Promoting grain production through high-standard farmland construction:Evidence in China

Food security is a strategic priority for a country’s economic development.In China,high-standard farmland construction(HSFC)is an important initiative to stabilize grain production and increase grain production capacity.Based on panel data from 31 sample provinces,autonomous regions,and municipalities in China from 2005–2017,this study explored the impact of HSFC on grain yield using the difference-in-differences(DID)method.The results showed that HSFC significantly increased total grain production,which is robust to various checks.HSFC increased grain yield through three potential mechanisms.First,it could increase the grain replanting index.Second,it could effectively reduce yield loss due to droughts and floods.Last,HSFC could strengthen the cultivated land by renovating the low-and medium-yielding fields.Heterogeneity analysis found that the HSFC farmland showed a significant increase in grain yield only in the main grain-producing areas and balanced areas.In addition,HSFC significantly increased the yields of rice,wheat,and maize while leading to a reduction in soybean yields.The findings suggest the government should continue to promote HSFC,improve construction standards,and strictly control the“non-agriculturalization”and“non-coordination”of farmland to increase grain production further.At the same time,market mechanisms should be used to incentivize soybean farming,improve returns and stabilize soybean yields.

Disentangling the influencing factors of spatiotemporal evolution of sloping farmland in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Sloping farmland(SpF)is not only an important space for food production and supply in China’s hilly areas,but also a major source of soil erosion.Thus,it is important to achieve a healthy balance between regional food security and environmental protection.Yangtze River Economic Belt(YREB),an important grain production base where SpF concentrated in China,is also faced with serious soil erosion.However,research at the macro scale on the spatiotemporal change of SpF and its driving forces in YREB is still lacking.To bridge the gap,we first analyzed the long-term evolution characteristics of SpF in 1069 counties in the YREB and then explored the driving mechanism of SpF changes during 1980-2020.Results showed that the SpF in the YREB continuously decreased during the study period,with a total area decreasing by 26,300 km2.SpF was primarily concentrated in the upper reaches of the YREB while SpF use dynamic degree varied significantly with the most active change in the lower reaches,reaching to a maximum of 0.324%.The spatial gravity of SpF distribution relocated 20.15 km towards the southwest.As for the driving factors,the socioeconomic factors contributed greater to SpF changes in the whole YREB and its subregions.The intensity of human activities is the most crucial,with factor contribution rate constantly above 0.76.The interactive detection revealed that the prevailing interaction format was primarily bi-enhanced,supplemented with nonlinear-enhanced,which amplified the role of different factors after interacting with them.The pair-wise interaction involving socioeconomic factors had a more potential effect on SpF changes compared to those between physical geography and locational factors.The influence of the intensity of human activities on SpF changes is greatly enhanced after interacting with any factor.It dominated SpF changes in the YREB and its interaction with GDP played an important role at all times.These findings can enlighten differential management strategies of SpF use and ecological conservation in the YREB.

Structure and functional heterogeneity of soil microbial communities in different farmland types on the Loess Plateau

