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Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 November 2023) | Viewed by 33487

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Uttam Khanal

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Guest Editor

Productivity Commission, Australian Government, Melbourne, VIC 3008, Australia
Interests: agricultural economics; environmental economics; performance analysis; climate change adaptation; risk analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sanzidur Rahman

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Guest Editor

School of Agriculture, Policy and Development (SAPD), University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UR, UK
Interests: agricultural and resources economics; productivity and efficiency; technological progress in agriculture; sustainable agriculture; poverty, inequality and sustainable livelihoods; international development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global agriculture in the 21st century is facing two competing challenges, which call for studying the nexus of land–food–climate. First, food production will need to substantially increase to meet the growing demand of a larger and wealthier population. Moreover, climate change, urbanization, and several other drivers are posing challenges to food production. Farmers can increase food production either by expanding land area or by raising existing agricultural land productivity. Given the limited cultivatable land, and high socio-economic and ecosystem costs of clearing more land for agriculture, the prospect of expanding agricultural land is almost non-existent. Therefore, it is vital to raise crop yields on existing farmlands through adopting sustainable land management practices. Several social, economic, demographic, and biophysical factors can affect the implementation of land management practices in different agricultural production systems. Consequently, the design and implementation of location-specific land management practices that can enhance crop yields while minimizing adverse environmental impacts are important and require further research and investigation.

As the current and potential climate scenarios are expected to adversely affect food security, it is, therefore, necessary to reconsider sustainable methods of farmland management for crop cultivation to meet future food demands. Therefore, in this Special Issue, we are interested in contributions that link agricultural land management practices to food production. This Special Issue also welcomes cases of unsustainable land management practices which can provide good lessons. Since the journal Land is a key platform for the readers and contributors concerning this topic, we believe that Land is the most suitable platform for our Special Issue, “Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand”. We invite conceptual works and original research, review, and synthesis papers that address research issues including, but not limited to, the following:

Sustainable intensification of agricultural land;
Modeling agricultural systems and food production;
Design and implementation of land management practices;
Economic analysis of agricultural interventions;
Adoption and diffusion of agricultural technologies;
Agricultural adaptation and mitigation of climate change and variability;
Environmental benefits of land management practices.

Dr. Uttam Khanal
Prof. Dr. Sanzidur Rahman
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable land management
food security
agricultural intensification
crop diversification
agricultural adaptations to climate change

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Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand (Second Edition) in Land (2 articles)

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Research

23 pages, 3858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Resource Recycling and Land Management to Upscale Zero-Tillage Potato Cultivation in the Coastal Indian Sundarbans

by Rupak Goswami, Riya Roy, Dipjyoti Gangopadhyay, Poulami Sen, Kalyan Roy, Sukamal Sarkar, Sanchayeeta Misra, Krishnendu Ray, Marta Monjardino and Mohammed Mainuddin

Land 2024, 13(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010108 - 19 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1776

Abstract

Upscaling sustainable intensification (SI) technologies is crucial to enhancing the resilience of fragile farming systems and vulnerable livelihoods of smallholder farmers. It is also critical to shape the future land-use and land-cover changes in a region. Zero-tillage potato cultivation (ZTPC), introduced as an SI intervention in parts of the Indian Sundarbans, has demonstrated promises of rapid upscaling, and thus, changes in the seasonal land-use pattern in the region. This study aims to understand the socioecological complexity of farming systems to comprehend how the nascent stage of ZTPC thrives at the farm level and what preconditions are necessary to upscale them. The objectives are to analyse the farm resource recycling pattern in ZTPC, and map and simulate its system’s complexity to strategize ZTPC upscaling in the region. The analysis of farm resource recycling data reveals that ZTPC stability hinges on managing trade-offs in resource allocations, specifically involving straw, organic manure, sweet water, and family labour. The decision to manage such trade-offs depends on farm type characterizations by their landholdings, distance from the homestead, pond, and cattle ownership, competing crops, and family composition. Using a semiquantitative systems model developed through fuzzy cognitive mapping, the study underscores the significance of effective training, input support, enterprise diversification by introducing livestock, timely tuber supply, access to critical irrigation, and capacity building of local institutions as the essential preconditions to sustain and upscale ZTPC. This research contributes a systems perspective to predict agricultural land use within technology transfer initiatives, providing insights into how farm- and extra-farm factors influence resource allocations for ZTPC. Public extension offices must understand the trade-offs associated with straw, organic matter, and harvested water and design differentiated supports for different farm types. The most compelling interventions to upscale ZTPC includes farm diversification by introducing livestock through institutional convergence, pragmatic agroforestry initiatives to enhance on-farm biomass and fuel production, building awareness and integrating alternative energy use to save straw and cow dung, building social capital to ensure access to sweet irrigation water, and developing and/or strengthening farmer collectives to ensure the supply of quality tuber and marketing of farm produce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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23 pages, 944 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Land Fragmentation Affect the Effectiveness of Fiscal Subsidies for Agriculture: Evidence from China

by Wei Zou, Zhenlin Zhang and Fei Yang

Land 2024, 13(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010043 - 30 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1498

