Characteristics of unbalanced and inadequate intensive use of cultivated land in China and causes

[Objective] Intensive use of cultivated land serves as an effective approach to ensure the efficient supply of agricultural products and sustainable use of cultivated land. Scientific knowledge of the spatial and temporal differentiation characteristics of unbalanced and inadequate intensive use of cultivated land as well as a precise understanding of the existing shortcomings of the intensive use of cultivated land, is crucial for unlocking the potential of land resources and enhancing the comprehensive capacity of agricultural production. [Methods] This research measured the level of intensive use of cultivated land in China and its four main regions from 2000 to 2020 across four dimensions: input intensity, utilization degree, output efficiency, and sustainability. The Dagum Gini coefficient was used to investigate the spatial imbalance of intensive use of cultivated land and its structural sources. The quantile normalization approach was used to investigate inadequate utilization of cultivated land and its mechanism. [Results] The results indicate that: (1) There were considerable variations in the level of intensive use of cultivated land throughout the nation and the four regions, although the general trend was continually growing. The provinces with low levels of intensive use of cultivated land saw a catch-up effect. (2) The imbalance of intensive use of cultivated land showed a declining tendency at the national level. More than 70% of the spatial imbalance of intensive use of cultivated land was caused by the imbalance between regions. (3) A declining trend was visible in the inadequacy index of intensive use of cultivated land for all regions and nationwide, with an order of western region (80.94), Northeast (74.33), nationwide (68.14), central region (60.16), and eastern region (55.72). (4) The sustainability of land use emerged as a key factor in the imbalance and inadequacy of intensive land use nationally and in the eastern and central regions. Input intensity significantly impacted the imbalance and inadequacy of intensive use of cultivated land in the Northeast, while in the western region, all four dimensions were highly significant. Additionally, there was a trend toward an inward convergence in the change of the primary influencing factors in each region. [Conclusion] In China, the unbalanced and inadequate intensive use of cultivated land have somewhat improved over the past 20 years, but there is still a sizable regional imbalance and insufficiency. To increase the overall agricultural production capacity, it is critical to increase the intensive use of cultivated land in accordance with the current and local conditions and to establish a systematic, coordinated pattern of such usage.