Loess Plateau Area Research Articles

Revealing the optimal strategy for tree plantations on controlling soil erosion in China: A meta-analysis

Tree plantation has increased globally, driven by a desire to supply multiple ecosystem services including soil erosion control. However, how to plant trees can more effectively mitigate soil erosion still lacks systematic investigation. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis consisting of 412 paired observations from 80 studies to rigorously compare the effects of tree plantations on soil erosion control across different plantation approaches in China. The results showed that plantation age and ground cover type were the primary factors influencing the efficiency of tree plantations on runoff and sediment reduction. Mature plantations (>20 years) showed more efficiency in runoff (80.9 %) and sediment (97.2 %) reduction than young plantations (<10 years). The benefit of tree plantations with grass cover on runoff reduction was 70 %, while the capacity of plantations without ground cover was not significant. In addition, tree plantations in areas with steep slope, low mean annual precipitation, high soil sand content, and low soil organic carbon had better benefits on soil erosion control. Loess Plateau and Karst areas suffer the most severe water erosion in China, with distinct environmental conditions. This paper further revealed the targeted plantation strategy for these two regions: tree plantations in Karst areas should focus on the lithophyticity and drought tolerance of tree species, in the Loess Plateau should consider the trade-off between water consumption and soil erosion control.

Carbon sequestration in vulnerable ecological regions of China: Limitations and opportunities

Vulnerable ecological regions in China represent vast territories with significant potential for augmenting carbon sinks. The widespread recognition of net primary productivity (NPP) as a valuable tool for simulating regional shifts in vegetation carbon sequestration dynamics is evident. In this study, we explore the constraints and prospects for carbon sequestration in these sensitive ecological areas by leveraging NPP analysis. A model to evaluate the relative contributions of climate change (CLC) and land use change (LUC) to carbon sequestration variability was developed, providing quantitative insight into their respective impacts within these zones. Our research revealed a significant upwards trend in NPP across the study area, with an annual increase of 3.73 gC·m−2 year−1. Notably, the Southwestern Karst Area and the Loess Plateau Area experienced the greatest increases, at rates of 9.68 gC·m−2 year−1 and 6.95 gC·m−2 year−1, respectively. This growth exhibited a geographical gradient that was more pronounced in the southeast and diminished toward the northwest, although the Northwest Arid Area was an exception, where the spatial trend of NPP primarily showed a downwards trajectory. This suggests resilience and the potential for enhanced carbon capture in these ecologically sensitive areas. This study identified CLC and LUC as key drivers of NPP increases, with their multiyear average impacts measured at 0.69 gC·m−2 year−1 and 1.03 gC·m−2 year−1, respectively, generally yielding positive effects. The impact varied across regions and land use scenarios. In areas experiencing land use changes, the positive and negative impacts of LUC on NPP were 32.47% and 22.68%, respectively, outpacing the effects of CLC. In contrast, in stable land use areas, the positive impact of CLC on NPP (26.65%) exceeded its negative effect (21.74%). Our work seeks to offer comprehensive insights into carbon sequestration capacities, elucidate multifactorial contributions, and develop targeted strategies to increase carbon sequestration in fragile ecosystems.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Debris Flow Disaster in the Loess Plateau Area of China: A Case Study

The Loess Plateau area, with complex geomorphological features and geological structure, is highly prone to geologic disasters such as landslides and debris flow, which cause great losses. To investigate the initiation mechanism of landslide and debris flow disasters and their spreading patterns, historical satellite images in the Laolang gully were collected and digitized to generate three-dimensional topographic and geomorphological maps. Typical landslides were selected for landslide thickness measurement using a standard penetrometer and high-density electrical method. Numerical models were established to simulate the occurrence and development of landslides under different working conditions and to evaluate the spreading range based on the propagation algorithm and friction law. The results show that the 10 m resolution DEM data are well matched with the potential hazard events observed in the field site. The smaller the critical slope threshold, the greater the extent and distance of landslide spreading. The larger the angle of arrival, the greater the energy loss, and therefore the smaller the landslide movement distance. The results can provide scientific theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of rainfall-induced landslide and debris flow disasters in the Loess Plateau area.

