Dynamic analysis of agricultural landscape pattern changes in Jiangsu

Abstract

Agricultural landscape is designated as important landscape components for partly controlling water quality, biodiversity, as well as for their aesthetic role in landscapes. Therefore, the change of agricultural landscape is at the top of the agenda for many policy makers and landscape planners. As a basis for conservation management, sufficient information about landscape structure should be providing. Jiangdu County is the main grain producing area in Jiangsu Province, where were taken as a case study area. In this study, the former landscape structure and the changes in landscape patterns during a period of about 10 years in study area were reconstructed and elucidated. Landscape pattern information in study area were extracted and analyzed by using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System technology. Farmland, ponds cultured, forestland and settlement were extracted separately from the remote sensing images. The frequency index, landscape diversity index and landscape fragmentation index were calculated for analysis. The agriculture landscape pattern index was calculated and change characteristics were analyzed by using Fragstats software. Results show that within the study area, the agricultural landscape patterns changed significantly from 2006 to 2016, especially in farmland, ponds cultured and settlement. Landscape diversity index and fragmentation index of this study area increased.