Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2019, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (5): 608-616.doi: 10.19741/j.issn.1673-4831.2018.0245

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The Impact Emergy Analysis of Crop Planting Change on the Resource and Environments: A Case Study of Hubei From 1978-2015

ZENG Lin-lin, LI Xiao-yun, HUANG Ma-lan, WANG Na   

  1. College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • Received:2018-05-03 Online:2019-05-25 Published:2019-06-25

Abstract:

The impacts of crop planting change on agricultural productive efficiency and the environmental sustainability were evaluated by using emergy analysis method,elasticity approach and the planting data of Hubei province from 1978 to 2015. Results indicate that the agricultural productivity was relatively high and presented an environmental sustainability in Hubei province overall the period,whereas the environment load had been found increasing in recent years. The emergy investment ratio (EIR)and emergy yield and investment ratio (EYIR)varied in different regions of Hubei province. The EIR and EYIR were both higher in the most productive regions. Jianghan plain,compared to the rest regions of the province,associated with a highest environmental loading ratio (ELR). Therefore,for the Jianghan plain the emergy sustainability index (ESI)was lower with slow growth. The EIR and EYIR were lower in the east and west areas of the province associated with a lower ELR,therefore the ESI was higher and supported a fast growth. The crop planting area elasticities of ESI were negative and the absolute coefficient values were great for rice,cotton,and legume crops cross the province from 1978 to 2015. The elasticity coefficients for vegetables and fruit crops were fluctuated with the values changing from positive to negative,and back to positive. The overuse of fertilizer resulted in the increase on ELR. More attention should be paid to the agro-ecosystem to mitigate the environmental pressure and promote the sustainability of agriculture,such as reducing application level of fertilizer.

Key words: the change of crop planting, environment loading, sustainable development, emergy analysis, elasticity analysis

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