Article: Eco-exergy-based ecological flow accounting of cropland ecosystem and utilisation efficiencies in China Journal: International Journal of Exergy (IJEX) 2015 Vol.17 No.1 pp.74 - 91 Abstract: A quantitative analysis of the development of ecological flow patterns of various types is performed. On the basis of existing exergy accounting, ecological flow networks in a typical semi-natural cropland ecosystem were analysed, and five ecological indicators used to compare spatial and temporal differences from 2000 to 2011 in 31 provinces of mainland China. The results show that according to system transformity, the utilisation effectiveness of cropland ecosystems has increased from 20.22% to 23.23%, with major grain producing provinces in central China growing significantly. Annual renewable resource dependency has gradually decreased from 93.90% to 89.52%. The analysis of natural resources utilisation and material flow suggests that the use of natural resources needs to be more conservative, particularly in coastal provinces, and that economic development needs to be guaranteed. The results can provide guidance for future policy-oriented agriculture sustainable development. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Eco-exergy-based ecological flow accounting of cropland ecosystem and utilisation efficiencies in China

Authors: Beibei Guo; Xuhong Yang; Xiaobin Jin; Yinkang Zhou

Addresses: School of Geographic and Oceanographic Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China ' School of Geographic and Oceanographic Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China ' School of Geographic and Oceanographic Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China ' School of Geographic and Oceanographic Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Abstract: A quantitative analysis of the development of ecological flow patterns of various types is performed. On the basis of existing exergy accounting, ecological flow networks in a typical semi-natural cropland ecosystem were analysed, and five ecological indicators used to compare spatial and temporal differences from 2000 to 2011 in 31 provinces of mainland China. The results show that according to system transformity, the utilisation effectiveness of cropland ecosystems has increased from 20.22% to 23.23%, with major grain producing provinces in central China growing significantly. Annual renewable resource dependency has gradually decreased from 93.90% to 89.52%. The analysis of natural resources utilisation and material flow suggests that the use of natural resources needs to be more conservative, particularly in coastal provinces, and that economic development needs to be guaranteed. The results can provide guidance for future policy-oriented agriculture sustainable development.

Keywords: ecological flow; exergy accounting; exergy analysis; cropland ecosystems; China; utilisation effectiveness; grain production; material flow; natural resources; economic development; sustainability; agriculture; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2015.069319

International Journal of Exergy, 2015 Vol.17 No.1, pp.74 - 91

Received: 11 Jan 2014
Accepted: 12 May 2014
Published online: 11 May 2015 *

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Title: Eco-exergy-based ecological flow accounting of cropland ecosystem and utilisation efficiencies in China

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