Multifunctional Evolution Response Mechanisms to Urbanization Processes on Peri-Urban Cultivated Land, Nanchang City, China

Abstract

Cultivated land is an important material carrier providing multiple supplies for production, living, and ecological benefits. As an area of cultivated land subject to high levels of human activity during urbanization, the functional level and structure of suburban cultivated land have been strongly impacted. In this study, we took the suburban cultivated land in Nanchang City as the research subject and constructed a multi-functional indicator system for cultivated land in the context of production, ecology, and landscape culture. Using the improved CRITIC-entropy weight method and the optimal parameter geographical detector model, we examined the multi-functional evolution of suburban cultivated land from 2012 to 2022 and its response mechanisms to urbanization. The results showed that (1) the multifunctionality of cultivated land in the peri-urban area of Nanchang City shows a general decreasing trend, with the decline gradually decreasing with an increase in distance from the central urban area. (2) In contrast, the multifunctionality level of a few cultivated land areas away from the central area of the city showed a small to medium increase. The function of cultivated land in the peri-urban area showed a decreasing trend in 2012–2022 due to the urbanization level. However, the production and ecological functions increased slightly, whereas the cultural function decreased significantly. (3) The impact of urbanization on the multifunctional transformation of peri-urban cultivated land is a complex process that is largely shaped by economic urbanization and is influenced by a multitude of factors. Therefore, cultivated land management policies must fully mobilize the socioeconomic resources of each region.

1. Introduction

Cultivated land is a crucial foundation of human existence and development. Its importance extends beyond food production, encompassing roles such as maintaining social stability, ensuring ecological security, and safeguarding native cultures [1,2]. Cultivated land plays a strategic role in ensuring food security, maintaining social stability, and promoting sustainable rural development [3]. Since the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy, China has experienced a rapid urbanization process, with the proportion of the population living in urban areas increasing from 18% in 1978 to 66.16% in 2023. Urbanization, construction, and cultivated land protection have become increasingly prominent [4], and the question of how to coordinate the relationship between the two has become a core issue of concern. Despite the focus on the interrelationship between urbanization, development, and cultivated land protection and the considerable progress made [5,6,7,8], a contradiction between the two will persist. To date, there has been a range of studies exploring the relationship between urbanization and the quantity and spatial configuration of cultivated land. There is a paucity of in-depth studies examining the relationship between cropland function and urbanization. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the response mechanisms of croplands to urbanization from the perspective of cropland function.

The concept of cultivated land multifunctionality was initially defined by the European Union (EU) as multifunctional agriculture (MFA). This approach suggests integrating the environmental and sociocultural roles of agriculture into the local economy and that a reassessment of the value of multifunctionality in agriculture will extend beyond the value of food production [9,10]. In addition to agricultural product production, farms have a variety of other functions, including residential and recreational spaces and providing wildlife habitats [11]. From the perspective of stakeholders, the objective is to optimize the biodiversity function of the farmed landscape, ensure food production, and meet farmers’ needs [12]. The pursuit of increased yields is accompanied by ensuring the quality and quantity of ecosystem services [13] and maximizing the multifunctionality of land use [14]. To date, research on cropland multifunctionality has been primarily concerned with the classification of this phenomenon [15], the spatiotemporal evolution of cropland multifunctionality [16], the trade-off–synergistic relationship among cropland functions [17], matching supply and demand [18,19], supply–demand matching [18,19], and functional zoning management [20].

The advancement of urbanization has rendered the traditional production function of cultivated land management incompatible with the diversified demands of urban and rural residents. This has led to the gradual emergence of a new paradigm in which the multifunctional characteristics of cultivated land are given due recognition [21]. The optimal use of cultivated land functions represents a pivotal strategy for enhancing the efficiency of land use, elevating agricultural quality, eradicating poverty, and revitalizing rural areas [22]. In the initial stages of urbanization, there is a paucity of nonfarm employment opportunities, farmers’ farming practices are largely unaffected by market forces, and cultivated land is predominantly used for production functions. As urbanization progresses, the transfer of agricultural labor to non-agricultural employment [23], improvements in living standards, and the aspiration for a better quality of life drive the functional connotation of the gradual enrichment of cultivated land. This results in a shift that affects the configuration of cultivated land functions and optimizes the pattern of cultivated land functions [24,25]. Adjustments are made to the functions of croplands in the limited supply of cropland resources to adapt to the threat of urbanization and the needs of residents. This has results in changes to the quantity and structure of the multifunctional use of croplands [26].

The impact of urbanization on the function of cultivated land is multiple and complex, with both negative and positive effects on it. Because peri-urban cultivated land is subject to considerable human influence and activity, its multifunctional use is a particularly illustrative phenomenon [27]. On the one hand, urbanization exerts increasing pressure on peri-urban cultivated land [28,29]. Urban expansion and other types of land degradation pose a constant threat to peri-urban cultivated land. The expansion and encroachment of urban construction space have resulted in a reduction in the area and quality of cultivated land and a decline in the multifunctional supply of cultivated land [7,8,30,31]. Land use transformation has a direct impact on food production and agricultural development, which, in turn, threatens food security and the stability of rural economies [32]. The expansion of impervious surfaces has been linked to adverse effects on ecosystem functions and biodiversity, which, in turn, can impede the sustainable development of cultivated land [33]. On the other hand, urbanization also positively affects the function of cultivated land through mechanisms that enhance its utilization efficiency and expand its functions. Capital investment and industrial structure adjustment increases the productivity of labor and technology, which has a positive effect on the restoration of low-quality cultivated land and the development and reclamation of reserve land resources. The industrial structure adjustment brought about by urbanization and the improvement of people’s living standards has resulted in the diversification of the demands placed on cultivated land functions. This diversification is not confined to traditional food production; rather, it encompasses a broader range of uses, including the valuation of cultivated land ecology and increasing recognition of the landscape and cultural functions of cultivated land [24]. The multifunctionality of cultivated land is particularly evident in peri-urban areas, where new agricultural methods such as leisure and tourism are emerging [34]. These changes present novel challenges for the management and use of cultivated land resources.

