This study aims to clarify the characteristics of the spatial correlation network of intensive utilization of cultivated land and its influencing factors. Based on the cultivated land use and agricultural production data of 31 provincial regions from 2000 to 2024 (Data do not include those of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions. The same applies below), this study employs models including the comprehensive evaluation model, the modified gravity model, social network analysis, and the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) to systematically investigate the characteristics and influencing factors of the spatial correlation network of intensive utilization of cultivated land in China. The results indicate that: 1) From 2000 to 2024, the level of intensive utilization of cultivated land in China exhibited a continuous upward trend, with an average annual growth rate of 2.85%. The level of intensive utilization of cultivated land in each province showed a characteristic of low values clustering first and then spreading to higher values. 2) The spatial correlation network of intensive utilization of cultivated land exhibited multi-threaded, dense, and increasingly complex characteristics. The network density, network connectivity and number of network connections show a fluctuating upward trend, while the network efficiency and network hierarchy degree show a fluctuating downward trend. 3) The network structure of intensive utilization of cultivated land demonstrated a significant “core-periphery” structure, with provinces such as Henan and Shandong occupying core positions in the overall network structure, while provinces such as Xinjiang, Yunnan, and Xizang were situated on the periphery. 4) Factors such as inter-provincial capital distance, urbanization, the level of agricultural science and technology, rural human capital, agricultural resource endowment, and the intensity of fiscal support to agriculture are important determinants influencing the evolution of the spatial correlation network of intensive utilization of cultivated land. In the future, the paradigm for cultivated land use protection and management should shift from “territorial management” to “network governance,” optimizing cross-regional coordination mechanisms for cultivated land protection and systematically regulating the key factors influencing intensive cultivated land use.
ZhangC Y, WeiZ Y, ShiJ Q, HuangQ, LiuF. Resilience-based zoning for sustainable cultivated land management: Integrating landscape morphology and environmental adaptability [J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2025, 395, 127991
[2]
ZhouY J, HeL J, KeX L, ZhangE S, ZhuJ W, LinA W. Impact of agricultural machinery purchase subsidies on the sustainable and intensive utilization of cultivated land: A perspective on agricultural machinery socialization[J]. Journal of Rural Studies, 2025, 119, 103798
ZhangR T, LuJ F. Multiscale spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of intensive cultivated land use in Yangtze River Economic Belt[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2019, 35(24): 271-278 (in Chinese)
WangF H, XiaY. Characteristics of unbalanced and inadequate intensive use of cultivated land in China and causes[J]. Resources Science, 2024, 46(1): 130-144 (in Chinese)
LyuX, NiuS D, GuG Z, PengW L. Conceptual cognition and research framework on sustainable intensification of cultivated land use in China from the perspective of the “New Agriculture, Countryside and Peasants”[J]. Journal of Natural Resources, 2020, 35(9): 2029-2043 (in Chinese)
LiuJ, XuW y, JinX B, YingS C, WangS L. Cultivated land use transition for sustainable intensification: theoretical logic and regulatory approach[J]. Geographical Research, 2025, 44(7): 1861-1876 (in Chinese)
[15]
LyuX, PengW L, NiuS D, QuY, XinZ F. Evaluation of sustainable intensification of cultivated land use according to farming households’ livelihood types [J]. Ecological Indicators, 2022, 138, 108848
[16]
ZhouX, YuJ, LiJ F, LiS C, ZhangD, WuD, ChenW X. Spatial correlation among cultivated land intensive use and carbon emission efficiency: A case study in the Yellow River Basin, China [J]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2022, 29: 43341-43360
WangB, TangS. A study on the evaluation of the degree and diagnosis of obstacle factors of intensive use of arable land resources in China[J]. Macroeconomics, 2023(5):117-127 (in Chinese)
[19]
大卫·李嘉图. 政治经济学及赋税原理[M]. 郭大力, 王亚南译, 北京:商务印书馆, 2021
[20]
DavidR. On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation[M]. Guo D L, Wang Y N translated. Beijing: Commercial Press, 2021 (in Chinese)
HuX H, LiuM B, WenG H. Spatial-temporal variability of coupling coordination between intensive use of cultivated land and ecological efficiency in China[J]. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 2022, 31(10): 2282-2294 (in Chinese)
XinY, YinG Y, LouY, LiuS, LiG H. Differential analysis of intensive arable land use and its driving mechanism based on the perspective of rural households[J]. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 2021,42(11): 208-219 (in Chinese)
