Spatial and temporal changes of paddy rice ecosystem services in China during the period 1980–2014

Abstract

The ecological systems services or multi-functionality of paddy rice cultivation are critical to the functioning of the Earth's life-support system. We estimated the ecosystem services value (ESV) of paddy rice during 1980–2014 across China. The results indicated that the ESV of the paddy field in China showed an upward trend during this period. The share of ESV on CO2 sequestration was the highest, followed by ESV on temperature cooling and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The yield-scaled ESVs of Zones II (southern rice–upland crops rotation regions) and III (southern double rice production regions) were similar and significantly higher than the ESVs of Zones I (northeastern single rice production regions) and IV (Southwest rice–upland crops rotation regions). Between 1980 and 2014, the ESV of each region increased to varying degrees, except for the ESVs of Guangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. Such effects suggest the existence of a significant spatial–temporal variation in the total amount, structure, and density of ESV of paddy fields in China, which can further guide the development of future options for the adaptation of healthy rice production in China.

Keywords

• ecosystem services value
• economic evaluation
• rice production
• rice ecosystem
• spatial–temporal variation
• historical change