Influence of Landscape Pattern Evolution on Soil Conservation in a Red Soil Hilly Watershed of Southern China

The Tingjiang Watershed is a typical mountainous area with red soil in the south of China. Due to high rainfall intensity, significant cultivated land expansion, and accelerated urbanization, ecological problems such as erosion are prominent study area. Based on use, precipitation, digital elevation model (DEM), normalized difference vegetation Index (NDVI), types 2000, 2010, 2020, landscape pattern conservation were assessed at sub-watershed scale. spatial correlation between was analyzed using GeoDA software. results show following: (1) From 2000 total amount decreased by 4.15 × 108 t. In terms analysis, showed an upward then downward trend north south, most obvious southeast northeast. (2) Fragmentation overall has increased. discrete degree homogeneity patches Changting County, while heterogeneity increased Shanghang, Liancheng, Yongding Counties. (3) Soil significantly correlated indices patch density (PD), shape index (LSI), mean (AREA_MN), cohesion (COHESION), splitting (SPLIT), Shannon evenness (SHEI). Sub-watersheds low had index, dispersion, type richness, boundary complexity. These areas mainly distributed southern part watershed. higher characterized fragmentation strong connectivity dominant patches, which located northern (4) error (SEM) fit better 2020 compared lag (SLM) ordinary least squares regression (OLS). diagnostic SEM that among six indices, PD, SHEI, AREA_MN main influencing factors affecting watershed different degrees. purpose this investigate response state capacity patterns evolve Watershed, goal providing reference for planning management well