An Operational Assessment Framework for Near Real-time Cropland Dynamics: Toward Sustainable Cropland Use in Mid-Spine Belt of Beautiful China

Abstract

Cropland monitoring is a crucial component for a broad user community from Land Use and Land Cover Change study to food security policy making. Faced with the rich natural ecological environment and variable agricultural production conditions of Mid-Spine Belt of Beautiful China (MSBBC), this study developed a novel operational assessment framework that combined the near real-time land cover mapping platform (i.e., FROM-GLC Plus), the FAO Agricultural Stress Index System, and the land degradation monitoring method suggested by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification for the timely monitoring of cropland extent change, cropland conditions, and cropland degradation. With integrated monitoring system, this framework can provide convenient access to high-spatiotemporal- resolution cropland maps (30 m, dekadal) and instant (near real time) cropland dynamics. According to the monitoring results, we found that the abnormally high temperatures of summer 2022 adversely affected crop health in the southwest of MSBBC. Besides, our results suggested that China’s ecological restoration projects made remarkable achievement in MSBBC. The productivity of more than 70% of cropland in MSBBC has improved, and only ~6% cropland (~3.69 × 104 km2) has degraded since 2000, mainly distributed in cropland with steep slope, insufficient precipitation, and intensive use. Site-specific measures, such as conservation tillage, improved tillage systems, and cropland ecological projects, should be adopted for sustainable cropland use and further increase in land carrying capacity of MSBBC to achieve balanced east-west development in China.