Search Results (5,480)

Selecting suitable agricultural land is critical for food security and sustainable development, particularly in arid regions facing resource scarcity and environmental degradation. This study assesses agricultural land suitability in Sohag governorate, Egypt, using a hybrid Geographic Information System (GIS), Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and geostatistical approach. Thirty-four representative soil profiles were morphologically described and analyzed for ten physical (slope, depth, erosion, texture, stoniness, drainage) and chemical (EC, pH, CaCO₃, organic matter) criteria, weighted using both the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and FAHP. Geostatistical analysis characterized the spatial variability in soil properties across the study area. The two suitability maps were validated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and Kappa statistics: the FAHP achieved higher prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.83, Kappa = 0.91) than the AHP (AUC = 0.81, Kappa = 0.88). The AHP-based map classified 40% (1154.92 km²) as moderately suitable (S2), 33% (952.81 km²) as marginally suitable (S3), and 27% (779.57 km²) as unsuitable (N); the FAHP-based map classified 42% (1212.67 km²) as S2, 30% (866.19 km²) as S3, and 28% (808.44 km²) as N. The proposed framework may serve as a reference for similar arid environments and support progress toward Sustainable Development Goals 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13 and 15, conditional on local soil, water, climate and management conditions. Full article

Desertification represents a critical environmental challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, driven by the combined impacts of climate change and unsustainable land-use practices. This review provides a comparative assessment of desertification dynamics, mitigation strategies, and ecological restoration approaches in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (China) and Egypt. Both regions are characterized by severe water scarcity, increasing climatic variability, and fragile ecosystems; however, they differ in ecological conditions, institutional frameworks, and dominant land degradation processes. The study synthesizes major drivers of desertification, including rising temperatures, precipitation variability, recurrent droughts, soil salinization, overgrazing, wind erosion, and unsustainable agricultural expansion. It further evaluates key control measures implemented in both regions, such as afforestation and ecological engineering, sand dune stabilization, water-efficient irrigation systems, soil rehabilitation practices, and the integration of remote sensing and GIS-based monitoring technologies. The analysis highlights China’s large-scale, long-term ecological restoration programs, which have significantly improved vegetation cover and reduced land degradation, compared to Egypt’s emphasis on irrigation efficiency, land reclamation, and salinity management under extreme aridity constraints. Importantly, the comparison underscores institutional differences, with China’s state-led ecological engineering contrasting against Egypt’s multi-actor reclamation initiatives, offering novel insights into governance pathways for combating desertification. The comparative synthesis demonstrates that effective desertification control requires integrated strategies combining ecological restoration, sustainable water resource management, technological innovation, and strong policy support. Despite contextual differences, both regions offer complementary lessons for dryland management. The study emphasizes the potential for enhanced China–Egypt cooperation in climate-smart agriculture, digital environmental monitoring, and nature-based solutions, thereby advancing sustainable land restoration and contributing to global efforts toward land degradation neutrality under future climate change scenarios. Full article

Understanding soil nutrients and stoichiometry across land-use types is essential for semiarid ecosystem management. We selected 130 sampling sites across four land-use types (dryland, paddy field, grassland, and forestland) in the Western Songnen Plain of China. We measured soil pH, nutrients (SOC, TN, TP, TK, and TS), trace elements (Mn, Zn, Cu, F, Se, and Cl), and oxides (MgO, CaO, Fe₂O₃, SiO₂, and TiO₂). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and redundancy analysis (RDA) were used to assess nutrient concentrations, stoichiometric ratios, and their environmental drivers. Our results showed that soils were generally alkaline, with the highest pH in grassland. Dryland had significantly higher SOC (12.47 g/kg), TN (1.05 g/kg), and TP (0.22 g/kg) than grassland (9.58, 0.79, and 0.19 g/kg, respectively). Forestland had the highest TK (23.18 g/kg). Most total nutrient concentrations were positively correlated with trace-element concentrations, except for TK. The C:N of paddy field (12.38) was significantly lower than those of grassland (14.24) and forestland (14.42), while both N:P (10.92) and N:K (0.13) were significantly higher than those in grassland (8.63, 0.11). The P:K of dryland (0.0137) was significantly higher than those in grassland (0.0108) and forestland soils (0.0106). RDA identified SOC and TP as common major factors associated with variation in nutrient stoichiometry, explaining 96.1%, 34.8%, 94.1%, and 93.2% of the variation in dryland, paddy field, grassland, and forestland, respectively. In addition, trace elements and oxides also explained the variation to varying degrees. This study provides a basis for sustainable land-use management in semiarid regions. Full article

