Journal Description
Land
Land
is an international and cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed, open access journal on land system science, landscape, soil–sediment–water systems, urban study, land–climate interactions, water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus, biodiversity research and health nexus, land modelling and data processing, ecosystem services, and multifunctionality and sustainability etc., published monthly online by MDPI. The International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE), European Land-use Institute (ELI), Landscape Institute (LI) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Land, and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubAg, AGRIS, GeoRef, RePEc, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q2 (Nature and Landscape Conservation)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 14.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.7 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
3.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Distribution Characteristics and Main Influencing Factors of Organic Carbon in Sediments of Spartina Alterniflora Wetlands along the Northern Jiangsu Coast, China
Land 2024, 13(6), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060741 (registering DOI) - 25 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, columnar sediment samples were collected from north to south along the northern Jiangsu coast, China, under Spartina alterniflora vegetation in four sample areas: Chuandong Port (Area-1), Tiaozini Scenic Area (Area-2), Yangkou Town (Area-3), and Meiledi Marine Park (Area-4). Organic carbon
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In this study, columnar sediment samples were collected from north to south along the northern Jiangsu coast, China, under Spartina alterniflora vegetation in four sample areas: Chuandong Port (Area-1), Tiaozini Scenic Area (Area-2), Yangkou Town (Area-3), and Meiledi Marine Park (Area-4). Organic carbon (OC), nutrient elements including total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total sulfur (TS), and physicochemical properties including pH, salinity (Sal), moisture content (MC), and bulk density (BD) were measured. Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlation between OC content and sedimentary physicochemical indexes, and the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was used to analyze the factors affecting changes in OC content. The results found that the OC content of columnar sediments of S. alterniflora decreased with increasing depth in all four areas. The OC content in the four sample areas was mainly affected by the TN, pH, MC, TP, and burial depth. In particular, TN, MC, TP, TS, and clay content positively affected OC, whereas burial depth, pH, silt content, BD, sand content, and Sal negatively affected OC. The results of this study provide a valuable reference for evaluating the role of coastal wetlands in the global carbon cycle.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Sustainability from the Viewpoint of Carbon Emission)
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NGO-Led Community-Based Conservation: A New Frontier of Territorialization with Implications for Pastoralists’ Land Tenure and Climate Change Adaptation
by
Jackson Wachira, Joanes Atela, Paul Stacey and George Outa
Land 2024, 13(6), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060740 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
In recent years, many community-based conservancies (CBCs) led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been established on land inhabited by pastoralists in Northern Kenya. Despite a growing body of research, little attention has been paid to the impacts on pastoralists’ climate change adaptation. We
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In recent years, many community-based conservancies (CBCs) led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been established on land inhabited by pastoralists in Northern Kenya. Despite a growing body of research, little attention has been paid to the impacts on pastoralists’ climate change adaptation. We provide a deeper understanding by considering NGO-led community-based conservation (NGO-led CBC) as a new frontier of territorialization and adaptation to climate change and variability as a social-natural process. Based on an analysis of primary data collected in Samburu County, Kenya, we show that NGO-led CBC involves resource enclosures that aggravate conflicts over land rights and pastoralists’ vulnerability to climate change and variability by constraining their mobility. In relation, the legal and institutional environment promoted by NGO-led CBC leads to increased control over ecologically vibrant lands, which erodes pastoralists’ land tenure security and climate change adaptation. Although NGO-led CBC plays an important role in enhancing access to external finance and incentivizing diversification, governance mechanisms remain opaque and overshadow local institutions. Overall, we highlight the need for actors to carefully consider the implications of this conservation/development model for already hard-pressed land-dependent communities.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Critical Insights on Tenure Security in the Global South)
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Modeling Irrigation of Tomatoes with Saline Water in Semi-Arid Conditions Using Hydrus-1D
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Sabri Kanzari, Jiří Šimůnek, Issam Daghari, Anis Younes, Khouloud Ben Ali, Sana Ben Mariem and Samir Ghannem
Land 2024, 13(6), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060739 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
In arid and semi-arid regions like Tunisia, irrigation water is typically saline, posing a risk of soil and crop salinization and yield reduction. This research aims to study the combined effects of soil matric and osmotic potential stresses on tomato root water uptake.
