Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.2
3.3
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Land Degradation and Management Strategies: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture
share announcement

Land Degradation and Management Strategies: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Farming Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 3347

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Changhe Lü

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land change; land degradation assessment; sustainable land management; crop productivity and yield gaps; food security
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yaqun Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use/cover change; land use monitoring and simulation; agricultural remote sensing; agricultural land use; rural human–earth system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Land provides essential goods (e.g., food, feed, fuel) and services (e.g., carbon sequestration, soil conservation, climate regulation) for socio-ecological systems. However, one third of global ice-free land is degraded to varying degrees due to unsustainable land use, climate change, and extreme weather. Especially for agricultural land, 30% of cropland and 50% of grassland have experienced unprecedented degradation, such as soil erosion, salinization, pollution, productivity decline, and coverage reduction, becoming one of the major threats to food security, biodiversity conservation, economic development, social equity, and sustainable development goals. There is an urgent need to comprehensively analyze land degradation status, processes, causes, impacts, and adaptation strategies for land restoration and sustainable agricultural development. Thus, this Special Issue looks forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews focused on the following issues: (1) novel methods for assessing agricultural land-use-induced land degradation, (2) land degradation dynamics and their natural-anthropogenic driving mechanisms, (3) multidimensional impacts of land degradation and their trade-offs and synergies, and (4) sustainable agricultural management strategies for future challenges in soil and water conservation and eco-security.

Prof. Dr. Changhe Lü
Dr. Yaqun Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agricultural land degradation
  • land use and cover change
  • overgrazing and grassland degradation
  • land productivity
  • soil quality
  • ecosystem services
  • anthropogenic interference
  • climate change
  • food and ecological security
  • sustainable land management

