An Analysis of Dynamic Change and Driving Forces of Cultivated Land in Hubei Province

According to the statistical and survey data form 1949 to 2000,the analysis is made about the quantitative change and the regional difference of the arable land in Hubei province during the last 50 years,on the basis of which the major driving forces that influence the changes of cultivated land are further discussed.The results indicate that the general trend of the cultivated land in Hubei province is downwards and the regional differences of cultivated land are very evident. Agricultural restructuring,non-agricultural construction, disastrous damage and land reclamation are the direct driving factors that caused the changes and the population growth,advanced technology, comparative profit and political and economic policies are the indirect driving factors which take effect on the cultivated land by the direct ones.