Vegetation restoration in dryland with shrub serves as a carbon sink: Evidence from a 13‐year observation at the Tengger Desert of Northern China

• DOI: 10.1002/ldr.4900
• Publication Date: 2023-09-04T07:10:34Z
• Authors: Yanhong Gao; Lichao Liu; Shaoxiu Ma; Yuanyuan Zhou; Rongliang Jia; Xinrong Li; Haotian Yang; Bingyao Wang
• Keywords: Carbon sink; Revegetation; Sink (geography)

Abstract Dryland area accounts for approximately 40% of worldwide land area, which plays a significant role in regulating the carbon sequestration capacity land. Vegetation restoration drylands adopted to prevent degradation, and may also serve as sink earlier stage. However, persistence revegetated ecosystem is still unknown. Can well‐established vegetation dryland areas long‐run? To address this question, we investigated planted with 13 years observation (2009–2021) established restoration, began 1989. We found that revegetation serves all years. The mean annual net productivity (NEP) 91.61 ± 36.17 gC m −2 yr −1 (mean standard deviation). Annual NEP showed increasing trend over study period rate 5.65 ( p < 0.05). increase spring temperature, start uptake longer duration contribute gradual NEP. amount predominantly determined by summer precipitation. Meanwhile, our results revealed did not lead excessive consumption water resources. Our have suggested appropriate arid can timescales mitigate climate change, relatively low environmental consequences risks. Considering vast degraded global drylands, effect model should be given more attention.