Farmland landscape fragmentation evolution and its driving mechanism from rural to urban: A case study of Changzhou City

Abstract

Abstract China s farmland landscape fragmentation follows a distinct evolutionary tendency along the spatial gradient “central urban areas → urban–rural transitional areas → rural areas”, because of its binary structure comprising urban and rural areas. This study explores the evolution of this spatiotemporal trend and its dynamic mechanisms in the case of Changzhou City. A landscape analysis model is constructed for farmland landscape fragmentation analysis at the pixel level, and a gradient analysis model is used for farmland landscape evolution analysis along the spatial gradient “urban → transitional → and rural areas”. During the study period, the net switching-in rates of edge patch farmland and discrete patch farmland were 4.58% and 3.63%, respectively, and farmland landscape tended to be somewhat structurally fragmented in the context of Changzhou s traditional agricultural environment. Nevertheless, contiguous farmland, dominated by core and edge farmland, still accounts for 82.53% of the total farmland area. Consequently, the farmland landscape remains relatively stable. In a non-farming environment, however, the net switching-out rate of core farmland reached 17.39%, and the total quantity of core farmland decreased significantly. Gradient analysis revealed that the core evolutionary driver for Changzhou s farmland landscape lies in policy factors relating to land utilisation and management, accounting for up to 79.7% and 60% of evolution in the farmland landscape within central urban areas and rural areas, respectively. Basic farmland preservation areas and spatial regulation of construction land positively affects farmland landscape fragmentation changes. Consequently, it is of great significance to formulate differentiated farmland management policies, and to place strict restrictions on the occupation of farmland resources for urban construction.