Futian Qu

Land administration reform in China: Its impact on land allocation and economic development

Abstract This paper examines the reform of the land administration system (LAS) in China since 1978, and its benefits, shortcomings and options for further reform. The LAS reform has had significant effects on land use and economic development. It has created a more effective land use system and a market for transfers of land, in particular non-agricultural land. Meanwhile, a basic system of land administration has been realized. Important legislative changes accompanied the LAS reform. Imperfect aspects of the LAS, however, result in some negative effects on land allocation such as the rapid loss of arable land to the non-agricultural sectors, very small land use scale and degrading land quality. A framework of further reform measures dealing with these problems is presented in this paper.

Effect of household land management on cropland topsoil organic carbon storage at plot scale in a red earth soil area of South China

SUMMARY An inventory of topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) content in household farms was performed in a village from a red earth region in Jiangxi Province, China in 2003. In this region, the farmland managed by each household is fragmented, consisting of several plots of land that are not necessarily adjacent to each other. A statistical analysis of SOC variation with land use and household management type, and with crop management practices was conducted. Plot size ranged from 0·007 to 0·630 ha with a mean of 0·1 ha, and SOC content ranged from 1·72 to 25·2 g/kg, varying widely with a variety of land management and agricultural practices, arising from individual household behaviours. The mean SOC content in plot size <0·1 ha was 20% lower than in plot size ⩾0·1 ha. SOC of dry crop plots was 70% lower than that in rice paddies, and SOC of plots contracted from the village was almost double that of plots leased from other householders. Moreover, a 30% increase in SOC was observed with green manure cultivation, and a 55% increase under triple cropping. The difference in SOC levels between the least and most favourable cases of household land management and agricultural practice was up to 150%. The results suggest that policies targeted at crop management alone may not deliver the expected SOC benefits if household land management is also not improved.

Rural Land Markets and Economic Reform in Mainland China

With the start of agrarian reforms in mainland China in 1978, rural factor markets (i.e. markets for labour, capital, land, and technology) began to develop despite the fact that resources are still collectively owned. Since 1992, a market economic system has been introduced that has accelerated the development of the rural land market. Due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation and the general improvement of socio-economic conditions, market functions have gained importance in the allocation of rural land.