Inhibition of Soil Wind-Erosion and Dust by Shelterbelts in the Hilly Area of Loess Plateau and Its Influencing Factors

Inhibition of Soil Wind-Erosion and Dust by Shelterbelts in the Hilly Area of Loess Plateau and Its Influencing Factors

Comprehensive assessment of sustainable development of water resources in the Longdong Loess Plateau

Assessment of water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) is of great significance for understanding the status of regional water resources, promoting the coordinated development of water resources with environmental, social and economic development, and promoting sustainable development. This study focuses on the Longdong Loess Plateau region and utilized panel data spanning from 2010 to 2020, established a three-dimensional evaluation index system encompassing water resources, economic, and ecological dimensions, uses the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model coupled with global spatial autocorrelation analysis (Global Moran’s I) and the hot spot analysis (Getis-Ord Gi* index) method to comprehensively evaluate the spatial distribution of the WRCC in the study region. It can provide scientific basis and theoretical support for decision-making on sustainable development strategies in the Longdong Loess Plateau region and other regions of the world.From 2010 to 2020, the overall WRCC of the Longdong Loess Plateau area show some fluctuations but maintained overall growth. The WRCC in each county and district predominantly fell within level III (normal) and level IV (good). The spatial distribution of the WRCC in each county and district is featured by clustering pattern, with neighboring counties displaying similar values, resulting in a spatial distribution pattern characterized by high carrying capacity in the south and low carrying capacity in the north. Based on these findings, our study puts forth several recommendations for enhancing the WRCC in the Longdong Loess Plateau area.

Improving soil fertility of apple orchard with organic fertilizer application in Loess Plateau area of Northwest China

Improving soil fertility of apple orchard with organic fertilizer application in Loess Plateau area of Northwest China

Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptation for Households Engaged in Forestry in Ecological Restoration Areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau

Livelihood Vulnerability and Adaptation for Households Engaged in Forestry in Ecological Restoration Areas of the Chinese Loess Plateau

Effects of Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage on Soil Water Use and Yield Formation of Forage Maize on Semiarid Land

Forage maize is one of the most important feed crops for livestock production, and is mainly grown in northwest China. However, their growth is often stressed by limited soil water availability due to the arid climate. To provide more soil moisture, a high-efficiency tillage technique was required to make crops effectively use soil moisture in deep soil layers. Deep vertical rotary tillage is a promising choice for this purpose. In this study, a long-term (2020–2022) field experiment consisting of three treatments, i.e., traditional tillage (TT), deep rotary tillage (DT), and deep vertical rotary tillage (VRT), was carried out in semiarid areas of Loess Plateau, northwest China, to investigate the effects of VRT on soil water storage (SWS), phase crop evapotranspiration (ETc) during the pre- and post-flowering periods, dry matter accumulation, grain yields and the water use efficiency (WUE) of forage maize. The results showed that VRT significantly improved the absorption of soil moisture from deep layers, especially in dry years. During the pre-flowering period of a dry year (2020), VRT decreased SWS by 7.6%–10.0% in the 60–180 cm layer, and by 17.6%–18.5% in the 180–300 cm layer, respectively, compared to DT and TT. As a result, VRT increased ETc during the pre-flowering period by 6.1% and 9.2%, respectively. In wet years (2021 and 2022), VRT increased total ETc by 2.0%–7.9% in 2021, and by 10.1%–14.9% in 2022, respectively. On average, VRT increased the dry matter weight per plant by 1.0%–7.8%, grain yields by 2.4%–38.6%, biomass yields by 3.4%–16.2%, and WUE by 10.1%–30.0%, respectively. Particularly, the benefit of VRT for increasing yields and WUE was more noticeable in dry years. It can be concluded that VRT is a drought-tolerant and yield-boosting tillage technique that is suitable for rain-fed forage maize in semiarid areas of Loess Plateau, northwest China.

Ecological Security Pattern Construction in Loess Plateau Areas—A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China

Strong soil erosion and increasing human activities have made Loess Plateau areas ecologically fragile regions. Constructing the ecological security pattern (ESP) is imperative to maintain their ecosystem functions and sustainable development. However, it is still challenging to establish the ESP in such an unstable and scattered ecological environment. In this study, we take Shanxi Province, which suffers severe ecological problems in Loess Plateau areas, as an example to construct the ESP in a pattern of “source-resistance-corridor”. The proposed methods include the following steps: (1) potential ecological sources are selected with important ecosystem functions based on contributions of soil and water conservation, habitat quality, and carbon storage; (2) ecological sources are determined by considering core areas at the landscape scale based on morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) along with stability based on dynamic assessment on previous sources; (3) the comprehensive resistance surface is constructed by multiple resistance factors and remotely sensed nighttime light data; (4) ecological corridors are simulated and extracted based on circuit theory. As a result, the proposed ESP in our study area mainly includes 13,592 km2 of ecological sources, 8519.64 km of ecological corridors, and 277 ecological nodes. Meanwhile, an ecological framework of “two axes, three belts, and three zones” was proposed based on the optimization and reorganization of ecological components within the ESP. Our research lays a methodological and practical foundation for regional ESP construction and sustainable development in Loess Plateau areas.

