Systematic Measurement and Evolution Situation of Coupling Coordination Level between Intensive Cultivated Land Utilization and New-Type Urbanization

Abstract

This study uses the entropy method to measure the comprehensive evaluation index of 30 provincial samples, with the exception of the Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions, of farmland intensive utilization and new-type urbanization in China. This study also builds a coupling coordination model to measure the coupling degree, coordination degree, and relative development degree. The kernel density estimation method and Theil index describe its evolution situation and spatial differences. The results showed that the coupling degree, coordination degree, and relative development degree of cultivated land intensive use and new-type urbanization were highly coupled, barely coordinated, and that cultivated land intensive use lagged, respectively. Kernel density estimation shows that the coupling degree, coordination degree, and relative development degree of cultivated land intensive use and new-type urbanization decrease as a whole and the regional differences increase. Theil index analysis shows that the differences of coupling degree, coordination degree, and relative development degree in eastern, central, and western regions are mainly caused by intragroup differences. Therefore, according to the economic situation and resource endowment conditions of each province and city, the benign interaction between the intensive use of cultivated land and new-type urbanization should be promoted according to local conditions. Food security is an important basis of national security. Cultivated land is not only a key element to ensure food security, but also a strong driving force for promoting high-quality, green, and sustainable development of agriculture and coordinated urban–rural development. By improving agricultural infrastructure and production conditions, China could choose to establish a strict arable land protection system and other measures to improve the level of intensive utilization of cultivated land.