As natural selenium (Se)-rich soil in China is generally characterized by a high geological background of cadmium (Cd), the safe utilization of such seleniferous soil remains a challenge. The accumulating evidence shows that the threshold value of the Se:Cd ratio is a determinant of regulating Cd accumulation in plants. However, the factors modulating the soil’s Se:Cd ratio in selenium-enriched regions are not well understood. Here, a comprehensive study aimed at quantitatively analyzing the effects of land-use types, parent-material types, and soil properties on the distribution and influencing factors of Se, Cd, and the Se:Cd ratios. According to land use and parent-material types, 77 soil samples were collected in Yuanzhou District, a typical naturally seleniferous area in the subtropical hilly area. The results suggested that, compared with quaternary red clays (qrc), the Se content of soils derived from river and lake sediments (rls) and weathered acidic crystalline rocks (wacr) decreased by 5.81%–19.75%, while the weathered quartzite (wq)-derived soils was increased significantly. The soil Cd content in an orchard was significantly reduced compared with that in a paddy field. A redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that SOM, Total K, and Total P significantly affected the changes in Se and Cd contents. In addition, the land-use type had the most significant effect on the Se:Cd ratio, with a regression coefficient of −0.6999 analyzed by the binary logistic regression model (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pH and Total K were the critical soil properties in controlling the Se:Cd ratio. The study indicated that the Se:Cd ratio in natural selenium-rich soil was mainly regulated by land-use types. Therefore, it is a feasible measure to regulate the Se:Cd ratio by using agronomic practices, mainly regulating soil pH, for the safe utilization of selenium-rich soil with a high Cd background.

Residential carbon emissions are one of the critical causes of climate problems such as global warming. It is significant to explore the development and evolution trend of residential carbon emissions research for mitigating global climate change. However, there have been no studies that comprehensively review this research field. Based on the research papers on residential carbon emissions included in the Web of Science core database and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, the CiteSpace bibliometric analysis software was used in this paper to draw the visual knowledge map of residential carbon emissions research and reveal its research status, research hotspots, and development trend. We found that residential carbon emissions research has gone through the stage of “emergence–initiation–rapid development”, and the research in the United States and the United Kingdom has played a fundamental role in developing this research field. Research hotspots mainly focus on analyzing energy demand, quantitative measurement, and impact mechanisms of residents’ direct and indirect carbon emissions and low-carbon consumption willingness. The focus of research has gradually shifted from qualitative analysis based on relevant policies to the analysis of quantitative spatiotemporal measurements and drive mechanisms of direct and indirect carbon emissions from residential buildings, transportation, and tourism based on mathematical models and geographic information system technologies. Modern intelligent means such as remote sensing technology and artificial intelligence technology can improve the dynamics and accuracy of this research, but there are few related types of research at present. Based on these research status and trends, we proposed that the future research direction of residential carbon emissions should focus more on spatial analysis and trend prediction based on intelligent methods under a low-carbon background.

Based on structural equation modeling, the influence paths and group differences in residents’ low-carbon living behaviors and consumption behaviors were explored in six low-carbon pilot cities in China from the perspectives of low-carbon policy perception and low-carbon information dissemination. The results showed that residents in different pilot cities significantly differed in their low-carbon intention and low-carbon behavior, especially in Hangzhou and Chengdu, which had high low-carbon intention and low-carbon behavior. Low-carbon intention was the core driving force that promoted residents’ low-carbon behavior. Low-carbon policy perception and information dissemination impacted residents’ low-carbon intention and low-carbon behavior, with differences among different pilot cities. Residents in Chengdu and Wuhan showed a significant positive correlation in the direct and indirect paths of low-carbon policy perception on low-carbon behavior. In contrast, residents in Hangzhou showed a significant positive correlation in the impact path of low-carbon information dissemination on low-carbon consumption behavior. In addition, groups with different demographic characteristics significantly differed in the influence paths of their low-carbon behavior. Finally, targeted recommendations were proposed to promote differentiated strategies for implementing low-carbon behaviors, aiming to enhance public awareness and action capacity and support China’s low-carbon transition and carbon reduction goals.

Improving cropland carbon performance while maintaining food security is central to China’s agricultural transition and climate goals This study examines low-carbon cropland use performance (PCLU) and its model-implied interprovincial association network across 31 Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2023. A global super-efficiency slacks-based measure model estimated PCLU by incorporating agricultural output, carbon emissions, nonpoint-source pollution, and crop sequestration; annual directed networks were constructed with a modified gravity model and analyzed using social network analysis, a temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM), and complementary quadratic-assignment analyses. Mean PCLU increased from 0.524 to 0.861, while the interquartile range widened from 0.146 to 0.310; network density declined before partially recovering as hierarchy increased, indicating improvement without provincial convergence and reconnection within a more differentiated multi-hub structure. Persistence (β = 4.510) and reciprocity (β = 2.376) dominated network evolution, whereas shared partners produced neither additional triadic closure nor expanding open chains; similarities in urbanization and planting structure favored ties, while rural-income differences reflected socioeconomic complementarity. External validation showed moderate overall correspondence with green-technology patent collaboration (mean annual QAP r = 0.335) but limited overlap among the strongest dyads. Overall, China’s low-carbon cropland transition combined rising but increasingly uneven performance with a path-dependent and selective interprovincial structure, providing an empirical basis for differentiated coordination based on provincial performance and network position.

Relying on the advantages of selenium-rich soil resources, the development of special selenium-rich agricultural industry is an effective measure to implement the rural revitalization strategy. This paper took Yuanzhou district as the research area, based on ecological niche theory, creatively determines the dominant and limiting factors of selenium-rich soil resources development and utilization from three aspects of natural resources endowment, land use conditions and ecological protection, constructed the evaluation index system of selenium-rich soil resources development and utilization and ecological niche suitability index measurement model, and explored the suitability of regional selenium-rich soil resources development and utilization and zoning. The research results show that: (1) The area suitable for exploitation of selenium-rich soil resources in the study area is 174658.4 ha, accounting for 68.83% of the total area, mainly distributed around Yuan River and in the central, northern, northwestern and northeastern areas of the study area. (2) Based on the evaluation results of the suitability of selenium-rich soil resources development and utilization and the development of related agricultural industries, the study area was divided into four functional zones of selenium-rich industrial development: core zone, key zone, development zone and radiation zone. The core zone and key zone are suitable for building selenium-rich agricultural industry demonstration area and selenium-rich products breeding production base, and the development zone and radiation zone can vigorously develop selenium-rich modern agriculture and selenium-rich recreation tourism, which will accelerate the development trend of multi-level and diversified selenium-rich industry in study area.This study can provide scientific, reasonable and feasible ideas and methods for the development and utilization of selenium-rich soil resources and the planning and development of selenium-rich industries in similar areas.