Although there are still certain restrictions, previous research has set a foundation for future investigations into the connection between urbanization and the multipurpose nature of cultivated land. The majority of research measures the relationship between the multifunctionality of cultivated land, the overall level of urbanization development and the urban expansion index, which does not fully capture the complex effects of many urbanization factors on cultivated land. A new entrance point from the mechanism of interaction between the two sides is necessary to address the conflict between urbanization and the protection of cultivated land. Taking into account the aforementioned factors, we examined the relationship between urbanization and the multifunctional use of cultivated land. We focused on peri-urban cultivated land in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China and analyzed its multifunctional spatial and temporal evolution from 2012 to 2022. This analysis was conducted against the backdrop of urbanization by using an improved CRITIC entropy weighting method and an optimal parameter geodetic detector model. We explored the multifunctional evolution of peri-urban cultivated land in terms of four dimensions of urbanization, that is, spatial, economic, population, and social. The objective was to investigate the mechanism through which urbanization affects the multifunctionality of cultivated land, focusing on the four dimensions of urbanization.

The research goals were to: (1) to investigate the rule of geographical and temporal differentiation and to elucidate the spatial and temporal evolution features of peri-urban cultivated land multifunctionality. (2) To enhance the study findings and objectively examine the process by which urbanization affects the multifunctionality of farmed land at different levels. (3) To propose workable policy proposals for relevant agencies and policy makers to support sustainable development and the efficient use of cultivated land resources.

2. Study Area Overview

The Nanchang suburbs represent a collection of the main urban area and suburban spatial entities situated close to the main urban area. These areas are characterized by a higher degree of urbanization. It is situated in the middle eastern part of China, the north central region of Jiangxi Province, and the northwestern part of central Nanchang. It is located downstream of the Gan River and the Fu River as well as on the southwestern shore of Poyang Lake (28°29′–28°55′ N, 115°36′–116°20′ E). The entire region has a humid subtropical monsoon climate, with most of the area comprising plains. It has superior water and heat regulation and is suitable for crop growth. As of 2022, the total area of cultivated land in the suburbs of Nanchang is approximately 20,874.00 hectares, of which 15,933.06 hectares is paddy land and 4940.94 hectares is other types of cultivated land. The proportions of cultivated land and urban construction land were the highest, except for forest land. This makes Nanchang an important base for food production in the Jiangxi Province. With the urban expansion of Nanchang, the quantity and quality of peri-urban cultivated land have tended to exhibit a progressive decline. People’s demand for diversified cultivated land is growing, and the multifunctional total amount and structure of cultivated land have undergone a major transformation; therefore, the selection of Nanchang peri-urban cultivated land as a research case has a certain typicality and practical value (Figure 1).

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. Data Sources and Preprocessing

The data required for the study were related to the evaluation of the multifunctionality of cultivated land and the selection of indicators of the impact of urbanization on the multifunctionality of cultivated land. The time nodes of the data were selected as 2012 and 2022. The sources and descriptions of the data are presented in

Table 1. Data sources and descriptions.

Project	Data Name	Data Description	Data Source
Multi-functional evaluation of cultivated land	Cultivated land vector dataset	A collection of vector polygons delineating the boundaries of cultivated land parcels	Data from the second and third national land surveys
	Soil pH, soil texture, soil organic matter content, effective soil layer thickness	Physicochemical properties of cultivated land soil	2022 Cultivated Land Quality Rating Database, 2012 cultivated Land Fertility Evaluation Database
	Irrigation conditions, drainage conditions	Natural conditions and irrigation facilities for meeting the water needs of crop growth and draining excess water from cultivated land	Cultivated land quality grade data, with corrections based on field research
	Crop sowing area, crop total output, chemical fertilizer application amount	Basic use situation of cultivated land	Nanchang Statistical Yearbook
	POI (points of Interest) of farmhouse tourism	POI of cultivated land for leisure and tourism	The information of rural homestays can be accessed on the Gaode API platform. https://lbs.amap.com (accessed on 22 September 2024)
	Boundary of Nanchang central Area	The central area of Nanchang City	Obtained by clipping based on the Nanchang central city
Determination of urbanization Indicators	Nighttime light data (1 km)	Information on the nighttime brightness of the earth’s surface collected using remote sensing technology	Corrected from DMSP-OLS and SNPP-VIIRS data
	GDP grid data (1 km)	Spatial distribution data formed by distributing GDP data onto grid cells	China GDP spatial distribution kilometer grid dataset, with corrections based on local economic development conditions
	Population grid data (1 km)	Spatial distribution data formed by distributing population data onto grid cells	LandScan dataset
	Road vector data	A dataset with road information digitized in vector form	OpenStreetMap. https://www.openstreetmap.org/ (accessed on 17 September 2024)
	Regional economic structure, per capita disposable income of urban residents, urban population, per capita public green space area, number of residents’ committees	Regional national economic and social development data	Regional National Economic and Social Development Statistical Bulletin
	Land use data (30 m)	Raster data on land use patterns, statuses, characteristics, and changes	Interpreted from Landsat 8 remote sensing imagery from 2012 and 2020 available at the United States Geological Survey https://glovis.usgs.gov/ (accessed on 16 September 2024)

. All the data were set in the same geographic coordinate system and resampled into a grid of 300 × 300 m. Data were collected using the same geographic coordinate system and resampled into a 300 × 300 m grid.

3.2. Method

3.2.1. Classification of Evaluation Units

In this study, we used data from the second and third national land surveys. The 2012 and 2022 cultivated land maps were used as the base maps, and a 300 × 300 m grid was used as the evaluation unit. The multifunctionality level of cultivated land in the suburbs of Nanchang City was evaluated, and the mechanism of the influence of urbanization on the multifunctionality of cultivated land in 2012 and 2022 was analyzed based on the grid scale.