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In arid and semi-arid regions like Tunisia, irrigation water is typically saline, posing a risk of soil and crop salinization and yield reduction. This research aims to study the combined effects of soil matric and osmotic potential stresses on tomato root water uptake. Plants were grown in pot and field experiments in loamy-clay soils and were irrigated with three different irrigation water qualities: 0, 3.5, and 7 dS/m. The Hydrus-1D model was used to simulate the combined dynamics of subsurface soil water and salts. Successful calibration and validation of the model against measured water and salt profiles enabled the examination of the combined effects of osmotic and matric potential stresses on root water uptake. Relative yields, indirectly estimated from actual and potential transpiration, indicated that the multiplicative stress response model effectively simulated the measured yields and the impact of saline water irrigation on crop yields. The experimental and modeling results provide information to aid in determining the salinity levels conducive to optimal crop growth. The findings indicate that the selected salinity levels affect tomato growth to varying degrees. Specifically, the salinity levels conducive to optimal tomato growth were between 0 and 3.5 dS/m, with a significant growth reduction above this salinity level. The gradual salinization of the root zone further evidenced this effect. The scenario considering a temperature increase of 2 °C had no significant impact on crop yields in the pot and field experiments.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Monitoring and Modelling at Different Scales)
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Study on the Morphological Analysis and Evolution of the Street Network in the Historic Urban Area of Changsha City from 1872–2023
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Bohong Zheng, Fangzhou Tian, Li Lin and Jinyu Fan
Land 2024, 13(6), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060738 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
This study focuses on the streets and spatial networks of the historic urban area in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, China, by mainly investigating the evolution of their geometric and topological characteristics. It draws on the theories and methods of urban morphology
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This study focuses on the streets and spatial networks of the historic urban area in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, China, by mainly investigating the evolution of their geometric and topological characteristics. It draws on the theories and methods of urban morphology and space syntax, combines the digital historical maps at different times, and uses methods such as historical map spatial interpretation, geographic information system (GIS), sDNA tools, and urban morphological parameter analysis to explore and sort out the evolutionary process of the street and alley network in Changsha from the early modern period to the present. The paper constructs a parameter system for analyzing the street and alley network of historic urban areas from a geometric and topological perspective. It introduces the indicators of road density, road orientation, intersection density, and approaches such as closeness, betweenness, and intelligibility in space syntax into the parameter analysis framework of street and alley network morphology and spatial characteristics evolution. By comparing the changes in various parameters at different spatial scales, the process of the spatial order evolution of the street and alley network in the historic urban area is analyzed, and the evolutionary rules of the various periods’ morphological characteristics are extracted.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Morphology: A Perspective from Space)
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Investigating Endemic Species Conservation Hotspots Based on Species Distribution Models in Swat Region, Hindu Kush Pakistan
by
Shawkat Ali, Haidar Ali, Omid Ghadirian Baharanchi, Hassan Sher and Rasoul Yousefpour
Land 2024, 13(6), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060737 - 24 May 2024
Abstract
For the effective conservation of plant species, it is imperative to manage habitat loss and fragmentation by establishing a protected area network that comprehensively encompasses their habitat. In this study, we identified the suitable habitats for some endemic plant species in the Swat
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For the effective conservation of plant species, it is imperative to manage habitat loss and fragmentation by establishing a protected area network that comprehensively encompasses their habitat. In this study, we identified the suitable habitats for some endemic plant species in the Swat District, Pakistan, to conduct a thorough analysis of proposed protected areas (hotspot areas). Utilizing data from a recent botanical survey, environmental parameters from World-Clim, and various other sources, we determined the habitat of each species using the MaxEnt species distribution model. The modeled habitat suitability for each species were combined to generate maps illustrating endemic richness (hotspots), as well as to prioritize areas based on conservation value and habitat suitability. Future climate projections spanning from 2000 to 2050 were acquired from the WorldClim database Nineteen bioclimatic variables were assessed, incorporating data from three global climate models: CCSM4, HadGEM2-AO, and MPI-ESM-LR. We modeled seven endemic species from the Swat District and, by combining their maps, found three hotspot areas which show more environmental suitability under future climatic conditions. The future model forecasts a significant decrease in population density by the year 2050. Currently, these species exhibit their highest density along the eastern and southern borders of the valley, particularly in the Karakar, Elum border, Mankial Kalam, and Gabral Kalam areas. The anticipated alterations in density and distribution could have a considerable impact not only on the tree species but also on the associated sub flora.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue In Situ Conservation Tools to Mitigate Impacts from Global Change on Biodiversity)
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The Temporal and Spatial Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Ecosystem Service Bundles in Anhui Province, China