Background,aim,and scope Soil microbes are important drivers of nutrient transformation and energy f low.Reclaiming forest land for agricultural use may have profound effects on soil properties and microbial communities.However,the response of soil microbial communities to soil reclamation in the dryland agroecosystem is less understood.Therefore,it is necessary to investigate the changes of soil microbial communities driven by land use conversion to promote nutrient cycling in reclaimed farmland.Materials and methods Based on the metagenomic technique,we evaluated the microbial composition and function of the newly created farmland(NF)after reclamation with two types of traditional farmland(slope farmland(SF),checkdam farmland(CF))on the Loess Plateau,and explored the response of nutrient cycling function to dominant genera and soil properties.Results The results showed that Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,and Acidobacteria were prevalent in the three types of farmlands.Compared with SF and CF,NF increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Nocardioides,as well as genes related to amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism.The relative abundance of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling in the NF was higher than that in the traditional farmland(SF and CF).The relative abundance of nutrient cycling functional genes was positively correlated with dominant genera in the three types of farmlands.Except for pH,soil physicochemical factors were negatively correlated with genes related to amino acid metabolism and carbon cycle.Discussion Previous studies have shown that the nutrient conditions of the soil may intensify the competition between the eutrophic and oligotrophic microbial populations.After long-term cultivation and fertilization,the soil properties of traditional farmland were significantly different from those of NF,leading to the differentiation of dominant microbial groups.Microbes usually have functional redundancy to cope with changing environments.Soil microbes in traditional farmland may contain more genes related to replication and repair,cell growth and death,and environmental adaptation in response to disturbances caused by agricultural practices.On the contrary,the NF was less disturbed by agricultural activities,and the soil properties were more similar to forest land,so the carbon and nitrogen cycle function genes were more abundant.The nutrient cycling function was affected by the abundance of microbial dominant groups and soil properties,which may be related to the availability of soil nutrients and agricultural disturbance in different farmlands.Aspects of soil microbial-driven nutrient cycling in agriculture could be regulated in sustainable method.Conclusions The change from forest land to farmland kept more carbon and nitrogen cycling function in the newly created farmland,while long-term agricultural activities have drastically changed the functional structure of traditional farmland,resulting in the nutrient cycling function more concentrated to meet the needs of crop growth.Recommendations and perspectives Hence,it is necessary to apply sustainable agricultural method to regulate microbial-driven nutrient cycling.The insights are meaningful for sustainable agricultural development and land management in arid areas.

Future Development Direction of the Restoration of Mountains,Rivers,Forests,Farmlands,Lakes,and Grasslands and the Faced Problems

In this paper,the definition,connotation,and internal relationship of mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes,and grasslands in China are elaborated,and the current situation of ecological restoration projects for mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes,and grasslands was introduced.Moreover,the problems that have arisen in the specific implementation process of pilot projects were analyzed,such as unclear target positioning,inaccurate analysis of ecological problems,insufficient engineering design systematicness,weak operability of evaluation standards,and weak coordination in engineering management.The development direction and major needs for the protection and restoration of mountains,rivers,forests,farmlands,lakes,and grasslands in the future have been proposed from four aspects:theoretical research,engineering design,effect evaluation,and monitoring and supervision.

Effects of Urbanization and Industrialization on Farmland System in Shandong Peninsula

[Objective] The aim was to study the effects of urbanization and industrialization on farmland system in Shandong Peninsula. [Method] In Shandong Peninsula, the effects were studied and analyzed using remote sensing and image interpretation with spatial data analysis and statistic data analysis. [Result] During researching periods in Shandong Peninsula, wasteland area changed from decreasing to increasing; farmland area was declining; orchard and forestry areas were increasing, mainly resulting from political policies and benefits maximization of farmers. Meanwhile, chemical fertilizers and agricultural mechanization are more frequently applied with industrialization and urbanization, leading significant effects on environment, industry and urban. [Conclusion] More policies should be formulated to promote harmonious development of society, economy and environment.

Basic Farmland Plan Based on Farmland Gradation

Taking B District in A City as an example, quality classification of basic farmland was evaluated based on farmland gradation. It can be concluded from the analysis that utilization grade of basic farmland in current round was 16.82 without consideration of farmland gradation updating, and the grade enhanced by 0.08, still lower by 0.11 than that in last round, when the updating was taken into account. Finally, the reasons for problems occurred in the round were analyzed as follows： less consideration of protection on basic farmland in orientation of urban development; neglecting of basic farmland quality in Overall Plan of Land Utilization; non-classification of excellent lands after land consolidation; untimely updating of farmland gradation. In addition, the countermeasures were proposed correpondingly, including strengthening of basic farmland quality in the Plan, classification of excellent lands after consolidation, timely updating and inclusion of farmland gradation into ＂one map＂ project.