3.2.2. Evaluation System Construction

(1)

The production function

The production function represents the fundamental attributes of cultivated land and provides a foundation for its other functions of cultivated land. This reflects the production potential and economic output efficiency of cultivated land. Existing studies have mostly used the output value and yield per unit of cultivated land area to measure the production function of cultivated land [19], which can intuitively reflect the economic output but is easily interfered with by the price of agricultural products in the year of assessment, planting structure, agricultural policies, natural disasters and other factors, which makes it difficult to reflect the background characteristics of the cultivated land and the basic production function. Therefore, we established an evaluation index system for the production function of cultivated land, encompassing two key dimensions, namely, soil conditions and use conditions. Soil conditions were selected based on the indicators of the soil physical and chemical properties. Physical indicators of soil texture and effective soil layer thickness reflect the stability of cultivated land and have a significant impact on soil fertility. In contrast, the chemical indicators of soil pH and organic matter content can better reflect soil nutrient content. Irrigation and drainage conditions directly affect crop production. Following pertinent research and the General Rules for Classification and Grading of Natural Resources (TD/T 1060-2021) [35], the indicators were evaluated and assigned points (

Table 2. Production function indicator system.

Guideline Level	Indicators	Score
		100	80	70	60	50	40	20	10
Soil conditions	Soil pH value	6.5~7.5	5.5~6.5 or 7.5~8.5				4.5~5.5 or >8.5		<4.5
	Soil texture	Loam	Clay loam		Clay	Sandy soil
	Soil organic matter content (g/kg)	>40	30~40	20~30		10~20		≤20
	Effective soil layer thickness (cm)	≥100		60~100		30~60		<30
Farming conditions of use	Irrigation conditions	Fully met	Met		Met			Not met
	Drainage conditions	Fully met	Met		Met			Not met

)

(2)

Ecological functions

As an important semi-natural ecosystem, the ecological environment of cultivated land is vulnerable to the impacts of agricultural production and associated human activities. This can result in either positive or negative ecological externalities in the surrounding environment [36,37]. Accordingly, we evaluated the ecological function of cultivated land from the perspective of the ecosystem service function in water conservation, biodiversity maintenance, atmospheric regulation, and negative environmental impact. The following indicators were calculated referring to relevant studies: water storage per unit of cultivated land, Shannon’s diversity index (SDI), carbon sequestration, oxygen release, and fertilizer use intensity per unit of cultivated land. The natural breakpoint method was used to categorize and assign scores (

Table 3. Ecological function indicator system.

Guideline Level	Indicators	Calculation Method	Reference
Water conservation	Water storage per unit of cultivated land	$A={\displaystyle \frac{A_1+A_2}{S_{\mathrm{t}}}};A_1={\displaystyle \sum _{j=1}^m{Y}_j+}{D}_j+M_j;A_2={\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^n(S_i\times {\phi }_i\times B_i)}$ where $A$ is the integrated water storage, $A_1$ is the crop canopy retention (m3), $A_2$ is the soil water storage, $S_t$ is the area of cultivated land in each county and district, $Y_j$ represents the sowing area of the $j$th crop (hm2), $D_j$ represents the sum of the precipitation in each month of the growth cycle of the crop j (0.1 mm), $M_j$ represents the precipitation retention rate of the $j$th type of crop, $j$ is the type of regional crop, $m$ is the number of types of regional crops, $S_i$ is the area of cultivated land in unit i, n is the total number of units; ${\phi }_i$ represents non-capillary infiltration rate of unit i, and $B_i$ represents thickness of cultivated land layer of unit i (m).	[38]
Biodiversity	SDI	$SDI=-{\displaystyle \sum _{j=1}^m(P_j\ln P_j})$ Pj is the ratio of the sown area of crop j in the region to the total sown area of crops in the region (when Pj = 0, lnPj = 0).	[39]
Atmospheric regulation	Carbon fixation and oxygen release per unit of cultivated land	$Q={\displaystyle \frac{Q_{C{O}_2}+Q_{OP}}{S_t}};Q_{C{O}_2}={\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^n\frac{Y_i\times C_i\times (1-D_i)}{E_i}};Q_{OP}={\displaystyle \frac{N_{O_2}}{N_{C{O}_2}}}\times Q_{C{O}_2}$ where $Q$ is the sum of the amount of carbon dioxide fixed by photosynthesis and the amount of oxygen released by the crop during growth, $Q_{C{O}_2}$ is the total amount of carbon absorbed, $Q_{OP}$ is the amount of oxygen released, $Y_i$ represents the economic yield of the ith crop in the region (t), $C_i$ represents the rate of carbon uptake per unit of organic matter synthesized by photosynthesis in the ith crop, $D_i$ represents the coefficient of water content of the fruit of the ith crop, $E_i$ represents the economic coefficient of the ith crop, $N_{O_2}/N_{C{O}_2}=32/44$	[30,40,41]
Negative environmental impact	Fertilizer load per unit of cultivated land	The ratio of fertilizer application to cultivated land	[42]

).

(3)

Landscape cultural function

As a component of the natural and human-made landscape, cultivated land offers residents a range of benefits, including visual appeal, cultural identity, and leisure opportunities. The realization of the cultural functions of cultivated land is contingent on the interaction between its inherent natural conditions and anthropogenic factors. The topography and landscape shape (degree of curvature of borders versus regularity of cultivated land fields) contribute to the formation of a distinctive agricultural landscape. The location of a site can directly influence how people experience and perceive a landscape. We assessed the cultural landscape functions of cultivated land according to location conditions and landscape aesthetics. Finally, we established grading standards and assigned scores by integrating the relevant regulations and data (

Table 4. Landscape cultural function indicator system.

