Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China

Flash droughts negatively impact agricultural ecosystems and threaten food security due to their rapid development and unpredictability. This study utilized reanalyzed data from 2000 to 2018 and employed a comprehensive index method to identify two flash droughts: heat wave flash droughts (HWFD) and...

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Main Authors: Yuanxin Dai, Mengyuan Xu, Jinlong Dong, Ning Yao, Yi Li, Shibin Liu, Tehseen Javed, La Zhuo, Qiang Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25005734
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author Yuanxin Dai
Mengyuan Xu
Jinlong Dong
Ning Yao
Yi Li
Shibin Liu
Tehseen Javed
La Zhuo
Qiang Yu
author_facet Yuanxin Dai
Mengyuan Xu
Jinlong Dong
Ning Yao
Yi Li
Shibin Liu
Tehseen Javed
La Zhuo
Qiang Yu
author_sort Yuanxin Dai
collection DOAJ
description Flash droughts negatively impact agricultural ecosystems and threaten food security due to their rapid development and unpredictability. This study utilized reanalyzed data from 2000 to 2018 and employed a comprehensive index method to identify two flash droughts: heat wave flash droughts (HWFD) and precipitation deficit flash droughts (PDFD). We analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of these droughts across China’s farmland ecosystems and investigated the response patterns of these ecosystems to both types of flash droughts using response frequency and response time metrics. Our findings indicate that between 2000 and 2018, flash droughts were most frequent in June, with the highest frequency and most extended duration occurring in summer and the lowest in autumn. Spatially, HWFD frequency was highest in the Loess Plateau, with durations of 4.4 and 5.0 octads, while PDFD was most frequent in the Gansu-Xinjiang (GX) and Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) regions. Over time, there was a decrease in the frequency and duration of flash droughts. The study revealed that Net Primary Productivity (NPP) generally exhibited a low response frequency to flash droughts, with PDFD showing a higher response frequency and a shorter response time than HWFD. Irrigated farmland showed higher NPP response frequencies, particularly in the HHH region, whereas rainfed farmland demonstrated stronger resilience to flash droughts. This research provides theoretical support for developing flash drought early warning systems and drought mitigation policies, significantly contributing to food security in China’s farmland ecosystems.
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spelling doaj-art-e1d91fb4f59c4de5a3bcac892e21e5d62025-08-20T03:30:39ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-07-0117611364310.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113643Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in ChinaYuanxin Dai0Mengyuan Xu1Jinlong Dong2Ning Yao3Yi Li4Shibin Liu5Tehseen Javed6La Zhuo7Qiang Yu8College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering/Key Lab of Agricultural Water and Soil Engineering of Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Science and Technology Information, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering/Key Lab of Agricultural Water and Soil Engineering of Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering/Key Lab of Agricultural Water and Soil Engineering of Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Corresponding authors.College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering/Key Lab of Agricultural Water and Soil Engineering of Education Ministry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Corresponding authors.College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, 1# Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu 610059 Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, PakistanInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaInstitute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, ChinaFlash droughts negatively impact agricultural ecosystems and threaten food security due to their rapid development and unpredictability. This study utilized reanalyzed data from 2000 to 2018 and employed a comprehensive index method to identify two flash droughts: heat wave flash droughts (HWFD) and precipitation deficit flash droughts (PDFD). We analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of these droughts across China’s farmland ecosystems and investigated the response patterns of these ecosystems to both types of flash droughts using response frequency and response time metrics. Our findings indicate that between 2000 and 2018, flash droughts were most frequent in June, with the highest frequency and most extended duration occurring in summer and the lowest in autumn. Spatially, HWFD frequency was highest in the Loess Plateau, with durations of 4.4 and 5.0 octads, while PDFD was most frequent in the Gansu-Xinjiang (GX) and Huang-Huai-Hai (HHH) regions. Over time, there was a decrease in the frequency and duration of flash droughts. The study revealed that Net Primary Productivity (NPP) generally exhibited a low response frequency to flash droughts, with PDFD showing a higher response frequency and a shorter response time than HWFD. Irrigated farmland showed higher NPP response frequencies, particularly in the HHH region, whereas rainfed farmland demonstrated stronger resilience to flash droughts. This research provides theoretical support for developing flash drought early warning systems and drought mitigation policies, significantly contributing to food security in China’s farmland ecosystems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25005734Flash droughtsHeat wave flash droughtPrecipitation deficit flash droughtFarmland ecosystemsNet primary productivityDrought resilience
spellingShingle Yuanxin Dai
Mengyuan Xu
Jinlong Dong
Ning Yao
Yi Li
Shibin Liu
Tehseen Javed
La Zhuo
Qiang Yu
Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China
Ecological Indicators
Flash droughts
Heat wave flash drought
Precipitation deficit flash drought
Farmland ecosystems
Net primary productivity
Drought resilience
title Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China
title_full Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China
title_fullStr Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China
title_full_unstemmed Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China
title_short Response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in China
title_sort response and resilience of farmland ecosystems to flash drought in china
topic Flash droughts
Heat wave flash drought
Precipitation deficit flash drought
Farmland ecosystems
Net primary productivity
Drought resilience
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X25005734
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