Land | Special Issue : Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development

Research

23 pages, 2442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Urbanization on the Sustainable Production of Regional Specialty Food: Evidence from China’s Potato Production

by Yinfeng Ni, Zhi Li, Jingdong Li and Yuqing Jian

Land 2024, 13(2), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020147 - 26 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1357

Abstract

The rapid urbanization process has gradually deepened its role in the sustainable development of agriculture, especially in the sustainable supply of food in poor areas, and has attracted more attention from international academic circles. However, the impact mechanism of different dimensions of urbanization [...] Read more.

The rapid urbanization process has gradually deepened its role in the sustainable development of agriculture, especially in the sustainable supply of food in poor areas, and has attracted more attention from international academic circles. However, the impact mechanism of different dimensions of urbanization on food sustainability in poor areas has not yet been fully unpacked. Therefore, this study focuses on potatoes as a specialty food mainly grown in poor areas of China, explores the impact mechanism of urbanization on the carbon emission intensity of potato production (CEIPP) with the spatial Durbin model, and compares with the carbon emission intensity of staple grain (CEISG) results. The main conclusions are as follows: the urbanization of main potato-producing areas developed rapidly from 2002 to 2020, which is in line with the decrease in CEIPP. The decrease in CEIPP has a significant impact on slowing down the growth of total carbon emissions and has greater potential for reduction, especially in Central and Western China, which has a large poverty-stricken population. Compared with traditional staple grain, urbanization has become a key factor influencing CEIPP. The results indicate that different dimensions of urbanization have varying degrees of impact on the sustainable production of regional specialty foods in China. The improvement of comprehensive urbanization, population urbanization, and economic urbanization reduces CEIPP, while land urbanization increases CEIPP. Therefore, to reduce CEIPP and promote its sustainable development, it is necessary to improve population urbanization and economic urbanization, properly avoid the disorderly expansion of land urbanization, and improve the quality and level of comprehensive urbanization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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18 pages, 2659 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Land Use for Carbon Neutrality: Integrating Photovoltaic Development in Lingbao, Henan Province

by Xiaohuan Xie, Haifeng Deng, Shengyuan Li and Zhonghua Gou

Land 2024, 13(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010097 - 15 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1690

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of land use variations on carbon emissions by incorporating the development of photovoltaics as a scenario. To meet this end, we investigate the carbon emissions fluctuations resulting from different development scenarios: natural development, low-carbon strategies, and [...] Read more.

This study aims to examine the impact of land use variations on carbon emissions by incorporating the development of photovoltaics as a scenario. To meet this end, we investigate the carbon emissions fluctuations resulting from different development scenarios: natural development, low-carbon strategies, and widespread adoption of photovoltaic technology. We identify important influencing factors related to these changes and utilize multi-objective optimization and the PLUS model to simulate land use patterns in Lingbao City projected for 2035, with a focus on achieving carbon neutrality. Through multiple scenarios, we analyze differences in carbon emissions, economic benefits, ecological impacts, and land use allocations. Our findings demonstrate that the photovoltaic scenario leads to a substantial 3500-ton reduction in carbon emissions and boosts overall benefits by RMB 85 million compared to the low-carbon scenario. This highlights the significant role of photovoltaic systems inefficient land utilization, meeting carbon emission targets, and generating economic gains. This research explores the relationship between land use alterations and carbon emissions, aiming to achieve ambitious carbon reduction objectives by integrating photovoltaic applications across diverse land types. It provides fresh perspectives for examining urban land utilization and strategies to reduce carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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15 pages, 372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Land Transfer-In on Crop Planting Structure and Its Heterogeneity among Farmers: Evidence from China

by Yuanyuan Chen, Mingyao Cai, Zemin Zhang and Mu Li

Land 2024, 13(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010087 - 11 Jan 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1582

Abstract

The crop planting structure in the world has shown a trend of “non-grain”, which will shake the foundations of global food security in the long run. As a basic and important production factor, changes in land will have an impact on farmers’ crop [...] Read more.

The crop planting structure in the world has shown a trend of “non-grain”, which will shake the foundations of global food security in the long run. As a basic and important production factor, changes in land will have an impact on farmers’ crop planting decisions. In this paper, we take China, a country that is experiencing land transfer, “non-grain” production, and farmer differentiation, as the research area, use the household survey data at the national level, and adopt the methods of Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and multiple regression models to reveal the impact of land transfer-in on the crop planting structure and its heterogeneity among farmers. The results showed that land transfer-in can drive the crop planting structure to tend to be “non-grain” in China. The research conclusion was still valid after the robustness tests of expanding the sample size, increasing the number of control variables, and introducing endogenous problem management. The heterogeneity analysis indicated that the negative impact of land transfer-in on the planting of grain crops mainly exists for large-scale farmers and farmers with agriculture as the main source of income. Based on these findings, the Chinese government should formulate targeted policies to prevent the “non-grain” tendency of crop planting structure after land transfer-in. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighborhood Does Matter: Farmers’ Local Social Interactions and Land Rental Behaviors in China

by Jiafeng Gu

Land 2024, 13(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010076 - 9 Jan 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1419

Abstract

The transfer of farmland is an important area of rural development research; however, the impact of rural social networks has been neglected in studies. The aim of this study is to explore the effects, mechanisms, and heterogeneity of neighbors’ behavior on the process [...] Read more.

