Spatial pattern of cultivated land change in Fujian Province from 1990 to 2015

In order to provide references and arguments for changes in cultivated land quality and yield, and to provide suggestions for the government to further strengthen cultivated land protection, this study examined the spatial patterns of cultivated land change in Fujian Province from 1990 to 2015, at the patch level. In addition to exploring the spatial characteristics of change in cultivated land quantity, this study further explored spatial attribute and environmental characteristics of cultivated land change map spots, aiming to comprehensively describe the changes of cultivated land. This research considered three aspects: the change characteristics of cultivated land quantity, the spatial attribute characteristics of cultivated land change map spots, and the environmental characteristics of cultivated land change map spots. Based on the DEM data and land use data of Fujian Province from 1990 to 2015, mathematical statistical analysis and spatial methods were employed to draw the following conclusions: 1) the area of cultivated land in Fujian Province decreased by 7.12% from 1990 to 2015. In terms of the spatial distribution of net change rate, the number of districts in which cultivated land was at a net loss state in Fujian Province increased during the period of 1990-2015, while the intensity of loss decreased significantly. In addition, from 1990 to 2015, the dynamic degree of cultivated land transfer had been a significant decline, which was reflected in the improvement of the stability of cultivated land resources in Fujian Province. Furthermore, high spots of dynamic degree of cultivated land transfer were distributed in the east, and low spots were distributed in the west. 2) The distribution direction of the occupied and supplemented cultivated land change patches in Fujian Province remained the same during the period of 1990-2015. The occupied cultivated land patches were mainly concentrated in the eastern coastal areas, while the position of the supplementary cultivated land patches changed significantly, gradually shifting to the northeast and southeast regions of Fujian Province. During the period of 1990-2015, the number of occupied and supplemented cultivated land patches in Fujian Province became more balanced. The area of supplementary cultivated land patches was smaller than that of occupied cultivated land patches, while the shape of supplementary cultivated land patches was more regular than that of occupied cultivated land patches. 3) The cultivated land resources in Fujian Province showed trends of "elevation rising" "slope rising" "shifting to shady slope" "away from water" and "relatively concentrated", during the period of 1990-2015. In summary, the protection of cultivated land in Fujian Province still needs to be strengthened. First of all, the government should further restrict the loss of cultivated land in the eastern part of Fujian Province. Secondly, if conditions permit, the area of each supplementary cultivated land should be increased as much as possible. Finally, the government should take effective measures to protect high-quality cultivated land with lower elevation, lower slope, and better light and irrigation conditions.