Abstract:

Taking counties as the basic unit, this paper establishes the evaluation index system of farmland functions from the dimensions of economy, society and ecology, adopts the method combining entropy weighting and multiple correlation coefficient weighting to determine the weights, and calculates the farmland function indices of each county. Subsequently, the spatio-temporal characteristics of farmland functions evolution were analyzed and the coupling relationships between the sub-functions were explored based on the coupling coordination model, simultaneously, the dynamic mechanism of farmland functions evolution was quantitatively probed by applying the spatial econometric regression analysis method in this research. Major conclusions were drawn as follows: (1) The farmland economic function generally presented a declining trend during 1990-2010. Especially, the function is strengthened in underdeveloped and agriculture dominated counties, and weakened continuously in developed areas on contrary; 60.29% of the counties decrease in farmland social function, whereas some counties, which are mostly located in the north of Zhengzhou, the west of Dezhou and Cangzhou, Yantai and Weihai, have experienced an obvious increase; The dramatic decline of farmland ecological function has occurred around Beijing, Tianjin and Jinan. Areas located in northern Henan Province and central Shandong Province has witnessed an increase of ecological function. (2) There is a significant spatial difference in the coupling degree and coordination degree of the sub-functions, and the decoupling phenomenon gradually highlights. The changes of social function and ecological function lag behind those of economic function in developed areas, but they are highly coupled in some underdeveloped areas. (3) The evolution of farmland functions in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain resulted from the comprehensive effects of regional basic conditions and external driving factors. Furthermore, the transition of population and industry in the process of urbanization and industrialization plays a decisive role in evolution intensity and direction of farmland sub-systems including economy, society and ecology. According to the results above mentioned, agricultural modernization, industrialization and promoting the transformation of traditional agriculture should be regarded as an important engine driving the sustainable development of Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. In view of regional differentiation characteristics of farmland functions evolution, differentiated and diversified farmland use and management modes should be implemented from developed urban areas to underdeveloped traditional agricultural areas.

Key words: farmland functions, evolution, spatio-temporal characteristics, dynamic mechanism, land use transition, Huang-Huai-Hai Plain