Location choice for farm land consolidation based on constraints of ecology and non-agriculture land conversion

Farm land consolidation is very important for improving agricultural production condition and ensuring food security. Location choice for farm land consolidation is a complex system engineering. Based on the bid-rent model and ecological security theory, the paper developed an analytical framework and analyzed the effects of the potential of new arable land, eco-environment and farm land conversion on location choice for farmland consolidation, and constructed an index system of location choice for farm land consolidation. Taking Suyu district of Suqian city as a case，the paper identified the best location for farm land consolidation，using village as an evaluation unit with the help of GIS spatial analysis technique. The results indicate that the preferred locations are mainly located in the north of the flood plain of the Yellow River, the center of Alluvial plain of the Yi River and the Shu River. These regions are far away from the urban centers and the industrial areas and with less rivers and lakes, which belong to traditional agricultural areas in Suyu. The research can provide a reference for scientific and rational farm land consolidation.