Advances in Farmland Ecosystem Functions and Ecosystem Services: Implications for the Karst Desertification Control

Farmland ecosystems provide multiple ecosystem functions and ecosystem services and underpin regional ecological security and integrity. Despite substantial progress in FESFS research, integrated syntheses linking ecological mechanisms, multiple ecosystem service interactions, and management-oriented service enhancement remain limited. This review synthesized global advances in FESFS and evaluated their implications for farmland ecosystems developed through karst desertification control. Following the PRISMA framework, Web of Science records published through 31 December 2025 were systematically identified, screened, and assessed for eligibility, and 371 studies were analyzed using bibliometrix and structured evidence synthesis. Publication output increased rapidly after 2014, accompanied by a shift from production-oriented research toward multifunctionality, ecosystem service interactions, and integrated management. The evidence synthesis identified three interrelated areas of progress: structure–function–service relationships in farmland ecosystems, ecosystem service trade-offs and synergies, and ecosystem function optimization and ecosystem service enhancement. Based on the bibliometric findings, evidence synthesis, and karst-specific environmental constraints, we identified four priorities for KDCFES: water–nutrient coupling and vulnerability thresholds, biodiversity and functional complementarity, ecosystem service trade-offs and multifunctionality, and the translation of ecosystem function optimization into service enhancement. These priorities provide a sound basis for strengthening ecological resilience and supporting sustainable livelihoods.