Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of the Change of Cultivated Land Resources in the Black Soil Region of Heilongjiang Province (China)

Shan Xu

doi:10.3390/su11010038

Abstract

It is of great significance for the improvement of grain production capacity and the protection of cultivated land in the Black Soil Region to reveal the temporal and spatial evolution trend of the change in cultivated land resources. In this paper, the temporal and spatial variation pattern of cultivated land resources in Heilongjiang Province was analyzed based on the remote sensing images made in 1995, 2005, and 2015 with the 3S Technology by using the land use dynamic degree, kernel density analysis, and transfer matrix methods. The results showed that, during the two decades from 1995 to 2015, the total quantity of cultivated land increased slightly. To be specific, in 1995–2005, the total quantity of cultivated land increased; in 2005–2015, the number decreased. Spatially, the conversion of cultivated land was mainly concentrated in the west of Heilongjiang Province. During the study period, the high-density cultivated land area was concentrated in the west of Heilongjiang Province, and the largest increase came in Heihe City and Qitaihe City. The conversion between each land type and cultivated land was observed. The internal conversion of cultivated land was between dryland and paddy field. The transfer-out of cultivated land was mainly the conversion of dryland into construction land and woodland, and the transfer-in was mainly the conversion of woodland, unused land, and construction land into dryland, while only a small quantity of conversion involving paddy field was found. Spatially, the conversion mainly took place in Harbin City, Heihe City, and Suihua City in the center and west of Heilongjiang Province, and also in a moderate amount in Qiqihar City in the east of Heilongjiang Province.

Highlights

Cultivated land resources are the material basis for human survival and development
The basic requirement of protecting food security is to ensure that the quantity and quality of cultivated land resources are not reduced
With the acceleration of the new urbanization process and the rapid economic and social development, land degradation in the Black Soil Region, such as soil erosion, secondary salinization of soil, and thinning of the thickness of the black soil layer, has become a severe problem, which considerably affects the grain production capacity. It is of great practical significance for the study of food security and sustainable development of regional cultivated land to analyze the temporal variation pattern and spatial trend evolution of cultivated land resources in Heilongjiang Province, a Black Soil Region of Northeast China [1]

Summary

Introduction

Cultivated land resources are the material basis for human survival and development. The report of the CPC’s 19th National Congress pointed out that “we must Ensure national food security and secure the livelihood of our people”. With the acceleration of the new urbanization process and the rapid economic and social development, land degradation in the Black Soil Region, such as soil erosion, secondary salinization of soil, and thinning of the thickness of the black soil layer, has become a severe problem, which considerably affects the grain production capacity. It is of great practical significance for the study of food security and sustainable development of regional cultivated land to analyze the temporal variation pattern and spatial trend evolution of cultivated land resources in Heilongjiang Province, a Black Soil Region of Northeast China [1]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion