Objective Precisely identifying the spatial scale and pattern characterization of cultivated land fragmentation in mountainous and hilly regions is essential for developing scientific management strategies, promoting moderate large-scale utilization of cultivated land resources, and effectively improving regional agricultural production efficiency. Methods Taking Chongqing as the study area, the study used 2020 land cover data and relevant datasets. The moving window method was employed to calculate the response of landscape pattern indices at various spatial scales. The spatial pattern characteristics of cultivated land fragmentation in Chongqing were analyzed based on the optimal spatial scale. The Geodetector model was then combined to identify the influencing factors. Results (1) There were significant differences in the sensitivity of various landscape pattern indices to spatial scales. A grain size of 90 m and an extent of 2 000 m were identified as the optimal spatial scale for precisely identifying cultivated land fragmentation in Chongqing. (2) The degree of cultivated land fragmentation in Chongqing was overall high, with medium, relatively high, and high-level fragmentation accounting for 76%, while low and relatively low-level fragmentation accounted for only 24%. A clear spatial heterogeneity pattern of “low in the west and high in the east” was observed. (3) Slope (0.270 2), geomorphological type (0.212 1), and annual precipitation (0.192 4) were the main natural factors affecting cultivated land fragmentation in Chongqing. The effects of these factors were further strengthened through interactions such as bivariate and nonlinear enhancement. Conclusion Appropriate scales should be selected for precisely identifying cultivated land fragmentation with different geomorphological conditions, and differentiated governance strategies should be adopted to address cultivated land fragmentation.
LüX, HuangX J, ZhongT Y, et al. Review on the research of farmland fragmentation in China[J]. Journal of Natural Resources, 2011,26(3):530-540.
[3]
LuH, XieH L, LvT G, et al. Determinants of cultivated land recuperation in ecologically damaged areas in China[J]. Land Use Policy, 2019,81:160-166.
[4]
SklenickaP. Classification of farmland ownership fragmentation as a cause of land degradation: a review on typology, consequences, and remedies[J]. Land Use Policy, 2016,57:694-701.
ZhouD, QiJ L, YuanC C. Progress review and prospects for farmland fragmentation in China in the past 40 years[J]. China Land Science, 2021,35(1):107-116.
ChenW X, DuanB Q, ZengJ. Spatial differentiation and influencing factors of cultivated landscape fragmentation in China from 1980 to 2020[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2024,40(21):221-231.
LiuJ, JinX B, XuW Y, et al. Evaluation of cultivated land fragmentation and guidance of land consolidation at provincial level[J]. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 2019,39(5):817-826.
LiuL W, DuanY H, XuL S, et al. Characteristics and influencing factors of cultivated land fragmentation in Loess Hilly Region: a case study of Heshun County in Shanxi Province[J]. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 2021,37(22):90-96.
DuG M, ZhangY, ZhangY Q. The spatial pattern and influencing factors of cultivated land fragmentation in typical counties of the Northeast black soil region[J]. Research of Agricultural Modernization, 2023,44(5):858-868.
WeiP, YuD, HuY Z, et al. Evaluating cultivated land fragmentation and remediation zoning under planning management[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2024,40(3):283-293.
ZhangB B, GuoF, HuangD, et al. Pattern and evaluation of land consolidation model for “One Household One Plot” and “One Village One Plot” to solve land fragmentation in Northern Shaanxi Province, China[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2020,36(15):28-36.
LiuJ, JinX B, XuW Y, et al. Characteristic evolution and trend prediction of cultivated land landscape fragmentation in China from 1990 to 2020[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2023,78(9):2163-2185.
WangX, XuX F. Spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of landscape fragmentation of cultivated land in China[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering,2022,38(16):11-20.
RenH Y, ZhaoY L, LiX B, et al. Cultivated land fragmentation in mountainous areas based on different resolution images and its scale effects[J]. Geographical Research,2020,39(6):1283-1294.
[25]
臧良震,苏毅清.耕地细碎化问题研究述评及启示[J].生态经济,2019,35(1):79-83.
[26]
ZangL Z, SuY Q. A literature review and its enlightenment of farmland fragmentation issue[J]. Ecological Economy,2019,35(1):79-83.
[27]
YucerA A, KanM, DemirtasM, et al. The importance of creating new inheritance policies and laws that reduce agricultural land fragmentation and its negative impacts in Turkey[J]. Land Use Policy,2016,56:1-7.
LiuJ M, HouX H, WangZ Q, et al. Spatial correlation characteristics of fragmentation and intensive use levels of cultivated land in Hubei Province[J]. China Land Science,2017,31(12):51-59,2,97.
SunX B, KongX B, WenL Y, et al. Farmland fragmentation and its managing models of the concentrated farmland in agricultural region of North China: a case study of Quzhou County in Hebei Province[J]. Research of Agricultural Modernization, 2019,40(4):556-564.
WangZ, WuJ H, BaiS, et al. Evaluation of cultivated land fragmentation and land consolidation engineering zoning in the loess hilly and Gully Region: a case study in Wuqi County[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2022,29(4):300-307.
[34]
ZhengY H, LongH L, ChenK Q. Spatio-temporal patterns and driving mechanism of farmland fragmentation in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain[J]. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2022,32(6):1020-1038.
AoY, ZhangY H, WangX F, et al. Spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of cultivated land fragmentation in Guanzhong Region based on landscape index[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2024,31(3):401-411.
LiC M, ShaoJ A, CaoF. Evaluation and zoning of cultivated land fragmentation under the geomorphic background of shallow and low hills[J]. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 2023,44(11):114-125.
ZhouC F, ZhaoY L, WenG H, et al. Measurement of cultivated land fragmentation by coupling spatial and tenure information of plots[J]. Progress in Geography, 2025,44(2):414-428.
[41]
YeS J, RenS Y, SongC Q, et al. Spatial pattern of cultivated land fragmentation in mainland China: characteristics, dominant factors, and countermeasures[J]. Land Use Policy, 2024,139:107070.
ChenY R, XiaoW F, TengM J, et al. Grain size effect of landscape pattern and its response to land use change in the Three Gorges Reservoir area[J]. Journal of Natural Resources, 2018,33(4):588-599.
ZangL, LiangH Y, LiangW T, et al. Cultivated land fragmentation and affecting factors of Lulong County based on landscape pattern[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2018,25(6):265-269,276.
ZhangG, MaJ, XuS. Evaluation and prediction of cultivated land fragmentation based on landscape pattern index in Jizhou district of Tianjin City[J]. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation, 2022,42(3):112-119,156.
[48]
LiQ W, JinT T, PengQ D, et al. Identifying the extent of the spatial expression of landscape fragmentation based on scale effect analysis in Southwest China[J]. Ecological Indicators, 2022,141:109120.
[49]
ZhaoY, FengQ. Identifying spatial and temporal dynamics and driving factors of cultivated land fragmentation in Shaanxi Province[J]. Agricultural Systems, 2024,217:103948.
GeW K, WangH Y, LiQ F, et al. Evolution characteristics and driving factors of farmland landscape fragmentation in Xinjiang[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2025,32(3):260-269.
LiY L, CuiW G, LuQ P, et al. Analysis on the spatiotemporal evolution of cultivated land fragmentation in mountainous areas: a case study of Guizhou Province[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2022,29(5):301-309.