Urban form profoundly influences the effectiveness of coordinated management of carbon emissions and air pollution, which is of great significance for sustainable urban development. This study took 336 Chinese cities as research samples and used carbon emissions, PM_2.5, and nighttime light datasets from 2000 to 2020 to investigate the contribution of urban form to the degree of coordination between urban carbon emissions and PM_2.5. We constructed a multi-dimensional indicator system for urban form and adopted the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to quantify the coordinated development of these two variables. A novel analytical framework was established using the stacking ensemble learning model. Combined with the SHAP method, this framework provided nonlinear associations of various urban morphological factors with the CCD. The results are as follows: (1) The stacking ensemble model performs best in capturing high-dimensional nonlinear relationships, with test set R², RMSE, and RPD values of 0.75, 0.082, and 1.98, respectively. (2) Urban form exhibits nonlinear threshold effects on the carbon-pollution coordination degree. The top predictors contributing to the model output are the class area (CA), the landscape shape index (LSI), the percentage of like adjacencies (PLADJ), and the number of patches (NP). Among them, CA exhibits a monotonically increasing asymptotic saturation response, while the LSI presents an inverted U-shaped response. (3) The contribution of urban form to the CCD exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity. The developed regions of eastern China constitute the high-sensitivity zone of the CCD, and are mainly constrained by scale expansion, land fragmentation, and excessive agglomeration, while the central and western regions show the low-sensitivity zone of the CCD. These results offer a scientific reference for designing pollution control and carbon mitigation strategies. Full article

This study aims to spatially analyze the potential soil loss rates of the Özkonak Watershed, located within Nevşehir Province, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies. In the 149.9 km² watershed, the main parameters triggering erosion—rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), land cover and management (C), and support practices (P)—were modeled in a GIS environment. According to the spatial analysis results, 85.8% of the watershed area falls within the “very low” and “low” erosion susceptibility classes. Nevertheless, erosion increases markedly in the northern areas with high slope gradients and in areas where agricultural activities are concentrated. The mean soil loss across the watershed was calculated as 2.75 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The eroded and transported material was determined to constitute a threat to the dam. The findings indicate that conservation plans, including afforestation in the upper watershed, adjustment of land use to natural land capability, and construction of check dams, should be implemented to ensure sustainable management of the watershed. From a soil and sediment remediation perspective, the identification of erosion-source areas and sediment-transport pathways provides a scientific basis for source-control measures aimed at reducing sediment delivery and associated water-quality deterioration in the Bayramhacılı Dam reservoir. Full article

