Spatiotemporal Evolution of Non-Grain Production of Cultivated Land and Its Underlying Factors in China

Food security is the foundation of development. We comprehensively characterized the spatiotemporal patterns of non-grain production (NGP) areas in China and elucidated the underlying factors driving NGP. Our objectives were to map NGP on cultivated land (NGPCL) in China, and to quantify its spatiotemporal patterns, to investigate the factors underlying NGP spatial differentiation, and to provide a scientific basis for developing NGP management policies and reference points for protecting cultivated land in other countries. We mapped NGPCL in China from 2000 to 2018 using remote sensing and geographic information system data. The spatiotemporal evolution of the NGP rate (NGPR) was also investigated. The dominant factors driving NGP progression and associated interactions were identified using geographic detectors. From 2000 to 2018, the NGPR gradually decreased from 63.02% to 52.82%. NGPR was high in the west and low in the east, and its spatial differentiation and clustering patterns were statistically significant. Precipitation, temperature, altitude, and soil carbon content were the dominant factors affecting the spatial differentiation in NGPR. The interaction between these factors enhanced the spatial differentiation.