JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES ›› 2014, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (11): 1836-1848.

• Resources Utilization and Management •

### Spatiotemporal Difference and Driving Forces of Input Factors Intensity for Arable Land-use in China

YAO Guan-rong1, LIU Gui-ying1,2, XIE Hua-lin1

1. 1. Institute of Poyang Lake Eco-economics, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang 330013, China;
2. School of Economics and Management of Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
• Received:2014-04-02 Revised:2014-06-30 Online:2014-11-20 Published:2014-11-20

Abstract:

Based on the Theil index and an econometric model, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal difference and driving forces of six input factors intensity of arable land-use in China. The results showed that: 1) At the national scale, the labor intensity of arable land-use has decreased, while the remaining five input factors intensity showed a rising trend in China, and among them, agricultural fixed assets being of the highest growth rate. 2) At the regional scale, the temporal pattern of six input factors intensity for arable land- use was in common with which at the national scale. In addition to the labor intensity which the central region was of the highest value, intensity of other five input factors were of the highest values in the eastern region, the central region took the second place and the northeast and west regions were of the lowest values. 3) At provincial scale, there was two changing directions in labor intensity, while the intensity of fertilizer, pesticide and agricultural diesel oil decreased in Shanghai, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Shandong where are economically developed. 4) The regional differences of six input factors intensity of arable land- use in China was evident and showed a narrowing trend. The differences of six input factors intensity of arable land-use between four major regions contributed more than differences within the region. 5) Per capita annual net incomes of household operations and proportion of nonagricultural population had a significant positive correlation with inputs of fertilizer, agricultural investment in fixed assets, pesticide and agricultural plastic film. The proportion of nonagricultural industry had a significant positive correlation with fertilizer input. Agricultural policies promoted the inputs of fertilizer and agricultural investment in fixed assets. Finally, we suggest that there is an urgent need to focus on the structure of agricultural investment in fixed assets and its social, economic and ecological effects, as well as ecological impact of heavy application of fertilizer, pesticide and agricultural plastic film. In order to comprehensively promote the arable land- use intensity under the conditions of area constraints, the government should focus on improving per capita annual net incomes of household operations, meanwhile strengthening the agricultural support policies for less developed regions and major grain producing regions.

CLC Number:

• F301.24