Search Results (1,705)

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization in western China, which has triggered remarkable land-use changes and habitat degradation, Chengdu, as a developed city in China, plays a demonstrative and leading role in the economic and social development of China during the transition period. Therefore, integrated modeling approaches are required to balance development and conservation. This study responds to this need by conducting a scenario-based assessment of urbanization-induced land-use changes and regional habitat quality dynamics in Chengdu (1990–2030), using the FLUS-InVEST model. By integrating remote sensing-derived land-use data from 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, we simulate future regional habitat quality under three policy scenarios: natural development, ecological priority, and cropland protection. Key findings include the following: (1) From 1990 to 2020, cropland decreased by 1917.78 km², while forestland and built-up areas increased by 509.91 km² and 1436.52 km², respectively. Under the 2030 natural development scenario, built-up expansion and cropland reduction are projected. Ecological priority policies would enhance forestland (+4.2%) but slightly reduce cropland. (2) Regional habitat quality declined overall (1990–2020), with the sharpest drop (ΔHQ = −0.063) occurring between 2000 and 2010 due to accelerated urbanization. (3) Scenario analysis reveals that the ecological priority strategy yields the highest regional habitat quality (HQ_mean = 0.499), while natural development results in the lowest (HQ_mean = 0.444). This study demonstrates how the FLUS-InVEST model can quantify the trade-offs between urbanization and regional habitat quality, offering a scientific framework for balancing development and ecological conservation in rapidly urbanizing regions. The findings highlight the effectiveness of ecological priority policies in mitigating habitat degradation, with implications for similar cities seeking sustainable land-use strategies that integrate farmland protection and forest restoration. Full article

The structural analysis of shelterbelts forms the foundation of their planning and management, yet the scientific and effective quantification of shelterbelt structures requires further investigation. This study developed an innovative heterogeneous analytical framework, integrating three key methodologies: the LeWoS algorithm for wood–leaf separation, TreeQSM for structural reconstruction, and 3D alpha-shape spatial quantification, using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology. This framework was applied to three typical farmland shelterbelts in the Ulan Buh Desert oasis, enabling the first precise quantitative characterization of structural components during the leaf-on stage. The results showed the following to be true: (1) The combined three-algorithm method achieved ≥90.774% relative accuracy in extracting structural parameters for all measured traits except leaf surface area. (2) Branch length, diameter, surface area, and volume decreased progressively from first- to fourth-order branches, while branch angles increased with ascending branch order. (3) The trunk, branch, and leaf components exhibited distinct vertical stratification. Trunk volume and surface area decreased linearly with height, while branch and leaf volumes and surface areas followed an inverted U-shaped distribution. (4) Horizontally, both surface area density (Scd) and volume density (Vcd) in each cube unit exhibited pronounced edge effects. Specifically, the Scd and Vcd were greatest between 0.33 and 0.60 times the shelterbelt’s height (H, i.e., mid-canopy). In contrast, the optical porosity (Op) was at a minimum of 0.43 H to 0.67 H, while the volumetric porosity (Vp) was at a minimum at 0.25 H to 0.50 H. (5) The proposed volumetric stratified porosity (Vsp) metric provides a scientific basis for regional farmland shelterbelt management strategies. This three-dimensional structural analytical framework enables precision silviculture, with particular relevance to strengthening ecological barrier efficacy in arid regions. Full article

The intensifying global climate warming caused by human activities poses severe challenges to ecosystem stability. Constructing an ecological security pattern can identify ecological land supply and an effective spatial distribution baseline and provide a scientific basis for safeguarding regional ecological security. This study analyzes land-use data from 2000 to 2020 for Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The PLUS model was utilized to project land-use potential for the year 2030. The InVEST model was employed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of habitat quality in the study area for both 2020 and 2030, thereby pinpointing ecological sources. Critical ecological restoration zones were delineated by identifying ecological corridors, pinch points, and barrier points through the application of the Minimum Cumulative Resistance model and circuit theory. By comparing ecological security patterns (ESPs) in 2020 and 2030, we proposed a dynamic restoration framework and optimization recommendations based on habitat quality changes and ESPs. The results indicate significant land-use changes in the eastern part of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture from 2020 to 2030, with large-scale conversion of grasslands into bare land, farmland, and artificial surfaces. The ecological security pattern is threatened by risks like the deterioration of habitat quality, diminished ecological sources as well as pinch points, and growing barrier points. Optimizing the layout of ecological resources, strengthening barrier zone restoration and pinch point protection, and improving habitat connectivity are urgent priorities to ensure regional ecological security. This study offers a scientific foundation for the harmonization of ecological protection and economic development and the policy development and execution of relevant departments. Full article

