Research on Identification of Multiple Cropping Index of Farmland and Regional Optimization Scheme in China Based on NDVI Data

Tingting Li,Changquan Liu,Shuangshuang Tu,Yanfei Wang

doi:10.3390/land10080861

Abstract

The multiple cropping index of farmland is a significant characterization of land use intensity. Based on the NDVI data, this paper calculated the multiple cropping index of farmland in China using the S-G filtering method, and proposed an optimized regionalization scheme for the farmland use. The findings reveal that from 2000 to 2018, the multiple cropping index of farmland in China underwent the fluctuation of rising first, then falling and rising continuously, which was closely associated with the agricultural support policies enforced in China. Counties whose multiple cropping indexes decreased from 2009 to 2018 were mainly located in areas primarily producing grain, which exerted a greater influence on food security. The gap between the multiple cropping index and potential multiple cropping index of farmland is increasingly widening from north to south in China. Accordingly, four types of grain producing zones were delineated: key development zone, potential growth zone, appropriate development zone, and restricted development zone. Some suggestions, such as rotation, fallow, determination of yield by water and offsetting the quantity balance of farmland by increasing the multiple cropping index, are put forward based on different zones.

Highlights

With global climate change, continuous population growth, and rapid urbanization, food security issues and policies remain a subject of concern to the international community.China feeds about 18% of the global population using 8% of its farmland [1]
The variation trend of the multiple crop index (MCI) of farmland gained from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was similar to that of MCI calculated by statistical data
2018, the MCI extracted by the NDVI was 124.9%, which is only slightly different when compared with the 126.2% calculated using statistical data

Summary

Introduction

Continuous population growth, and rapid urbanization, food security issues and policies remain a subject of concern to the international community. China feeds about 18% of the global population using 8% of its farmland [1]. The fundamental reality of more people and less farmland in China demonstrates that food security is crucial to the lasting political stability in China. As an important factor affecting food security, the change of farmland area has received more attention. Over the past 40 years of the reform and opening up in China, irreversible non-agricultural changes in a large amount of farmland have taken place according to the progress of fast industrialization and urbanization, which has led to the decrease of farmland area, and a threat to food security [2].

Methods

Results

Conclusion