1.State Key Laboratory of Water Engineering Ecology and Environment in Arid Area,Inner Mongolia Agricultural University,Hohhot 010018,China
2.College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering,Inner Mongolia Agricultural University,Hohhot 010018,China
3.Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology and High-Efficient Utilization of Water Resources,Hohhot 010018,China
4.Autonomous Region Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrated Management of Water Resources and Water Environment in the Inner Mongolia Reaches of the Yellow River,Hohhot 010018,China
5.Shanxi Institute of Geological Survey Company Limited,Taiyuan 030006,China
6.Bayannur Hydrological and Water Resources Survey Center,Linhe,Inner Mongolia 015000,China
Objective In arid and semi-arid regions, clarifying the spatiotemporal response relationship between vegetation water use efficiency (WUE) and ecosystem services (ESs) and its influencing mechanisms is crucial for promoting water-carbon management and high-quality development of irrigation areas. Methods Taking the Hetao Irrigation Area watershed in Inner Mongolia as the study area, this study integrated multi-source remote sensing and meteorological data from 2001 to 2020 to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of WUE. Multiple linear regression, random forest, and geographically weighted regression models were comprehensively employed to reveal the nonlinearity and spatial heterogeneity of its driving mechanisms. Based on the InVEST model, three ecosystem services-carbon storage, water yield, and grain production-were quantified. A WUE-ESs coupling degree index was constructed, and the Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis was applied to identify the spatial agglomeration pattern of coupling intensity. Results From 2001 to 2020, WUE showed an overall fluctuating downward trend, with a decline rate of 0.003 g/(mm·H2O yr) (measured in C). Spatially, high-value areas were found in cultivated land and the periphery of Wuliangsuhai Lake, while low-value areas were located in grassland and the periphery of the Hetao Irrigation Area. The analysis of driving mechanisms indicated that net primary productivity (NPP) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) had a continuous and significant positive impact on WUE. The random forest model further identified VPD as the dominant factor for WUE in the early period (2001—2005) (importance 0.40), while the influence of root-zone soil moisture significantly increased in the later period (2015—2020) (importance 0.93). Geographically weighted regression (GWR) revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in the effects of different factors. For instance, precipitation had negative effects in the southeast and positive effects in the southwest. Coupling analysis showed that WUE and ESs exhibited high coupling hotspots concentrated in irrigated farmland areas, while grassland systems were mainly characterized by low coupling coldspots. The highest coupling degree across the entire area was observed in 2001. This study recommended that in farmland areas, precise management based on water availability should be strengthened to enhance service synergy, while vegetation structure should be optimized in the grassland systems to improve system resilience. Conclusion This study provides a scientific basis for the efficient utilization of water resources and ecological coordinated management in arid irrigation districts through the integration of multiple methods.
黄河流域是我国至关重要的生态屏障与粮食生产区,其生态系统服务供给、调节等功能对于区域生态稳定和国家粮食安全具有重要意义[1-3]。作为黄河上游典型特大型灌溉农业区,河套灌区所在流域长期依赖引黄水资源维持大规模农业发展,在保障农业产出的同时,也面临着水资源紧张、生态系统服务功能衰退、水分利用效率低等多重挑战[4]。在当前气候变化和人类活动频繁背景下,深入分析灌区水分利用效率(water use efficiency, WUE)的时空演变特征及其影响机制,同时探究其与生态服务功能的响应关系,对实现灌区水资源合理优化配置和生态系统协调稳定具有重要社会价值和实践意义[5]。
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