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Globally increased cropland soil exposure to climate extremes in recent decades

Author

Listed:
  • Luwei Feng

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University
    Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

  • Yumiao Wang

    (Ningbo University)

  • Rasmus Fensholt

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Xiaoye Tong

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Torbern Tagesson

    (Lund University)

  • Xiaoxin Zhang

    (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)

  • Jonas Ardö

    (Lund University)

  • Jie Zhou

    (Central China Normal University)

  • Wenxuan Shao

    (Wuhan University)

  • Yujie Dou

    (Wuhan University)

  • Yirong Sang

    (Wuhan University)

  • Feng Tian

    (Wuhan University
    Wuhan University
    Wuhan University
    Wuhan University)

Abstract

Soil quality is fundamental to nutrient-rich food production and the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems. However, inappropriate agricultural practices often lead to persistent soil exposure to air and sunlight, which increases soil organic matter losses and erosion risks, particularly under climate extremes. Here, we provide a satellite-based mapping of daily soil exposure occurrence across global croplands from 2001 to 2022 and evaluate the associated degradation risks caused by extreme climate events. We find that while 57% of global croplands experienced a reduction in soil exposure duration in the past two decades, 86% are increasingly subjected to climate extremes. The areas exposed to increasing climate extremes tend to have higher soil organic carbon levels, indicating an intensified degradation risk of global nutrient-rich cropland soils. Our study offers spatio-temporally explicit insights into global cropland soil exposure and its vulnerability to climate extremes, providing evidence to support improvements in sustainable agriculture practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Luwei Feng & Yumiao Wang & Rasmus Fensholt & Xiaoye Tong & Torbern Tagesson & Xiaoxin Zhang & Jonas Ardö & Jie Zhou & Wenxuan Shao & Yujie Dou & Yirong Sang & Feng Tian, 2025. "Globally increased cropland soil exposure to climate extremes in recent decades," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59544-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59544-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wallander, Steven & Smith, David & Bowman, Maria & Claassen, Roger, 2021. "Cover Crop Trends, Programs, and Practices in the United States," Economic Information Bulletin 309562, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Iain P. Hartley & Tim C. Hill & Sarah E. Chadburn & Gustaf Hugelius, 2021. "Temperature effects on carbon storage are controlled by soil stabilisation capacities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Chi Chen & Taejin Park & Xuhui Wang & Shilong Piao & Baodong Xu & Rajiv K. Chaturvedi & Richard Fuchs & Victor Brovkin & Philippe Ciais & Rasmus Fensholt & Hans Tømmervik & Govindasamy Bala & Zaichun , 2019. "China and India lead in greening of the world through land-use management," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(2), pages 122-129, February.
    4. Zaichun Zhu & Shilong Piao & Ranga B. Myneni & Mengtian Huang & Zhenzhong Zeng & Josep G. Canadell & Philippe Ciais & Stephen Sitch & Pierre Friedlingstein & Almut Arneth & Chunxiang Cao & Lei Cheng &, 2016. "Greening of the Earth and its drivers," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 791-795, August.
    5. Timothy E. Crews & Brian E. Rumsey, 2017. "What Agriculture Can Learn from Native Ecosystems in Building Soil Organic Matter: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
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