Analysis on Temporal and Spatial Pattern Change and Driving Force of Land Use in Agro Pastoral Ecotone in Northern Shanxi

Abstract

Land use change is a considerable representation of mutual effect between human and natural activities. Northern Shanxi is located in the northern agro pastoral ecotone, which the land use pattern changes violently. This paper focuses on the dynamic change characteristics of cultivated land and grassland in the agro pastoral ecotone of northern Shanxi from 2000 to 2015, and explores the main driving factors of their change. It can provide support for land planning and management and relevant policy-making in northern Shanxi and promote regional sustainable development. The results showed that: ➀ There was a close interrelation between the change of cultivated land and grassland I n northern Shanxi, and the whole showed the opposite dynamic change trend. ➁The main land transfer type of cultivated land and grassland is construction land. And grassland is also the main transfer type of cultivated land. And cultivated land contributes greatly to the growth of grassland area. ➂Economic factors are the main driving force which affecting the area change of cultivated land and grassland, followed by the benefit factors of agricultural development, and finally the labor factors. ➃Economic factors can explain the shift of cultivated land and grassland in different districts and counties in northern Shanxi. The benefit factor of cultivated land development plays a negative driving role on cultivated land, the benefit of grassland development plays a promoting role on the growth of grassland area, and the driving force of labor factor is relatively small.