Guideline Level	Indicators	Score
		100	80	60	50	40	30
Location conditions	Cultural and leisure index
	Degree of influence of central cities
Landscape conditions	Degree of concentration and succession (hm2)	≥66.67	33.33~66.67	20~33.33		<20
	Landscape shape	≥0.9	0.8~0.9	0.6~0.8	0.3~0.6		<0.3

).

3.2.3. Cultivated Land Multifunctional Evaluation Score

We used the improved CRITIC entropy weighting method to determine the weights of each index (

Table 5. Multifunctional indicator system for cultivated land.

Function	Guideline Level	Indicators	Attribute	Measurement Unit	Combined Weights	Individual Function Weights
Production function	Soil conditions	Soil pH value	+	/	0.063	0.1807
		Soil texture	+	/	0.057	0.1597
		Soil organic matter content (g/kg)	+	g/kg	0.076	0.2290
		Effective soil layer thickness (cm)	+	cm	0.065	0.1987
	Farming conditions of use	Irrigation conditions	+	/	0.050	0.1279
		Drainage conditions	+	/	0.047	0.1041
Ecological function	Water conservation	Water storage per unit of cultivated land	+	t/hm2	0.074	0.2415
	Biodiversity	SDI	+	/	0.076	0.2838
	Atmospheric regulation	Carbon fixation and Oxygen release per unit of cultivated land	+	t	0.086	0.3179
	Negative environmental impact	Fertilizer load per unit of cultivated land	+	t/hm2	0.056	0.1569
Landscape cultural function	Location conditions	Cultural and leisure index	+	/	0.082	0.2509
		Degree of influence of central cities	+	/	0.094	0.2705
	Landscape conditions	Degree of concentration and succession	+	/	0.112	0.3071
		Landscape shape	+	/	0.061	0.1717

), and the comprehensive index method was used to calculate the multifunctional composite score of cultivated land. The formula is as follows:

$$F_i={\displaystyle \sum _{k=1}^n{M}_{ik}}\times W_{ik}$$

(1)

where $F_i$ is the total multifunctional amount of cultivated land in unit i and $W_{ik}$ and Mik are the weights and scores of indicator k in unit i, respectively.

3.2.4. Determination of Urbanization Indicators

The term “urbanization” is used to describe the process of population concentration from rural areas to cities (towns). This is accompanied by a transformation of economic structures, lifestyles, and civilization patterns. This process is necessary for a country to achieve industrialization and modernization. Accordingly, to assess the impact mechanisms of various aspects of urbanization on the multifunctionality of cultivated land, this study draws on existing research results [43] to construct a new urbanization measurement index system from spatial, economic, population, and social urbanization.

Following the completion of multiple covariance analyses, we identified 12 indicators that could serve as factors for measuring the multifunctional impact of urbanization on cultivated land. In terms of spatial urbanization, changes in the nighttime light index (X1) and built-up area ratio (X2) were used to quantify the use of urban land resources and the expansion of urban space. Four indicators were selected to measure economic urbanization. These were change in GDP (X3), change in the proportion of the tertiary industry structure (X4), change in the ratio of tertiary industry output to secondary industry output (X5), and change in the per-capita disposable income of urban residents (X6). The aim was to reflect the level of economic development and upgrade the industrial structure in this new type of urbanization. Regarding population urbanization, two indicators, namely, the change in population density (X7) and the change in the proportion of the urban population (X8), were selected to measure the degree of agglomeration of population migration in new towns. In the context of social urbanization, four indicators were used—that is, change in road network density (X9), change in public green space per capita (X10), change in commercial and service prosperity (X11), and change in the number of neighborhood committees (X12), which were selected to measure the urbanization process of each region in terms of infrastructure construction, public services, and ecological space.

3.2.5. Analysis of the Response Mechanisms

(1)

Spatial autocorrelation

Spatial autocorrelation was used to describe the degree of spatial dispersion of multifunctional changes in cultivated land within a given study area. This encompasses both global and local autocorrelations. Global spatial autocorrelation reflects the degree of dispersion of multifunctional changes in cultivated land in a region. This is evaluated using GlobeMoran’s I index, which is expressed as I. Local spatial autocorrelation can reflect the spatial location of the concentration of multifunctional changes in cultivated land in the region. This was evaluated using the local Moran’s I index, which is expressed by $I_r$ [44]. The calculation formula is as follows:

$$I={\displaystyle \frac{{\displaystyle \sum _{r=1}^n{\displaystyle \sum _{u=1}^n{\omega }_{xu}(x_r-\overline{X})(x_u-\overline{X})}}}{{\sigma }^2{\displaystyle \sum _{r=1}^n{\displaystyle \sum _{u=1}^n{\omega }_{xu}}}}}$$

(2)

$$I_r={\displaystyle \frac{(x_r-\overline{X})(x_u-\overline{X}){\displaystyle \sum _{u=1}^n{\omega }_{xu}}(x_r-\overline{X})}{{\sigma }^2}}$$

(3)

where n is the total number of grid units. $x_r$, $x_u$ are the measured values of grid cells $r$, $u$. $(x_u-\overline{X})$ is the deviation of the measured value from the mean value on the rth and uth grid units. ${\omega }_{xu}$ is the standardized spatial weight matrix. ${\sigma }^2$ is the variance.