Prometryn and acetochlor are herbicides used to control weeds in farmlands and other areas. They enter the soil through direct application, residual accumulation in crops, and atmospheric deposition. The pollution of their residues in the environment has attracted people’s attention. Bioremediation is one of the main methods to solve such problems. In this study, the effects of prometryn and acetochlor-degrading strain NM-1 on soil enzymes, soil microbial communities, and physiological indexes of soybean seedlings during soil remediation were studied, and the relationship between them was discussed. The results showed that 81.54% of prometryn (50 mg·L⁻¹) and 89.47% of acetochlor (50 mg·L⁻¹) were degraded within 15 days after NM-1 inoculation in soil. NM-1 positively affected soil enzyme activities and soil microbial communities, and the abundance of beneficial bacteria in soil increased. More importantly, the inoculation of strain NM-1 under prometryn and acetochlor stress significantly increased plant height, root length, root volume, water content, chlorophyll concentration, and root activity of soybean. The results of these studies showed that the NM-1 strain showed significant potential in bioremediation in order to provide technical support for solving the problem of prometryn and acetochlor pollution. Full article

The agroecosystems of tea plantations play a significant role in regional ecosystem services, with some recognized as Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Despite notable progress in conserving these unique agricultural landscapes, systematic approaches to delineating the core conservation zone and establishing robust ecological networks for agricultural heritage systems remain insufficient. This study employed the Enshi Yulu Tea Agricultural Heritage System as a case study, integrating the MaxEnt model, InVEST model, and circuit theory to quantitatively assess landscape connectivity and prioritize conservation efforts. The analysis delineated a core conservation zone of 718.04 km² for tea plantations, identified 77 ecological corridors, and pinpointed 104 critical ecological nodes. The results indicate 43.96 km² of synergistic areas between tea plantations and ecological sources, demonstrating that the agroecosystems of tea plantations provide higher ESs values compared to monoculture plantations and farmlands. In addition, an ecological optimization framework featuring a “four belts and four zones” spatial configuration was proposed, aimed at enhancing connectivity and promoting the sustainable development of tea plantation agricultural heritage. The proposed framework can provide evidence-based references for future policy formulation, and deliver actionable insights for land-use planning, habitat restoration, and infrastructure mitigation. Full article

With rapid socio-economic development, excessive anthropogenic consumption and the exploitation of natural resources have impaired the self-healing, supply, and carrying capacities of ecosystems. The assessment and prediction of ecosystem service values (ESVs) are crucial for the coordinated development of ecology and economy. This research examines the Xiangjiang River Basin and combines land use data from 1995 to 2020, Landsat images, meteorological data, and socio-economic data. These data are incorporated into the PLUS model to simulate land use patterns in 2035 under the following five scenarios: natural development, economic development, farmland protection, ecological protection, and coordinated development. Additionally, this research analyzes the dynamics of land use and changes in ESVs in the Xiangjiang River Basin. The results show that between 1995 and 2020 in the Xiangjiang River Basin, urbanization accelerated, human activities intensified, and the construction land area expanded significantly, while the areas of forest, farmland, and grassland decreased continuously. Based on multi-scenario simulations, the ESV showed the largest and smallest declines under economic development and ecological protection scenarios, respectively. This results from the economic development scenario inducing a rapid expansion in construction land. In contrast, construction land expansion was restricted under the ecological protection scenario, because the ecological functions of forests and water bodies were prioritized. This research proposes land use strategies to coordinate ecological protection and economic development to provide a basis for sustainable development in the Xiangjiang River Basin and constructing a national ecological security barrier, as well as offer Chinese experience and local cases for global ecological environment governance. Full article

