Unraveling the Causal Mechanisms for Non-Grain Production of Cultivated Land: An Analysis Framework Applied in Liyang, China

The excessive use of cultivated land for non-grain production activities is considered a threat to grain security. This study presents an analysis framework on unraveling the causal mechanisms land. We apply in Liyang, which located Yangtze River Delta and also important “national base” county China. first determine four categories as immediately recoverable (IMR), simple-engineering (SER), engineering (ENR), irrecoverable (IR) based effect degree soil damage land, especially difficulty restoring capacity production. Then, we analyze spatial pattern features given at village scale. Furthermore, reveal using multiple linear regression modeling with geophysical, demographic, economic, policy variables. results show that total area Liyang 28,158.38 hectares, rate 48.09%, ranging from 10.59% 96.75% among villages. IMR, SER, ER, IR rates are 11.81%, 17.76%, 15.07%, 3.45%, respectively. There significant neighborhood categories, indicating have stimulating surrounding operators Farming conditions such proportion irrigated farmland economic variables tourism scale stronger effects than demographic Policy variables, transfer policy, neither inhibit nor promote Based these findings, make suggestions reducing protecting contributes new perspective making categorical governance decisions level.