Spatial distribution of pressure index of resource-saving farming system in main farming zones in China

Resources-saving farming system, an resources-saving and high-efficiency farming practice, offers an effective solution to resource shortage problems in China’s agricultural sector. To evaluate the state of agricultural resources and resource-saving pressures in main farming zones in China, agricultural water, arable land and chemical fertilizer were advanced as research objects. The pressure indices of water-saving, land-saving and fertilizer-saving were also calculated using resources quantities, consumption rates, and grain yield in different farming zones. Furthermore, the comprehensive resource-saving pressure index and its spatial distributions in different farming zones were analyzed. The results indicated that resource-saving pressure of farming system in most farming zones in China were moderate to low. The pressure indices for East and South China were higher than those for West and North China. North China suffered from water shortages, while South China had acute shortage of arable lands. East China suffered from over-use of chemical fertilizers. Specifically, the most important areas of water-saving were the Northeast China, Huanghuaihai Area, Northwest China, and the lower and middle plateau regions. Area requiring urgent land-saving located in Southeast China, including the middle and lower reaches of Changjiang River, Jiang-nan Area and South China. In contrast, Sichuan Basin, South China and Jiang-nan Area should focus more on fertilizer saving.