Abstract

Fiscal and land policies are important tools in developing agriculture in China. Understanding how agricultural subsidies and land fragmentation jointly affect agricultural Total Factor Productivity (TFP) is crucial for building a strong agricultural nation. This paper utilizes microdata from fixed observation points in rural China from 2003 to 2017 and employs panel bidirectional fixed-effect models and moderation-effect models to empirically analyze the impact of agricultural subsidies and land fragmentation on agricultural TFP. The research finds: (1) Agricultural subsidies positively affect agricultural TFP, while land fragmentation leads to decreased agricultural TFP. (2) Land fragmentation hinders the positive effects of agricultural subsidies on agricultural TFP. A 1% increase in land fragmentation could lead to approximately a 3% decrease in the enhancement effect of agricultural subsidies, with significant impacts on households in major grain-producing areas and those primarily engaged in agriculture. (3) There is no evidence that reforms in the “three agricultural subsidies” would alter the combined effect of agricultural subsidies and land fragmentation on agricultural TFP. The obstructive role of land fragmentation cannot be mitigated through the “three agricultural subsidies” reform. The study indicates that the incentivizing role of agricultural subsidies has not been fully realized, and land fragmentation remains a key bottleneck in agricultural development. Fiscal support for agriculture should be coupled with effective land reform policies for synergistic efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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19 pages, 2287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Heterogeneous Effects of Multilevel Centers on Farmland Transfer: Evidence from Tai’an Prefecture, China

by Meng Yang, Ting Sun and Tao Liu

Land 2023, 12(10), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101858 - 29 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1204

Abstract

Land transfer is an important means to achieve agricultural scale production and improve land use efficiency, as well as an effective way to solve food security issues. Discussing the mechanism of how the multilevel urban centers affect rural farmland transfer can help understand the spatial heterogeneity characteristics of farmland transfer. It is helpful to provide more policy suggestions from the perspective of urban-rural spatial relations and achieve the goal of agricultural and rural modernization. Taking Tai’an prefecture as an example, this study examines the impact of multilevel urban centers on farmland transfer by mediating effect model. The results show that: (1) Distances to urban centers are negatively associated with rural farmland transfer rates, with lower rates farther from urban centers. There are two mechanisms about how the distances to urban centers influence farmland transfer: the first is that the farther a village is from urban centers, the lower the value of its farmland, which leads to lower benefits to those who transferring farmland; the second is that lower opportunity costs of agricultural labor in the villages which farther from cities increase household reliance on farmland, reducing the rates of transferring farmland out. (2) Multilevel centers differentially influence transfers. The higher-level prefectural centers affect farmland transfer through planting structure, while the lower-level county centers affect farmland transfer through off-farm employment. Additionally, the influence of county centers is less stable due to road accessibility. (3) It is critical to additional policy support to both towns and remote villages. Particular focus should be placed on increasing the non-agricultural industries and expanding the agricultural markets of towns. It is also important to enhance infrastructure development to encourage farmland transfer in remote villages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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17 pages, 602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clan Networks, Spatial Selection, and Farmland Transfer Contracts: Evidence from China

by Mingyong Hong, Jiao Long and Wenjun Zhuo

Land 2023, 12(8), 1521; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081521 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1445

