Assessment of vegetation productivity under the implementation of ecological programs in the Loess Plateau based on solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2022.0226

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Based on the solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), this study was conducted to reveal the benefit of vegetation productivity in the revegetation region with a significant increase in land surface greenness under the large-scale implementation of ecological programs in the Loess Plateau.

Methods By interpreting satellite-observed terrestrial greenness changes and land use/cover dynamics, we first identified the spatial distribution of revegetation and existing vegetation in the Loess Plateau in the last 20 years. Then, using SIF and meteorological data, the gross primary productivity (GPP) of the revegetation and existing vegetation was calculated according to the revised mechanistic light response (rMLR) model. Finally, we adopted the comparative analysis approach to compare the differences in GPP of the revegetation based on the SIF observations.

Important findings Our results indicated that the ecological programs have made a widespread increase in land surface greenness in the Loess Plateau. In the period 2001 to 2020, the area of revegetated forest was 35 000 km², accounting for 7.42% of the total area, whereas revegetated grassland area was 110 000 km², accounting for 25.25% of the total area. Overall, the photosynthetic capacity and vegetation productivity of the revegetated forests were lower than that of existing forests in the Loess Plateau, while revegetated grassland was higher. GPP of the revegetated forest was equivalent to 83.86% of the existing forest, and GPP of the revegetated grassland was equivalent to 121.10% of that of the existing grassland. At the same leaf area index (LAI) level, GPP of revegetation and existing vegetation showed differences that GPP gap increased as LAI became higher. Revegetation transformed from bare land showed the lowest vegetation productivity, whereas forest growth and grassland restoration from cropland were the optimal land use/cover transition pattern for the revegetated forest and revegetated grassland, respectively. LAI increasing rate and restoration time also affected the productivity of revegetation, revegetated areas with higher LAI increasing rate showed more extensive productivity benefits. Vegetation productivity of revegetated forest increased with standage, while revegetated grassland with shorter restoration periods showed higher productivity. Overall, although ecological programs have widely increased vegetation cover and biomass in the Loess Plateau, however, there exists a certain gap in GPP between the revegetation and existing vegetation areas (especially in forests), thereby affecting the ecological benefits of the ecological programs.

Key words: ecological programs, revegetation, solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), gross primary productivity (GPP), the Loess Plateau

XUE Jin-Ru, LÜ Xiao-Liang. Assessment of vegetation productivity under the implementation of ecological programs in the Loess Plateau based on solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2022, 46(10): 1289-1304.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2022.0226

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2022/V46/I10/1289

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Location of the Loess Plateau.

Table 1 Details of the four AmeriFlux eddy flux sites

名称 Name	经度 Longitude	纬度 Latitude	海拔 Altitude (m)	生态系统类型 Ecosystem type
CA-Cbo	79.93° W	44.32° N	120	落叶阔叶林 Deciduous broadleaf forests
US-MMS	86.41° W	39.32° N	275	落叶阔叶林 Deciduous broadleaf forests
US-MOz	92.20° W	38.74° N	219	落叶阔叶林 Deciduous broadleaf forests
US-Ha1	72.17° W	42.54° N	340	混交林 Mixed forests

Fig. 2 Spatial distribution of revegetation and existing vegetation of the Loess Plateau. A, Revegetated forest area. B, Revegetated grassland area. C, Existing forest area. D, Existing grassland area.

Fig. 3 Spatial distribution of annual average gross primary production (GPP) in the revegetation and existing vegetation areas of the Loess Plateau in 2020. A, GPP of revegetated forest. B, GPP of revegetated grassland. C, GPP of existing forest. D, GPP of existing grassland.

Fig. 4 Comparison of gross primary production (GPP) calculated based on TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and observed GPP. A, CA-Cbo. B, US-MMS. C, US-MOz. D, US-Ha1. R2, determinate coefficient; RMSE, root mean square error; rRMSE, relative root mean square error.

Fig. 5 Comparison of mean top-of-canopy solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIFTOC) and gross primary production (GPP) between revegetation and existing vegetation area in the Loess Plateau in 2020. A, Mean SIFTOC comparison between revegetated forest and existing forest. B, Mean SIFTOC comparison between revegetated grassland and existing grassland. C, mean GPP comparison between revegetated forest and existing forest. D, Mean GPP comparison between revegetated grassland and existing grassland.

Fig. 6 Gross primary production difference (GPPD) between revegetation and existing vegetation area under different leaf area index (LAI) level in the Loess Plateau in 2020. A, GPPD of revegetated forest under different LAI levels. B, GPPD of revegetated grassland under different LAI levels.

Fig. 7 Gross primary production difference (GPPD) between revegetation and existing vegetation area under different conditions in the Loess Plateau in 2020. A, GPPD of revegetated forest under different land use/cover change types. B, GPPD of revegetated grassland under different land use/cover change types. C, GPPD of revegetated forest under different Sen slope levels. D, GPPD of revegetated grassland under different Sen slope levels.

Fig. 8 Gross primary production difference (GPPD) between revegetation and existing vegetation area under different restoration time in the Loess Plateau in 2020. A, GPPD of revegetated forest under different restoration time. B, GPPD of revegetated grassland under different restoration time.

Fig. 9 Gross primary production difference (GPPD) between revegetation and existing vegetation area under different climate conditions in the Loess Plateau in 2020. A, GPPD of revegetated forest under different temperature levels. B, GPPD of revegetated grassland under different temperature levels. C, GPPD of revegetated forest under different soil moisture levels. D, GPPD of revegetated grassland under different soil moisture levels.

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