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Spatio-Temporal Reorganization of Cropland Development in Central Asia during the Post-Soviet Era: A Sustainable Implication in Kazakhstan

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Wei

    (School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yuanjun Zhu

    (Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China)

  • Hao Li

    (School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Kebin Zhang

    (School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Baitian Wang

    (School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xiaohui Yang

    (Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China)

  • Zhongjie Shi

    (Institute of Desertification Studies, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China)

Abstract

The abandonment and cultivation of croplands in the Eurasian Steppe has become the focus of global and regional food security and agricultural policy-making. A large area of cropland in some post-Soviet countries has proven to be abandoned with the disintegration of the Soviet Union; however, it is unclear as to whether Kazakhstan also experienced a similar change as one of the main food providers for the former Soviet Union. In this study, we used the annual land cover dataset (1992–2015) from the European Space Agency, Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI) to detect spatio-temporal characteristics of rainfed and irrigated cropland changes in Kazakhstan. The Mann–Kendall test and regime shift analysis showed that rainfed and irrigated cropland at national level had a significant increasing trend with a significant rising up to 1999 and stagnation during 2000–2015, which was further confirmed with analysis at 14 regions. The greatest contributor to rainfed and irrigated croplands was steppes, followed by shrinkage of water bodies since 2005 to a great extent, rapid urbanization process resulted in losses of a part of irrigated oases. The trend surface analysis indicated that reorganized stable pattern characterized by rainfed cropland in north and irrigated cropland in south was driven by the strategy of the gradual agricultural development of oases. The nonexistence of cycle between the abandonment and recultivation proved that newly-gained cropland from steppe may be less degraded and more productive for sustainable land use in Kazakhstan. In conclusion, this study can provide strong evidence for sustainable land use and a basis for food security policy-making in Kazakhstan, and even all of the Central Asian countries in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Wei & Yuanjun Zhu & Hao Li & Kebin Zhang & Baitian Wang & Xiaohui Yang & Zhongjie Shi, 2018. "Spatio-Temporal Reorganization of Cropland Development in Central Asia during the Post-Soviet Era: A Sustainable Implication in Kazakhstan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4042-:d:180524
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    2. Erdeni D. Sanzheev & Anna S. Mikheeva & Petr V. Osodoev & Valentin S. Batomunkuev & Arnold K. Tulokhonov, 2020. "Theoretical Approaches and Practical Assessment of Socio-Economic Effects of Desertification in Mongolia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-20, June.
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