Research on the Species Diversity of Flower-visiting Syrphidae in the Farmland of Hanzhong Area

[Objective] The aim was to explore the species diversity of flower-visiting Syrphidae in the farmland of Hanzhong area.[Method] Based on the sample collection and the sorting and identification of collected specimens and literature,the species and their seasonal changes of flower-visiting Syrphidae in the agroecosystem of Hanzhong area were systematically analyzed.[Result] 5 015 specimens of Syrphidae were cheaked in this study,and 141 species of 53 genera of 16 families in three subfamilies of flower-visiting species of Syrphidae were identified in farmland of Hanzhong area,in which 65 species were Syrphinae;72 species were Milesiinae;while four species were Microdontinae.The species of Syrphidae in this region were active in April,May,June and July.There were two dominant species in this region,including Episyrphus balteatus and Eristalis tenax.[Conclusion] This study had provided theoretical basis for the studies on the flower-visiting habit and fecundation of insects of Syrphidae in this area.

Flower-visiting Habitus of Three Common Syrphids in Farmland of Hanzhong Area in Early Spring

[Objective] The paper was to study the flower-visiting habitus of three common syrphids in farmland of Hanzhong area in early spring.[Method] The active flower-visiting syrphids in farmland of hanzhong area in early spring was investigated,the annual activity rhythm,flower-visiting behavior,characteristics of mouthparts and their flower-visiting adaptability of three common syrphids were studied.[Result] About 20 species of active flower-visiting syrphids were found in farmland of hanzhong area in early spring,Eristalis tenax （Linnaeus,1758）,Episyrphus balteatus （De Geer,1776） and Eristalis cerealis Fabricius,1805 were predominant species in farmland.These three species could be found in farmland of Hanzhong area almost throughout the year,and they mainly activated on the flowers of rape and composites on the ridge of field in early spring.The activities of these flower-visiting syrphids were important to pollination of rape.The syrphid mouthparts had no structural characters in adaptation to flower-visiting,but the mouthparts were shorter,which was adaptive to visit the flowers with open and shallower corolla.[Conclusion] The results provided theoretical basis for further study on flower-visiting habitus and pollination effect of syrphids.

The Application of MAPGIS in Basic Farmland Protection Plan Mapping

In this study,MAPGIS software was used in production of basic farmland protection plan maps based on the related practice of Jinkong town,Yanting County,Sichuan Province,China.It was proved that MAPGIS software could improve the efficiency of mapping greatly,and resolved technical problems in basic farmland protection plan mapping.

Livelihood Strategy and Farmland Use in Xinping County of Yuanjiang Dry-hot Valley

Methods of participatory rural appraisal and mathematical statistics were adopted to study livelihood diversification, livelihood strategy and farmland use of the four types of farmers in Xinping County of Yuanjiang dry-hot valley with field survey data. The results showed as follows： firstly, as farmers are transforming from pure agriculture to non-agriculture, their agricultural livelihood diversification index will decrease, while non-agricultural livelihood diversification index will increase. In term of livelihood activities, pure agricultural farmers are exclusively engaged in agricultural activities, agricultural-dominant and non-agricultural-dominant farmers are engaged in both agricultural and non-agricultural ones, while non-agricultural farmers are basically engaged in off-farm activities. Secondly, as for crops planted, pure agricultural and agricultural-dominant farmers tend to choose those crops with more investment,shorter growth period and higher value, meanwhile non-agricultural-dominant farmers tend to choose crops with less investment, simpler management and longer growth period. Thirdly, to cope with current problems in farming, pure agricultural farmers will adopt measures such as changing planting structure, maintaining or expanding planting scale, increasing planting investment and renting in more land to promote the development of farming; agriculture-dominant farmers will adopt measures such as changing planting structure, reducing planting scale, maintaining planting investment, renting in and taking back the leased land as well as engaging in non-agricultural activities to overcome the difficulties faced; while non-agricultural-dominant farmers will adopt measures such as reducing both planting scale and investment,changing planting structure and engaging in farmland transfer as well as various offfarm activities to avoid livelihood risks.