The transfer of farmland is an important area of rural development research; however, the impact of rural social networks has been neglected in studies. The aim of this study is to explore the effects, mechanisms, and heterogeneity of neighbors’ behavior on the process of land renting by farmers. Based on the data of the China Family Panel Studies in 2018, this research empirically analyzes the impact of community-level, local social interactions on the land rental behavior of farmers and its mechanisms using a spatial probit model. The results of this study indicate that neighbors’ land rental behavior positively and significantly affects that of other farmers in the same village. In addition, neighbors’ land rental encourages other farmers in the same village to follow suit through an increase in the perceived importance of the Internet among the farmers. In addition, there is heterogeneity in neighborhood influence. Notably, the impact of social networks on the renting out of the land by farmers, as evidenced in this study, is a key factor in accelerating the circulation of rural land and promoting rural development, thus contributing to the process of rural revitalization and its recording in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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25 pages, 7599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial–Temporal Coupling Analysis of Land Use Function and Urban–Rural Integration in Heilongjiang, China

by Na Zhang, Yishan Yao, Lu Wang and Quanfeng Li

Land 2023, 12(12), 2152; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12122152 - 11 Dec 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1456

Abstract

Urban–rural integration relies on the rational flow of factors between urban–rural areas. Land represents a closely related factor between urban–rural areas, so the effective utilization of land resources can promote the flow of urban–rural factors. Therefore, there is a certain correlation between land [...] Read more.

Urban–rural integration relies on the rational flow of factors between urban–rural areas. Land represents a closely related factor between urban–rural areas, so the effective utilization of land resources can promote the flow of urban–rural factors. Therefore, there is a certain correlation between land use function and urban–rural integration. The purpose of this study is to explore the coupling and coordination relationship between the two systems and to find out the spatial–temporal differentiation characteristics in the process of land use function and urban–rural integration. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The comprehensive level of land use function and urban–rural integration in Heilongjiang Province shows an overall upward trend, but there is a large differentiation on a municipal scale. (2) The coupling coordination degree of the two systems in Heilongjiang Province shows a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the north and low in the south, high in the middle and low in the east and west”. From 2013 to 2022, except for Harbin and Yichun, the overall trend in other regions is gradually upward. (3) The obstacle degree analysis of land use function and urban–rural integration in Heilongjiang Province shows that there is a close correlation of obstacle factors between the two systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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22 pages, 9179 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurements and Influencing Factors of New Rural Collective Economies’ Resilience toward Mountain Disasters in Indigent Areas: A Case Study of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China

by Ye Yuan, Ming Li, Congshan Tian and Yun Xu

Land 2023, 12(11), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112042 - 9 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1718

Abstract

Economic activities in disaster-prone areas are significantly susceptible to mountain disasters, and enhancing the resilience of new rural collective economies (RRCEs) is a pressing challenge that needs to be overcome in the areas of disaster risk management and sustainable development. The target research [...] Read more.

Economic activities in disaster-prone areas are significantly susceptible to mountain disasters, and enhancing the resilience of new rural collective economies (RRCEs) is a pressing challenge that needs to be overcome in the areas of disaster risk management and sustainable development. The target research area comprises 48 representative villages in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (LP). An assessment framework based on the Resilience Index Measurement Analysis (RIMA) model is established to evaluate the RRCEs in the face of mountain disasters, and the influencing factors regarding the RRCEs are examined. The results show that (1) typical villages in the new rural collective economies (NRCE) have a low level of resilience. (2) Transformational capacity is the key to improving RRCEs. (3) Off-farm villages exhibit the highest level of collective economic resilience, followed by diversified villages, while the lowest resilience level is observed in purely agricultural villages. (4) Talent security and institutional security are important for achieving a high level of resilience. Both of these factors significantly influence RRCEs. (5) The combined influence of talent, financical, institutional, technological, and business security contributes to the diverse factors that shape RRCEs. In other words, the path to achieving resilience in the new rural collective economies is characterized by multiple routes that lead to a common goal. Building on this, we propose recommendations in five key areas, namely, encouraging scientific research and innovation, improving disaster insurance coverage, strengthening the emergency protection system, facilitating collective economic development, and selecting suitable strategies to enhance resilience based on local conditions. The aim is to offer valuable insights for disaster-prone areas to enhance RRCEs and realize sustainable development and rural revitalization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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19 pages, 5783 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Driving Mechanism of Comprehensive Land Consolidation on Urban–Rural Development Elements Integration

by Yuyao Zuo, Chaoxian Yang, Guixin Xin, Ya Wu and Rongrong Chen

Land 2023, 12(11), 2037; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112037 - 9 Nov 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1718

Abstract

Identifying the driving mechanism of comprehensive land consolidation (CLC) on urban–rural development elements integration (URDEI) is of great significance for promoting the coordinated development of urban and rural areas. Based on the composition of urban and rural element systems, this study establishes the [...] Read more.