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, located in northern China, spans a vast territory. It serves as a crucial transitional zone connecting three major ecosystems—forest, grassland, and desert—and constitutes an essential component of the nation’s ecological security barrier. Over the past three decades, significant changes have occurred in the region’s land use structure and landscape patterns. Based on long-term time-series land use data, this study systematically analyzed land cover changes and landscape diversity characteristics by dividing the region into climatic zones, ecological zones, and administrative areas. Additionally, a driver analysis framework based on the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model was constructed, and the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was employed to quantitatively identify the contribution rates of driving factors influencing the Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI). Results indicate pronounced spatial heterogeneity in land-use structure dynamics across regions. Among all land use types, grasslands, croplands, and bare land exhibited the most pronounced changes under the combined influence of natural environmental variations and human disturbances. Against this backdrop of landscape pattern evolution, the regional Shannon Diversity Index (SHDI) also showed differentiated variation trends. Based on SHAP contribution analysis, population density (POP) was identified as the primary driver affecting SHDI changes, with a contribution rate of 29.9%, followed by precipitation (PRE, 19.5%), elevation (DEM, 17.2%), and GDP (11.9%). Further SHAP response analysis revealed the nonlinear effects and characteristics of different driving factors on SHDI, indicating that the proposed framework can effectively elucidate the driving mechanisms of landscape changes. The findings provide scientific support for developing sustainable and differentiated land-use management strategies and optimizing ecological conservation and restoration measures across regions with diverse ecological backgrounds. Full article

India faces large, persistent yield gaps across eight major crops—wheat, rice, maize, soybean, pulses, mustard, cotton, and sugarcane—that collectively limit food security and rural income. This review synthesises evidence from over 100 peer-reviewed studies (1990–2024) to provide the first comprehensive, multi-crop, agro-climatically resolved yield gap analysis for India. Applying the three-tier framework of potential yield ($Y_p$), attainable yield ($Y_a$), and farmer yield ($Y_f$), exploitable yield gaps are quantified at national and agro-climatic zone level, ranked limiting factors are identified, and projected climate change impacts are assessed. Yield gaps range from 20 to 35% in irrigated rice of the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plain to 60–75% in rainfed cotton and pulses of the semi-arid tropics. Yield gaps of blackgram across 20 major districts average 515 kg ha⁻¹, driven by moisture stress, biotic pressure, and management constraints. Nitrogen management, irrigation access, variety adoption, and sowing-date optimisation collectively explain 80–85% of exploitable gaps, while nitrogen and irrigation alone account for 40–58%. Closing 50% of exploitable yield gaps could add approximately 100 million tonnes of food grain annually without expanding cultivated area, directly supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2). However, climate change is projected to widen yield gaps of rainfed rice by 15–30% by the 2040s under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. Beyond this crop-by-crop synthesis, the review proposes a constraint-transition framework in which the dominant type of limiting factor shifts predictably from biophysical (water, climate) in the largest-gap rainfed systems to agronomic management (nitrogen, sowing date, variety) at intermediate gap levels and to institutional and socioeconomic constraints (credit, extension, land tenure, gender) as gaps narrow in the best-resourced irrigated systems, thus offering a conceptual lens for prioritising interventions by development stage rather than by crop alone. Full article

This study evaluates whether existing long-term monitoring data are sufficient to distinguish natural background concentrations from anthropogenic influences on chemical river water quality in Lake Sevan basin. A comprehensive dataset covering physicochemical parameters, nutrients, and trace metals was analyzed for nine major tributaries with different geological settings and land-use characteristics. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to identify baseline conditions and deviations attributable to human activities. The results indicate that water chemistry is primarily controlled by lithology and hydrological regime, particularly in minimally impacted headwater regions. In contrast, elevated concentrations of nutrients (e.g., nitrate and phosphate) and selected trace elements were associated with agricultural runoff, urban discharge, and localized industrial inputs. Spatial patterns reveal clear gradients of increasing anthropogenic impact downstream and in densely populated sub-basins. The study also demonstrates that, while the current monitoring network is suitable for assessing the overall chemical status of rivers, it is less effective in defining natural background levels and quantifying individual pollution sources due to limited upstream reference conditions. Overall, this approach provides a scientific basis for improved water quality management and policy implementation in the Lake Sevan basin. The findings highlight the importance of integrating long-term monitoring data with statistical tools to support sustainable watershed management in vulnerable catchments. Full article

