Spatial Heterogeneity of Farmland Abandonment in the Sichuan Province, China

Youhan Wang, Peihao Peng, Qian Li, Zhongsheng Chen and Wenbin Tang
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Youhan Wang: College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Peihao Peng: College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Qian Li: Business School, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, China
Zhongsheng Chen: School of Land and Resources, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, China
Wenbin Tang: College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Urbanization and regional geomorphological and agricultural conditions have caused rural hollowing out and a large number of farms to be abandoned, which is a big obstacle to food security and rural industrial development. Sichuan Province is representative of national major grain producing areas and high-quality cultivated protected land in China. This paper reveals the spatial heterogeneity of farmland abandonment in the Sichuan Province. In total, 455 random sample plots were investigated to explore spatial heterogeneity of abandoned farmland in Sichuan Province. In each sample plot, farmland and abandoned farmland patches were mapped. The rate of paddy field abandonment (RPFA), the rate of non-irrigated farmland abandonment (RNFA), and the rate of farmland abandonment (RFA) were calculated as indicators of farmland abandonment. Our results reveal the spatial heterogeneity of abandoned farmland in Sichuan Province, and the clustering characteristics of spatial cold- and hot spots of the RFA. The findings from this study may have importance in rural infrastructure construction and the implementation of a rural revitalization strategy, as well as in making policies to curb abandonment of farmland. The spatial heterogeneity of farmland abandonment revealed in this study may contribute to sustaining food security and farmland protection in China.

Keywords: farmland abandonment; spatial heterogeneity; sample plots; RPFA; RNFA; RFA; Sichuan Province (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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