Spatio-temporal evolution of land subsidence and susceptibility zonation of associated ground fissures in the urban area of loess plateau: a case in Xianyang city, China

For over 50 years, the Xianyang city on the Chinese loess plateau, has been deeply affected by land subsidence and its associated ground fissures. In this study, 67 Sentinel-1A images from 2015 to 2022 were analysed to obtain the spatio-temporal evolution of land subsidence. Subsidence centers identified in Yunyang town and Luqiao town exhibit annual subsidence rates of −31 mm/a and −26.7 mm/a, respectively, culminating in total subsidence of −258 mm in Yunyang town and −139 mm in Luqiao town. Moreover, time series analysis revealed that both towns exhibit pronounced seasonal subsidence patterns. It is believed that human cultivation and groundwater overuse, combined with the effects of active faults, have led to uneven land subsidence. Then, the gradient of land subsidence and its potential relation to ground fissure hazards were evaluated. The results highlight a strong spatial correlation between high subsidence gradient areas and dense ground fissure distribution. Therefore, we proposed for the first time to introduce the land subsidence gradient factors for the susceptibility mapping of ground fissures using the artificial neural network algorithm. The susceptibility zonation results show that integrating the gradient factor can improve the rationality of the susceptibility evaluation. The above understanding provides valuable support for disaster prevention and mitigation in urban areas affected by land subsidence and ground fissures in loess regions.

Response of soil erosion to vegetation and terrace changes in a small watershed on the Loess Plateau over the past 85 years

Land use on the Chinese Loess Plateau has undergone dramatic changes over the past few decades. The implementation of a series of soil and water conservation measures has significantly altered the soil erosion, transportation, and deposition processes on the Loess Plateau. To effectively address and mitigate soil erosion, it is crucial to accurately quantify the soil loss rate and analyze the contributions of soil and water conservation measures over the past several decades. In this study, the Zhifanggou watershed, located in the hilly area of the Chinese Loess Plateau, is utilized as an illustrative example. Using historical data, remote sensing imagery, and on-site data of soil, vegetation, and soil conservation measures, we assessed the soil loss rates from 1938 to 2022 based on long-term land use changes, utilizing the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) model. Furthermore, we employed a quantitative evaluation to assess the impacts of vegetation change and terrace construction on soil erosion. The findings of our study reveal significant transformations in land use. Farmland experienced an initial increase followed by a subsequent decline, while the opposite pattern was observed for forest land. The simulated soil loss rate for the entire watershed exhibited an upward trend, rising from 34.86 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 1938 to 104.11 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 1958, before declining to 56.98 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 1999 and reaching 5.87 t·ha−1·yr−1 in 2022. Attribution analysis showed that vegetation change exerted a dominant influence on recent soil erosion dynamics, accounting for 86.10 % of the total contribution in 2022, while terraces contributed 13.90 %. These findings clarify long-term soil erosion mechanisms and provide guidance for watershed soil and water conservation management.

Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Pools and Their Storage Characteristics under Different Vegetation Restoration Types on the Loess Plateau of Longzhong, China

