农田相关术语的学科与区域差异分析研究

doi:10.1016/j.jia.2025.04.020

摘要/Abstract

摘要：

农田通常被定义为适宜或实际用于种植作物的土地，其应用术语种类多样，包括“farmland”“arable land”“cultivated land”等。然而，科学文献中常忽视这些术语的细微差异。术语使用的不一致易引发研究结论与政策讨论的歧义，阻碍了耕地领域的研究对比与数据应用。本研究通过对5214篇科学论文进行文献综述，结合独立性检验、聚类分析与相关性方法，系统性地揭示了六类农田相关术语的应用差异。结果表明：（1）耕地术语在学科偏好上具有显著差别。生物多样性与保护领域倾向使用“farmland”以强调人类活动影响，地质学与计算机科学则偏好“cropland”；地理学研究为明确地理边界多采用“cultivated land”，而工程类文献更关注“arable land”；（2）耕地术语应用具有突出的区域差异。中国学者与“cultivated land”呈现强关联性，美国研究则多使用“agricultural land”。这种区域差异同时受到农业机械化水平、殖民历史及移民模式等多因素驱动。本研究首次系统解析了农田术语的学科与区域异质性，提出术语标准化对促进跨学科数据融合、提升全球农业环境政策协调性的重要意义。

Abstract:

In many existing dictionaries, cropland is defined as land that is suitable for or used to grow crops. It has several synonyms, such as “farmland”, “arable land”, and “cultivated land”. However, in scientific literature, the nuances of these terms are often overlooked. The inconsistent terminology usage could lead to ambiguity and confusion in research and policy discussions. In particular, it creates difficulties for newcomers and students when they search for precise information in the published literature. Hence, exploring the variations of terminology applications is important for the cropland-related research community. In this study, the differences in six cropland-related terminologies were explored through a review of 5,214 scientific articles, by employing the independence test, clustering approach, and correlation analysis. The results showed that disparities exist across disciplines. For example, biodiversity & conservation studies preferentially use “farmland” to highlight effects from human activities, while studies in geology and computer science use “cropland”. The term “cultivated land” tends to be used in geography research for clear geographical demarcation, while “arable land” is related to engineering studies. Moreover, further disparities based on the geographical affiliations of the authors were found. The correlation between China and “cultivated land” was reliable and a close link was found between “agricultural land” and the USA. The regional variations in cropland terminology can be influenced by multiple factors, including the degree of agricultural mechanization, colonial history, and migration patterns. This study reveals variations in cropland-related terminology across disciplines and regions. The results highlight the importance of standardizing cropland terminology to foster interdisciplinary research, improve data comparability, and support global agricultural and environmental policymaking.

Key words: cropland terminology , discipline variation , regional variation , standardization , agricultural research

Gehui Jin, Yanbing Wei, Qiangyi Yu, Wenbin Wu. 农田相关术语的学科与区域差异分析研究[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(12): 4776-4786.

Gehui Jin, Yanbing Wei, Qiangyi Yu, Wenbin Wu. How do scientists use terminology related to cropland? Examining the disparity across disciplines and regions[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2025, 24(12): 4776-4786.

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