With the swift progression of the High-Standard Farmland Construction Program in China and worldwide, many dryland wheat fields can be irrigated once during the wheat growth stage (one-off irrigation). However, the combined strategies of one-off irrigation, tillage, and N management for augmenting wheat grain yield and quality are still undeveloped in drought regions. Two-site split–split field experiments were conducted to study the impacts of irrigation, tillage, and N management and their combined effects on grain yield; the contents of protein and protein components; processing quality; and the characteristics of N accumulation and translocation in wheat from a typical dryland wheat production area in China from 2020 to 2022. The irrigation practices (I0, zero irrigation and I1, one-off irrigation), tillage methods (RT, rotary tillage; PT, plowing; and SS, subsoiling) and N management (N0, N120, N180, and N240) were applied to the main plots, subplots and sub-subplots, respectively. The experimental sites, experimental years, irrigation practices, tillage methods, and N management methods and their interaction significantly affected the yield, quality, and plant N characteristics of wheat in most cases. Compared to zero irrigation, one-off irrigation significantly increased the plant N accumulation, enhancing grain yield by 33.7% while decreasing the contents of total protein, albumin, globulin, gliadin, and glutenin by 4.4%, 6.4%, 8.0%, 12.2%, and 10.0%, respectively. It also decreased the wet gluten content, stability time, sedimentation value, extensibility by 4.1%, 10.7%, 9.7%, and 5.5%, respectively, averaged across sites and years. Subsoiling simultaneously enhanced the aforementioned indicators compared to rotary tillage and plowing in most sites and years. With the increase in N rates, wheat yield firstly increased and then decreased under zero irrigation combined with rotary tillage, while it gradually increased when one-off irrigation was combined with subsoiling; however, the contents of total protein and protein components and the quality tended to increase firstly and then stabilize regardless of irrigation practices and tillage methods. The correlations of yield and quality indicators with plant N characteristics were negative when using distinct irrigation practices and tillage methods, while they were positive under varying N management. The decrease in wheat quality induced by one-off irrigation could be alleviated by optimizing N management. I1STN180 exhibited higher yield, plant N accumulation and translocation, and better quality in most cases; thus, all metrics of wheat quality were significantly increased, with a yield enhancement of 50.3% compared to I0RTN180. Therefore, one-off irrigation with subsoiling and an N rate of 180 kg ha⁻¹ is an optimal strategy for high yield, high protein, and high quality in dryland wheat production systems where one-off irrigation is assured. Full article

Exploring the mechanisms by which green agricultural production reduces emissions and enhances carbon sequestration in soil can provide a scientific basis for greenhouse gas reduction and sustainable development in farmland. This study uses a combination of meta-analysis and field experiments to evaluate the impact of different agricultural management practices and climatic conditions on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the emissions of CO₂ and CH₄, as well as the role of microorganisms. The results indicate the following: (1) Meta-analysis reveals that the long-term application of organic fertilizers in green agriculture increases SOC at a rate four times higher than that of chemical fertilizers. No-till and straw return practices significantly reduce CO₂ emissions from alkaline soils by 30.7% (p < 0.05). Warm and humid climates in low-altitude regions are more conducive to soil carbon sequestration. (2) Structural equation modeling of plant–microbe–soil carbon interactions shows that plant species diversity (PSD) indirectly affects microbial biomass by influencing organic matter indicators, mineral properties, and physicochemical characteristics, thereby regulating soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. (3) Field experiments conducted in the typical green farming research area of Chenzhuang reveal that soils managed under natural farming absorb CH₄ at a rate three times higher than those under conventional farming, and the stoichiometric ratios of soil enzymes in the former are close to 1. The peak SOC (19.90 g/kg) in the surface soil of Chenzhuang is found near fields cultivated with natural farming measures. This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the sustainable development of green agriculture. Full article

Under the background of global climate change, shallow landslide clusters induced by extreme rainfall are occurring with increasing frequency, causing severe casualties and economic losses. To address this challenge, this study proposes an integrated approach to support both emergency response and long-term mitigation for rainfall-induced shallow landslides. The workflow includes (1) rapid landslide detection based on time-series image fusion and threshold segmentation on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform; (2) numerical simulation of landslide runout using the R.avaflow model; (3) landslide susceptibility assessment based on event-driven inventories and machine learning; and (4) delineation of high-risk slopes by integrating simulation outputs, susceptibility results, and exposed elements. Applied to Qugaona Township in Zhouqu County, Bailong River Basin, the framework identified 747 landslides. The R.avaflow simulations captured the spatial extent and depositional features of landslides, assisting post-disaster operations. The Gradient Boosting-based susceptibility model achieved an accuracy of 0.870, with 8.0% of the area classified as highly susceptible. In Cangan Village, high-risk slopes were delineated, with 31.08%, 17.85%, and 22.42% of slopes potentially affecting buildings, farmland, and roads, respectively. The study recommends engineering interventions for these areas. Compared with traditional methods, this approach demonstrates greater applicability and provides a more comprehensive basis for managing rainfall-induced landslide hazards. Full article

