Research Advances of Gradation and Evaluation of Agricultural Land in China

The research development of recent agricultural land evaluation in China was reviewed. The two method systems, ideological bases and practical significance raised respectively in newly formulated National Rules of Classification and Gradation of Agricultural Land and Rules of Soil Fertility Gradation of Cultivated Land were analyzed and compared. The classification and gradation evaluation of agricultural land developed from such low level researches on natural soil condition investigation for estimating yield, soil nature and basic soil fertility, etc. to management and evaluation of resource value integrated with land and human being. The existing two evaluation methods of agricultural land in China are the gradation system of soil fertility of cultivated land formulated by Minstry of Agriculture and the classification and gradation evaluation system of agriculturall and drafted by Ministry of Land and Resources. There exist differences between the two systems in analyses of evaluation indexes, objective levels of achievement application and links of front and back operation. Currently, the classification and gradation evaluation of agricultural land have been implemented across China, whose method system perfection is of great practical significance.