Response of the Desertification Landscape Patterns to Spatial–Temporal Changes of Land Use: A Case Study of Salaxi in South China Karst

Land use change and karst desertification (KD) are interdependent. It is crucial to investigate the relationship between KD landscape spatial–temporal changes in land for effective sustainable management practices plateau mountains. In this study, we analyzed spatial temporal characteristics, evolution pattern of use, Salaxi study area from 2009 2019, using index trajectories, discussed their response relationships. The results revealed following: (1) Salaxi, cultivated predominantly transformed into shrubland, grassland, woodland. construction land, garden significantly increased, with respective increments 379.85%, 157.14%, 1847.81%. Conversely, unutilized decreased 53.56 hm2 8.55 hm2, proportion declining 0.62% 0.10%. primarily occurs (2) areas non-KD potential have increased. There was a noticeable conversion light medium KD, 1206.84 459.47 respectively. dominated by stable weakening ecological restoration. comprehensive ranking incidence soil as follows: yellow > yellow-brown coarse bone limestone purple soil. (3) index, evenness fragmentation demonstration increased 0.263, 0.120, 0.534, respectively, while 0.360, 0.123, 1.098, Additionally, spreading aggregation 9.247 3.086, landscape’s 6.688 0.430, Both sub-dimension indexes 0.009. Overall, variations different types exhibited varying responses KD. patterns can provide references national strategies on control development industries.