DESIGNING DIVERSIFIED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN CHINA: THEORY, APPROACHES AND IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

Intensive agriculture in China over recent decades has successfully realized food security but at the expense of negative environmental impacts. Achieving greentransformation of agriculture in China requires fundamental restructuring ofcropping systems. This paper presents a theoretical framework of theory,approaches and implementation of crop diversification schemes in China.Initially, crop diversification schemes require identifying multiple objectives bysimultaneously considering natural resources, limiting factors/constraints, andsocial and economic demands of different stakeholders. Then, it is necessary tooptimize existing and/or design novel cropping systems based upon farmingpractices and ecological principles, and to strengthen targeted ecosystemservices to achieve the identified objectives. Next, the resulting diversifiedcropping systems need to be evaluated and examined by employingexperimental and modeling approaches. Finally, a strategic plan, as presentedin this paper, is needed for implementing an optimized crop diversification inChina based upon regional characteristics with the concurrent objectives of safe,nutritious food production and environmental protection. The North China Plainis used as an example to illustrate the strategic plan to optimize and design diversified cropping systems. The implementation of crop diversification in Chinawill set an example for other countries undergoing agricultural transition, andcontribute to global sustainable development