(2)

Optimal parameter-based geographic detectors

Geodetector models are a group of statistical methods used to detect spatial variability and reveal its driving factors. However, this approach requires manual configuration for the discrete processing of continuous data and is deficient in terms of evaluation [30]. The optimal parameter-based geographical detector can calculate detectability indices ($q$ values) under diverse grading techniques and an array of break counts for all continuous data types. This enabled the selection of an optimal grading method, enhancing the objectivity and accuracy of the analysis. A factor detector was used to analyze the driving effect of a single factor on a variable. An interaction detector was used to analyze the interactions between the different driving factors. The formula is as follows:

$$q=1-{\displaystyle \frac{{\displaystyle \sum _{h=1}^L{N}_h{\delta }_h^2}}{N{\delta }^2}}$$

(4)

where q represents the explanatory power of the independent variable to dependent variable, and ranges from 0 to 1. If the value of $q$ is larger, the explanatory degree of the independent variable to the dependent variable is higher and the influence is greater. $N$ represents the total number of samples in the field. $N_h$ stands for the number of unit grids of layer h. ${\delta }^2$ is the variance of urbanization impacts in the study area, and ${\delta }_h^2$ is the variance of in layer h.

4. Results

4.1. Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Multifunctionality of Cultivated Land

The multifunctional composite score of cultivated land in the suburbs of Nanchang City exhibits spatial and temporal heterogeneity between 2012 and 2022 (Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4 and Figure 5). The spatial concentration of cultivated land with high multifunctional value is evident in villages adjacent to the central urban area of Nanchang, including Jingkai District, Gaoxin District, and the southeastern part of Qingshan Lake District. Cultivated land in the vicinity of areas with relatively high urbanization levels is of superior quality. The areas with the lowest values were predominantly located in the peripheral regions of Nanchang City, including the western portion of the Wanli Administration district, the eastern section of Gaoxin District, and the northern area of Honggutan. These regions are characterized by the underutilization of cultivated land and the practice of abandoning plowing, which presents considerable challenges.

We used the natural breakpoint method to grade multifunctional changes in cultivated lands. This entailed dividing the negative-value interval into three levels, that is, rapid decline (RD), medium decline (MD), and low decline (LD), and the positive-value interval into three levels—namely, low growth (LG), medium growth (MG), and high growth (RG). The results demonstrate a decline in the multifunctional composite score of cultivated land in the suburbs of Nanchang City, from 54.67 in 2012 to 49.62 in 2022. Most of the cultivated land exhibited a downward trend, with the range of low-value areas expanding. The peripheral areas of Nanchang City, including the central and southern regions of the Gaoxin Zone, northern Honggutan District, and southern Jingkai District, are experiencing a more pronounced decline. These areas are predominantly typical cultivated lands that survived the urbanization process after being transformed into land for urban construction. They face a series of challenges, including unsustainable agricultural production, insufficient use efficiency, and soil pollution. The quality and function of these lands have been affected to varying degrees. Conversely, the multifunctional integrated level of a limited number of cultivated lands in Donghu District, the southern part of the Wanli Administration, the western part of Qingshan Lake District, and the southern part of Honggutan District demonstrated a medium- to high-speed growth trend.

Regarding the spatial and temporal changes in the functions of cultivated land, the overall production function of cultivated land demonstrated a slight upward trend, with the score increasing from 56.67 to 57.76. The areas exhibiting the greatest increase in the speed of growth were concentrated in villages situated near the central area of Nanchang City. Conversely, the production function of the eastern high-tech zone has declined. The ecological function of cultivated land demonstrated an upward trajectory, with scores rising from 51.71 to 51.92. This suggests that the ecological benefits of cultivated land are being increasingly recognized and valued by the public. The landscape and cultural functions of cultivated land demonstrated a decline, with the extent of low-value areas expanding. The expansion of urban built-up areas and population growth have resulted in a significant increase in soil pollution and the fragmentation of cultivated land, leading to a pronounced decline in the landscape and cultural functions of cultivated land. The landscape and cultural functions of cultivated land are the most susceptible to the impact of urbanization.

The study thoroughly examines the temporal and spatial evolution features of peri-urban cultivated land multifunctionality at the township scale. According to the findings, the high-value regions of multifunctional cultivated land in 2012 were mostly found in the Economic and Technological Development Zone’s White Water Lake Management Office, Guanshan Management Office, and Aixi Lake Management Office, as well as Changdong Town and Maqiu Town of Gaoxin District. These townships are physically clustered around Nanchang’s central city and have comparatively low levels of urbanization. Multipurpose, high-value farmed land was moved from townships in Gaoxin District to Jiaoqiao Township in the Economic and Technological Development Zone, Luoting Township in Wanli Administration, and Yangzizhou Township in Donghu District. From 2012 to 2022, all townships exhibited a general downward trend in the multifunctionality of cultivated land; however, Changdong Township and Maqiu Township in Gaoxin District and Qingyunpu Township in Qingyunpu District exhibit the biggest decline. This is because of the townships’ ongoing construction land expansion and the high occupancy rates of cultivated land, which lower the multifunctionality of cultivated land scores. Since the urbanization process in these areas was comparatively slow between 2012 and 2022, and the amount of cultivated land in each function can be improved gradually, the multifunctionality of cultivated land in Luoting Township of Wanli Administration, Yangnong Management Bureau, and Yangzizhou Township of Donghu District shows an upward trend.

4.2. Clustering of Multifunctional Process Changes in Cultivated Land

The Moran’s I index of multifunctional changes of cultivated land in the suburbs of Nanchang City was 0.43, and the Z value was 61.27. These values indicate significant positive spatial correlations and spatial aggregation effects on the distribution of multifunctional changes in cultivated land in the study area (Figure 6). The local spatial autocorrelation analysis results indicated that the predominant spatial agglomeration type of multifunctional changes in cultivated land was low–low agglomeration, accounting for 64.84% of the total agglomeration types. This suggests that the multifunctionality of cultivated land in the suburbs of Nanchang City decreased during the study period. These areas are concentrated in the central part of Changdong Town and Maqiu Town in Gaoxin District, urban land in Honggutan District, Jiaoqiao Town and Baishui Lake Management Office in the Economic and Technological Development Zone, and other peripheral areas adjacent to the central city of Nanchang. There are instances where these areas have been incorporated into the central city and have undergone rapid urbanization. High–high agglomeration areas were primarily situated in regions exhibiting relatively minimal urbanization, including Donghu District, Wanli Administration. The Crown Hill Management Office in the Economic and Technological Development Zone and urban land in Qingshanhu District also exhibited high agglomeration, comprising 28.27% of the total. This can be attributed to the fact that as urbanization levels in these areas continue to increase, there is a corresponding rise in demand for the multifunctional use of cultivated land. This drives the development of new cultivated land, thereby enhancing the multifunctionality of the cultivated land in the region.