Study on specifications of farmland shelterbelt net in Northeastern Plain of China

s: The farmland shelterbelts in Northeastern Plain of China have formed relatively complete net system. The func-tions of shelterbelt net in omnibearing wind check and prevention of frostbite as well as the field of integrated climate effect within shelterbelt net were analyzed, through located observation of meteorological factors. Within the shelterbelt net, the area with more than 10% efficiency of omnibearing wind check was determined as benefited area. The analysis of yield and quality of crops indicated that the sheltering range of shelterbelt net was 25 times tree height. The mature heights of the various varieties of poplar composed the shelterbelts were determined according to their height growth. Based on the comprehensive analysis above, the suitable size of farmland shelterbelt net in Northeastern Plain of China was decided to be 400 m×400 m.

Extension Study on the Use of Slope Farmland in West Region

Based on the research of slope farmland in northern Shaanxi,the extension decision model was set up by the original theory of extenics. The optimal solution is obtained by expanding analysis,provide scientific basis for decision-making and increase the economic benefits to farmers.

Spatial patterns of farmland abandonment and its impact factors in the central Three Gorges Reservoir Area

The severe farmland abandonment phenomena in China have tremendously decreased the farmland usage efficiency and caused a series of profound ecological and social outcomes. The complexity of farmland abandonment necessitates a systematic research on its patterns and impact factors to underpin the dynamics of problem as well as potential solutions. This paper took Wanzhou district in the central part of Three Gorges Reservoir Area as an example to study the spatial distribution patterns of abandoned farmland at three scales, i.e., town, village, and plot, and analyzed the influence from labor transfer and farmland circulation. We conducted a survey on the distribution patterns of abandoned farmland via questionnaires at town and village scales, together with the modeling and interpretation of high-resolution aerial images taken by unmanned aerial vehicles at plot scale. Our research discloses a strong relationship between the distribution of abandoned farmland and the distance from population center at different scales. At eithertown or village scale, the abandonment proportion was recognized the highest in mid-distance areas and lowest in close-distance areas, and the per capita area of abandoned farmland increased with the distance to downtown or township. At plot scale, abandonment proportion presented exponential growth with the distance to village center, whereas the abandoned farmland was mainly distributed in the areas with distance above 500 m from the village center. Moreover, we noticed that labor transfer and farmland circulation are two important factors that influence farmland abandonment. Labor's outbound transfer distance has a positive linkage with the possibility of farmland abandonment. Finally, it is recommended that development and adoption of corresponding policies on local urbanization and farmland circulation will facilitate to alleviate farmland abandonment.

Carbon Sink Effects in Conversion of Farmland to Forest Project in Karst Drainage Basin——A Case of Hongfenghu Drainage Basin in Guizhou Province

[Objective]Study on carbon sink effects in Conversion of Farmland to Forest Project in Hongfenghu drainage basin in order to provide evidences for assessing carbon sink potential of conversion of farmland to forest in Guizhou Province.[Method]By investigating the implement of Conversion of Farmland to Forest Project in Hongfenghu drainage basin from 2000 to 2006,the carbon sink amount and effect of seven main tree species in the foreat region like Cunninghamia lanceolata,Cryptomeria fortunei,Amygdalus persica,Prunus salicina,Armeniaca vulgaris,Camptotheca acuminate and Catalpa bungei were calculated,based on which the amount of forest carbon sinks in Hongfenghu drainage basin in 2015 was estimated.[Result]Biomass storage and carbon sink amount in middle and young aged forests were increasing over time from 2000 to 2006,which reached 1.05×107 kg by 2006 and would engage more and more potential.Cunninghamia lanceolata has the superior carbon sink capacity in the seven tree species in the research region,of which the amount of carbon sink per unit area will be 106.51 t/hm2 by 2015,followed by Cryptomeria fortunei with the amount of carbon sink per unit area by 99.42 t/hm2.Armeniaca vulgaris has the weakest carbon sink capacity of all the seven species with the amount of 13.03 t/hm2.The total amount of carbon sink in seven tree species was 2.35×107 kg,while the average amount of carbon sink per unit area was 26.17 t/hm2,which could produced economic benefit of 7.17×106 yuan calculated on the price of 305.0 yuan/t or 5.91×106 yuan calculated on the price of 254.1 yuan/t.[Conclusion]Economic benefits of carbon sink effects of Conversion of Farmland to Forest Project in Hongfenghu drainage basin were great with huge appreciation potential.