Abstract

Contracts play a crucial role in the reform of land markets and the process of farmland transfer. This study examines how spatial distance and clan networks impact the choice of farmland transfer contracts based on micro-level survey data from farmer households in China. Our research findings offer valuable insights into the role of contracts as a governance tool in land market reform and provide important implications for policymakers and stakeholders. In this study, we reveal that spatial distance significantly influences the selection of farmland transfer contracts. When farmers face long spatial distances, they tend to prefer written contracts to regulate the transfer relationship. This preference helps to mitigate information asymmetry and cooperation risks, ensuring a more secure and efficient transfer process. Additionally, our findings show that clan networks also play a significant role in the choice of farmland transfer contracts. Strong clan networks in high-density areas often have well-defined social norms and codes of conduct. As a result, farmers in these areas are more likely to opt for written contracts, which provide a formalized framework for governing farmland transfers. Furthermore, the density of the clan network acts as a moderator in the relationship between spatial distance and contract choice. A dense clan network intensifies the influence of spatial distance on contract choice, especially when dealing with long spatial distances. This suggests that social networks and community dynamics play a crucial role in shaping farmers’ contract preferences in farmland transfer. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of contracts as a governance tool in land market reform and provides insights into the influence of spatial distance and clan networks on the choice of farmland transfer contracts. Policymakers and stakeholders involved in land market reforms should consider the findings of this study when designing policies and interventions. By understanding the dynamics surrounding farmland transfer, policymakers can develop more effective strategies to promote secure and efficient land transactions in the context of market-oriented reforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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20 pages, 1393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Virtual Land and Water Flows and Driving Factors Related to Livestock Products Trade in China

by Meina Zhou, Junying Wang and Hao Ji

Land 2023, 12(8), 1493; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081493 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1864

Abstract

Agricultural trade, which involves the exchange of virtual water and land resources, can effectively regulate the allocation of resources among countries while enhancing the well-being of resource-rich and resource-poor nations. China’s animal products trade market concentration is greater, and the livestock industry consumes more water than other agricultural sectors. In order to alleviate the pressure on China’s domestic water and land resources and to ensure that Chinese residents have access to animal products, this article examines the trade situation and drivers of virtual water and land resources related to Chinese animal products trade. This study used the heat equivalent method to measure the virtual water and land flows of the import and export of beef, pork, and mutton from 1992 to 2018, which is followed by the gravity model to investigate the factors impacting China’s flow of virtual land and water related to livestock products trade. We found that the economic development and the agricultural resources of exporters, as well as China’s agricultural employment rates, have a stable beneficial impact on China’s livestock imports. The population of importing nations, China’s cultivated land area, and the livestock production index of importers and exporters have a positive impact on the export of livestock products from China. Our results remain robust following a series of additional tests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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20 pages, 4976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution Pattern, Evolution and Influencing Mechanism of Ecological Farms in China

by Dahao Guo, Yuancheng Lin, Min Wang and Zirou Huang

Land 2023, 12(7), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071395 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1804

Abstract

Nowadays, the challenges of energy depletion, environmental pollution and food security caused by extensive agriculture development are attracting global attention. In China, the construction of ecological farms is a key initiative to effectuate the goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, contributing to high-quality agricultural development. Based on this, this study selects the national-level ecological farms directories issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China in 2021 and 2022, and collects the corresponding economic, social and physical geographic data for GIS spatial analysis and Geodetector. The results are as follows: (1) The distribution of ecological farms in various provinces of China is uneven and spatially clustered. It generally presents a ‘high in the east and low in the west with concentrated cores’ pattern. The construction scope significantly expanded over time, and the high-value areas of nuclear density are concentrated in East China, with the development core transitioned from East China to Central China. (2) Environmental conditions, industrial foundation, economic and social development level, science and technology level and financial support all significantly affect the spatial distribution of ecological farms in China, among which the science and technology level has the most significant enhancement effect on other factors. (3) Environmental conditions provide the construction basis for ecological farms, while economic and social development level and financial support determine the number of ecological farms. The industrial foundation affects the scale of ecological farms in China, while the level of science and technology eliminates the restrictions of other factors to a certain extent. This study provides a reference for optimizing the spatial distribution pattern of ecological farms in China and promoting ecological agriculture. In addition, it presents a viable approach to safeguarding food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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13 pages, 882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Productivity and Agri-Environmental Indicators: A Case Study of Western Balkans

by Danilo Đokić, Bojan Matkovski, Marija Jeremić and Ivan Đurić

Land 2022, 11(12), 2216; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122216 - 6 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2912

Abstract

Due to the environmental radicalization of European politics, which is reflected in the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork strategy, and new CAP 2023–2027, this paper aims to determine the impact of agri-environmental indicators on soil productivity based on the land productivity function model. The paper focuses on the Western Balkans countries, which are in the process of European integration and which, in the coming period, need to harmonize their agricultural policy with the CAP. First, the aggregate Cobb–Douglas production function has been used to create a land productivity function. Then, the sources of land productivity growth have been calculated, which can be particularly interesting in the context of agri-environmental indicators, such as fertilizer use and livestock density. The research results showed that land productivity is the most elastic concerning changes in the number of livestock units per hectare. Consequently, reducing livestock units had a markedly negative effect on productivity. In addition, the research results showed that using mineral fertilizers is a crucial source of growth in land productivity in these countries. These results imply that the creators of the agricultural policy must carefully assess the pace at which they will harmonize ecological and economic goals, especially if they take into account the current Ukraine crisis that can disrupt the food market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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19 pages, 687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Economic Growth Lead to an Increase in Cultivated Land Pressure? Evidence from China

by Xi Wu, Yajuan Wang and Hongbo Zhu

Land 2022, 11(9), 1515; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091515 - 8 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2999

