Spatial transition and obstacle factor diagnosis based on the evaluation of the quality of arable land use in plain Lake Areas: A case study of the Dongting Lake region

• Developed an integrated model for evaluating and diagnosing the Quality of Arable Land Use (QALU) in plain lake regions. • Employed a dual perspective of riverine ecological constraints and socioeconomic structural fluctuations. • Emphasized the necessity for enhancing QALU through a coordinated approach that integrates both natural and socioeconomic development. As a critical grain-producing region in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain in China, the quality of arable land use (QALU) in the plain lake areas is essential for maintaining regional food security. This study develops an interactive analytical framework from the dual perspectives of riverine ecological constraints and socioeconomic structural fluctuations, termed the “environmental pressure-utilization intensity-output efficiency” framework. Employing the ESTDA model and the obstacle degree model, the study assesses the QALU in the Dongting Lake region from 2000 to 2020, quantifying spatiotemporal transitions and identifying key obstacle factors. The aim is to provide a theoretical foundation and scientific support for a deeper understanding of QALU dynamics. The findings reveal that (1) QALU demonstrates a spatial distribution characterized by lower levels in peripheral areas and higher levels in central areas. With declining environmental pressures, the primary factors influencing QALU in the plain lake areas shift towards utilization intensity and output efficiency. (2) QALU shows a trend toward spatiotemporal coordination, with transitions exhibiting both spatial lock-in and dynamic characteristics strongly associated with the spatial features of the plain lake areas. (3) The primary obstacle factors gradually shift from natural resource endowments to socioeconomic structures, highlighting the urgent need for policy interventions to improve QALU. The study concludes that enhancing QALU in the plain lake areas requires an integrated approach that harmonizes natural and socioeconomic structures with tailored strategies to achieve sustainable arable land use.