Ecological security patterns (ESPs) are fundamental to safeguarding regional ecological integrity and enhancing human well-being. Consequently, research on conservation and restoration in critical regions is vital for ensuring ecological security and optimizing territorial ecological spatial configurations. Focusing on the Henan section of the Yellow River Basin, this study established the regional ESP and conservation–restoration framework through an integrated approach: (1) assessing four key ecosystem services—soil conservation, water retention, carbon sequestration, and habitat quality; (2) identifying ecological sources based on ecosystem service importance classification; (3) calculating a comprehensive resistance surface using the entropy weight method, incorporating key factors (land cover type, NDVI, topographic relief, and slope); (4) delineating ecological corridors and nodes using Linkage Mapper and the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) theory; and (5) integrating ecological functional zoning to synthesize the final spatial conservation and restoration strategy. Key findings reveal: (1) 20 ecological sources, totaling 8947 km² (20.9% of the study area), and 43 ecological corridors, spanning 778.24 km, were delineated within the basin. Nineteen ecological barriers (predominantly located in farmland, bare land, construction land, and low-coverage grassland) and twenty-one ecological pinch points (primarily clustered in forestland, grassland, water bodies, and wetlands) were identified. Collectively, these elements form the Henan section’s Ecological Security Pattern (ESP), integrating source areas, a corridor network, and key regional nodes for ecological conservation and restoration. (2) Building upon the ESP and the ecological baseline, and informed by ecological functional zoning, we identified a spatial framework for conservation and restoration characterized by “one axis, two cores, and multiple zones”. Tailored conservation and restoration strategies were subsequently proposed. This study provides critical data support for reconciling ecological security and economic development in the Henan Yellow River Basin, offering a scientific foundation and practical guidance for regional territorial spatial ecological restoration planning and implementation. Full article

As an ecological transition zone, the ecosystem of the Qin River Basin in the middle reaches of the Yellow River is of great significance to the regional ecological balance. With the rapid socio-economic development, land use changes are significant, and the spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystems are evolving. Exploring its dynamics and driving mechanisms is crucial to the ecological protection and sustainable development of watersheds. This research systematically examines the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of ecosystem patterns in the middle Yellow River’s Qin River Basin (1990–2020). Quantitative assessments integrating ecosystem transition metrics and redundancy analysis reveal three critical insights: (1) dominance of agricultural land and woodland (74.81% combined coverage), with grassland (18.58%) and other land types (6.61%) constituting secondary components; (2) dynamic interconversion between woodland and grassland accompanied by urban encroachment on agricultural land, manifesting as net reductions in woodland (−13.74%), farmland (−6.60%), and wetland (−38.64%) contrasting with grassland (+43.34%) and built-up area (+116.63%) expansion; (3) quantified anthropogenic drivers showing agricultural intensification (45.03%) and ecological protection measures (36.50%) as primary forces, while urbanization account for 18.47% of observed changes. The first two RDA ordination axes significantly (p < 0.01) explain 68.3% of the variance in ecosystem evolution, particularly linking land-use changes to socioeconomic indicators. Based on these findings, the study proposes integrated watershed management strategies emphasizing scientific land-use optimization, controlled urban expansion, and systematic ecological rehabilitation to enhance landscape stability in this ecologically sensitive region. The conclusions of this study have important reference value for other ecologically sensitive watersheds in land use planning, ecological protection policy making, and ecological restoration practice, which can provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance. Full article

The Dabie Mountain area in Anhui Province is an essential ecological security barrier and a critical protected area in East China. It is very important to assess its ecological environment quality and identify its key driving forces. Five indicators, including Greenness, Wetness, Dryness, Heat, and Biological Richness, were used to construct an improved remote sensing ecological Index (IRSEI) to assess ecological environment quality. The weights of the five indicators were determined by coupling the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy weight method (EWM). The optimal parameters-based geographical detector (OPGD) was used to recognize driving factors. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) the overall rank of ecological environment quality was mainly good and excellent. The ecological quality of forest land was excellent, that of farmland was good, and that of built-up areas was poor. (2) The change in ecological environment quality was mainly stable from 2000 to 2020. The ecological quality of some forests and farmlands improved, with a deteriorating trend in the built-up areas. (3) The Moran’s Index of ecological quality ranged from 0.77 to 0.85, indicating high spatial agglomeration. (4) The OPGD indicated that the DEM had the most explanatory power for ecological quality, and the interactive relationship between the DEM and population density had the most significant impact. (5) In comparison to the conventional remote sensing ecological Index (RSEI), the IRSEI exhibited higher congruence with observed circumstances and improved ecological interpretability. Full article

