A robust framework for mapping complex cropping patterns: The first national-scale 10 m map with 10 crops in China using Sentinel 1/2 images

Abstract

Complex cropping patterns with crop diversity are an underexploited treasure for global food security. However, significant methodological and dataset gaps in fully characterizing cropland cultivated with multiple crops and rotation sequences hinder our ability to understand and promote sustainable agricultural systems. Existing crop mapping models are challenged by the deficiency of ground reference data and the limited transferability capabilities across large spatial domains. This study aimed to fill these gaps by proposing a robust Complex Cropping Pattern Mapping framework (CCPM) capable of national-scale automatic applications using the Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 MSI time series datasets. The CCPM framework addresses these challenges by integrating knowledge-based approaches & data-driven algorithms (Dual-driven model) and Phenological Normalization. The CCPM framework was implemented over conterminous China with complex cropping systems dominated by smallholder farms, and the first national-scale 10-m Cropping pattern map with descriptions of cropping intensity and 10 crops in China (ChinaCP-T10) in 2020 was produced. The efficiency of the CCPM framework was validated when evaluated by 18,706 ground-truth reference datasets, with an overall accuracy of 91.47 %. Comparisons with existing crop data products revealed that the ChinaCP-T10 offered more comprehensive and consistent information on diverse cropping patterns. Dominant cropping patterns diversified from single maize in northern China, winter wheat-maize in North China Plain, single oilseeds in Western China, to single rice or double rice in Southern China. The key cropping patterns changed from double-grain cropping, single grain to single cash cropping with increasing altitudes. There were 151,744 km² planted areas of double grain cropping patterns in China, and multiple cropping accounted for 36.1 % of grain cultivated area nationally. Over 80 % of grain production was mainly implemented at lower altitudes as the Non-Grain Production (NGP) ratio enhanced from 32 % within elevations below 200 m to over 70 % among elevations above 700 m. Consistent datasets on complex cropping patterns are essential, given the significant roles of diversification and crop rotations in sustainable agriculture and the frequently observed inconsistencies in existing crop data products based on thematic mapping.