Spatial Exploration of Multiple Cropping Efficiency in China Based on Time Series Remote Sensing Data and Econometric Model

• Published in: Journal of Integrative Agriculture Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 903 - 913
• Main Authors: ZUO, Li-jun, WANG, Xiao, LIU, Fang, YI, Ling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2013; Science Press; Elsevier
• Subjects: China; multiple cropping efficiency; multiple cropping efficiency multiple cropping index (MCI) time series of MODIS/EVI stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) China; multiple cropping index (MCI); stochastic frontier analysis (SFA); time series of MODIS/EVI; 中国西南地区; 中等分辨率成像光谱仪; 复种指数; 时间序列; 空间探索; 经济学模型; 计量经济模型; 遥感数据; multiple cropping index (MCI); multiple cropping efficiency; stochastic frontier analysis (SFA); China; time series of MODIS/EVI
• ISSN: 2095-3119; 2352-3425
• DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60308-1

This study explored spatial explicit multiple cropping efficiency （MCE） of China in 2005 by coupling time series remote sensing data with an econometric model - stochastic frontier analysis （SFA）. We firstly extracted multiple cropping index （MCI） on the basis of the close relationship between crop phenologies and moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer （MODIS） enhanced vegetation index （EVI） value. Then, SFA model was employed to calculate MCE, by considering several indicators of meteorological conditions as inputs of multiple cropping systems and the extracted MCI was the output. The result showed that 46% of the cultivated land in China in 2005 was multiple cropped, including 39% double- cropped land and 7% triple-cropped land. Most of the multiple cropped land was distributed in the south of Great Wall. The total efficiency of multiple cropping in China was 87.61% in 2005. Southwestern China, Ganxin Region, the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River and Huanghuaihai Plain were the four agricultural zones with the largest rooms for increasing MCI and improving MCE. Fragmental terrain, soil salinization, deficiency of water resources, and loss of labor force were the obstacles for MCE promotion in different zones. The method proposed in this paper is theoretically reliable for MCE extraction, whereas further studies are need to be done to investigate the most proper indicators of meteorological conditions as the inputs of multiple cropping systems.