Spatial and structural characteristics of the ecological network of carbon metabolism of cultivated land based on land use and cover change: a case study of Nanchang, China

This paper explored the ecological network of CMCL (carbon metabolism of cultivated land) of Nanchang City from 2000 to 2020 to promote the low-carbon land management and China's dual carbon goals. We found that vertical and horizontal net carbon flow of cultivated land was negative during 2000-2020, and harmful carbon flow was mainly generated by the conversion of cultivated land to transportation and industrial land. Cultivated land contributed the most of the total carbon throughflow, accounting for 56.16%. Furthermore, exploitation and control relationships made maximal contribution to ecological relationships (45.83%), followed by competition relationships and mutualism relationships. In addition, ecological utility index showed the ecological network of CMCL is unhealthy. We suggest that it is necessary to achieve healthy and orderly operation of the ecological network of CMCL to reduce carbon emissions.