Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China

Corn and pig farming are representative sectors of China’s crop production and livestock industries, respectively. The spatial relationship between these two industries is of great significance for coordinating crop–livestock integration and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Therefore,...

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Main Authors: Xuezhen Xiong, Hongping Lian, Li Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/806
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author Xuezhen Xiong
Hongping Lian
Li Fan
author_facet Xuezhen Xiong
Hongping Lian
Li Fan
author_sort Xuezhen Xiong
collection DOAJ
description Corn and pig farming are representative sectors of China’s crop production and livestock industries, respectively. The spatial relationship between these two industries is of great significance for coordinating crop–livestock integration and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, this study takes corn and pig farming as focal points to examine the spatiotemporal coupling and evolutionary characteristics of these two industries and to identify the driving mechanisms underlying their spatiotemporal coupling relationship. The study results showed the following: (1) The production center for pigs is situated in southern China, whereas the corn production center is located in northern China. Temporally, the corn production center continues to shift northward, while the location of the pig production center remains relatively stable. (2) The national-level coupling development index for corn and pigs exhibits a declining trend with fluctuations and significant regional disparities. The lowest coupling development index is observed in northeastern China. (3) The “corn–pig” production balance coefficient categorizes northern regions as “more grain, fewer pigs” and southern regions as “more pigs, fewer grains”, demonstrating a persistent spatial mismatch between corn and pig production across North and South China. (4) The abundance of alternative feed grains, established industrial infrastructure, and climatic conditions are key factors driving the sustained north–south separation of these two industries. These findings provide insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of corn and pig production in China, clarify underlying driving mechanisms, and offer valuable guidance for policy optimization aimed at enhancing crop–livestock integration and sustainable agricultural development.
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spelling doaj-art-c12e9a8aefc54e56a1c38d2573dc1f2d2025-08-20T02:18:09ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-04-0114480610.3390/land14040806Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in ChinaXuezhen Xiong0Hongping Lian1Li Fan2School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaSchool of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaFaculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, ChinaCorn and pig farming are representative sectors of China’s crop production and livestock industries, respectively. The spatial relationship between these two industries is of great significance for coordinating crop–livestock integration and promoting sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, this study takes corn and pig farming as focal points to examine the spatiotemporal coupling and evolutionary characteristics of these two industries and to identify the driving mechanisms underlying their spatiotemporal coupling relationship. The study results showed the following: (1) The production center for pigs is situated in southern China, whereas the corn production center is located in northern China. Temporally, the corn production center continues to shift northward, while the location of the pig production center remains relatively stable. (2) The national-level coupling development index for corn and pigs exhibits a declining trend with fluctuations and significant regional disparities. The lowest coupling development index is observed in northeastern China. (3) The “corn–pig” production balance coefficient categorizes northern regions as “more grain, fewer pigs” and southern regions as “more pigs, fewer grains”, demonstrating a persistent spatial mismatch between corn and pig production across North and South China. (4) The abundance of alternative feed grains, established industrial infrastructure, and climatic conditions are key factors driving the sustained north–south separation of these two industries. These findings provide insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of corn and pig production in China, clarify underlying driving mechanisms, and offer valuable guidance for policy optimization aimed at enhancing crop–livestock integration and sustainable agricultural development.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/806cornpigsproduction layoutcrop–livestock integrationgreen agriculture
spellingShingle Xuezhen Xiong
Hongping Lian
Li Fan
Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China
Land
corn
pigs
production layout
crop–livestock integration
green agriculture
title Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China
title_full Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China
title_short Spatiotemporal Coupling Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Corn Cultivation and Pig Farming in China
title_sort spatiotemporal coupling evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of corn cultivation and pig farming in china
topic corn
pigs
production layout
crop–livestock integration
green agriculture
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/4/806
work_keys_str_mv AT xuezhenxiong spatiotemporalcouplingevolutioncharacteristicsanddrivingmechanismsofcorncultivationandpigfarminginchina
AT hongpinglian spatiotemporalcouplingevolutioncharacteristicsanddrivingmechanismsofcorncultivationandpigfarminginchina
AT lifan spatiotemporalcouplingevolutioncharacteristicsanddrivingmechanismsofcorncultivationandpigfarminginchina