Soil Erosion Control Degree of the Project of Converting Farmland to Forest in Mountainous Areas at China's Southwest Border:A Case Study in Mangshi,Yunnan Province

There have been few in-depth quantitative studies on soil erosion control and the ecological effects of land use changes. Soil erosion is the first eco-environmental problem particularly in mountainous areas. A major problem in the conversion of farmland to forest is to control soil erosion and improve ecological environment and thus to improve land use sustainability. We report results of calculation and analysis on soil erosion from converted farmland parcels in city of Mangshi （near the SW frontier of China） and the surrounding areas before and after the nine-year （2000-2009） project of converting farmland to forest. There was increased water conservation effect, as a result of decreased soil erosion. The average erosion modulus of the farmland returning to eco-friendly uses decreased by 5,535.59 t/km2·a and the control degree of soil erosion modulus reached 71.00%. The increased soil erosion after the returning in the typical sample area ＂did not drop, but increased＂ as the terraced fields decreased but sloping farmland inereased and yet woodland decreased.

Impact of slope farmland use change on ecosystem services value in China,2000-2020

Slope farmland is an important component of farmland resources in China.The utilization and change of slope farmland have significant effects on ecosystems,and understanding the impact of slope farmland change on ecosystem services(ESs)is critical for effective land utilization and ecosystem protection.This study aims to analyze slope farmland changes in China between 2000 and 2020 and quantify the impact of these changes on ESs by the use of a land use dynamic attitude study,and an ecosystem services value(ESV)equivalent.Results show that the area of slope farmland in China was mainly concentrated on slopes of 2°-6°,and exhibited a downward trend between 2000 and 2020.There were significant differences in the spatial distribution of the farmland,which was mainly located in the Taihang,Qinling,Wushan,and Xuefeng mountains.ESV increased by$179.235 million due to the conversion between slope farmland and forest,grassland,and construction land from 2000-2010.Conversely,from 2010 to 2020,ESV decreased by$2613.919 million due to the conversion of forest and grassland to slope farmland as well as the conversion of slope farmland to construction land.

Study on the Major and Trace Elements in Soil of Yunnan Farmland

In order to investigate the distribution of soil available micronutrients, and provide a theoretical basis for management of fertilizing reasonably on crops, the contents of major and trace elements （P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn） in farm- land soil collected from Yunnan Province were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）, the contents and distribution of major and trace elements were also studied. The results showed that the contents of available P, K were balance, available Ca, Mg were deficient, and available Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn were very plentiful. Major and trace elements distribution of different landform areas were obviously different. The contents of trace elements （Fe, Zn and Mn） of central Yunnan Red Plateau were significantly higher than those of Hengduan Mountains in western Yunnan and those of karst plateau in eastern Yunnan. The contents of available P, K, and Ca gradually declined from west to east, while the content of available Cu rose gradually from west to east. The results are reference value to elements determination and agricultural production in farmland soils.

