| Summary: | An integrated optimization model was developed for the spatial distribution of agricultural crops in order to efficiently utilize agricultural water and land resources simultaneously. The model is based on the spatial distribution of crop suitability, spatial distribution of population density, and agricultural land use data. Multi-source remote sensing data are combined with constraints of optimal crop area, which are obtained from agricultural cropping pattern optimization model. Using the middle reaches of the Heihe River basin as an example, the spatial distribution of maize and wheat were optimized by minimizing cross-entropy between crop distribution probabilities and desired but unknown distribution probabilities. Results showed that the area of maize should increase and the area of wheat should decrease in the study area compared with the situation in 2013. The comprehensive suitable area distribution of maize is approximately in accordance with the distribution in the present situation; however, the comprehensive suitable area distribution of wheat is not consistent with the distribution in the present situation. Through optimization, the high proportion of maize and wheat area was more concentrated than before. The maize area with more than 80% allocation concentrates on the south of the study area, and the wheat area with more than 30% allocation concentrates on the central part of the study area. The outcome of this study provides a scientific basis for farmers to select crops that are suitable in a particular area.
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