Zhang et al. (2026) Unraveling the Responses of Gross Primary Productivity to Multiple Drought Types Across China Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data

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Identification

• Journal: Agronomy
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-17
• Authors: Liudong Zhang, Hui Xie, Hui Li, Tao Chen, Xi Huang
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy16141361

Research Groups

[Not specified in the provided text]

Short Summary

This study evaluates the impact of four different drought indices on Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) across China from 2003 to 2020, identifying the Temperature Condition Index (TCI) as the primary driver of GPP variations.

Objective

• To characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of various drought indices and quantify the response mechanisms and interaction pathways between these indices and GPP.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: National scale (China), including regional analysis (North, Central, East, South, Northwest, Northeast, and Southwest China).
• Temporal Scale: 2003 to 2020.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Partial correlation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
• Data sources: Multi-source remote sensing data.

Main Results

• GPP Trends: GPP exhibited a fluctuating upward trend (163.71 to 458.56 g C·m⁻²), though a significant decline occurred in 2005 across most regions (e.g., -14.47% in North China, -13.93% in Central China).
• Drought Index Characteristics:
  • TCI: Highest frequency (60.22%) and longest duration (98.46 days).
  • SPEI: Lowest frequency (12.54%) and highest intensity (0.14).
  • SMCI: Drought frequency of 44.35% and mean duration of 75.64 days.
  • VCI: Lowest drought severity (1.96).
• GPP Drivers: TCI was the dominant driver of GPP variations (r = 0.45–0.88, p < 0.001), whereas SPEI had a relatively weak impact.
• Interaction Pathway: The primary mechanism of drought–GPP interaction at the national scale follows the pathway: TCI $\rightarrow$ VCI $\rightarrow$ GPP.

Contributions

• The study clarifies the distinct roles of different drought indices in affecting ecosystem productivity and establishes a specific structural pathway (TCI $\rightarrow$ VCI $\rightarrow$ GPP) for understanding GPP responses to climate change.

Funding

[Not specified in the provided text]

Citation

@article{Zhang2026Unraveling,
  author = {Zhang, Liudong and Xie, Hui and Li, Hui and Chen, Tao and Huang, Xi},
  title = {Unraveling the Responses of Gross Primary Productivity to Multiple Drought Types Across China Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data},
  journal = {Agronomy},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/agronomy16141361},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16141361}
}