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Zhongjian Mei, Cheng Li, Jie Zhao, Zixuan Li, Kaiyi Chen, Xin Huang and Zhiyue Zhao
Land 2024, 13(6), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060736 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
Identifying ecosystem service bundles and their long-term evolutionary characteristics is essential for the overall enhancement of regional ecosystem services, as well as the division and management of functional areas, providing a basis for decision-making in formulating ecological and environmental protection policies, as well
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Identifying ecosystem service bundles and their long-term evolutionary characteristics is essential for the overall enhancement of regional ecosystem services, as well as the division and management of functional areas, providing a basis for decision-making in formulating ecological and environmental protection policies, as well as regional development planning. Based on land use, remote sensing, and meteorological data obtained from Anhui Province, this study assessed six important ecosystem service functions, including food production (FP), water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), soil conservation (SC), habitat quality (HQ), and landscape aesthetics (LA), at the township scale in 2000, 2010, and 2020. On this basis, the k-means clustering method was used to identify ecosystem service bundles, analyze the spatio-temporal evolution trajectory of service bundles, and explore the driving factors of the spatio-temporal evolution of ecosystem service bundles using GeoDetector 2015 The results indicate the following: (1) At the spatial level, diverse ecosystem services demonstrate pronounced spatial differentiation. The distribution pattern of HQ, carbon fixation, and SC services is generally lower in the north and higher in the south, with areas of high value predominantly located in the western Dabie Mountains and the mountains of Southern Anhui. Conversely, FP services exhibit the reverse pattern, and WY services display a gradual increase from north to south, while cultural services are more dispersed, with areas of high value primarily located in the western Dabie Mountains, the Yangtze River Basin, and other locations. On the temporal scale, WY, SC, and FP services mainly exhibit an increasing trend, marked by a significant increase, whereas other services tend to present a decreasing trend. (2) Anhui Province can be categorized into four distinct types of service bundles: the grain production bundle (GPB), mountain ecological conservation bundle (MECB), urban living bundle (ULB), and core protection bundle (CPB). Ecosystem service bundles exhibit clear spatial differentiation, and identical service bundles demonstrate substantial clustering in space. Between 2000 and 2020, ecosystem service bundles displayed a marked spatio-temporal evolution, with the prevalence of GPBs diminishing, whereas the share of ULBs progressively increased, and the number of MECBs and CPBs remained largely stable. (3) In the spatio-temporal evolution process, the average annual precipitation, the proportion of forest land, and slope constitute the principal natural factors influencing the spatio-temporal evolution of ecosystem service bundles, while the proportion of construction land represents the primary socio-economic factor, with natural factors exerting a more significant influence than socio-economic factors.
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Open AccessArticle
Spatial-Temporal Process of Land Use/Land Cover and Desertification in the Circum-Tarim Basin during 1990–2020
by
Xiaoming Cao, Mengchun Cui, Lei Xi and Yiming Feng
Land 2024, 13(6), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060735 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
The problem of desertification in the Tarim Basin, an area with a unique geography and climatic conditions, has received extensive research attention not only in China but also around the world. Between natural factors and human activities, the latter are considered the main
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The problem of desertification in the Tarim Basin, an area with a unique geography and climatic conditions, has received extensive research attention not only in China but also around the world. Between natural factors and human activities, the latter are considered the main cause of desertification, with the excessive use of land resources accelerating its risk. This study classified the degree of desertification into five types, no, light, moderate, severe, and extremely severe desertification, and focused on the spatio-temporal changes in LULC, desertification development, and their relationship in the Circum-Tarim Basin during the period of 1990–2020, and the results indicated the following. (1) Over the 30-year study period, farmland development was frequent in the basin. The total farmland area increased significantly by 1.40 × 104 km2, which resulted from the occupation of grassland (mainly low-covered and medium-covered grassland) and unused land (mainly saline–alkali land). (2) There was a general alleviation of the effects of desertification, but also local deterioration. The area of no-desertification land has significantly increased (an increase of 2.10 × 104 km2), and the degree of desertification has shifted significantly to adjacent lighter degrees, but the area of extremely severe desertification in certain regions has increased (an increase of 7.89 × 104 km2). (3) There was an inseparable relationship between LULC and desertification. Oasisization and desertification were two processes that interacted and were interrelated. There was an approximately 54.42% increase in no-desertification land area mainly occurring in the region where LULC types changed (Region II), although this area only accounted for 9.71% of the total area of the basin. There was an approximately 98.28% increase in the area of extremely severe desertification occurring where there were no changes in LULC types (Region I). Region II demonstrated the best effects of desertification prevention and control in the 30-year study period in the Circum-Tarim Basin. Land development and oasis expansion have led to concentrated water use, resulting in water scarcity in certain areas, which cannot support the needs of vegetation growth, thus aggravating the degradation. Hence, “adapting measures to local conditions, rational planning, zoning policies, precise prevention and control” will be the way forward for desertification control in the future in the Circum-Tarim Basin.
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Open AccessArticle
How Does the Neighborhood Unit Inform Community Revitalization?
by
Reza Banai
Land 2024, 13(6), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060734 - 23 May 2024
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Community revitalization is a complex, multifaceted process, studied conceptually and empirically in the vast multidisciplinary literature. Among the cited elements of community revitalization are housing; school, civic, and retail spaces; street networks; parks; and green spaces. However, the elements are commonly studied in
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Community revitalization is a complex, multifaceted process, studied conceptually and empirically in the vast multidisciplinary literature. Among the cited elements of community revitalization are housing; school, civic, and retail spaces; street networks; parks; and green spaces. However, the elements are commonly studied in isolation, not considering their interrelated qualities as all-of-a-piece of the community revitalization process. In this paper, we draw on the concept of the neighborhood unit that facilities a holistic approach to community revitalization. We show how the neighborhood unit is metamorphosed and thereby endured from the classic to the contemporary. We argue that the neighborhood unit informs, as well as being challenged by, community revitalization. Furthermore, inadequate attention is given to how urban revitalization challenges the efficacy of the neighborhood unit itself. The inner-city blight provides an impetus to look beyond the neighborhood to the metropolitan region as a whole. The neighborhood unit’s fundamental limitation is posed by its cellular autonomy, in favor of alternatives that connect the neighborhood to the metropolitan region’s jobs–housing–services–mobility opportunity holistically. Our literature review of the impactful elements of community revitalization is aided by AI (ChatGPT) as an expeditious search engine. It is found that the AI-aided search of the universal poses anew the significance of the particular—the site- and context-specific. We conclude with) universal “performance dimensions” of Good City Form that are calibrated locally, reflecting the goodness of the city form, of which the neighborhood is a building block.
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The Spatial Pattern of Polluting Enterprises and the Effects of Local Regulation in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration
by
Xing Dang, Beibei Ma, Dongqian Xue, Yongyong Song and Guy M. Robinson
Land 2024, 13(6), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060733 - 23 May 2024
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In the context of actively undertaking the transfer of domestic and foreign industries in the central and western regions of China, local regulatory behaviors influence the spatial distribution of polluting enterprises (PEs). This study examined the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration (GPUA), the largest
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In the context of actively undertaking the transfer of domestic and foreign industries in the central and western regions of China, local regulatory behaviors influence the spatial distribution of polluting enterprises (PEs). This study examined the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration (GPUA), the largest urban agglomeration in the northwest region of China and one of the main regions that undertakes industrial transfer, using kernel density estimation and geographically and temporally weighted regression to explore the spatial pattern characteristics and evolution of PEs and reveal the effects of local regulatory behaviors, including environmental regulation (ER) and local protection (LP). The results indicate that (1) The distribution of the PEs tended towards energy and mineral resources and agglomerated along the development axes, aligning with the strategic positioning of the major function-oriented zones. Agglomerated areas gradually concentrate in key development zones. Major agricultural production zones exit high-density areas, and those adjacent to high-density areas often become secondary agglomeration core areas. Key ecological functional zones do not form high-density areas. (2) Both ER and LP have a positive impact on the distribution of PEs, and the dominant influence shifts from ER to LP. Counties with strict ER have increased the tendency of PEs to exhibit a certain layout due to better pollution treatment facilities and more mature pollution control technologies. The “pollution haven effect” has not yet formed within the GPUA. (3) The role of LP was more prominent in key development zones and major agricultural production zones, whereas the role of ER was more evident in key ecological functional zones. (4) RE and LP have mutually reinforcing effects on the distribution of PEs; the “innovation compensation effect” gradually manifests, but an increase in ER leads to a decrease in regional industrial clustering. This study provides a reference value for understanding the impact of government regulation on the distribution of PEs in underdeveloped areas.
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Chinese Coastal Fishing Ports Classification Based on Remote Sensing Images
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Zun Liu, Weixin Luan, Chuang Tian, Zhipeng Shi and Gai Cao
Land 2024, 13(6), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060732 - 23 May 2024
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Fishing ports are important fishery production platforms, and the transformation of these has had a profound impact on the fishing industry. A reasonable classification solution is crucial for scientific understanding, development, and management of fishing ports. Current research on the use of spatial
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Fishing ports are important fishery production platforms, and the transformation of these has had a profound impact on the fishing industry. A reasonable classification solution is crucial for scientific understanding, development, and management of fishing ports. Current research on the use of spatial distributional characterization and the construction of a classification system for fishing ports to improve their management is limited. Therefore, in this study, a fishing port classification system was constructed using remote sensing images, with fishing port boundaries accurately extracted for classification. Using graphical summarization, fishing ports were classified into five types, including inland, estuarine, shoreline, gulf, and islands. A port type identification system was also constructed based on distance from the shoreline, water area, and circulation. Finally, fishing port characteristics and differences were investigated based on spatial superposition. The results demonstrate that shoreline and gulf types are the most prevalent fishing port types along the Chinese coast, accounting for 43% and 26% of the total number of fishing ports, respectively. This provides a strong foundation for China’s fishery production, processing, and trade. Through the establishment of a comprehensive scientific classification system, fishing port management can be modernized, supporting the sustainable development and utilization of coastal zones.
