Spatiotemporal evolution of cropland in Northeast China’s black soil region over the past 40 years at the county scale

Abstract

This study investigates the 40-year spatiotemporal evolution of cropland in Northeast China’s black soil region at the county scale. Utilizing land use/cover maps from 1980 to 2020 with a 30 m × 30 m resolution, we employed various analytical methods, including mathematical statistics, GIS spatial analysis, land use transition matrix, landscape pattern analysis, and hotspot analysis. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Cropland area expanded by 51,976.76 km2 from 1980 to 2020, mainly concentrated in the Sanjiang Plain, Songnen Plain, and Liaohe Plain. Notably, areas near prefecture-level city locations experienced a decrease in cropland, while regions farther from cities witnessed an increase. (2) Cropland primarily transitioned from woodland, grassland, and unused land to cropland, covering substantial areas. Conversely, cropland was converted mainly into woodland, built-up land, and grassland. (3) Over the same period, cropland in the region exhibited increased elevation and slope, with average altitude rising by 2.06 m and average slope increasing by 0.0369 degrees. (4) The study revealed an increase in cropland proportion, predominance, and aggregation, alongside more irregular shapes and reduced subdivision. These findings highlight significant changes in the cropland landscape in Northeast China’s black soil region and offer insights for policy recommendations and land management strategies. The research findings of this paper can offer valuable insights for the protection and utilization of cropland in the region. They can provide scientific references for the formulation of policies related to China’s food security.