Identifying the driving mechanism of comprehensive land consolidation (CLC) on urban–rural development elements integration (URDEI) is of great significance for promoting the coordinated development of urban and rural areas. Based on the composition of urban and rural element systems, this study establishes the theoretical framework of the influence of CLC on URDEI and verifies the framework through empirical cases in Chongqing, China. The results show that (1) CLC promotes URDEI and realizes the rational allocation of urban and rural resources by improving the quality of urban and rural elements and opening up two-way flow channels. (2) The case analysis demonstrates that CLC can improve the quality of rural elements and increase the added value of the flow to the city, which in turn drives urban elements such as talents, technology, and capital to pour into the countryside, therefore forming a realistic path for the URDEI. This study helps understand the role of CLC in the transformation of URDEI and provides a reference for the scientific implementation of land consolidation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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27 pages, 19581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identify Optimization Type of Rural Settlements Based on “Production–Living–Ecological” Functions and Vitality: A Case Study of a Town in Northern China

by Yafeng Zou, Chengfeng Yi, Yufei Rao, Feng Luo, Changhe Lv and Pinqi Wu

Land 2023, 12(10), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101905 - 10 Oct 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2758

Abstract

Rural settlements are developing in the direction of functional diversification, driven by rapid urbanization, but also leading to a decline in their vitality as a result of the rapid concentration of rural population in cities. Therefore, this study proposed a theoretical framework to [...] Read more.

Rural settlements are developing in the direction of functional diversification, driven by rapid urbanization, but also leading to a decline in their vitality as a result of the rapid concentration of rural population in cities. Therefore, this study proposed a theoretical framework to refine the optimization approach for rural settlements from the perspective of “production–living–ecological” functions (PLEF) and vitality. Taking a town in the farming–pastoral ecotone in northern China as a case, we evaluated the level of the PLEF of rural settlements. After exploring the functional requirements of villagers, we revealed the vitality of rural settlements based on social network analysis. The Tapio decoupling model was used to identify the optimization type of rural settlements considering the PLEF and vitality. The results showed that the PLEF of rural settlements was higher in areas with flat terrain, convenient transportation, and rich economies. Rural settlements closer to the central town were stronger in vitality. The PLEF of rural settlements was generally correlated with vitality, which means that rural settlements with a higher level of PLEF also had a stronger vitality. Rural settlements were classified into five types: suburban integration, characteristics protection, agglomeration and upgrading, general survival, relocation, and merger, according to the characteristics of a combination of PLEF and vitality. This study contributes to a deeper comprehension of the functional and structural characteristics of rural settlements and will be beneficial in guiding rural spatial reconstruction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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26 pages, 10558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatial Pattern Evolution of Rural Settlements and Multi-Scenario Simulations since the Initiation of the Reform and Opening up Policy in China

by Shuangqing Sheng and Hua Lian

Land 2023, 12(9), 1763; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091763 - 11 Sep 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2019

Abstract

Since the inception of China’s reform and opening-up policy, the rapidly advancing process of urbanization and the primacy accorded to urban development policies have imparted increasingly profound ramifications on rural domains. Nonetheless, antecedent research has predominantly fixated on urban sprawl, overlooking the spatial [...] Read more.

Since the inception of China’s reform and opening-up policy, the rapidly advancing process of urbanization and the primacy accorded to urban development policies have imparted increasingly profound ramifications on rural domains. Nonetheless, antecedent research has predominantly fixated on urban sprawl, overlooking the spatial metamorphosis of rural settlements and the prospective developmental trajectories within the policy paradigm. Consequently, this inquiry endeavors to scrutinize the evolution of the spatial configuration of rural settlements in She County from the advent of reform and opening-up (1980–2020) utilizing remote sensing data. In tandem, through scenario delineation and the utilization of the CLUE-S model, it aspires to prognosticate the evolving trends in the spatial arrangements of rural settlements in She County by 2035. The empirical findings divulge that (1) The temporal progression of rural settlement spatial configurations in She County over the preceding four decades can be delineated into two discernible phases. From 1980 to 2000, alterations in the number, extent, and spatial morphological attributes of rural settlements remained circumscribed. While the count of rural settlements registered a diminution (by 3), the aggregate extent experienced a marginal augmentation (by 8.45%), concomitant with a gradual gravitation towards regular boundaries, manifesting a stochastic distribution throughout the investigation expanse. Conversely, from 2000 to 2020, the quantity and extent of rural settlements in She County underwent a precipitous augmentation (92 and 36.37%, respectively), characterized by irregular peripheries. (2) The CLUE-S model achieved an overall precision of 0.929, underscoring its applicability in emulating fluctuations in rural settlements. (3) Within the new-type urbanization scenario, the cumulative expanse of rural settlements witnessed a decline of 35.36% compared to the natural development scenario, marked by substantial conversions into grassland and urban land usage. Furthermore, orchestrated planning and directive measures have propelled the consolidation of rural settlements in She County, engendering a more equitable and standardized layout. Under the aegis of the ecological conservation scenario, the total rural settlement area recorded a 0.38% reduction vis-à-vis the natural development scenario, primarily entailing competitive coexistence with arable land, grassland, and urban land usage in spatial terms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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19 pages, 4662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Correlation between Water Resources and Rural Settlements in the Yanhe Watershed Based on Bivariate Spatial Autocorrelation Methods

by Lingda Zhang, Quanhua Hou, Yaqiong Duan and Wenqian Liu

Land 2023, 12(9), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091719 - 3 Sep 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1942

Abstract

The production–living–ecological functions of rural settlements are closely tied to water resources, which are the primary influencing factors of the spatial characteristics of rural settlements. However, the specific relationship between water resources and the spatial characteristics of rural settlements remains unclear. Understanding the [...] Read more.

