Evolution of cultivated land fragmentation and its driving mechanism in rural development: A case study of Jiangsu Province

Cultivated land fragmentation (CLF) is a complex result of the interaction between resource endowments and human activities in rural areas. Scientifically revealing the evolution of CLF and its driving factors along with rural development is of great significance to sustainable land-use management and rural development. However, there remains a gap in the literature on how CLF and its driving mechanism change with rural development. This study identified these changes by developing a new analytical framework for CLF and rurality assessment in the case of Jiangsu Province. The results show that (1) the regional differences in rural development stages have, to a certain extent, contributed to the substantial spatial variabilities in CLF characteristics and its driving factors. (2) The average value of the CLF index in Jiangsu Province gradually rises with the weakening of rural characteristics, and its fractal dimensions in different stages of rural development are all characterized by “spatial agglomeration > resource scale > utilization convenience”. (3) Gradient analysis reveals that the drivers of CLF and its fractal dimensions changes in China differ from rural to urban contexts, especially highlighting the critical roles of production and living conditions, socio-economic development, and natural environment with different impact intensities and trends. Consequently, we call for joint actions to alleviate CLF on adaptive strategies, especially those related to the expansion of plot size, the spatial integration of rural settlements, and the intensification of urban land-use. The findings of this study will provide essential insights for policymakers on CLF to formulate differentiated farmland management and rural development policies.