I) and Hot Spot Analysis (Local Getis-Ord Gi*). The LDVI findings demonstrated a strong spatial pattern, with western and southwestern districts showing consistently high vulnerability across multiple indices. Districts such as Barwani (0.728), Alirajpur (0.655), Jhabua (0.587), and Dhar (0.578) ranked among the most vulnerable, mainly due to high soil erosion, greater exposure to climate hazards, and agricultural dependence. However, districts like Datia (0.283), Bhind (0.320), and Tikamgarh (0.337) were categorised as lowest vulnerability, benefiting from relatively stable terrain, lower hazard exposure, better vegetation cover, and moderate socioeconomic stress. The LDVI showed a significant clustered pattern across districts (Moran's <i>I</i> = 0.612). The Local Getis-Ord Gi* analysis identified statistically significant hotspot districts in western Madhya Pradesh and cold spot clusters in the northern region, supporting the spatial consistency and reliability of the index. These findings identify priority districts for targeted soil conservation, climate adaptation, watershed management, and livelihood support, offering a replicable, policy-relevant LDVI framework that supports evidence-based land restoration efforts and advances India's progress toward SDG-15.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147709124","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":"Synergistic Effects of Salinization and Artificial Root Exudates on Soil Phosphatase Activity in Coastal Soil","authors":"Nicolina Lentine, Sarah E. Krisak, Dirk W. Vanderklein, Matthew S. Schuler, Nina M. Goodey","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70615","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70615","url":null,"abstract":"Coastal soil salinization from rising seawater levels has adverse impacts on soil function, seed germination, and plant growth. Root exudates play a key role in supporting microbial activity, nutrient cycling, and plant health, yet little is known about the combined effects of salinization and the addition of artificial root exudates (AREs) on soils. We investigated the impacts of sodium chloride (NaCl) and AREs, alone and in combination, on soil microbial function and the growth and survival of <i>Chamaecyparis thyoides</i> saplings. In a three-by-three fully factorial matrix, the combined NaCl and AREs treatment increased soil phosphatase activity more than the additive effects of the individual treatments, suggesting a synergistic effect on phosphatase activity. Sequencing revealed that salinity shaped bacterial community composition more than AREs, and fungal communities assembled more stochastically than bacteria. Soil respiration increased rapidly when treated with a high concentration of AREs, but this spike was delayed in the presence of high NaCl concentrations, suggesting a stressed microbial community. Treatments containing the higher NaCl concentration were lethal to <i>C. thyoides</i> saplings, with a 78% mortality rate within 1 week at soil salinities of ~1 dS/m. The results align with the stress gradient hypothesis, as the addition of AREs increased soil phosphatase activity more in the newly stressed, salinized environment than in unsalinized soil. These data highlight the important role of coastal vegetation showing that root exudates can partially offset salinity stress by enhancing soil microbial functions, while also defining salinity thresholds beyond which cedar sapling survival is unlikely.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147720003","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":"Trade-Offs and Synergies of Ecosystem Services in a Karst Peak Cluster Depression: Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors","authors":"Tingting Guo, Tongtong Guo, Zhaoxia Zeng, Xiaoli Liu, Yu Yang, Gongxiu He, Baozhen Li, Fuping Zeng, Hao Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70613","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70613","url":null,"abstract":"As geologically unique landforms characterized by extreme micro-topographic heterogeneity (peak-depression coupling) and intense human-land contradictions, karst peak-cluster depressions represent globally significant yet ecologically fragile landscapes fundamentally distinct from non-karst ecosystems in their water-soil-nutrient coupling processes. Understanding ecosystem service (ES) relationships in these geomorphologically complex regions is critical for optimizing ecological restoration. This study analyzed spatiotemporal dynamics and drivers of five ES (water yield, sediment retention, nitrogen export, carbon sequestration, and habitat quality) in a representative karst peak-cluster depression from 2005 to 2020. Results revealed pronounced temporal fluctuations in water yield and soil retention compared to stable carbon sequestration and habitat quality, alongside marked spatial heterogeneity governed by topography and land use. Significant trade-offs dominated between habitat quality and nitrogen export (56.14% pixel ratio)/sediment retention (54.02%), water yield and sediment retention (53.94%), and carbon sequestration and nitrogen export (53.09%), primarily in southern high-altitude and northern lowland regions. Conversely, synergies prevailed between sediment retention and nitrogen export (61.29%) and habitat quality and carbon sequestration (55.93%). Geodetector analysis identified annual precipitation, evaporation, and slope as primary drivers, with two-factor interactions (particularly precipitation-evaporation) exhibiting substantially stronger explanatory power (q-values up to 0.857) than individual factors. These findings highlight that ES relationships in karst depressions are shaped by coupled climatic-topographic controls rather than single determinants. We advocate spatially differentiated zoning strategies—including hydrogeological nitrogen interception, slope-threshold land-use planning, and climate-adaptive vegetation configuration—to balance inherent trade-offs between water yield and soil/carbon retention, thereby supporting sustainable development in vulnerable karst regions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147708587","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":"Spatiotemporal Patterns and Determinants of Soil Organic Carbon Density in Coastal Saline Cropland: A Case Study of the Yellow River Delta, China","authors":"Yang Li, Francesco Accatino, Wenjie Wang, Xiaoling Liu, Xin Cui, Ying Wen, Dingwen Zhang, Guangmei Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70616","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70616","url":null,"abstract":"Coastal saline croplands play a crucial role in sustaining food production and carbon sequestration. However, their soil carbon sequestration dynamics and its key factors remain insufficiently understood under the combined pressures of climate change and human activities. Using the Yellow River Delta as a representative case, this study used soil organic carbon density (SOCD, kg·m⁻²) as an indicator to evaluate soil carbon storage from 2009 to 2022. Correlation analysis and Random Forest modeling were applied to quantify the contributions of environmental (climatic and edaphic) and anthropogenic (cropping system) factors to SOCD. Results showed that SOCD ranged from 1.79 to 2.94 kg·m⁻², with a significant upward trend of 0.07 kg·m⁻² year⁻¹. Spatially, higher SOCD values occurred in the southern and inland regions than in the northern and coastal areas. Total nitrogen showed the strongest explanatory importance for SOCD variation, followed by mean annual temperature, annual precipitation, total potassium, evapotranspiration, and wind speed. In contrast, soluble salt content exerted a negative influence on SOCD. Among different cropping systems, SOCD was highest under the double-season upland system (2.22 kg·m⁻²), followed by paddy fields (2.00 kg·m⁻²), and lowest under the single-season upland system (1.84 kg·m⁻²). Soil salinity also affected SOC indirectly by regulating the spatial distribution of cropping systems. These findings suggest that enhancing SOCD in coastal saline croplands may require integrated management strategies, including (1) reducing soil salinity and improving nitrogen management, and (2) optimizing cropping systems under the constraints of soil salinity and water availability.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147695723","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}