Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems

Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of cropland carbon and carbon water use efficiency (CWUE) and its driving factors is essential for sustainable agricultural development. Based on a multi-source remote sensing dataset, this study applies a trend analysis (Sen + Mann–Kendall), a dual-type ran...

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Main Authors: Guangchao Li, Zhaoqin Yi, Tiantian Qian, Yuhan Chang, Hanjing Gao, Fei Yu, Liqin Han, Yayan Lu, Kangjia Zuo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1500
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author Guangchao Li
Zhaoqin Yi
Tiantian Qian
Yuhan Chang
Hanjing Gao
Fei Yu
Liqin Han
Yayan Lu
Kangjia Zuo
author_facet Guangchao Li
Zhaoqin Yi
Tiantian Qian
Yuhan Chang
Hanjing Gao
Fei Yu
Liqin Han
Yayan Lu
Kangjia Zuo
author_sort Guangchao Li
collection DOAJ
description Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of cropland carbon and carbon water use efficiency (CWUE) and its driving factors is essential for sustainable agricultural development. Based on a multi-source remote sensing dataset, this study applies a trend analysis (Sen + Mann–Kendall), a dual-type randomized extraction algorithm, and an optimized XGBoost model to examine the spatiotemporal variations in cropland CWUE, including the water use efficiency of net primary production (WUE<sub>NPP</sub>), water use efficiency of gross primary production (WUE<sub>GPP</sub>), and carbon use efficiency (CUE) in Henan Province from 2001 to 2019. This study further quantifies the impact of irrigation on the cropland CWUE and explores the synergistic effects of its driving factors in irrigated areas. Results reveal significant regional differences in cropland CWUE across Henan Province. Higher multi-year average values of CUE and WUE<sub>NPP</sub> were observed in the western region, while the WUE<sub>GPP</sub> was more prominent in the south-central region. Over 76% of cropland areas showed a general downward trend in three indicators, with significant interannual declines. Non-irrigated cropland exhibited higher CWUE values than irrigated ones. The average values over multiple years of the WUE<sub>GPP</sub>, WUE<sub>NPP</sub>, and CUE of irrigated cropland were 2.51 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><msup><mrow><mrow><mo> </mo><mi>mm</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, 1.08 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><msup><mrow><mrow><mo> </mo><mi>mm</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and 0.43, respectively. Sunlight was the dominant factor influencing the WUE<sub>GPP</sub> in irrigated areas, while precipitation primarily regulated the WUE<sub>NPP</sub> and CUE. The influence of the gross domestic product (GDP) was found to be minimal. Notably, both the leaf area index (LAI) and precipitation exhibited a shift from a positive to negative influence on CUE once their values exceeded optimal thresholds, indicating that resource overabundance can lead to physiological limitations. This study offers valuable insights into how irrigated cropland responds to the combined effects of multiple environmental and socio-economic drivers.
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spelling doaj-art-7f097c2c0a7a476e95f7198faf3357512025-08-20T02:48:16ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-06-01157150010.3390/agronomy15071500Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland EcosystemsGuangchao Li0Zhaoqin Yi1Tiantian Qian2Yuhan Chang3Hanjing Gao4Fei Yu5Liqin Han6Yayan Lu7Kangjia Zuo8College of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, ChinaUnderstanding the spatiotemporal patterns of cropland carbon and carbon water use efficiency (CWUE) and its driving factors is essential for sustainable agricultural development. Based on a multi-source remote sensing dataset, this study applies a trend analysis (Sen + Mann–Kendall), a dual-type randomized extraction algorithm, and an optimized XGBoost model to examine the spatiotemporal variations in cropland CWUE, including the water use efficiency of net primary production (WUE<sub>NPP</sub>), water use efficiency of gross primary production (WUE<sub>GPP</sub>), and carbon use efficiency (CUE) in Henan Province from 2001 to 2019. This study further quantifies the impact of irrigation on the cropland CWUE and explores the synergistic effects of its driving factors in irrigated areas. Results reveal significant regional differences in cropland CWUE across Henan Province. Higher multi-year average values of CUE and WUE<sub>NPP</sub> were observed in the western region, while the WUE<sub>GPP</sub> was more prominent in the south-central region. Over 76% of cropland areas showed a general downward trend in three indicators, with significant interannual declines. Non-irrigated cropland exhibited higher CWUE values than irrigated ones. The average values over multiple years of the WUE<sub>GPP</sub>, WUE<sub>NPP</sub>, and CUE of irrigated cropland were 2.51 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><msup><mrow><mrow><mo> </mo><mi>mm</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, 1.08 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msup><mrow><mrow><mi mathvariant="normal">g</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi><mo> </mo><mi mathvariant="normal">m</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup><msup><mrow><mrow><mo> </mo><mi>mm</mi></mrow></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, and 0.43, respectively. Sunlight was the dominant factor influencing the WUE<sub>GPP</sub> in irrigated areas, while precipitation primarily regulated the WUE<sub>NPP</sub> and CUE. The influence of the gross domestic product (GDP) was found to be minimal. Notably, both the leaf area index (LAI) and precipitation exhibited a shift from a positive to negative influence on CUE once their values exceeded optimal thresholds, indicating that resource overabundance can lead to physiological limitations. This study offers valuable insights into how irrigated cropland responds to the combined effects of multiple environmental and socio-economic drivers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1500agricultural sustainabilitycarbon water nexusHenan Provinceirrigationremote sensingXGBoost model
spellingShingle Guangchao Li
Zhaoqin Yi
Tiantian Qian
Yuhan Chang
Hanjing Gao
Fei Yu
Liqin Han
Yayan Lu
Kangjia Zuo
Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems
Agronomy
agricultural sustainability
carbon water nexus
Henan Province
irrigation
remote sensing
XGBoost model
title Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems
title_full Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems
title_fullStr Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems
title_short Synergistic Effects of Drivers on Spatiotemporal Changes in Carbon and Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Cropland Ecosystems
title_sort synergistic effects of drivers on spatiotemporal changes in carbon and water use efficiency in irrigated cropland ecosystems
topic agricultural sustainability
carbon water nexus
Henan Province
irrigation
remote sensing
XGBoost model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/7/1500
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