The scenario adaptability of agricultural machinery chassis in hilly and mountainous regions has become a key area of innovation in modern agricultural equipment development in China. Due to the fragmented nature of farmland, steep terrain (often exceeding 15°), complex topography, and limited suitability for mechanization, traditional agricultural machinery experiences significantly reduced operational efficiency—typically by 30% to 50%—along with poor mobility. These limitations impose serious constraints on grain yield stability and the advancement of agricultural modernization. Therefore, enhancing the scenario-adaptive performance of chassis systems (e.g., slope adaptability ≥ 25°, lateral tilt stability > 30°) is a major research priority for China’s agricultural equipment industry. This paper presents a systematic review of the global development status of agricultural machinery chassis tailored for hilly and mountainous environments. It focuses on three core subsystems—power systems, traveling systems, and leveling systems—and analyzes their technical characteristics, working principles, and scenario-specific adaptability. In alignment with China’s “Dual Carbon” strategy and the unique operational requirements of hilly–mountainous areas (such as high gradients, uneven terrain, and small field sizes), this study proposes three key technological directions for the development of intelligent agricultural machinery chassis: (1) Multi-mode traveling mechanism design: Aimed at improving terrain traversability (ground clearance ≥400 mm, obstacle-crossing height ≥ 250 mm) and traction stability (slip ratio < 15%) across diverse landscapes. (2) Coordinated control algorithm optimization: Designed to ensure stable torque output (fluctuation rate < ±10%) and maintain gradient operation efficiency (e.g., less than 15% efficiency loss on 25° slopes) through power–drive synergy while also optimizing energy management strategies. (3) Intelligent perception system integration: Facilitating high-precision adaptive leveling (accuracy ± 0.5°, response time < 3 s) and enabling terrain-adaptive mechanism optimization to enhance platform stability and operational safety. By establishing these performance benchmarks and focusing on critical technical priorities—including terrain-adaptive mechanism upgrades, energy-drive coordination, and precision leveling—this study provides a clear roadmap for the development of modular and intelligent chassis systems specifically designed for China’s hilly and mountainous regions, thereby addressing current bottlenecks in agricultural mechanization. Full article

Due to prolonged irrigation from the Yellow River, a large area of farmland in the Hetao Oasis has undergone different degrees of salinization and alkalization, leading to reduced crop yields and incapable soil for plant growth. To enhance the productivity of the farmland with saline-alkali soils, it is important to select salt-tolerant economic plant species that are capable of growing under the local climate and soil conditions in the Hetao Oasis. We conducted the experiment by planting Ziziphus jujuba var. spinose, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Hippophae rhamnoides and Lycium chinense in the Bayan Taohai Farm of the Hetao Oasis. Changes of plant growth (the survival rate, plant height, canopy, basal diameter and new branch length) and soil physicochemical properties (soil organic carbon, total carbon, total nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity and particle size distribution) were continuously monitored during two growing seasons. Results indicated that, by the end of the first growing season, the survival rate of the Z. jujuba was less than 10%, making it unsuitable for plantation in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. In terms of plant growth, the E. angustifolia exhibited the highest survival rate (94.71%) and the fastest growth rate, indicating that E. angustifolia is adapted in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. The survival rates for L. chinense and H. rhamnoides were 86.46% and 65.64%, respectively, indicating that these species could grow in the saline-alkali soils, but at a slower rate. From the perspective of soil improvement, E. angustifolia, H. rhamnoides and L. chinense could reduce the soil pH, and E. angustifolia could significantly increase soil nutrients. In conclusion, it is not recommended to plant Z. jujuba, while the E. angustifolia is recommended as a proper economic species to be widely planted in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. H. rhamnoides could be selectively planted in areas with better soil conditions, and the L. chinense could be planted following soil improvement measurements. The research enhanced the effective utilization of the saline-alkali farmland and provided proper economic plant species for sustainable agriculture management in the Hetao Oasis of Inner Mongolia. Full article

Crop production in Kazakhstan is characterized by vast resources, including over 200 M hectares of farmland and more than 23 M hectares of arable land located mainly in the arid zone with a short growing season. In 2023, the five most important crops in the country were spring wheat (12.5 M ha), spring barley (2.42 M ha), sunflower (1.13 M ha), flax (0.73 M ha), and winter wheat (0.59 M ha). Diverse agroecological conditions and low input farming represent good opportunities for the more sustainable use of resources through organic production. However, the area falling under certified organic farming recently varied from 0.1 to 0.3 M ha with wheat, flax, soybean and soybean meal, peas and lentils serving as the main commodities exported to Europe. Several factors limit organic farming development in the country, including the certification system, marketing, and the availability of crops, cultivars, and technologies. The current review summarizes the main organic agronomic practices and bioresources applicable in Kazakhstan into four main themes: crops and cultivars’ diversification; tillage systems for organic crops; crop nutrition; and protection. The technologies developed for organic farming in similar ecologies globally are highly relevant to Kazakhstan and need to be tested and adopted by producers. The lack of targeted cultivars and technology development for organic production in Kazakhstan impedes its progress and requires a longer-term producer-focused framework to extend related research. Full article