Cyanobacterial blooms threaten water resource security and ecological health, and understanding their spatiotemporal dynamics is crucial for effective management. To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Taihu under wind forcing, a framework integrating empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis and machine learning was developed to reconstruct bloom distributions from wind vector sequences. First, EOF analysis was applied to decompose daily spatial distributions of blooms into a set of spatial modes and corresponding temporal coefficients, thereby characterizing the spatiotemporal variability of bloom aggregation areas. The relationships between the temporal coefficients and wind vectors were then examined. Subsequently, a machine learning model based on a bidirectional gated recurrent unit with an attention mechanism (Bi-GRU-Attention) was employed to estimate the temporal coefficients from wind vector sequences. The estimated coefficients were combined with the corresponding spatial modes to reconstruct bloom distributions. Using MODIS remote sensing imagery and ERA5-Land wind vector reanalysis data for Lake Taihu from 2009 to 2023, the first four spatial modes collectively explained 57.7% of the total variance. Their temporal coefficients (PCs) captured the spatiotemporal variability of cyanobacterial blooms. Among them, PC1 was significantly positively correlated with annual mean bloom coverage (r = 0.928). PC1 was also significantly negatively correlated with wind speed (r = −0.271), whereas PC2 and PC4 were significantly associated with southeasterly and northeasterly winds, respectively, indicating distinct bloom aggregation areas under different wind conditions. Considering the relationship between wind conditions and bloom spatiotemporal dynamics, the proposed framework achieved an average structural similarity index (SSIM) of 0.629, an intersection-over-union (IoU) of 0.821, and a percent bias (PBIAS) of −1.11% compared with the observed distributions. These results demonstrate that EOF analysis provides an effective means of characterizing the spatiotemporal variations in bloom aggregation areas. The relationships between EOF temporal coefficients and wind vectors further confirm the important role of wind in influencing bloom dynamics. This EOF–machine learning framework provides a new perspective for representing the large-scale spatial distribution of cyanobacterial blooms and contributes to enhancing lake early warning capabilities for sustainable water resource management. Full article

Puccinellia tenuiflora is a perennial halophytic grass commonly regarded as a pioneer species for the ecological restoration of saline–alkali land. Its adaptive capacity and subsequent utilization value are shaped by interacting structural, physiological, molecular, ecological, and management-related factors. This review summarizes recent studies on saline–alkali tolerance in P. tenuiflora, with emphasis on root structural barriers, Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, organic-acid metabolism, antioxidant defense, ion transport, and multi-omics regulation. To better understand the integrated stress response, we propose a functional framework that distinguishes first-line defenses from downstream cellular repair mechanisms. First-line defenses include root apoplastic barriers (Casparian strips and suberization) that restrict Na⁺ entry, plasma-membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters (e.g., SOS1) that mediate active Na⁺ exclusion, and K⁺-retention mechanisms (e.g., AKT1, HKT2;1) that preserve cytosolic K⁺/Na⁺ homeostasis—these operate rapidly to prevent ion imbalance at the onset of stress. Downstream repair and acclimation mechanisms include osmotic adjustment via compatible solutes (e.g., proline, glycine betaine), organic-acid accumulation (especially citric acid) for pH regulation and chelation, ROS scavenging systems, and proteomic/phosphoproteomic reprogramming that repair stress-induced damage and restore metabolic balance. Furthermore, saline–alkali stress involves both short-term osmotic shock and long-term ionic toxicity, and available evidence suggests a temporal shift in the relative importance of these mechanisms: osmotic adjustment and rapid ion exclusion dominate during the initial hours to days of stress, whereas organic-acid metabolism, ROS buffering, and molecular reprogramming become increasingly important during prolonged exposure, sustaining tissue integrity and enabling long-term persistence. Current evidence indicates that saline–alkali tolerance in P. tenuiflora results from the combined action of several processes, including restricted Na⁺ entry, K⁺ retention, organic-acid accumulation, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, and organ-specific molecular responses. This review also discusses the significance of P. tenuiflora in community establishment, saline–alkali land restoration, and post-restoration forage utilization. Field studies and limited feeding trials suggest that P. tenuiflora can provide biomass and utilization potential after community stabilization. However, based on current evidence, it is more appropriate to define its forage value as a post-restoration utilization extension rather than as that of a fully developed specialized forage crop. Further studies are required on nutritional quality, mineral-element safety, long-term field management, and animal feeding validation. Full article