Soil carbon and nitrogen pools are crucial for maintaining the balance of carbon and nitrogen cycling in ecosystems and also for reducing the impacts of global climate change. However, current research lacks an understanding of the effects of long-term vegetation restoration on soil carbon and nitrogen pools and their storage in vulnerable ecosystems. Therefore, we studied the characteristics of soil carbon (soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, dissolved organic carbon) and nitrogen pools (total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen) and their storage under four types of vegetation restoration (Stipa bungeana Trin., SB; Caragana korshinskii Kom., CK; Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge., XS; Picea asperata Mast., PA) in the Longzhong Loess Plateau area. We found that the carbon and nitrogen pools in the 0–40 cm soil layer under the XS and PA vegetation restoration types were higher compared to those under the SB and CK vegetation, and the values of soil ammonium–nitrogen ratios ranged from 0.72 to 0.83 under different vegetation types. Carbon and nitrogen interactions were stronger in the 0–40 cm soil under PA vegetation, which had significantly higher soil carbon (49.06 t·ha−1) and nitrogen (1.78 t·ha−1) storage than did the other vegetation types. We also found that soil carbon and nitrogen stores differed among different types of vegetation restoration. These elements were mainly distributed in soils from 0 to 20 cm depth, where the carbon and nitrogen pools in soils from 0 to 10 cm exceeded those in the lower layers. Furthermore, we discovered that redundancy analysis (RDA) supported by soil enzyme activity and physical properties significantly explained the variation in soil carbon and nitrogen triggered by vegetation restoration. According to this research, the stability and transformation of soil carbon and nitrogen pools in the region can be influenced by various forms of vegetation restoration. Additionally, the findings highlight that forest vegetation restoration can be a successful strategy for effectively sequestering soil carbon and nitrogen within the Longzhong Loess Plateau area.

Generating Spatiotemporal Seamless Data of Clear-Sky Land Surface Temperature Using Synthetic Aperture Radar, Digital Elevation Mode, and Machine Learning over Vegetation Areas

The continuous retrieval of clear-sky land surface temperature (LST) holds paramount importance in monitoring vegetation temperature and assessing water stress conditions. Nonetheless, the extensive cloud cover results in a widespread lack of LST data, posing challenges in accurately forecasting LST in regions characterized by diverse vegetation types and complex terrains. Therefore, this paper proposes a synthetic aperture radar (SAR)- and digital elevation model (DEM)-integrated LST reconstruction model (SDX-LST) to generate realistic and high-spatial-resolution (30 m) clear-sky LST data. To assess the practicality and robustness of the SDX-LST model, this paper selects the study areas of Loess Plateau (LP), Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Northeast China Plain, Nanling Mountains, and North China Plain in China, Desert Rock, Nevada in America, spanning a wide range of longitude and latitude and having obvious differences in topography, landforms, and vegetation. The analysis of the reconstruction results in different spatial location distributions, vegetation cover types, and multidate and time distributions throughout the year indicate that the SDX-LST model achieves excellent performance and high stability (with a mean absolute error lower than 2K). The SDX-LST predictions demonstrate a commendable level of consistency with the ERA5-hourly product and in situ data. We conclude that the integration of SAR and DEM within the SDX-LST model enables precise predictions of LST for various vegetation types and intricate terrains. The study quantitatively analyzes the effects of SAR and DEM on LST and introduces novel insights for exploring SAR-based reconstruction of LST.

旱作条件下大豆玉米复合种植系统水分利用特征和生产力的比较研究

Quantitative investigation of the utilization characteristics of precipitation resources and the production capacity of the intercropping production system under the soybean maize intercropping mode in northern China is of great significance for improving the resource utilization rate of dryland agriculture and regional sustainable development. This study adopted a completely randomized block design, and six planting modes were set up: soybean monoculture, maize monoculture, and four soybean maize intercropping modes. Plant height and grain yield data were observed, and precipitation resource utilization efficiency was calculated. Based on the FAO-56 recommended crop coefficients, the crop coefficients were corrected according to the actual growth of crops in the experimental area; combined with meteorological data, the crop water demand under different planting modes was estimated based on the Penman-Monteith principle. The results showed that crops' daily growth water demand under different planting modes was generally deficient in water in the early and middle stages of growth, and surplus in the later stages. Compared with the monoculture mode, there were significant differences in precipitation resource utilization efficiency under different intercropping modes (P &lt; 0.05), with soybeans reduced by 67.50% ~ 89.56%, and corn reduced by 43.99% ~ 61.05%. Based on the semi-humid and semi-arid area of the eastern Loess Plateau, an appropriate irrigation system needs to be designated for soybean and corn intercropping systems in the early and middle stages of crop growth. Under a certain proportion of water resource supply, different modes have different water resource utilization efficiency and final production capacity for the intercropping system.