The production–living–ecological functions of rural settlements are closely tied to water resources, which are the primary influencing factors of the spatial characteristics of rural settlements. However, the specific relationship between water resources and the spatial characteristics of rural settlements remains unclear. Understanding the interrelationship between the two can better safeguard the ecological pattern of the basin and optimize the living environment of settlements. This study utilized multi-source data to calculate the water yield, water demand, and ecological surplus or deficit of water resources in the Yanhe watershed. We quantified the spatial characteristics of rural settlements and employed bivariate spatial autocorrelation methods to analyze the spatial correlation between water resources and the spatial distribution, scale, and boundary form of rural settlements in the Yanhe watershed. The results show the following: ➀ Seven sub-basins in the upper reaches exhibit a severe ecological deficit in water resources, with insufficient water resources to support the demands of regional socio-economic development. The middle and lower reaches have achieved a balance between water supply and demand. ➁ Rural settlements are most densely distributed in the middle reaches, with the smallest area scale, exhibiting a transitional spatial characteristic towards the upstream and downstream ends. ➂ The Moran’s I values of spatial aggregation and morphological index of rural settlements with respect to the ecological surplus or deficit of water resources are 0.36 and 0.50, respectively, indicating a strong positive correlation. The Moran’s I value of the area scale with respect to the ecological surplus or deficit of water resources is −0.60, indicating a significant negative correlation. This research has important practical significance for guiding the spatial layout of rural settlements in the Yanhe watershed and promoting their sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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25 pages, 1881 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Aging Population in Rural Families on Farmers’ Willingness to Withdraw from Homesteads in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China

by Hanlong Gu, Yuqing He, Bingyi Wang, Fengkui Qian and Yan Wu

Land 2023, 12(9), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091716 - 2 Sep 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1838

Abstract

Population aging presents a significant global challenge. In China, the aging of the rural population coincides with inefficient rural homestead utilization. While the Chinese government has enacted policies to address this, their impact remains limited. Utilizing survey data from 403 rural families in [...] Read more.

Population aging presents a significant global challenge. In China, the aging of the rural population coincides with inefficient rural homestead utilization. While the Chinese government has enacted policies to address this, their impact remains limited. Utilizing survey data from 403 rural families in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, this study applies the binary Logit and mediating effect models to analyze the impact of rural family population aging on farmers’ willingness to withdraw from homesteads with compensation and their compensation preference. Key findings include: (1) Family population aging intensifies farmers’ willingness to withdraw from homesteads, with a stronger preference for non-monetary compensation as aging increases. (2) Regarding the willingness to withdraw with compensation, farmers’ cognition of homestead security value masks the effect by 4.71%, while asset value cognition has no mediating effect. (3) With regard to promoting non-monetary compensation choices, farmers’ homestead asset value cognition fully mediates at 16.01%, but security value cognition is without mediating effect. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government crafts tailored homestead withdrawal policies considering farmers’ family age structure. Further, efforts should aim at refining farmers’ understanding of homestead values, promoting a blend of non-monetary and monetary compensations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 3245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Rebalance the Land-Use Structure after Large Infrastructure Construction? From the Perspective of Government Attention Evolution

by Junbo Gao, Xinyi Zhang, Chao Yu, Zhifei Ma, Jianwu Sun and Yujie Guan

Land 2023, 12(8), 1632; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081632 - 20 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1359

Abstract

Large infrastructure projects play a crucial role in regional development but can also negatively impact cultivated-land protection. This study focuses on the role of local governments in land-use conflicts and the rebalancing of land-use structures during large infrastructure construction. Using the construction of [...] Read more.

Large infrastructure projects play a crucial role in regional development but can also negatively impact cultivated-land protection. This study focuses on the role of local governments in land-use conflicts and the rebalancing of land-use structures during large infrastructure construction. Using the construction of a reservoir in the Huaihe River as a case study, the research examines the evolution of government attention and the process of township local governments promoting land-use adjustment. The findings reveal that local governments go through a process of “Create–Reinforce–Adjust–Delivery” in their attention to reservoir construction to maximize their interests. Attention fluctuates in terms of reservoir construction, cultivated-land protection, and immigration-development assistance. Biased land-use decisions were made at different stages, leading to four stages of rebalancing efforts: “Generation–Challenge–Marked effect–Continuous negative impact”. This process provides insights into land-use decision-making and the rebalancing of land-use structure. The study suggests that the superior government should guide local governments to enhance attention to cultivated-land protection through laws and policies, while local governments should focus on the quality protection of cultivated land and mitigate the negative impact of rebalancing efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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18 pages, 3628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Rural Location on Farmers’ Livelihood in the Loess Plateau: Local, Urban–Rural, and Interconnected Multi-Spatial Perspective Research

by Yin Wang, Dian Min, Wenli Ye, Kongsen Wu and Xinjun Yang

Land 2023, 12(8), 1624; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081624 - 18 Aug 2023

Viewed by 2298

Abstract

With the strengthening of regional and urban–rural interactions, farmers’ livelihood activities are becoming increasingly complex, and environmental factors that influence farmers’ livelihoods have multi-spatial effects. Consequently, comprehending farmers’ livelihoods from a multi-spatial perspective is imperative. Based on surveys conducted in 65 villages and [...] Read more.