Phosphogypsum (PG), a gypsum-rich by-product of wet-process phosphoric acid production, is increasingly considered for land application because it can supply calcium and sulfur and alleviate constraints such as sodicity, subsoil acidity, and vegetation establishment limitations. However, PG may also contain residual acidity, soluble salts, fluoride, heavy metals, and naturally occurring radionuclides, creating multiple exposure pathways. This critical review distinguishes direct PG evidence from gypsum or sulfate analogue evidence, life cycle assessment/material flow analysis evidence, and risk control studies. It evaluates PG land application according to receiving soil conditions, diagnosed constraints, exposure pathways, and environmental safety boundaries. The strongest evidence supports use in diagnosed sodic and saline–sodic soils, whereas applications in Al-toxic acid subsoils, flooded paddy systems, contaminated or degraded soils, and non-food vegetated systems require conditional assessment. PG should therefore be treated as a context-specific management option rather than an unrestricted disposal route. By linking waste valorization with soil demand, source quality, exposure control, and long-term monitoring, the proposed framework contributes to sustainability by integrating circular resource use with soil health, water protection, food/feed safety, and risk-informed governance, while helping to prevent the transfer of environmental burdens across ecosystems or generations. Full article

This study presents a comparative analysis of urban land-use sustainability in Barcelona and Izmir using a four-tier Decision Support Framework (DSF) supported by automated Google Earth Engine workflows. The framework integrates open satellite data, cloud-based spatial analysis, and policy-oriented indicators derived from Sentinel-2 and Landsat imagery. Outputs include LULC classification, NDVI, NDBI, a Sentinel-2-derived relative thermal proxy (sLST), the Composite Environmental Biophysical Index (CEBI), and distance-weighted urban expansion pressure. Classification accuracy reached 86.85% for Barcelona and 91.03% for Izmir. The cities exhibited distinct morphological and environmental profiles. Izmir had higher vegetation density than Barcelona (NDVI: 0.320 vs. 0.142), while harmonized Landsat summer LST values were similar in 2023, with Barcelona slightly warmer than Izmir (39.343 °C vs. 39.146 °C). Accordingly, sLST was used for relative intra-urban thermal assessment rather than absolute inter-city comparison. CEBI indicated higher environmental biophysical performance in Izmir (0.526) than Barcelona (0.446), interpreted strictly within the vegetation, thermal, and built-up components included in the index. Barcelona’s compact urban fabric exhibited stronger expansion pressure, whereas Izmir’s geographically constrained morphology indicated a more controlled growth dynamic. The findings demonstrate the value of transparent cloud-based spatial analytics for reproducible, evidence-based urban planning. Full article