4.3. Factors Influencing Urbanization on Multifunctional Changes in Cultivated Land

4.3.1. Main Influencing Factors

An optimal parameter-based geographical detector was used to calculate the influence value (q) of each influencing factor on the multifunctional changes in peri-urban cultivated land in Nanchang City. All factors passed the 1% significance level. The degree of influence of each factor on the functional changes in peri-urban cultivated land in Nanchang City is illustrated in Figure 7.

Economic urbanization is the dominant structural factor influencing multifunctional changes in cultivated land in the peri-urban area of Nanchang. The processes of spatial and population urbanization promote multifunctional changes in cultivated land. The differences between the influencing factors are relatively small, indicating that the influencing factors of multifunctional change in cultivated land tend to diversify with the development of society and the economy.

From the perspective of each function, the production and ecological functions were the most significantly impacted by the indicators of urbanization. The ratio of the tertiary industry’s output value to that of the secondary industry (0.129), change in the disposable income of urban residents (0.132), and change in the proportion of the tertiary industry structure (0.074) are the principal factors influencing the production function of cultivated land. The rapid economic growth and industrial structure adjustment that occurred concurrently with urbanization in Nanchang resulted in a continued flow of production factors from the low-efficiency sector to the high-efficiency sector. The aggregation and increase of secondary and tertiary industries provide feedback to the cultivated land around the urban center with more capital and technical inputs. This improves and diversifies the production function of the cultivated land in this area. The rise in per capita disposable income among urban residents has prompted some farmers to seek employment opportunities outside of agriculture or engage in other non-agricultural industries. This has resulted in the underutilization of cultivated land in the periphery of Nanchang City, leading to a decline in production. Alterations in the per capita area of public green spaces (0.130) and the number of neighborhood committees (0.090), which are indicators of social urbanization, also impact the productive function of cultivated land. The expansion of public green space per capita within the city prompts the green magnet effect, which attracts a considerable number of residents and enterprises to congregate in the city and stimulates the sustained growth of the urban population’s demand for agricultural products, thus enhancing the production function of cultivated land. The processes of spatial and population urbanization exert a comparatively limited influence on the production function of cultivated land. Regarding the ecological function of cultivated land, the change in the proportion of urban population has the greatest explanatory power (0.120). The rapid expansion of the urban population in the northern parts of Honggutan District, Qingshan Lake District, and Gaoxin District on the outskirts of Nanchang City has resulted in the direct or indirect contamination of cultivated land in the vicinity of the city. This has reduced the ecological function of the cultivated land. In areas such as Donghu District, Honggu Tan District, and the Wanli Management Bureau, where urban population growth has been gradually increasing, the increasing demand from urban residents for green spaces, fresh air, and high-quality agricultural products has prompted the government and communities to prioritize the protection of cultivated land and ecological construction. This has led to the implementation of environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural production methods. The change in the ratio of the output value of the tertiary industry to that of the secondary industry (0.116) and the change in the proportion of the tertiary industry structure (0.115) have an impact on the ecological function of cultivated land, as do the factors of economic urbanization. The expansion of secondary and tertiary industries has resulted in the rapid development of construction land and an increase in industrial pollution emissions. These have the potential to negatively impact cultivated land ecosystems, particularly in the later stages of economic development. If industrial structure upgrades encounter obstacles, this adverse effect may be amplified. The alteration in the quantity of public green space per capita (0.094) and the modification in the number of neighborhood committees (0.116) serve as indicators of population urbanization and influence the ecological function of cultivated land. The expansion of public green space per capita in urban areas and the growth of neighborhood committees suggest that environmental management is becoming increasingly robust, and environmental awareness is increasing. This contributes to enhancing the ecological functions of cultivated land. In terms of the cultural function of the cultivated land landscape, the change in the number of neighborhood committees had a more significant effect (0.071). As urban resident demand for rural leisure and ecotourism grows, the natural landscape and farming culture of cultivated land and its surroundings have become new tourism resources. This promotes the reshaping and upgrading of cultivated land’s cultural functions, giving cultivated land new socioeconomic value and cultural significance. However, various indicators of economic urbanization, such as the change in the ratio of the output value of the tertiary industry to the secondary industry (0.062) and the change in the proportion of the tertiary industry structure (0.065), have weakened the role of cultivated land as a carrier of traditional farming culture to a certain extent. The continuous expansion of the secondary and tertiary industries has led to severe fragmentation of cultivated land, forcing cultural and leisure landscapes to continuously migrate outside the suburban areas, resulting in a decline in the cultural function of cultivated land within the peri-urban area of Nanchang City.