Abstract

With economic growth, people’s living standards improve, and more cultivated land is needed to meet food demand. Meanwhile, the economic growth and urban expansion in China since 1978 has led to the loss of considerable amounts of cultivated land. Thus, the contradiction between “economic growth” and “food security” becomes increasingly prominent. Studying the impact of economic growth on cultivated land population support pressure is the basis for easing this problem. This study uses the cultivated land pressure index to represent cultivated land population support pressure, and explores the relationship between economic growth and cultivated land pressure based on the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2017. The feasibility generalized least squares estimation and the fixed effect model based on Driscoll and Kraay standard errors are used. The results show that: (1) the impact of economic growth on cultivated land pressure is an N-shaped or U-shaped curve; and (2) there are regional differences in the impact of economic growth on cultivated land pressure. The cultivated land pressure in economically developed regions and main grain production regions responds slowly to the impact of economic growth. Therefore, some policy recommendations are put forward, such as paying attention to cultivated land protection and controlling disorderly urban expansion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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28 pages, 999 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of the Major-Grain-Producing-Areas Oriented Policy on Crop Production: Evidence from China

by Wenyuan Hua, Zhihan Chen and Liangguo Luo

Land 2022, 11(9), 1375; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091375 - 23 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2963

Abstract

As a powerful actor in the global food system, China experienced a significant drop in crop production from 1998 to 2003, which posed a substantial threat to national food security and led to the establishment of 13 major grain-producing areas (MGPA). Although some qualitative research has found that the MGPA policy plays an important role in ensuring the national food security, quantitative evidence on the effect of the MGPA policy and its potential mechanism remains scarce. Based on China’s interprovincial panel data from 1998 to 2018, this study used a difference-in-differences (DD) estimation strategy to analyze the treatment effect of the MGPA policy by taking the assignment of 13 MGPA as a quasi-experiment. The results showed that the enforcement of the MGPA policy significantly increased crop production, especially in terms of grain, rice and wheat yields. The average grain yields were raised by 27.5%. The results of the event study analysis showed that the treatment effects were sustainable in the following years of the policy implementation. This study also explored alternative causal channels and found that the MGPA policy raised crop yields mainly by expanding planting areas, improving the level of mechanization and increasing transfer payments. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the MGPA policy in increasing crop production in a developing country setting, which could enlighten policymakers in some less well-developed countries on boosting crop production and maintaining food security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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17 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate, Environment and Socio-Economic Drivers of Global Agricultural Productivity Growth

by Sanzidur Rahman, Asif Reza Anik and Jaba Rani Sarker

Land 2022, 11(4), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11040512 - 1 Apr 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3340

Abstract

Growth in total factor productivity (TFP) indicates the sustainable and/or judicious use of scarce resources, including non-renewables. This paper identifies sources of growth in global agricultural TFP and its finer components, ranging from climate, production environment, and socio-economic factors, using a panel data of 104 countries, covering a 45-year period (1969–2013); and, finally, projects changes in TFP from increased climate variability. The results revealed that global agricultural productivity grew consistently at a rate of 0.44% p.a., driven by technological progress and mix-efficiency change, with negligible contributions from technical- and scale-efficiency changes; albeit with variations across regions. Both long-term and short-term climatic factors and the natural production environment significantly reduce global agricultural productivity, whereas a host of socio-economic factors have a significant but varied influence. The projected increased level of future climate variability will significantly reduce future agricultural productivity. Policy implications include investments in crop diversification, education, agricultural spending, number of researchers, and country specific R&D. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

20 pages, 4139 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Patterns of the Land Carrying Capacity of Tibet Based on Grain Demand and Calorie Requirement

by Chao Zhang, Yanzhao Yang, Chiwei Xiao, Zhen You and Xinzhe Song

Land 2022, 11(3), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030380 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2161