Coupling Research on the Process of Transfer of Surplus Labor Forces and Scaling-up of Farmland

On the basis of giving an overview of efficiency research on transformation of land from fragmentation to scale economy, by using the concept of coupling in physics, this paper expounds the behavior basis of transfer of surplus rural labor forces in China and transformation of land from fragmentation to scaling up, and analyzes behaviors of all parties and equilibrium outcomes in the three stages concerning the transformation of agricultural land from fragmentation to scaling up as follows. At the first stage of coupling, after multitudinous rural surplus labor forces emerge, the farmers begin to go to city seeking jobs. In this period, the amalgamation of land management has not occurred and the single farmer's land has not yet concentrated. The total land area of single farmer has not yet increased and the total amount of farmers has not yet decreased. At the second stage of coupling, driven by living standards and income, multitudinous rural surplus labor forces begin to live in the city permanently in fact, and the scale management of rural land begins to arise. Foreign funded enterprises begin to enter agriculture, and the industrialization management of agriculture is equipped with the most fundamental conditions due to the occurrence of scaling up of land. At the third stage of coupling, the transfer of rural surplus labor forces basically ends. The property rights of agricultural land or the management forms also, in a large measure, concentrate. The obstacles to agricultural scaling-up management are solved fundamentally, and the income gap between urban areas and rural areas is narrowed. Urban-rural population migration is no longer the main form of China's population migration. This stage has not yet been realized in China and it is the future state of villages. Finally, through the two cases researched by the predecessors, we verify the research results of the preceding two stages, which provides reliable reference for transformation of China's agricultural land management, and policy formulation of transfer of surplus labor forces.

Spatial-Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Limiting Factors of Medium-low Yield Farmland in Tianjin

[Objective] This paper aimed to understand the area change and distribu- tion of medium-low yield farmland, and offered basis to the improvement of mediumlow farmland and its increase of grain production in Tianjin. [Method] Based on the statistical date of Tianjin and its relevant counties and districts, the yield standard was set up to classify high-yield, medium-yield and low-yield farmland in Tianjin. The author analyzed area change of medium-low yield farmland in six agricultural counties and districts （including Jixian County, Wuqing District, Baodi District, Ninghe County, Jinghai County and Dagang district of Binghai New Area） from 1980 to 2010. [Result] The results showed that the average yield of grain rose from 2 445 kg/hm^2 in 1980 to 5 130 kg/hm^2 in 2010, increasing 109.82%. The area of mediumlow yield farmland was reduced from 291 250.13 hm^2 in 1985 to 76 489.87 hm^2 in 2010, coming down 74%. In Tianjin, the area of medium-low yield farmland of 2010 accounted for 19% of the total farmland, of which the ratios of medium-low yield farmland of Jinghai County, Jixian County, Dagang district of Binghai New Area, Wuqing District, Baodi District and Ninghe County were 43.12%, 18.59%, 17.23%, 14.01%, 7.05% and 0, respectively. Low soil nutrient content, drought and water shortage, as well as soil salinization were the main yield limiting factors to mediumlow yield farmland in Tianjin in 2010. [Conclusion] The countermeasures to improve the medium-low yield farmland were proposed, involving enhancing the investment of the government, strengthening the construction of water conservancy infrastructure, further improving the soil fertility, as well as saline and alkaline land, optimizing the farming system and planting drought and salt tolerance crops, etc.

Study on Status quo of Nutrients in Soils of Farmlands in Gonggar County and Related Countermeasures

[Objective] The aim was to analyze nutrients distribution and proportion in soils of farmlands of Gonggar County in Tibet. [Method] According to survey of soils in Tibet, nutrients of farmlands in Gonggar County were analyzed and the countermeasures were proposed to achieve sustainable development of nutrients in soils. [Result] In Gonggar County in Tibet, farmlands with insufficient and less organic matter occupy 58.38%; farmlands with moderate contents of total N occupy 47.71%; farmlands with insufficient and less alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen represent 82.36%; the farmlands with moderate and rich total P take up 49.40% and 21.59% ; farmlands with insufficient and less rapidly available P represent 67.33%; farmlands with richer and rich total K occupy 76.14% ; farmlands with moderate and insufficient rapidly available K represent 72.21%. [Conclusion] Based on nutrients in soils of farmlands, the countermeasures for sustainable utilization of nutrients in farmlands are proposed, including increase of organic fertilizer, soil testing and formulated fertilization and adjustment of acid-base balance.