With the strengthening of regional and urban–rural interactions, farmers’ livelihood activities are becoming increasingly complex, and environmental factors that influence farmers’ livelihoods have multi-spatial effects. Consequently, comprehending farmers’ livelihoods from a multi-spatial perspective is imperative. Based on surveys conducted in 65 villages and 451 households in Jia County on the Loess Plateau, China, rural locations were deconstructed into natural, traffic, and positional advantages to explore the relationships and mechanisms between the rural environment and farmers’ livelihood stability from local, urban–rural, and interconnected multi-spatial perspectives. We found that 77% of the villages achieved a moderate or high Rural Location Advantage Index (RLAI) rating; 45% still lack natural advantages and are mainly located in hilly and sandy areas because of the fragile ecological environment of the Loess Plateau. Additionally, the Livelihood Stability Index (LSI) was moderate overall, but with significant spatial heterogeneity, and 72% of farmers possess strong transition capacity and have shifted away from relying on monoculture as their primary livelihood strategy. While a certain coupling correspondence exists between the LSI and RLAI, the interaction is intricate rather than a simple linear agglomeration process. The spatial variation in the LSI results from the superposition or interaction of multi-spatial location factors. The rural–urban spatial location factors are the key control element of the LSI and the interaction between rural–urban and local spatial location factors has the greatest influence on the LSI. It is simple for interconnected spatial location factors to produce a scale correlation effect, and have non-negligible effects on farmers’ livelihoods when they interact with other spatial location factors. Understanding the impact of rural location on farmers’ livelihood from a multi-spatial perspective is of great practical significance for identifying the causes of spatial heterogeneity in livelihoods and enhancing multi-level policy coordination on rural revitalization and livelihood security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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21 pages, 359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Decisions to Undertake Off-Farm Work and Straw Return: The Role of Cognitive Ability

by Jutao Zeng and Jie Lyu

Land 2023, 12(8), 1599; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081599 - 14 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1279

Abstract

Using a sample of 1166 maize-planting farmers from Liaoning province in China, in this paper, we provide a new explanation for the slow-proliferation situation of straw return. Both our theoretical and empirical results indicate that the low rate of adoption of straw return [...] Read more.

Using a sample of 1166 maize-planting farmers from Liaoning province in China, in this paper, we provide a new explanation for the slow-proliferation situation of straw return. Both our theoretical and empirical results indicate that the low rate of adoption of straw return can be partly attributed to the farmers’ choice to undertake off-farm work. Probit, PSM, IV-probit, and bivariate probit models are utilized to estimate the interdependent nature of these two simultaneous decisions, with an identified causal effect ranging from −0.115 to −0.287. Instead of the “income-increasing effect”, our research supports the dominant existence of the “lost-labor effect”. Furthermore, intelligent and risk-tolerant farmers undertaking off-farm work are found to have additional negative impacts on the likelihood of straw return adoption. With regard to the mediating mechanisms, we find that the choice of off-farm work may decrease the probability of raising cattle and also downscale arable land, thereby reducing the likelihood of straw return adoption. In line with our proposed model, fluid cognitive ability contributes to the farmers’ adoption of straw return by increasing their learning and updating efficiency. In contrast, crystal cognitive ability deters the undertaking of nonfarm work by establishing a comparative advantage in agricultural production, thus indirectly promoting the proliferation of straw incorporation. According to our theoretical and empirical findings, the proper policy interventions proposed mainly include three points. First, governments should endeavor to increase agricultural specialization by further promoting arable land transfer and human capital accumulation in farming. Second, it is beneficial to facilitate the process of learning by doing and social learning by enhancing the human capital levels of farmers. Last, it is necessary to cultivate farmers’ inclination towards long-term investment by explaining the concrete benefits of straw return to farmers on a timely basis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

22 pages, 8057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Spatial Restructuring of Farmers’ Homestead Based on the “Point-Line-Surface” Characteristics of Mountain Villages

by Yingbin Feng, Jingjing Li and Dedong Feng

Land 2023, 12(8), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081598 - 14 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1693

Abstract

The spatial restructuring of rural settlements is conducive to the realization of rural transition and development. This study constructed a “point-line-surface” framework for the spatial reconstruction of the homestead in a typical mountain village and used the weighted Voronoi diagram and buffer analysis [...] Read more.

The spatial restructuring of rural settlements is conducive to the realization of rural transition and development. This study constructed a “point-line-surface” framework for the spatial reconstruction of the homestead in a typical mountain village and used the weighted Voronoi diagram and buffer analysis method to analyze. The results are as follows. (1) The development capacity of rural homesteads in Longfeng Village was divided into three levels: high, medium, and low. Among them, the high-level homesteads clustered in the north and south of the village in the form of a “T” and a long strip, respectively; the medium-level homesteads are mostly aggregated in the middle of the village; the low-level homesteads are mainly distributed along the Fenghuang Mountain. (2) The layout of homesteads in Longfeng Village was axis-oriented, which is manifested by the number and scale being in a gradient-decreasing pattern with the main road axis as the centerline. (3) According to the principle of “maximum” development capacity of the homestead, nine reconstruction units are divided. By calculating the location entropy, it is found that the dominant functions of each reconstruction unit mainly include supporting life services, operational production, ecological agricultural production, and traditional agricultural production, and there are obvious differences in the development patterns of homesteads in different functional units. (4) Based on the “point-line-surface” characteristics of the homestead, four reconstruction modes, namely, modern community type, field and garden integration type, road-pointing type, and traditional residential type, are summarized, and the reconstruction strategies are proposed accordingly. The “point-line-surface” framework of rural settlements is of practical significance and theoretical value, which can provide a decision-making reference for the optimization and reorganization of residential land space in villages of the same type in mountain areas. Moreover, the integrated and innovative framework proposed in the paper has also international significance, thanks to the possibility of replicating the research strategy and methodological approach in other contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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24 pages, 5842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Coupling Coordination and Key Factors between Urban–Rural Integrated Development and Land-Use Efficiency in the Yellow River Basin

by Caiting Shen, Linna Shi, Xinyan Wu, Jinmei Ding and Qi Wen

Land 2023, 12(8), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081583 - 11 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

Exploring the complex dynamic relationship between urban–rural integrated development and land-use efficiency can contribute to most efficient urban–rural land-use and the rational promotion of urban–rural integrated development. This study established an evaluation model of urban–rural integrated development, adopted the super-efficiency SBM model to [...] Read more.

Exploring the complex dynamic relationship between urban–rural integrated development and land-use efficiency can contribute to most efficient urban–rural land-use and the rational promotion of urban–rural integrated development. This study established an evaluation model of urban–rural integrated development, adopted the super-efficiency SBM model to measure land-use efficiency, and studied the evolution of the spatial–temporal patterns of urban–rural integrated development and land-use efficiency coupling in the Yellow River Basin. We also examined the factors affecting them with the help of the coupling coordination degree model, non-parametric kernel density estimation, and geographic probes. The results indicate the following: (1) Within the study period, the coupled coordination of urban–rural integrated development and land-use efficiency was similar to the spatial distribution characteristics of land-use efficiency, both showing a “high at both ends and low in the middle” trend. (2) The coupled coordination increased over time; however, a lagging land-use efficiency was a crucial impediment to improving the coupling coordination degree. (3) Carbon emissions, urbanization rate, and per capita GDP were key drivers. The results of this study can provide a reference for local governments in the Yellow River Basin and other similar areas to propose paths to optimize the allocation of urban and rural land-use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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23 pages, 5521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geographical Patterns and Influencing Mechanisms of Digital Rural Development Level at the County Scale in China

by Tianyu Li, Shengpeng Wang, Pinyu Chen, Xiaoyi Liu and Xiang Kong

Land 2023, 12(8), 1504; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081504 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2147

Abstract

Digital rural development has become an emerging dynamic force for high-quality rural development in China. This paper constructs the “environmental-economic-social” analysis framework for digital rural development, analyzes the spatial variation of the digital rural development level (DRDL) in Chinese counties in 2020, and [...] Read more.

Digital rural development has become an emerging dynamic force for high-quality rural development in China. This paper constructs the “environmental-economic-social” analysis framework for digital rural development, analyzes the spatial variation of the digital rural development level (DRDL) in Chinese counties in 2020, and conducts the factor detection and interaction detection of its influencing factors. It is found that: (1) digital rural development has its own unique spatial differentiation mechanism, which can be analyzed from three dimensions: environmental system, economic system, and social system, which play a fundamental role, decisive role, and a magnifying effect on digital rural development, respectively. (2) The DRDL in China’s counties has significant spatial distribution, spatial correlation, and spatial clustering characteristics. The DRDL in general shows a decreasing distribution trend from coastal to inland regions, and the overall differences in DRDL mainly come from intra-regional differences rather than inter-regional differences. The rural infrastructure digitalization dimension has stronger spatial correlation while the spatial correlation of the rural governance digitalization dimension is weaker. There are obvious hotspot and coldspot areas in the DRDL, with large differences between the coldspot and hotspot areas of different sub-dimensions. (3) The spatial divergence of the DRDL is closely related to geographical elements and is the result of the combined effect of several geographical factors. The factor detection results show that the dominant factors within the four regions are significant different. The interaction detection results show that the driving force of the two-factor interaction is stronger than that of the single-factor interaction and that the interaction among the factors further deepens the spatial differentiation of the DRDL. Full article

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18 pages, 8634 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Investigation and Comparison of Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Farmland Fragmentation in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region, China, and Bavaria, Germany

by Lu Niu, Mengyao Xu and Walter Timo de Vries

Land 2023, 12(7), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071410 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1601

Abstract

Farmland fragmentation has emerged as the primary manifestation of global land use changes during the last century. Following the economic reform and opening up in China from the 1980s, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region has witnessed continuous farmland fragmentation. Understanding the spatial–temporal dynamics of [...] Read more.

Farmland fragmentation has emerged as the primary manifestation of global land use changes during the last century. Following the economic reform and opening up in China from the 1980s, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region has witnessed continuous farmland fragmentation. Understanding the spatial–temporal dynamics of farmland fragmentation is crucial for formulating sustainable land use management strategies. However, the specific causes and locations of farmland fragmentation remain unclear, as do potential significant differences or similarities across different countries. Given this quandary, this study empirically analyzes the spatial–temporal characteristics of farmland fragmentation in two different contexts: the BTH region in China and Bavaria in Germany. The study utilizes multiple theoretical models for temporal and spatial farmland fragmentation, applying the comprehensive index method, landscape pattern analysis, and the magic cube model. The results indicate that the farmland fragmentation index (FFI) value in BTH and Bavaria first increased or remained stable, but afterwards, both decreased and increased again. Moreover, the spatial analysis demonstrated high significance values for the FFI in the northern and western BTH region and in northern and southern Bavaria. There are, furthermore, significant differences in the FFI in different macro landforms. The FFI in the mountain regions is significantly higher than that of the plains. Finally, the results also demonstrate that a decreasing FFI relates to the overall low values within an FFI region. The theoretical framework in this study appears to align with empirical results, and thus provides a reference for future policy measures to protect farmland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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16 pages, 5676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Rural Development in Northeast China

by Xiaohan Zhang, Haowei Wu, Zhihui Li and Xia Li

Land 2023, 12(7), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071407 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1510

Abstract

An assessment of rural development and its driving factors can effectively reflect the characteristics and transformation of rural areas and provide important information for the formulation and implementation of rural development strategies. Taking Northeast China as study area, a rural development index framework [...] Read more.

An assessment of rural development and its driving factors can effectively reflect the characteristics and transformation of rural areas and provide important information for the formulation and implementation of rural development strategies. Taking Northeast China as study area, a rural development index framework was constructed from three dimensions, i.e., basic rural conditions, the state of agricultural development, and farmers’ living standards, based on which the rural development level of each city in Northeast China for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 was assessed. Then, an exploratory spatial data analysis was used to explore the spatial and temporal variations in the rural development level in Northeast China during the period 2000–2020. The driving factors were also analyzed using a geographically and temporally weighted regression model. The results showed that the rural development level showed an increasing trend overall, with a spatial pattern of “high in the central, low in the east and west” in most periods. The degree of spatial agglomeration of the rural development level also showed a strengthening trend overall. The hots spots of rural development were mainly distributed in the Southern and Northern regions, while the cold spots were mostly concentrated in the central, eastern and western regions. Urbanization processes, elevation, annual precipitation and other natural factors have weakened the level of rural development to a certain extent, while agricultural production upgrading, an increase in the general public budget expenditure per capita and the sound financial situation of the government can promote rural development in Northeast China. The effects of the natural environment and local economic conditions on rural development were different in different regions. To improve rural development in the future, we should scientifically grasp the basic conditions, such as rural resource endowment, location conditions, agricultural technology, policies, investment and other external conditions, and formulate regional rural development strategies according to local conditions and in light of local rural characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 2692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolving Trends and Influencing Factors of the Rural Green Development Level in Chongqing

by Kangwen Zhu, Dan Song, Lanxin Zhang, Yong He, Sheng Zhang, Yaqun Liu and Xiaosong Tian

Land 2023, 12(7), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071333 - 3 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1461

Abstract

Rural green development is a concrete practice of rural revitalization. Currently, research on quantitative evaluation methods for rural green development levels are not well developed. In this study, an evaluation model of the rural green development level in Chongqing City, China was developed [...] Read more.

Rural green development is a concrete practice of rural revitalization. Currently, research on quantitative evaluation methods for rural green development levels are not well developed. In this study, an evaluation model of the rural green development level in Chongqing City, China was developed based on the parameters of ecology, living, and production. An entropy weight method, Theil index, optimal scale regression model, and GIS were used to analyze the spatio-temporal characteristics, trends, and influencing factors of the rural green development level from 2018 to 2020 in Chongqing City. The results showed that: (1) the overall “ecology, living, and production” dimensions and the comprehensive index of the development level in the city were generally increasing, and the proportion of counties at a high-level increased from 23.68% in 2018 to 81.58% in 2020; (2) the Theil index of the city in was 0.0185, 0.0121, and 0.0114 in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively, indicating that the differences in development level among regions decreased as the development level increased; (3) the level of rural green development showed a clear upwards trend, and the proportion of counties with low-speed growth, medium-speed growth, and high-speed growth from 2018 to 2020 was 5.26%, 81.58%, and 13.16%, respectively; and (4) the optimal scale regression analysis showed that the factors with greater impacts on the rural green development level are social security and employment expenditure level of government finance, health expenditure level of government finance, with their contributions is 40.3% and 26%, respectively. The results from this study demonstrate the significance of exploring research methods for rural green development and ways to improve the level of rural green development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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23 pages, 335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Agricultural Technology Extension and Social Networks on Chinese Farmers’ Adoption of Conservation Tillage Technology

by Jiabin Xu, Zhaoda Cui, Tianyi Wang, Jingjing Wang, Zhigang Yu and Cuixia Li

Land 2023, 12(6), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061215 - 12 Jun 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2389

Abstract

Agricultural technology extension and social networks are the essential components of formal and informal institutions, respectively, and their influence on agricultural production has been the focus of academics. This article takes conservation tillage technology as an example, based on simple random unduplicated sampling, [...] Read more.

Agricultural technology extension and social networks are the essential components of formal and informal institutions, respectively, and their influence on agricultural production has been the focus of academics. This article takes conservation tillage technology as an example, based on simple random unduplicated sampling, and uses survey data of 781 farmers in Heilongjiang, Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi provinces of China. This article empirically tests the interaction effects and heterogeneity of agricultural technology extension and social networks on farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology and analyzes their substitution effect or complementary effect. The results showed the following: (1) From a single dimension, both agricultural technology extension and social networks can significantly promote farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology, and the promotion effect of agricultural technology extension is greater. The average probability of farmers who accept agricultural technology extension and social networks adopting conservation tillage technology increases by 36.49% and 7.09%, respectively. (2) There is a complementary effect between agricultural technology extension and social networks in promoting farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology. The two functions complement and support each other, and this complementary effect is more evident in social networks’ reciprocity. (3) Further analysis reveals that the interaction effect between agricultural technology extension and social networks has significant group differences, technology type differences, and regional differences in farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage technology. Therefore, to facilitate the extension and application of conservation tillage technology, efforts need to be made in both agricultural technology extension and social networks, fully leveraging the complementary effects of the two. In addition, differentiated policies and measures should be adopted according to local conditions, and precise policies should be implemented for different groups and technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

15 pages, 4567 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics, Drivers, and Development Modes of Rural Space Commercialization under Different Altitude Gradients: The Case of the Mountain City of Chongqing

by Zhenyi Lv, Aoxi Yang and Yahui Wang

Land 2023, 12(5), 1028; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051028 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1768

Abstract

The spatial commercialization of rural areas is essential to achieve rural reconstruction and promote overall rural rejuvenation. Through the use of a land use transfer matrix and kernel density, this study uncovers the pattern characteristics, driving forces, and development patterns of rural spatial [...] Read more.

The spatial commercialization of rural areas is essential to achieve rural reconstruction and promote overall rural rejuvenation. Through the use of a land use transfer matrix and kernel density, this study uncovers the pattern characteristics, driving forces, and development patterns of rural spatial commodification at various altitudes, providing a scientific reference for rural spatial usage at various altitudes. The main conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) rural spatial commercialization is the result of land use transformation, and the differences in rural spatial commercialization development patterns lead to different characteristics in the local land use changes; (2) the implementation of urbanization, industrialization, and rural revitalization strategies has promoted the development of rural spatial commercialization to some extent; (3) There are significant differences in the characteristics of the land use change and the development pattern of rural space commercialization at various altitudes. The areas below 500 m are mainly for recreational projects that have a repeatable consumption and that are distributed in a concentrated and continuous manner. For such areas, the agglomeration effect should be taken full advantage of, and thus they should be developed in groups. The areas between 500 and 1000 m serve mainly the surrounding residents; the mode is based on the leisure and recreational projects with a block-shaped spatial distribution. In such areas, branded rural spaces with special features should be created. The areas above 1000 m are used primarily to construct tourist attractions and are dispersed in a point pattern. In such areas, the transportation conditions should be improved and the rural resources revitalized by designing reasonable travel routes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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19 pages, 7909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilization Quality Evaluation and Barrier Factor Diagnosis of Rural Residential Areas in Agricultural Regions of the Northeast Plain: A Case Study of Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province, China

by Hui Zhang, Rong Cong and Siyu Luan

Land 2023, 12(4), 870; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040870 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1532

Abstract

Conducting quality evaluations of rural residential areas and effectively improving their utilization levels is an important aspect of correctly handling the relationship between humans and the land and achieving high-quality rural developments. Taking Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province, as an example, this study aimed [...] Read more.

Conducting quality evaluations of rural residential areas and effectively improving their utilization levels is an important aspect of correctly handling the relationship between humans and the land and achieving high-quality rural developments. Taking Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province, as an example, this study aimed to achieve the “intensive, humanistic, and green” development of rural residential areas. An evaluation index system of utilization quality was constructed using three aspects: intensive land utilization, human settlement environment quality, and ecological environment quality. The comprehensive evaluation results were classified using a multidimensional combination matrix and targeted optimization plans were proposed. Additionally, an obstacle diagnosis model was constructed to identify the factors that hinder the high-quality utilization of rural residential areas. The results demonstrated the following: (1) The utilization quality of the rural residential areas in the study area was mainly at a medium level, followed by low and high levels, with proportions of 20.18%, 51.38%, and 28.44%, respectively. The utilization levels gradually decreased from the town centers to the surrounding areas. (2) Based on the evaluation results, there were 23 combinations of rural residential areas in the study area, which were classified into four types: coordinated control, key development, single leading, and transforming and upgrading. Optimization plans were proposed for the different types. (3) From the perspective of identifying the barrier factors, the top five factors that hindered the high-quality utilization of rural residential areas were the traffic land density, aggregation index, green-coverage rate of built-up areas, completeness of public service facilities, and the proportion of secondary and tertiary industrial land area. This study provides a significant reference for the evaluation of the utilization quality of rural residential areas in plain agricultural regions to effectively raise their levels of intensive land utilization, improve their settlement environments, enhance their ecological quality, and achieve a development of high quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Use and Rural Development)

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17 pages, 27979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Spatial–Temporal Pattern of the Newly Increased Cultivated Land and Its Vulnerability in Northeast China

by Guoming Du, Xiaoyang Wang, Jieyong Wang, Yaqun Liu and Haonan Zhang

Land 2023, 12(4), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040796 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

Ensuring compliance with China’s “1.8 billion mu” (120 million hectares) cultivated land preservation policy is a fundamental goal of land policy. Northeast China has experienced significant cultivated land expansion due to rigorous compensation policies over the past two decades, resulting in sustainable increases [...] Read more.

Ensuring compliance with China’s “1.8 billion mu” (120 million hectares) cultivated land preservation policy is a fundamental goal of land policy. Northeast China has experienced significant cultivated land expansion due to rigorous compensation policies over the past two decades, resulting in sustainable increases in grain output. This research employs remote sensing data to examine the spatial–temporal pattern and vulnerability of newly increased cultivated land expansion in Northeast China and its potential impact on food security. Results indicate a 3.08% increase in newly increased cultivated land from 2000 to 2020, with the majority located in the Sanjiang Plain’s humid area and Inner Mongolia’s arid and semi-arid regions. The low quality of newly added cultivated land makes it highly vulnerable. Temperature instability significantly and negatively correlates with cultivated land expansion. The vulnerability of cultivated land is negatively and significantly related to grain yield, suggesting an adverse impact on national food security. This study focuses on the marginal impact of newly increased cultivated land and proposes policy recommendations. Full article

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