Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1): 179-190.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.01.16

• Agricultural Ecology • Previous Articles    

Spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and contributing factors of the carbon effect in cultivated land use in Xinjiang

LYU Ning1(), GUO Yu2, PENG Qin2(), YIN Feihu1, ZHANG Jiaqi1, LIU Xingren3, ZENG Mei4, XU Zihan3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of North-west Oasis Water-Saving Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi 832000, Xinjiang, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    3. Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
    4. Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2024-07-08 Revised:2024-11-11 Online:2025-01-15 Published:2025-01-17
  • Contact: PENG Qin E-mail:lvning20030118@163.com;pengqin@igsnrr.ac.cn

Abstract:

Using agricultural data from Xinjiang from 1991 to 2021, this study examined the temporal variations in carbon effects induced by cultivation in the region by using the carbon absorption and emission coefficient method. The spatial correlation, distribution, and evolution patterns of these carbon effects were explored by integrating Moran’s I, centroid migration, and the standard deviational elliptical model. The aim of this paper was to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of carbon effect changes in cultivated land over a long-term series in Xinjiang and to assess the region’s potential for carbon sequestration. The results were as follows: (1) Carbon absorption in Xinjiang’s cultivated land significantly exceeded carbon emissions, demonstrating a net carbon sink effect. Furthermore, the carbon sink capacity had consistently increased, rising from 8.3 million tons in 1991 to 34.29 million tons in 2021. (2) Regions with strong carbon sink capacity were concentrated in areas with extensive cultivated land and high production of corn, wheat, and cotton. (3) The net carbon sink of cultivated land exhibits significant spatial agglomeration patterns at the county and city scales, with the center of gravity of cropland carbon sinks generally migrating to the northeast. However, over the past 30 years, it has remained situated in the Aksu region of southern Xinjiang. (4) Cropland carbon sinks are primarily attributed to carbon absorption by cotton, wheat, and corn. Conversely, the main sources of carbon emissions include the application of chemical fertilizers, farmland tillage, irrigation, and the use of agricultural films. Notably, the contribution of chemical fertilizers and agricultural films to carbon emissions is on the rise. Based on these findings, we propose an appropriate expansion of the cultivated land area and increasing the cultivation of cotton, as well as grain and oil crops in southern Xinjiang. Additionally, we should promote the planting of corn and cotton in accordance with local conditions and boost the investment in green agricultural technologies and materials to improve the production capacity of cultivated land, ensure food security, and enhance carbon sequestration.

Key words: cultivated land use in Xinjiang, carbon sources/sinks effect, Moran’s index, standard deviation ellipse, center of gravity migration trajectory model, spatio-temporal evolution characteristic