Biological and environmental controls on nighttime water-use behaviors in Populus simonii in semi-arid areas of the Chinese Loess plateau

Recent studies have revealed that the active nighttime water-use behaviors by trees have critical physio-ecological significance in survival and growth in adversity. However, the characteristics and biophysical control of nighttime water-use of silvicultural trees are not clear. We continuously monitored sap flow and leaf water potential (predawn and midday) of Populus simonii of different tree sizes as well as environmental factors during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons (May-September) in a semi-arid area of Loess Plateau. Our results showed that both nighttime water-use (WUn) and the ratio of nighttime to daily water-use (WUn%) increased significantly with tree size, and had larger values in the drought year than in the normal year. The WUn% of different tree sizes ranged from 10.24 to 13.01% and can reach up to 36.49% during prolonged soil drought. Besides, the WUn% of different tree sizes were significantly positively and negatively correlated with nighttime vapor pressure deficit (VPDn) and soil water content, respectively. By partitioning the components of WUn, we found that as tree size increased, the stem water refilling (RE) and nighttime transpiration increased obviously, but the ratio of RE to WUn (RE%) did not change. The RE of different tree sizes constituted the major part of WUn with an average RE% of 65.7–68.0%, and the RE% was larger in the drought year than in the normal year. Additionally, the RE% of different tree sizes increased with decreasing predawn leaf water potential (Ѱpd) during the soil dry stage and with increasing VPDn during the soil wet stage. Given the increased risk of atmospheric drought and soil drought, it can be expected from our findings that the nighttime water-use behaviors of trees become more active in the future, which represents a significant performance of drought adaptation strategies of silvicultural species.

A categorical quantification of the effects of vegetation restorations on streamflow variations in the Loess Plateau, China

The Loess Plateau is the world’s largest and most typical loess accumulation area, and its recent change in vegetation cover has had significant hydrological effects. Understanding the impact of vegetation restorations in this region is essential for local water security and the sustainable development of Loess regions. This investigation concentrates on the upper basin of the Beiluo River, a representative watershed on the Loess Plateau. Using the coupled application of the hydrological model and the DFI baseflow segmentation method, as well as the analysis of extreme land cover transfer scenarios, the impact of typical land cover transition categories on the watershed runoff process on the Loess Plateau is systematically evaluated. Depending on the change in runoff introduced by the unit transfer area, a rapid estimation method for river runoff in the Loess Plateau is proposed. The results show that base flow contributes considerably to river runoff on the Loess Plateau, and the SWAT-DFI coupling has substantially improved the hydrological model’s simulation accuracy during the dry season. From 1985 to 2020, the primary land cover transfer categories in the upper basin of the Beiluo River were agricultural land to the forest (AL2F), agricultural land to pasture (AL2P), pasture to agricultural land (P2AL), and pasture to the forest (P2F), of which P2AL is the only form of transfer that increases discharge. From a spatial perspective, the intensity of the impact of AL2F and AL2P on runoff is greater in the upstream region than in the downstream region. From the standpoint of land cover transfer type, the intensity of runoff depth change caused by transfer per unit area varied, which was primarily manifested by the fact that the impact of AL2F was greater than that of AL2P, both of which were greater than that of P2AL and significantly higher than that of P2F. The proposed rapid estimation method based on land cover transfer equivalents can rapidly estimate river runoff changes and spatial distribution under various land cover change conditions, which is critical for understanding the hydrological effects of vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau. The quantified effect of land cover change on runoff and the proposed quick estimation approach can serve as benchmarks for water security and ecological restoration on the Loess Plateau and other loess accumulation areas around the globe.

Numerical Simulation and Characteristics Analysis of VSP Seismic Data in Complex Loess Plateau Area

The numerical simulation and characteristic analysis of VSP seismic data in the complex Loess Plateau area is of great significance to the design of seismic acquisition systems and the velocity modeling in near-surface areas. In this paper, we establish a velocity model of complex Loess Plateau and design three VSP acquisition systems in this model. Then, a finite difference method (FDM) for seismic modeling in the complex topographical condition is used to simulate the VSP data in this model with the above acquisition systems. Finally, based on the analysis to these data, some basic characteristics of VSP data in the complex Loess Plateau area are obtained and their significances to seismic exploration in this area are given.

