Spatiotemporal dynamics of arable land in the Nanjing metropolitan region, China

Arable land change trends, namely stable arable land, change into arable land, change into non-arable land, stable non-arable land and ephemeral arable land were subsequently categorized from the temporal trajectories of arable land changes. To deeper understand the landscape change patterns consequent from arable land use, three metrics at class level were employed. Arable land, in general, decreased by 57.24 % during 1985–2010. The change trajectory from arable to non-arable land was consistent with urban expansion. Change trajectory from arable into non-arable land was mainly located in Jiangning District while stable arable land coverage was high in Liuhe District. Stable arable land was mainly dominant in locations away from the city center. Trends in stable non-arable land, however, had a completely opposite trajectory to that of arable into non-arable land. About 59.26 % change into non-arable land was located within 10–15 km buffers and was more dramatic than other trajectories and characterized with high fragmentation. Rural labor migration, economic development, policies and urban expansion were the major driving force associated with the observed arable land changes.