Spatial and Temporal Characteristics and Drivers of Plantation Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints in the Three Northeastern Provinces of China

Objective The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) footprints of the agricultural industry in the three northeastern provinces were accounted for a comprehensive database of C and N footprints, and the main influencing factors were revealed, in order to provide data support for the healthy and sustainable development of the agricultural industry in these provinces.

Method The C and N footprints of the cropping industry in the three northeastern provinces of China were studied. A system for accounting C and N footprint was developed using the life cycle assessment method and the input-output method, and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model was employed to decompose the driving factors of the C and N footprints of the cropping industry.

Result The C and N footprints and emissions in Liaoning Province and Jilin Province showed a decreasing trend, while their C and N carrying capacities exhibited an increasing trend. In contrast, Heilongjiang Province showed an upward trend in C and N footprints and emissions, with its C carrying capacity on the rise and N carrying capacity on the decline. All three northeastern provinces achieved C surplus in 2020, with Jilin Province also attaining N surplus, whereas Liaoning Province and Heilongjiang Province remain in a state of N deficit. Regions with higher C and N emissions from agriculture were primarily located in the Songnen Plain, Sanjiang Plain, and Liaohe Plain. Agricultural efficiency is a key driver in reducing C and N footprints.

Conclusion Liaoning and Jilin provinces have achieved significant results in reducing pollution and C emissions in agriculture. However, C and N emissions from agriculture in Heilongjiang Province continue to rise. It is recommended to increase investment in agricultural economics, improve agricultural production efficiency, expand the scale of cultivation, reduce the input-output ratio, transfer surplus rural labor, optimize fertilizer application, reduce C and N emission intensity, and promote green and high-quality development of agriculture in the three northeastern provinces.