Identification of Ecological Restoration Priority Areas Integrating Human Activity Intensity and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Restoration action is critical to ensure a safe environment for humans. Reasonable planning is essential to optimize the efficiency of ecological restoration inputs and outputs when implementing restoration measures. In this study, a method that combines human activity intensity assessment and multi-criteria decision analysis to determine ecological restoration priority (ERP) areas was developed to identify priority and feasible areas for ecological restoration in Shaanxi Province in 2020. The results showed that the total area involved in restoration feasibility assessment in Shaanxi is 10.89 × 104 km2. Among them, the percentage of regions with low feasibility (less than 0.2) is 68.86%, mainly located in Qinling area. High feasibility areas (more than 0.6) accounted for 2.47%, mainly located in the Loess Plateau area of northern Shaanxi. The spatial distribution of the human activity intensity is concentrated in urban areas and extended with the distribution of roads. In total, 10.69% of the regions showed high and very high intensity of human activity, including the Guanzhong urban agglomeration region. This study identified 6078 km2 and 671 km2 of medium and high ecological restoration priority areas, which are more concentrated in the north of the study area. The need for ecological restoration work is even more urgent in northern Shaanxi. In general, the framework in this study has spatially located the priority and feasible areas for restoration, and may provide a useful reference for landscape-scale spatial conservation planning.

Soil Moisture, Nutrients, Root Distribution, and Crop Combination Benefits at Different Water and Fertilizer Levels during the Crop Replacement Period in an Apple Intercropping System

Uneven soil moisture and nutrient distribution before and after intercropping limits apple cropping system productivity in the western Shanxi–Loess Plateau area. To address this issue, a field trial was conducted between 2020 and 2021 to study the effects of different water and fertilizer management practices on soil moisture, nutrients, and root distribution, as well as the overall effectiveness of the apple–maize and apple–soybean intercropping systems during crop replacement. The experiment involved two irrigation methods: drip (D) and flood (M) irrigation. Three irrigation levels included rain-fed without irrigation (W0), and 50% (W1) and 80% (W2) of field capacity (Fc). Three fertilizer treatments included no additional fertilizer application (F0), 375 kg∙hm−2 (F1), and 750 kg∙hm−2 (F2), in addition to a control (CK) without irrigation or fertilization. The soil water content (SWC) decreased after the crop replacement. Additionally, nitrate nitrogen (NN), ammonium nitrogen (AN), and organic matter (OM) content levels in all treatments increased, whereas total phosphorus (TP) content decreased. The soil layer with crop roots moved downward after crop replacement, and partial fertilizer productivity (PFP), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and water use efficiency (WUE) were decreased under both irrigation treatments. Principal component analysis showed that the W2F2 treatment had the highest benefit from crop combination across both irrigation treatments during the crop replacement period. According to our results, to optimize the benefits of apple-crop intercropping, drip irrigation with complete water supply and flood irrigation with incomplete water supply are recommended during crop replacement. In addition, an upper irrigation limit of 80% Fc with 750 kg∙hm−2 fertilization is recommended for optimal water and fertilizer regulation.

Spatiotemporal Variation of Fractional Vegetation Cover and Its Response to Climate Change and Topography Characteristics in Shaanxi Province, China

Since the beginning of the 21st century in Shaanxi Province, China, ecological restoration has increased fractional vegetation cover (FVC) and decreased soil and water erosion. The climate and topography will be critical factors for maintaining vegetation coverage in the future. Based on the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, we monitored FVC variations in Shaanxi Province, China, as well as in three subregions of the Loess Plateau (LOP), Qinling–Bashan Mountain (QBM), and Guanzhong Plain (GZP). Using Sen+Mann–Kendall, correlation analysis, and geodetector methods, we detected trends and responses to climate change and topographical characteristics in Shaanxi Province from 2000 to 2018. The results indicated that 73.86% of the area in Shaanxi Province exhibited an increasing FVC with a growth rate of 0.0026 year−1 from 2000 to 2018. The FVC in the three subregions varied, as QBM (87.24–91.47%) &gt; GZP (47.45–66.93%) &gt; LOP (36.33–49.74%), which displayed a significant increase, slight increase, and slight decrease, respectively. The variation of FVC was significantly positively correlated with climate factors (precipitation, temperature, sunshine duration) at monthly and seasonal scales. The time-lag duration between FVC and climate factors was 1–3 months except for the conjunctional areas of GZP with the LOP and QBM, which exhibited a time-lag of 5–6 months. Topographically, the landform of hills had the highest FVC increase at an altitude of 500–1500 m and a slope of 2°–6°. The dominant driving factors affecting FVC variation in Shaanxi Province and LOP area were climatic factors. In the QBM area, the dominant factors were related to topography (relief, elevation, slope), whereas in the GZP area, they were relief and sunshine duration. We can conclude that local topography characteristics are important in implementing revegetation projects because they strongly influence water, temperature, and sunshine redistribution.