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

25 pages, 7079 KiB  
Article
Research Progress on Land Use and Analysis of Green Transformation in China Since the New Century
by Wei He, Jianzhou Gong and Xiaobin Zeng
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2774; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122774 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 32
Abstract
The optimization of land use structure is a key measure to promote the allocation of land resources, ensure sustainable land development, and address the human-land conflict. Since the 21st century, land use in China has exhibited spatiotemporal dynamic development characteristics in response to [...] Read more.
The optimization of land use structure is a key measure to promote the allocation of land resources, ensure sustainable land development, and address the human-land conflict. Since the 21st century, land use in China has exhibited spatiotemporal dynamic development characteristics in response to socio-economic growth and changes in regional geographical conditions. The academic community, both domestically and internationally, has enriched and refined the research system on China’s land use, driven by the need to optimize its land use structure. This study systematically reviews relevant land use research literature from 2000 to 2024, utilizing bibliometric analysis and visual mapping to conduct phased evaluations and an overall review. The existing LUCC research framework in China is extensive, with a strong focus on land use issues in the context of rapid development. Building on this review and incorporating practical needs, theoretical innovation, interdisciplinary integration, and expansion across multiple fields, we aim to propose a framework for future land resource research. This framework includes: (i) Establishing a Multi-functional Land Use System: This approach promotes the coordinated development of ecological and social benefits of land use. (ii) Enhancing Effective Assessment and Management of Ecological Risks: Such efforts contribute to optimizing spatial planning and ensuring land security. (iii) Addressing Low Land Use Efficiency: Focusing on this issue will enable more precise management aligned with regional characteristics. (iv) Exploring the Application of Multi-disciplinary and Cross-field Technologies in Land Use Efficiency Assessment: This integration will advance spatial planning research. (v) Expanding Research on Multi-functional Land Use and Multi-element Integration: This direction fosters coordination across various planning frameworks, promoting synergies in land use research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation and Management Strategies: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5762 KiB  
Article
Effects of Natural Factors and Production Management on the Soil Quality of Agricultural Greenhouses in the Lhasa River Valley, Tibetan Plateau
by Dianqing Gong, Zhaofeng Wang, Yili Zhang, Xiaoyang Hu, Bo Wei and Changjun Gu
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2708; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112708 - 17 Nov 2024
Viewed by 333
Abstract
Agricultural greenhouses (AGs) are an effective solution to address the growing demand for vegetables despite limited cropland, yet significant soil quality problems often accompany them, particularly in high-altitude regions. However, the effects of natural factors and production management on soil quality are not [...] Read more.
Agricultural greenhouses (AGs) are an effective solution to address the growing demand for vegetables despite limited cropland, yet significant soil quality problems often accompany them, particularly in high-altitude regions. However, the effects of natural factors and production management on soil quality are not well understood in such fragile environments. This study analyzed soil quality differences between AGs and adjacent open cropland (OCs) in the Lhasa River Valley, Tibetan Plateau, based on 592 soil samples and 12 key soil physicochemical indicators. GeoDetector was used to identify the dominant factors and their interactions with these differences. The results showed that AG soils had significantly lower pH, with an average decrease of 20%, indicating acidification, while nutrient levels and total salinity were significantly higher compared to OC soils. Specifically, available phosphorus, available potassium, the soil fertility quality index, and total soluble salt increased by 281%, 102%, 38%, and 184%, respectively. Planting, topographic, and fertilizer factors were identified as the dominant factors contributing to these differences. Interaction analysis showed that the interaction of these factors increased the explanatory power by 20.2% to 41.32% compared to individual factors. The interaction between planting year and fertilizer type had the highest explanatory power for nutrient increases and pH decline, while fertilizer amount and slope aspect contributed to salinity accumulation. These findings provide valuable insights and practical guidance for optimizing AG management and ensuring sustainable agricultural development in high-altitude regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation and Management Strategies: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5822 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Perspective on Contamination Identification, Source Apportionment, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Paddy Soils of a Tropical Island
by Yan Guo, Yi Yang and Yonghua Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(8), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081777 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 754
Abstract
The closed-loop material and energy cycles of islands increase the susceptibility of their internal ecosystem components to heavy metal accumulation and transfer. However, limited research on the island scale hinders our understanding of heavy metal environmental geochemistry in this unique environment. This study [...] Read more.
The closed-loop material and energy cycles of islands increase the susceptibility of their internal ecosystem components to heavy metal accumulation and transfer. However, limited research on the island scale hinders our understanding of heavy metal environmental geochemistry in this unique environment. This study focused on assessing a tropical island’s ecological risk by investigating heavy metal contamination and potential sources. The results revealed elevated cadmium and nickel concentrations in 0.44–1.31% of soil samples, particularly in coastal plains and developed areas. Using the absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model assisted by GIS mapping, we identified three contamination sources: geological factors, agricultural activities, and traffic emissions. Network analysis indicated direct exposure risks of vegetation and soil microorganisms to contaminated soil (0.4611 and 0.7687, respectively), with nickel posing the highest risk, followed by Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Cr with risks transferring across trophic levels. These findings provide crucial insights for mitigating ecological risks associated with heavy metals by controlling priority pollutants and their sources in tropical island environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation and Management Strategies: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 12839 KiB  
Article
Evolutionary Trend Analysis of Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Load in Chongqing Based on Land Use Simulation
by Kangwen Zhu, Yan Zhang, Xiaosong Tian, Dongjie Guan, Sheng Zhang, Yong He and Lilei Zhou
Agronomy 2024, 14(4), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040737 - 2 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1093
Abstract
Analysis of the relationship between future land use change and agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP) evolution is vital to promoting sustainable regional development. By simulating future land use types, we can identify and analyze the evolution trend of ANPSP. This study takes Chongqing [...] Read more.
Analysis of the relationship between future land use change and agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP) evolution is vital to promoting sustainable regional development. By simulating future land use types, we can identify and analyze the evolution trend of ANPSP. This study takes Chongqing as a case study to establish an integrated solution based on the PLUS model, output coefficient model, and GIS technology. The solution can simulate data, identify trends, and identify key control areas under future development scenarios. The results show that the PLUS model can simulate land use types at the provincial scale with high accuracy, with a Kappa coefficient of around 0.9. The land use type changes show that urban expansion has occupied a large amount of cultivated land. From 2000 to 2020, the proportion of high-load areas with TN pollution load levels was 4.93%, 5.02%, and 4.73%, respectively. Under the two scenarios in 2030–2050, the number of high-load areas decreased, and the average load level decreased from west to east. Sensitivity analysis found that risk changes are more sensitive to the increase in fertilizer application. When the TN and TP output coefficients are increased, the number of towns with increased levels is greater than those with decreased levels when the output coefficients are decreased. Sensitivity analysis can better identify key pollution control areas. The areas sensitive to changes in farmers’ behavior are mainly the Hechuan District, Nanchuan District, Qijiang District, Jiangjin District, and Bishan District. This study provides data and decision-making support for rural green development and water environment improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation and Management Strategies: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop