Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics and Transition Patterns of Cultivated Land Use in China: A Comprehensive Analysis (1949-2022)

Abstract

Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the nation has witnessed profound economic transformations, transitioning from traditional agricultural and industrial civilizations towards an cological civilization. This paper introduces a theoretical framework elucidating the transition of cultivated land se in China, contextualized within the historical evolution of socioeconomic landscapes. During the agricultural era, driven by population growth and increased food demand, cultivated land undergoes expansion. In the industrial era, marked by industrialization and urbanization, extensive land erosion results in a reduction of cultivated land. As China embraces the ecological civilization era, moving from an "incremental" to a "stock" phase, the net consumption rate of cultivated land is anticipated to decelerate. Historical cultivated land data spanning 1949 to 2022 is meticulously examined at national, provincial, and prefectural levels to substantiate the proposed framework.The research delineates distinct stages in China's cultivated land use changes between 1949 and 2022, encompassing phases of growth, rapid decline, and a subsequent deceleration in land loss, indicative of an ongoing second-stage transition. Spatial heterogeneity is discernible, with regional disparities in transition characteristics and temporal nodes. This study makes a significant contribution to comprehending the dynamics of China's cultivated land, offering valuable insights into spatiotemporal patterns and transition modes. These findings are crucial for informed land use planning and policy formulation, aligning with China's evolving ecological priorities.