4.3.2. Interaction Factor Detection Analysis

The results of the interaction factor detection showed that the interaction effect of any two variables on multifunctional change in peri-urban cultivated land in Nanchang City was greater than that of a single variable (Figure 8). The interaction effect was primarily manifested as a two-factor enhancement (enhancement, bilinear) and a non-linear synergistic enhancement (enhancement, nonlinear). This indicated that the multifunctional change in peri-urban cultivated land in Nanchang City was driven by multiple factors. The spatial patterns were also considered. Concerning the two-factor interaction, the highest value of the interaction effect between the change in the per-capita disposable income of urban residents at night and the change in the inter-light index was 0.1462. The q-values of the interaction abilities with other factors were all above 0.090. This further indicates that economic urbanization was the main factor influencing the spatial distribution of multifunctional changes in cultivated land on the outskirts of Nanchang City. The level of per-capita disposable income of urban residents as a key indicator of economic urbanization has been enhanced to facilitate the restructuring of the agricultural sector and the diversification of cultivated land functions. The expansion of urban areas and nighttime economic activities are external and readily apparent manifestations of economic urbanization. The interaction between the economy and land urbanization has exerted pressure on cultivated land resources, prompting the transformation of cultivated land to higher-value uses and further exacerbating the complexity of multifunctional changes in cultivated land. This highlights the crucial role of multifunctional changes in cultivated land in the broader context of urbanization. The complexity of these changes further highlights the profound impact of urbanization on the use of cultivated land resources. Economic urbanization is inextricably linked to and interacts with other factors including population density, public green space, and traffic conditions, collectively influencing the spatial configuration of multifunctional alterations to cultivated land in the peri-urban zones of Nanchang.

5. Discussion

5.1. Advantages of the Methodology

In this study, we used a grid scale to examine the spatiotemporal response mechanism of the multifunctional evolution of cultivated land in the context of urbanization. By dividing a 300 × 300 m grid as the evaluation unit, the spatial and temporal characteristics of cultivated land multifunctionality during urbanization were captured at the microscale. This has provided a more precise and in-depth analysis of the subject matter. This fine-grained approach reveals the complexity of the impact of urbanization on the multifunctionality of cultivated land, providing a scientific basis for the formulation of differentiated cultivated land management policies.

We also considered the integrated factors of urbanization in a specific analytical process. The study began with an examination of the four dimensions of urbanization—that is, spatial, economic, population, and social. Several influencing factors were selected, and their effects on the total and structural changes in the multifunctional cultivated land were explored in depth using quantitative analytical tools, including geodetectors. This analytical approach identifies the dominant factors of urbanization in the evolution of cultivated land multifunctionality and provides a new perspective for understanding the complex relationship between urbanization and cultivated land multifunctionality. Considering the various factors associated with urbanization, this study offers a detailed reference point for the conservation and use of multifunctional cultivated lands.

5.2. Locational Effects of Urbanization on the Level of Multifunctionality of Peri-Urban Cultivated Land

Urbanization has provided opportunities for the development of peri-urban cultivated land functions. However, the accompanying population growth, social changes, and land use conflicts have also had considerable impacts on the level of peri-urban cultivated land functions and spatial structure [45]. Urbanization has a distinctive locational influence on the multifunctional capacity of peri-urban cultivated land. The multifunctional level of peri-urban cultivated land demonstrates an overall upward-declining trend in its distance from the central urban area, which corroborates the findings of the previous study [39].

The cultivated land that is undergoing the process of urbanization is the cultivated land situated near newly developed land for construction or newly reclaimed land during urban land expansion. This represents a typical example of cultivated land that has survived the transformation into urban land and has been subjected to significant urbanization and erosion processes. This has resulted in a decline in soil fertility, an increase in the degree of fragmentation, and a deterioration in ecological stability, which collectively challenges the sustainability of agricultural production [46]. Consequently, the multifunctional supply of cultivated land has declined. The cultivation of land close to urban centers is driven by the economic influence of urban areas and the high demand of urban residents for land with agricultural functions. This land exhibits a high level of functioning, with production and cultural functions being particularly prominent, whereas ecological functions are relatively limited. This finding challenges the conclusions of previous studies on the production functions of peri-urban cultivated land [47,48]. The level of industrialization has a lesser impact, maintaining the original character of the farmland and a lower degree of fragmentation. However, it also faces the challenges of concentrated urbanization and loss of rural labor. This has led to the intensification of the phenomenon of underutilization and idleness of cultivated land resources. This has resulted in a decline in the functionality of the cultivated land in these areas. In terms of the magnitude of the change, the change in the functionality of cultivated land showed a downward trend. However, the magnitude of the decline gradually decreases with increasing distance. Even a small portion of the cultivated land’s functionality level away from the urban center shows a small- to medium-magnitude increase.

5.3. Impact of Factors of Urbanization on Changes in Multifunctional Levels of Cultivated Land in Peri-Urban Areas

Urbanization has several positive effects on the production and ecological functions of cultivated land in peri-urban areas. Conversely, it has a markedly negative impact on the cultural functions of such lands. The process of urbanization has resulted in a reduction in the quantity and quality of cultivated land, an intensification of its fragmentation, and a decline in the cultural function of the land in question. Conversely, urbanization has a radiation-driven effect on the surrounding cultivated land, whereby industrial structures are optimized and upgraded and residents’ living needs are improved. The use efficiencies of cultivated land, cultivation technology, and capital investment are subject to continuous improvement. This enhances the production and ecological functions of cultivated land. Economic urbanization is one of the most important driver of multifunctional changes in cultivated land, together with the complex interaction mechanisms of land, population, and social urbanization, it affects multifunctional changes in cultivated land. Peri-urban cultivated land situated in regions characterized by prolonged secondary and tertiary industrialization is susceptible to hazards, such as agricultural pollution, underutilization, and land fragmentation, which collectively result in a decline in the multifunctionality of cultivated land. The widening discrepancy between the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in the context of economic urbanization has exacerbated the exodus of rural labor from cities. This has led to the issue of idle and abandoned cultivated land, which has contributed to the further weakening of the multifunctional attributes of cultivated land.

5.4. Policy Implications for Multifunctional Enhancement of Cultivated Land

According to the study, economic urbanization is the primary factor influencing the multifunctionality level of peri-urban cultivated land, and the multifunctionality level of this land exhibits an overall “upward-declining” location effect along its distance from the central city. This report further proposes operational policy recommendations based on the aforementioned results.