Soil erosion and the nutrient loss it causes are core issues threatening sustainable land use in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, our aim was to reveal the spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics of soil erosion and soil nutrients in an ecologically fragile area of eastern Inner Mongolia—Tuquan County and clarify the relationship between them in order to provide a scientific basis for the precise management of water and soil resources and ecological construction in this region. Based on four sets of remote sensing images and ground observation data from 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used to evaluate the dynamics of soil erosion, statistical methods were employed to analyze the spatial distribution and grade characteristics of soil nutrients (organic carbon, SOC; total nitrogen, TN, total phosphorus, TP) and pH values, and correlation analysis was conducted to explore their association with environmental factors (rainfall erosivity, R; soil erodibility, K; slope length, LS; vegetation cover and management factor, C). Our results demonstrate the following: (1) From 2012 to 2024, the intensity of soil erosion in the study area showed an increasing trend, with the average annual soil erosion modulus increasing from 551.4 t/(km²·a) to 859.6 t/(km²·a), and the high-intensity erosion areas were mainly distributed in the northwest. (2) The soil nutrient content was generally at medium to low levels, with the SOC and TN in the study area mainly categorized as “deficient” and “adequate”. The SOC ranged from 5.8 to 33.8 g·kg⁻¹, with an average content of about 23.5 g·kg⁻¹, while the TN content ranged from 0.45 to 4.63 g·kg⁻¹, with an average content of about 1.50 g·kg⁻¹, and was significantly affected by soil type. (3) There was a significant negative correlation between the soil erosion modulus and the SOC and TN content (p < 0.05), which was a key driving factor for nutrient loss. This conclusion suggests that soil erosion in Tuquan County is intensifying: the risk of nutrient loss is severe, and its spatial pattern is jointly restricted by topography, vegetation cover, and soil background characteristics. Therefore, future ecological engineering should focus on high-intensity erosion areas and combine the prevention of soil and water loss with the conservation of soil fertility in order to achieve sustainable land use in the region. Full article

Rapid peri-urban sprawl is intensifying flood risk by replacing natural landscapes with dense, impervious residential developments. Thailand’s land use regulations require a 5% minimum green space allocation for new housing developments as a measure to promote livability and well-being. Green space also has the potential to sustainably manage stormwater runoff, but for Thailand’s peri-urban development, the question remains whether 5% green space is sufficient to reduce flood risk. As such, this study critically evaluates whether this 5% green space guideline is sufficient for peri-urban runoff and flood management in peri-urban Pathum Thani, particularly given the acceleration of Bangkok’s urban sprawl over the past 30 years. Using a multi-scalar framework, we integrated GIS spatial analysis of 164 gated communities (1995–2025) with site-specific PCSWMM hydrologic modeling to test baseline conditions and Nature-based Solution (NbS) interventions against 5-, 10-, 50-, and 100-year design storms. Findings reveal developers generally adhere to the 5% guideline, thereby addressing policy while maximizing salable land space. PCSWMM simulations show the 5% baseline alone does not adequately manage runoff, with localized residential flooding expected for a 5-year design storm under current baseline conditions. Scenario testing indicates a hybrid grey–green infrastructure approach would optimally manage flooding. Given economic barriers to expanding open space, converting roads to permeable pavements offers a possible optimization strategy. Ultimately, static area-based regulations remain insufficient; policies must transition to performance-based volumetric retention targets to mitigate downstream flooding and foster resilient communities. Full article

Assessing the impacts of large-scale photovoltaic plants on soil properties is critical for sustainable land management in arid regions. This study examined a 50 MWp utility-scale PV facility in Siziwangqi, Inner Mongolia, northern China, a cold semi-arid desert steppe where renewable-energy development overlaps with fragile wind-eroded ecosystems. A spatially resolved sampling design contrasted soils at key micro-positions relative to the panels, namely Front, Under, and Behind, with adjacent natural Controls. By integrating laser diffraction analysis, multifractal modeling, and the EPIC erodibility equation, we evaluated soil particle-size probability redistribution and EPIC-estimated intrinsic erodibility. Compared with the silt-dominated surface soil of the natural steppe, soils within the photovoltaic plant exhibited fine-particle retention and lower information and correlation dimensions (D1 and D2), indicating stronger local clustering and a less even particle-size probability distribution. The EPIC-estimated erodibility factor decreased from 0.452 in the Control to approximately 0.361 in the PV micro-locations. These associations should be interpreted as texture- and SOC-based model estimates rather than direct measurements of wind erosion. Overall, multifractal parameters provide complementary proxy descriptors for detecting PV-induced particle sorting and potential changes in intrinsic soil erodibility, underscoring the need for field validation and adaptive management in dryland PV landscapes. These findings provide physical soil evidence for evaluating the environmental sustainability of dryland PV development and for supporting adaptive land management in solar farms. Full article