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Integrated Models of Cleaner Production Technologies for Maize Cultivation in China’s Black Soil Regions
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Yinsheng Yang and Ying Xu
Land 2024, 13(6), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060731 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
Incorporating carbon footprints into the production efficiency framework to construct a standardized technology model for cleaner production in black soil regions is of great significance for improving the soil environment and the sustainable development of agriculture. This study used an orthogonal experimental design
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Incorporating carbon footprints into the production efficiency framework to construct a standardized technology model for cleaner production in black soil regions is of great significance for improving the soil environment and the sustainable development of agriculture. This study used an orthogonal experimental design and the DEA–Malmquist method to calculate the carbon footprint and total factor productivity of orthogonal experimental groups of cleaner production technologies for maize cultivation in China’s black soil region and then identified integrated models of cleaner production technology in the black soil region. The results showed that the carbon footprint of maize cultivation and total factor productivity were generally higher in the experimental group using cleaner production techniques than in the control group. Still, none of them reached the optimum. In the future, the synergistic effect of technological progress and technological efficiency enhancement should be brought into play, and the integrated models of “Soil testing and formulation + Full mobile sprinkler irrigation + Straw tilling and field return” and “No tillage in spring + Soil testing and formulation + Straw tilling and field return” should be promoted in semi-arid and semi-humid black soil regions, which can improve the low carbon productivity of maize by 20.3% and 15.4%, respectively.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Agronomy, Soil Health and Climate Change: Challenges and Solutions)
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Open AccessArticle
Seasonal Grazing Does Not Significantly Alter the Particle Structure and Pore Characteristics of Grassland Soil
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Juejie Yang, Ruiqi Zhang, Rong Cao, Shikui Dong, Taogetao Baoyin and Tianqi Zhao
Land 2024, 13(6), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060730 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
Seasonal grazing is a recognized and sustainable approach to livestock management, but there is still a lack of comprehensive research on its impact on soil structure. This study utilizes advanced scanning electron microscopy technology to quantitatively evaluate the long-term effects of seasonal grazing
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Seasonal grazing is a recognized and sustainable approach to livestock management, but there is still a lack of comprehensive research on its impact on soil structure. This study utilizes advanced scanning electron microscopy technology to quantitatively evaluate the long-term effects of seasonal grazing on grassland soil structure, focusing on soil pore distribution characteristics and particle size. The investigation offers a detailed visual representation of the arrangement of soil particles at a micro-level. In both grazed and ungrazed plots (NG), soil particles ranging from 0.005 to 0.05 mm and 0.075 to 0.25 mm in size were predominant, constituting 20% and 60%, respectively. In plots subjected to seasonal grazing (grazing in June and August, G68, and grazing in July and September, G79), micro-particles (0.002–0.005 mm) and particles sized 0.05–0.075 mm were significantly lower compared to NG. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images demonstrate structural differences, with NG displaying a higher proportion of small to medium-sized particles, more small pores, and fewer large pores. Analysis of pore size and morphology reveals the prevalence of large pores in both grazed and ungrazed plots. Continuous grazing plots exhibit significantly higher proportions of large pores compared to NG, while seasonal grazing plots show no significant differences. Correlation analyses indicate associations between soil physicochemical properties, particle size, and pore structure. Total soil nitrogen (TN), total soil carbon (TC), and soil moisture positively correlate with 0.005–0.05 mm particle proportions, while EC is negatively correlated with 0.05–0.075 mm particles. This study enhances our understanding of the effects of grazing practices on soil structure and provides scientific evidence for sustainable land management.