HouM Y, DengY J, YaoS B. Urbanization, intensive cropland use, and grain production: A moderated mediating effect test under climate conditions [J]. China Population, Resources and Environment, 2022, 32(10): 160-171 (in Chinese)
ChenM X, LyuX, SergeyY, TatsianaV. Impact of rural labor transfer on the sustainable intensification of cultivated land use[J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2024, 40(20): 241-249 (in Chinese)
XingL P, FangB, XiangM J. Temporal and spatial variation of cultivated land intensive use level and its influencing factors in Jiangsu province based on GWR model[J]. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 2019, 28(2): 376-386 (in Chinese)
LiW Y, GaoY J, TangL P, ChenM J, XuB G, ZhouY Y, JiangR K. Optimizing cultivated land space layout in the new phase of balancing cultivated land occupation and reclamation: Conceptual evolution, challenges, and implementation pathways:Insights from the academic symposium on theory and practices of cultivated land spatial layout optimization [J]. China Land Science, 2025, 39(12): 130-140 (in Chinese)
[35]
OlaniyiE O, OgunjemiteG B, AkindeleO S, SogbohossouE A. Temporal and distance decay analysis of land use/land cover around ecotourism hotspots: evidence from Pendjari National Park, Benin [J]. GeoJournal: Spatially Integrated Social Sciences and Humanities, 2020, 85(2): 53-66
TuS S, JianD F, LongH L, LiL L, ZhangY N. Evolution characteristics and mechanism of major crops production patterns in Guangxi[J]. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2022, 77(9): 2322-2337 (in Chinese)
WangZ F, LiuQ F. The evolution and influencing factors of spatial network structure of China’s provincial tourism efficiency [J]. Scientia Geographica Sinica, 2021, 41(3): 397-406 (in Chinese)
WangZ, LiuW F, YangN, ZhaoW S. Spatial correlation mechanism and network effect of new quality productive forces at the provincial level in China[J]. Science & Technology Progress and Policy, 2026, 43(6): 53-63 (in Chinese)
DingR, HongY X, WangK X, ZouJ. Analysis of the network spatial structure characteristics and influencing factors of green finance development efficiency[J]. Statistics and Decision, 2025, 41(24): 147-153 (in Chinese)
[46]
刘军. 整体网分析: UCINET 软件实用指南[M]. 第2版.上海: 格致出版社, 2014
[47]
LiuJ. Lectures on Whole Network Approach: A Practical Guide to UCINET[M]. 2nd ed. Shanghai: Truth & Wisdom Press, 2014 (in Chinese)
WangF H. Expansion of cultivated land resources and economic growth in arid region: A case study of Xinjiang[J]. Xinjiang State Farms Economy, 2025, (1): 50-59 (in Chinese)
TaoY, WangX X. The effect and mechanism of agricultural insurance on promoting low-carbon production of food crops[J]. Journal of Agrotechnical Economics, 2025, (11): 65-84 (in Chinese)
WangF J, XiaY, DingN, LyuY, WangZ Y, ZhaoL L. How industrial planning affects the improvement of agricultural green development efficiency: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in the “Watermelon and melon industrial planning”[J]. Chinese Journal of Environmental Management, 2025, 17(3): 63-74 (in Chinese)
MengF, TanY Z, ChenH, XiongW Y. Spatial-temporal evolution patterns and influencing factors of “Non-grain” utilization of cultivated land in China [J]. China Land Science, 2022, 36(1): 97-106 (in Chinese)
YuY T, ChangD Y, HuangX H. Industrial structure effects of rural industrial integration development: Evidence from national demonstration parks of rural industrial integration development[J]. Issues in Agricultural Economy, 2025(8): 92-112 (in Chinese)
HeZ Q, NiuX C, FangJ J. Spatial correlation network of symbiotic development of water-energy-food system and its formation mechanism in the Yellow River Basin [J]. Resources Science, 2025, 47(10): 2270-2286 (in Chinese)
Department of Rural Socio-Economic Survey, National Bureau of Statistics. China Rural Statistical Yearbook, 2001-2025 [M]. Beijing: China Statistics Press, 2001-2025 (in Chinese)
Department of Population and Employment Statistics, National Bureau of Statistics. China Population & Employment Statistical Yearbook,2001 - 2025 [M]. Beijing: China Statistics Press, 2001-2025 (in Chinese)
JingR, ZhangB B, ZhaoM J, ZhangJ Z. Spatiotemporal characteristics of intensive cultivated land use in China in recent 35 years[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2019, 26(5): 353-358, 365 (in Chinese)
TangH Z, SangL L, XunW J. China’s cultivated land balance policy implementation dilemma and direction of scientific and technological innovation [J]. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2020, 35(5): 637-644 (in Chinese)
PengW L, LyuX, NiuS D. Sustainable intensification of cultivated land use and farming households’livelihood transition [J]. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2022, 38(4): 270-277 (in Chinese)
LyvT G, ChenA Y, FuS F, WangL, HuH, GengC, ZhaoQ. Spatial correlation network evolution characteristics and driving factors of cultivated land system resilience in the major grain producing areas of the middle reaches of the Yangtze river[J]. China Land Science, 2025, 39(5): 107-119 (in Chinese)