Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 998-1009.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.06.09

• Ecology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Carbon sequestration potential of oasis ecosystem in Xinjiang, China

ZHANG Haozhe(), XUE Yayong(), MA Yuanyuan, XUE Guoxuan   

  1. College of Geography and Remote Sensing Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2023-09-17 Revised:2024-01-02 Online:2024-06-15 Published:2024-07-03

Abstract:

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is an essential indicator of the terrestrial carbon (C) cycle, which can reflect the carbon sink capacity of terrestrial ecosystems. In the face of China’s “double carbon” goal of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality,” improving the carbon sequestration capacity of the terrestrial ecosystems is one of the crucial ways. Due to its vast geographical area and considerable vegetation restoration potential, it is of great practical significance to evaluate the current situation of carbon sequestration in Xinjiang and explore the potential of carbon sequestration so as to respond positively and realize the national “double carbon” goal. This study combined the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model with the land use, remote sensing, and meteorological (temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation) data, and NPP in Xinjiang from 2001 to 2020 for the simulation. The Sen-MK method was used to analyze the trend in NPP changes. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify the relationship between NPP variations and climatic factors. Further, different land use and vegetation scenarios from 2001 to 2020, as well as the pattern of NPP variations under pure climate scenarios simulated by the Miami model, were used to derive the final maximum potential of NPP and the maximum increment of NPP in Xinjiang. The results showed that: (1) The NPP in Xinjiang showed an upward trend with fluctuations from 2001 to 2020; (2) Among the climatic factors, precipitation had the maximal impact on NPP in Xinjiang; (3) Among the primary land use types in Xinjiang, cultivated land had a large NPP which showed an increasing trend; (4) The increment potential of NPP in Xinjiang was 79.43 g C·m-2. This study can provide a reference for Xinjiang to respond to the national call for “carbon peak” and “carbon neutrality” and to implement ecological restoration and cultivated land protection measures.

Key words: oasis, net primary productivity, carbon sequestration potential, CASA model, Xinjiang