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of China’s Energy-Consuming Right Trading on Urban Land Green Utilization Efficiency
by
Chaobo Zhou, Jingchan Wang and Zhiwei Wu
Land 2024, 13(6), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060729 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
China is facing development challenges, such as the red line of arable land, resource shortage, and tightening ecological and environmental constraints. In this context, improving land green utilization efficiency (LGUE) is not only an important undertaking to optimize the spatial layout of the
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China is facing development challenges, such as the red line of arable land, resource shortage, and tightening ecological and environmental constraints. In this context, improving land green utilization efficiency (LGUE) is not only an important undertaking to optimize the spatial layout of the country and improve resource carrying capacity but also an inevitable choice for the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. China’s energy-consuming right trading (ECRT) is an important energy transition demonstration policy; however, its effect on LGUE has yet to be scientifically evaluated in academic research. Using panel data of 260 prefecture-level cities in China from 2009 to 2021, this study first uses a difference-in-difference model to test the effect of ECRT on LGUE, analyze its transmission mechanism, and further examine the impact of urban characteristic heterogeneity on policy effects from multiple perspectives. Results show the following: (1) The pilot policy of ECRT significantly improves urban LGUE, as confirmed by robustness tests. (2) The ECRT pilot policy enhances urban technological innovation, promotes the upgrading of industrial structure, and thereby improves LGUE. (3) The ECRT has a more significant enhancement effect on the central and western cities, large-scale cities, and resource-based cities. (4) Government environmental protection assessment can have a positive moderating effect, that is, further amplifying the effect of ECRT on improving urban LGUE. In conclusion, we should solidly promote the construction of a unified national ECRT market, formulate policy implementation plans tailored to local conditions, and steadily improve LGUE. To a certain extent, this paper reveals the inherent logic of how ECRT affects LGUE, which provides opportunities for cities to improve LGUE through ECRT, and provides reference for promoting the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.
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(This article belongs to the Section Land Environmental and Policy Impact Assessment)
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Exploring the Response of Ecosystem Services to Socioecological Factors in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China
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Zhiming Zhang, Fengman Fang, Youru Yao, Qing Ji and Xiaojing Cheng
Land 2024, 13(6), 728; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060728 - 23 May 2024
Abstract
Understanding the response of the mechanisms driving ecosystem services (ESs) to socioecological factors is imperative for regional sustainable ecosystem management. However, previous studies of the mechanisms driving ESs have focused more on the degree and direction (positive and negative) of effects on ES
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Understanding the response of the mechanisms driving ecosystem services (ESs) to socioecological factors is imperative for regional sustainable ecosystem management. However, previous studies of the mechanisms driving ESs have focused more on the degree and direction (positive and negative) of effects on ES supply or the supply–demand balance, while their nonlinear response processes have not been fully considered. In this study, a theoretical framework was developed through integrating land use/land cover data and supply and demand matrices with random forest models to assess response processes, including the relative importance and marginal effects, of essential factors that drive ES demand, supply, and supply–demand balance. Using the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) as an example, our results indicated that the ES deficit regions (332 of 1070 counties or 14.45% of the area) of the YREB were located mainly in the three national urban agglomerations. Moreover, this study indicated that natural environmental factors (such as slope and precipitation) significantly influence the supply and supply–demand balance of ESs, while socioeconomic factors (such as cropland ratios and population density) profoundly influence the demand for ESs. However, cropland ratios were the most important drivers of ES supply, demand, and supply–demand balance in the YREB. Moreover, three types of response processes were identified in this study: logarithmic increase, logarithmic decrease, and volatility increase. Specific driving factors (e.g., proportion of cropland area, precipitation, population density, and slope) had significant threshold effects on the supply–demand balance of ESs. The turning points that can be extracted from these response processes should be recommended for ecosystem restoration projects to maintain regional sustainable ecosystem management.
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(This article belongs to the Section Land Environmental and Policy Impact Assessment)
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Safety Perceptions and Micro-Segregation: Exploring Gated- and Non-Gated-Community Dynamics in Quetta, Pakistan
by
Asifa Iqbal, Tahira Shaukat and Humaira Nazir
Land 2024, 13(6), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060727 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Crime impacts residential neighborhoods not only through the loss of life and property but also by instilling a widespread fear among residents. To combat this fear, physical security measures like safety locks, gates, and high perimeter walls have proven effective in both developed
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Crime impacts residential neighborhoods not only through the loss of life and property but also by instilling a widespread fear among residents. To combat this fear, physical security measures like safety locks, gates, and high perimeter walls have proven effective in both developed and developing nations. This trend has led to the increased popularity of gated communities in Pakistan as a preferred housing choice. In addition to encouraging micro-segregation, these developments also attract a large number of residents. In order to better understand the differences in residents’ fear of crime in relation to their health and socio-economic status, this paper compares residential housing schemes in Quetta, Pakistan (gated and non-gated). Surveys and on-site observations in four different residential areas of the city underpin the methodology. The results suggest that past experiences of crime victimization strongly affect feelings of safety in both gated and non-gated communities. The study highlights the complex relationship between the perception of safety, health and well-being, socio-economic status, and the type of community, highlighting how these factors collectively influence respondents’ experiences and create micro-segregation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Micro-Segregation)
Open AccessArticle
Study on Tianjin Land-Cover Dynamic Changes, Driving Factor Analysis, and Forecasting
by
Zhaoxu Zhang, Yuzhao Wei, Xutong Li, Dan Wan and Zhenwei Shi
Land 2024, 13(6), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060726 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Land-use and land-cover changes constitute pivotal components in global environmental change research. Through an examination of spatiotemporal variations in land cover, we can deepen our understanding of land-cover change dynamics, shape appropriate policy frameworks, and implement targeted environmental conservation strategies. The judicious management
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Land-use and land-cover changes constitute pivotal components in global environmental change research. Through an examination of spatiotemporal variations in land cover, we can deepen our understanding of land-cover change dynamics, shape appropriate policy frameworks, and implement targeted environmental conservation strategies. The judicious management of land is a critical determinant in fostering the sustainable growth of urban economies and enhancing quality of life for residents. This study harnessed remote sensing data to analyze land-cover patterns in Tianjin over five distinct time points: 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. It focused on evaluating the evolving dynamics, transition velocities, and transformation processes across various land categories within the region. Utilizing dynamic analysis and a transition matrix, the study traced shifts among different land-use classes. The center-of-gravity migration model was employed to elucidate land-cover pattern evolution. This research also integrated pertinent land-cover statistics to offer a holistic perspective on Tianjin’s land-cover transformations. Employing the CA–Markov model, we projected the prospective spatial layout of land cover for the area. Our findings revealed the following. (1) From 2000 to 2020, Tianjin experienced a significant reduction in cropland, forest, grassland, and water areas, alongside a substantial increase in impervious. (2) The impervious surface’s center of gravity, initially in Beichen District, shifted 4.20 km northwestward at an average rate of 0.84 km per year. (3) Principal component analysis indicated that the growth in the output value of the secondary and forestry industries is a key driver in expanding Tianjin’s impervious-surface area. (4) Predictions for 2025 suggest an increase in Tianjin’s impervious-surface area to 4659.78 km2, with a concurrent reduction in cropland to 5656.18 km2. The insights gleaned from this study provide a solid theoretical foundation and empirical evidence, aiding in the formulation of informed land-use strategies, the preservation of urban land resources, and guiding principles for sustainable urban development.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Land Use and Land Cover Mapping)
Open AccessArticle
Impact of Land Use and Climate Change on Streamflow: An Assessment Using a Semi-Empirical Model in the Guishui Watershed of North China
by
Chunni Gao, Mark Honti, Jinhua Cheng and Tao Wang
Land 2024, 13(6), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060725 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Land-use change may significantly influence streamflow. The semi-empirical model PhosFate was used to analyze the impact of land use and climate change on streamflow by choosing the Guishui watershed as a pilot site and then expanding, applying it to all of North China.
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Land-use change may significantly influence streamflow. The semi-empirical model PhosFate was used to analyze the impact of land use and climate change on streamflow by choosing the Guishui watershed as a pilot site and then expanding, applying it to all of North China. The Guishui watershed (North Beijing, China) has experienced a dramatic decline in its streamflow in recent decades. Parallel to this, significant land-use change has happened in this area; afforestation programs have increased forest cover from 41% (1980) to 59% (2013) and a similar increase in forest cover can also be observed in North China. Managing flow decline requires separating climatic and direct human-influenced effects. The results showed the following: (1) Afforestation is a major factor that decreased total flow in the Guishui watershed from 1996 to 2014; total flow increased by around 24% more than the actual dataset in the constant scenario (no afforestation) and decreased by 5% more than the actual dataset in the forest scenario (all agriculture land use transferred to forests). (2) When forest coverage increases, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau are the most sensitive areas regarding total flow in North China; the total flow change rate increased by up to 25% in these two areas when land use shifted from sparse vegetation to mixed forests. After analyzing the contributions of these two factors, we formulated recommendations on future afforestation practices for North China. In the central–north and northwest districts, the annual precipitation is under 520 mm and 790 mm, respectively, and the practice of afforestation should be more carefully planned to prevent severe damage to streams. This research also proved that the PhosFate model can be used in North China, which would be a practical tool for watershed management.