Firstly, because the level of multifunctionality of peri-urban cultivated land is more complex and heterogeneous in space, cultivated land management policies must be differentiated and refined according to the level of function of the cultivated land and surrounding land-use scenarios [46]. It is important to strengthen the total amount of functional value of cultivated land, while it is also necessary to improve the synergy of functional diversity [49,50]. In the case of cultivated land situated near urban centers, it may be beneficial to consider the designation of specific green zones, such as green belts and wedges, or the implementation of composite management strategies for the development of urban or sightseeing agriculture. This approach could facilitate the optimal use of the landscape, cultural, and ecological functions of cultivated land while simultaneously ensuring the continued viability of its production function. In addition to its production function, arable land has been used for its landscape and ecological benefits. When considering the multifunctional management of cultivated land in peri-urban fringe areas, it is essential to consider the land in question and its potential future impacts, with the objective of optimizing the production function while avoiding any changes to other functions. This method can vigorously develop the food crop industry and form an agricultural production area.

Secondly, one major aspect affecting the multifunctionality of cultivated land is economic urbanization. Therefore, economic factors should be fully incorporated into the regulatory framework governing cultivated land functions. In the process of adjusting the industrial structure, it is essential to optimize the internal structure of agriculture in peri-urban areas. This can be achieved by developing high-efficiency agriculture that enhances the added value and market competitiveness of agricultural products. Integration of agriculture with secondary and tertiary industries should be encouraged. The extension of the agricultural industry chain and the enhancement of the value chain facilitate the integration of agricultural production with processing and manufacturing, modern logistics, leisure tourism, and other industries, thereby establishing an integrated whole-industry chain model of agricultural development. This approach increases the added value of agricultural products, enhances the incomes of rural residents engaged in agricultural activities, alleviates the pressure of rural laborer outflow due to the income gap, and ensures the multifunctional and sustainable development of cultivated land. Moreover, economic urbanization and its interaction with population urbanization have a profound influence on the multifunctional transformation of cultivated land. The behavior of farmers, who are the most direct subjects of cultivated land utilization, is essential to the operation of cultivated land. Through legislative assistance and economic incentives, the government should actively work to dismantle urban–rural barriers and revitalize the countryside, particularly in places remote from metropolitan centers. In particular, the government can increase farmers’ willingness to participate in agricultural production by offering financial incentives like tax cuts and subsidies for food production. In addition, to improve farmers’ agricultural production skills and efficiency, the government should also focus on providing agricultural socialization services, such as organizing training in scientific fertilization techniques and offering advice on advanced cultivation techniques. By preserving the diversity and stability of cultivated land functions and reducing the outflow of agricultural labor from peri-urban cultivated land in marginal areas, these policies support sustainable development and the high-quality utilization of cultivated land resources. For regions with an uneven spatial distribution of production, ecological, and cultural functions, the formulation of regional development plans that are integrated with the direction of regional economic development and population mobility is a potential solution.

5.5. Limitations and Research Prospects

This study has the following limitations in exploring the response mechanism of the multifunctional evolution of peri-urban cultivated land to urbanization in Nanchang. These limitations should be addressed in future studies. The study has some limitations in terms of temporal scope. The analysis was constrained by data availability, with most of the dataset comprising data from 2012 and 2022. This relatively short time may not fully capture the dynamic trend of the multifunctional evolution of cultivated land in the context of long-term urbanization. To capture the long-term interaction between urbanization and cultivated land multifunctionality more accurately, future studies should collect longer time-series data for a more systematic analysis. Regarding the construction of an evaluation system for cultivated land multifunctionality, the system constructed in this study is not yet sufficiently comprehensive. In this study, three additional typical functions were selected for investigation, and a more comprehensive study of cultivated land multifunctionality should be conducted. In examining the factors influencing urbanization, while the selected indicators encompass a range of urbanization, there is scope for enhancement in terms of their representativeness and explanatory efficacy. Considering this, future studies should aim to identify and select a more critical and representative set of factors to enhance the accuracy and precision of the analysis.

The result of the interaction between human needs and the black box of the tradeoffs of cultivated land multifunctionality is cultivated land multifunctionality. A synergistic relationship exists between the tradeoffs of different cultivated land functions. It is necessary to analyze the synergistic relationship between the tradeoffs of cultivated land multifunctionality within a region to study and implement a cultivated land management system oriented towards the dominant function. This will result in the achievement of the quantity, quality, and ecology of cultivated land as well as the improvement of the benefits of cultivated land.

6. Conclusions

In this study, we constructed a theoretical framework for evaluating the multifunctionality of peri-urban cultivated land and explored the response mechanism of cultivated land multifunctionality to urbanization. The findings of this study indicate that the multifunctionality of cultivated land in peri-urban areas exhibits a rising–declining trend in proximity to urban centers. The functional change in cultivated land generally exhibits a declining trend, with the decline becoming less pronounced when the land is further from the urban center. Even in a small portion of the cultivated land situated considerably from the urban core, the functional level showed a modest to moderate increase. Concerning functional structure, landscape and cultural functions exhibited a decline because of the considerable impact of urbanization on the configuration of cultivated land. The findings have demonstrated that the impact of urbanization on the multifunctional change of peri-urban cultivated land is a complex mechanism driven by economic urbanization and influenced by a range of factors.

Considering the intricate spatial diversity of multifunctional transformations in peri-urban cultivated land, this study suggests that cultivated land management policies should implement differentiated and refined management measures in order to achieve synergistic development of cultivated land functions among regions and fully utilize the beneficial functions of cultivated land through zoning management. In order to maximize the function of cultivated land, urbanization issues should also be fully taken into account when regulating changes in cultivated land through agricultural socialization services, government incentives, and adjustments to industrial structure. In regions where the spatial distribution of production, ecological, and cultural functions is uneven, regional development plans should be formulated in line with regional economic development, population migration, and social needs. This will ensure the multi-functional coordination and sustainable development of cultivated land in the region.