Spatial and temporal differentiation and influencing factors of fallowing in different types of farmland in China:Based on survey data from 346 mountainous counties
Identifying and repurposing abandoned farmland is a crucial strategy for the sustainable expansion of agricultural production spaces.This study utilizes a representative sample of 346 mountainous counties in China to examine the patterns of abandonment,spatial differentiation,and underlying determinants of five distinct types of abandoned farmland:flat paddy field,flat dryland,sloping farmland,rice terrace,and dryland terrace.Through comprehensive spatial analysis,hierarchical linear modeling(HLM),and cost-benefit analysis,we systematically elucidate the sequence of abandonment and provide scientifically grounded recommendations for targeted management strategies.The findings reveal significant variability in abandonment initiation across different farmland types,with the sequence being sloping farmland,dryland terrace,rice terrace,flat paddy field,and flat dryland.Notably,the earliest abandonment occurred in 1980 for sloping farmland,with less productive land typically abandoned first.Currently,over 25％of farming households have ceased agricultural operations on their land,with the abandoned farmland area totaling 9.88％.This abandonment exhibits a geographical pattern characterized by higher rates in southern regions and lower in the north,predominantly affecting paddy fields in the southeastern coastal areas and sloping farmlands and drylands in the Loess Plateau and southwestern mountainous regions.The decision to abandon farmland is significantly influenced by both village and household characteristics,which together account for approximately 44.83％and 55.17％of the variance in abandonment rates,respectively.Factors such as long-term non-agricultural employment,elder household heads with poorer health,and land that suffer from wildlife damage,severe fragmentation,or poor irrigation conditions are more likely to be abandoned.Additionally,escalating labor costs have diminished agricultural profitability,particularly affecting the economic viability of sloping farmlands and terraces,with dryland terraces experiencing losses.To address these challenges,governmental policies should prioritize the management of sloping farmlands and terraces,promoting comprehensive land improvement,facilitating land transfer,and encouraging the adoption of small-scale machinery suitable for mountainous terrains,thereby reducing operational costs and enhancing the profitability of these types of abandoned farmland.
farmland abandonmentspatiotemporal differentiationinfluencing factorshierarchical linear modelmountainous areas
万方数据
