Human interventions have enhanced the net ecosystem productivity of farmland in China.

Abstract

Human interventions, such as farmland management, have long been considered crucial for soil carbon sequestration, but little is known about the exact impact of these interventions on the net carbon flux, represented by net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Here, using multiple long-term, large-scale data and statistical data, we reveal that 75.54% of farmland NEP in China experiences an increase, with northern regions showing the greatest potential for future farmland carbon sequestration. This growth is primarily attributed to the role of farmland management, especially the enhancement of no-tillage, land consolidation and multiple cropping level (17.02%, major grain-producing areas in 2020). Notably, the current unreasonable practices of mechanized straw returning and irrigation have a negative impact on farmland NEP. Our results show that it is imperative to acknowledge the crucial role of human interventions on farmland NEP to strike a balance between food security and farmland carbon sequestration.