Spatial-temporal change and driving factors of cultivated land pressure in the Chang-Zhu-Tan area

Based on the survey data on land use and social-economic statistical data from 1997 to 2010, this paper analyzes the spatial-temporal change and driving factors of cultivated land pressure in the Chang-Zhu-Tan area using the index model of cultivated land pressure and principal component analysis. The results show that the Chang-Zhu-Tan regional cultivated land tends to reduce overall in a step-like manner. As a whole, the cultivated land pressure index of the Chang-Zhu-Tan area is less than 1, implying the cultivated land pressure is not obvious. But the cultivated land pressure index exhibits an up-down-up process, with a rising tendency. Specifically, the cultivated land pressure of Changsha city is larger than Zhuzhou city, and that of Zhuzhou larger than Xiangtan city. And there are obvious differences among counties, especially in urban areas. The cultivated land pressure index of urban areas is much greater than 1, showing that the cultivated land pressure of urban areas is very big. Other counties have relatively smaller pressure. Rapid population growth, fast economic development, the popularization of agricultural mechanization and the increase of agricultural inputs are the main driving factors for the cultivated land pressure in the Chang-Zhu-Tan area. The study results will be helpful to raise awareness to protect the cultivated land, and provide a scientific basis for promoting regional land reasonable use planning and realize two-type development in the Chang-Zhu-Tan area.