Research on the Impact of Land Fragmentation and Land Management Scale on the Sustainable Intensification of Cultivated Land Use

Sustainable intensification of cultivated land use (SICLU) plays a crucial role in ensuring China's food and ecological security. Based on survey data from 629 farm households in Jiangxi province, this study employs the super-efficiency SBM model to assess SICLU levels. It analyzes the transmission mechanism through which land fragmentation affects SICLU. Additionally, a moderation effect model is used to examine the moderating role of the land management scale. The results indicate that the overall SICLU level in Jiangxi is relatively low. The study finds an inverted "U" relationship between the land management scale and SICLU, with land fragmentation, farmer age, and the number of laborers engaged in farming significantly impacting SICLU. In contrast, the farmer's education level, health status, agricultural income proportion, village transportation conditions, and village economic level positively influence SICLU. Furthermore, the land management scale significantly moderates the effect of land fragmentation on SICLU; when the land management scale is small, the impact of land fragmentation is more significant, whereas it diminishes as the land management scale increases. Based on these findings, the study suggests promoting fertilizer reduction and efficiency improvements, advancing green and low-carbon agricultural development, enhancing land transfer systems, supporting moderate-scale land management, and accelerating the construction of high-standard farmland.