A Reconstruction of Irrigated Cropland Extent in China from 2000 to 2019 Using the Synergy of Statistics and Satellite-Based Datasets

Irrigated agriculture has undergone rapid developments in China, which greatly increased food production but overexploited water resources as well. Spatial information on irrigated cropland is critical to balance irrigation yield gains against the negative impact resources. However, remote-sensing-based maps areas with short temporal coverage often suffer from undermined accuracy humid and inconsistency statistics, limit their applications policy management. The following study integrates existing maps, observed data cropping system, statistics by a synergy approach map China 2000 2019. We also incorporate past actual avoid divergence between observations its fluctuation. Afterwards, 614 reference samples across mainland have been used validate resultant show that outperformance was above overall Kappa coefficients. Moreover, our share similar spatial pattern Irrimap-Syn rather than (CCI-LC). grown rapidly 55.42 Mha 71.33 2019 different growth trends regions. Simultaneous large-scale expansion abandonment occur Huang-Huai-Hai Plain Yangtze River Basin, while Northwest Inland Region Northeast are two largest net area gains. Rainfed croplands dominant sources of expansion, followed pastures, respectively, over 70% 20% contributions total This not only shift rainfed systems indicates an intensification agriculture, might contribute agricultural drought reductions north wide soil suitability. Other efforts sustainability detected, such geographical shifts vulnerable relatively suitable areas, grain for green, protection, protection competition urbanization.