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(This article belongs to the Section Land Environmental and Policy Impact Assessment)
Open AccessArticle
Implementing Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems: Themes of Cultural Conflicts and Public Resistance—A Case Study
by
Bridget O’Brien Thodesen, Erlend Andenæs and Tore Kvande
Land 2024, 13(6), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060724 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
A six-year study investigates the challenges of balancing stakeholders’ interests when implementing climate adaptation regulations and makes a case for analytical tools that can improve the acceptance and adoption of local planning initiatives. In this study, the challenges of adopting European Union and
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A six-year study investigates the challenges of balancing stakeholders’ interests when implementing climate adaptation regulations and makes a case for analytical tools that can improve the acceptance and adoption of local planning initiatives. In this study, the challenges of adopting European Union and Norwegian national climate adaptation regulations at a local level are examined through the analysis of the ‘Fredlybekken Water Management Proposal’ case study. This study includes an overview of the proposed climate adaptation project ‘Fredlybekken’, a site analysis, quantitative surveys, and qualitative interviews with the project’s stakeholders. Reflexive thematic analysis is employed to establish themes of the project and categorically describe the feedback and objections of residents. The findings of the study set forth recommendations to improve the implementation processes of stormwater management infrastructure and other urban climatic adaptation initiatives. These findings are aimed at public policy makers and municipal administrations. The general conclusions within this paper are also relevant for egalitarian countries with similar societal challenges attempting to implement climate policy at the local level.
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Open AccessReview
A Review on the Use of Geodesign Processes in Managing Flood Vulnerability
by
Bo Pang and Brian Deal
Land 2024, 13(6), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060723 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
The integration of geodesign with vulnerability analysis offers a novel approach to landscape, urban, and environmental planning challenges. The interdisciplinary nature, engaged processes, and advanced spatial analytics in geodesign provide important component pieces for identifying and addressing vulnerable places. A comparative case-study approach
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The integration of geodesign with vulnerability analysis offers a novel approach to landscape, urban, and environmental planning challenges. The interdisciplinary nature, engaged processes, and advanced spatial analytics in geodesign provide important component pieces for identifying and addressing vulnerable places. A comparative case-study approach explores the geodesign process and its efficacy in addressing flooding issues in diverse settings. The objectives of this review include assessing geodesign processes in the development of vulnerability indices and assessments, exploring their effectiveness and limitations, and providing insights across different scales and contexts. The work seeks to contribute to the advancement of vulnerability assessment methodologies and their broader role in the fields of landscape design and urban and environmental planning. The findings of this study are expected to provide insights for researchers and practitioners looking to produce more effective, sustainable, and resilient planning and design outcomes.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resilient Cities and Land Take Effective Management through Sustainable Urban Planning Tools)
Open AccessArticle
Analysis of Dynamic Changes in Vegetation Net Primary Productivity and Its Driving Factors in the Two Regions North and South of the Hu Huanyong Line in China
by
Weimin Liu, Dengming Yan, Zhilei Yu, Zening Wu, Huiliang Wang, Jie Yang, Simin Liu and Tianye Wang
Land 2024, 13(6), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060722 - 22 May 2024
Abstract
Human activities and global environmental changes have transformed terrestrial ecosystems, notably increasing vegetation greenness in China. However, this greening is less effective across the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). This study analyzes dynamic changes and driving factors of nine vegetation net primary productivities
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Human activities and global environmental changes have transformed terrestrial ecosystems, notably increasing vegetation greenness in China. However, this greening is less effective across the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). This study analyzes dynamic changes and driving factors of nine vegetation net primary productivities (NPPs) in regions divided by the Hu Line using remote sensing data, trend analysis, and the Geodetector model. Findings reveal that from 2001 to 2022, 38.22% of regional vegetation NPP in China increased, especially in the Loess Plateau, Sichuan Basin, and Northeast Plains, while 2.39% decreased, primarily in the southeastern region and southern Tibet. Grasslands contributed 39.71% to NPP north of the Hu Line, and cultivated vegetation contributed 50.58% south. The driving explanatory power of factors on vegetation NPP on the north side of the Hu Line is generally greater than that on the south side. Natural factors primarily drive NPP changes, with human activities having less impact. Combined factors, particularly climate and elevation, significantly enhance the driving explanatory power (q, 0–1). The joint effects of elevation and precipitation on grassland NPP dynamics (q = 0.602) are notable. GDP’s influence on broadleaf forests north of the Hu Line (q = 0.404) is significant. Grasslands respond strongly to land use changes and population density, with a combined effect of q = 0.535. Shrubs, alpine vegetation, and meadows show minimal response to individual factors (q < 0.2). These findings offer insights for devising ecological protection measures tailored to local conditions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Collection for the International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE))
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