Abstract

Tibet constitutes a major part of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and is a typical ethnic minority (e.g., Tibetan) and ecologically fragile area in the world. Land resources are one of the most important foundations of food production, and Tibet’s increasingly multi-type food demands are putting new pressure on land resources. However, there is still debate on how many people can be supported with the food production in Tibet. Investigating the land carrying capacity (LCC) in Tibet is very important for maintaining food security and formulating sustainable land management and utilization. Based on an analysis of the unique characteristics of the local farming, pastoral production, and dietary consumption, the spatio-temporal patterns of theLCC in Tibet in 2000–2019 were quantitatively assessed against the grain demands and calorie requirements at three different standards of living (i.e., basic prosperity, comprehensive moderate prosperity, and affluence). The dietary consumption was characterized by the high consumption of grains and meat products, and the low consumption of fruits and vegetables. The LCC in Tibet has continued to increase. The LCC in approximately 60% of the counties increased, with the high-LCC counties concentrated mainly in the Yarlung Zangbo River—Nyangqu River—Lhasa River area, and municipal districts and pastoral counties generally experiencing a low LCC. The load on land resources (LoL) in Tibet exhibited the characteristic of overall balance with local overloads and increasing tensions. More than 50% of the counties experienced population overload, mainly in municipal districts and pastoral counties. Food surplus was mainly found in farming counties, while the food production in pastoral counties was generally unable to meet the calorie demand. Considering the important role of land use in maintaining regional food security and ecological security, the conversion of grassland to cultivated land, the occupation of cultivated land, and the phenomenon of cultivated land was used to non grain should be avoided. Trans-regional transport of food should be strengthened to meet the calorie needs in population overload areas in the future. Our study provides a perspective for evaluating the pressure of land resources. The result can provide a reference for realizing the balance of grain and calorie supply–demand and lay a foundation for formulating sustainable land use policies in the QPT. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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14 pages, 669 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Waste Reduction from Customers’ Plates: Applying the Norm Activation Model in South Korean Context

by Wansoo Kim, Chen Che and Chul Jeong

Land 2022, 11(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010109 - 10 Jan 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4741

Abstract

Researchers have pointed out the urgent need to tackle food waste from customers’ plates, considering its environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Nonetheless, little is known about reducing food waste from customers’ plates in the restaurant context. The present research successfully addressed how customers can reduce food waste by using the Norm Activation Model (NAM). A customer survey was employed to collect quantitative data to verify the hypotheses of this study. The NAM of this study involved awareness of environmental impact (of the restaurant industry), ascribed responsibility for food waste, and moral norm for food waste reduction as predictors for food waste reduction intention. In addition, this study adopted self-efficacy to food waste reduction as a moderator on the path from the moral norm for food waste reduction to food waste reduction intention. Our empirical results supported all the hypotheses suggested in the research model. Consequently, the findings of this study adequately explained how restaurant customers form their intention to reduce food waste and thus provided important clues about how it can be encouraged. For example, based on the findings, a nudging message may be displayed on the restaurant wall to raise customers’ self-efficacy, saying, “Saving the earth is as easy as finishing your food or taking it home”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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22 pages, 5652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Agricultural Water Use Efficiency: Is There Any Spatial Correlation between Different Regions?

by Yanling Zhi, Fan Zhang, Huimin Wang, Teng Qin, Jinping Tong, Ting Wang, Zhiqiang Wang, Jinle Kang and Zhou Fang

Land 2022, 11(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010077 - 5 Jan 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

Affected by global climate change and water shortages, food security continues to be challenged. Improving agricultural water use efficiency is essential to guarantee food security. China has been suffering from water scarcity for a long time, and insufficient water supply in the agricultural sector has seriously threatened regional food security and sustainable development. This study adopted the super-efficiency slack-based model (SBM) to measure the provincial agricultural water use efficiency (AWUE). Then, we applied the vector autoregression (VAR) Granger causality test and social network analysis (SNA) method to explore the spatial correlation of AWUE between different provinces and reveal the interprovincial transmission mechanism of spillover effects in AWUE. The results show the following: (1) In China, the provincial AWUE was significantly enhanced, and the gaps in provincial AWUE have widened in the past 20 years. (2) There were apparent spatial heterogeneity and correlations of provincial AWUE. The provinces with higher AWUE were mainly located in economically developed and coastal areas. (3) The correlation of AWUE between provinces showed significant network structure characteristics. Fujian, Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Hubei Qinghai were central to the network, with high centrality. (4) The AWUE spatial correlation network could be divided into four blocks. Each block played a different role in the cross-provincial transmission of spillover effects. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the agricultural water resources and improve water use efficiency from the perspective of the network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Land Management to Meet Future Global Food Demand)

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