GIS-based research on spatial-temporal variation characteristics of Carbon Footprint in Hunan Province from 2000 to 2010

Based on the statistic data of crop production in the period from 2000 to 2010, Carbon Footprint (CF) of the farmland ecosystem was estimated in Hunan province of China. Conclusions were reached as follows: The Carbon Footprint in Hunan province manifested general increasing trend. The CF in major grain-producing areas around the Dongting Lake's are generally larger, while the regional economy is relatively more developed. CF was very significantly correlated with the sown area of crops and the total agricultural output value (p<;0.01). Among the factors contributed to CF, fertilizer inputs was the highest contribution to CF. So, we could concluded that control of fertilizer usage and increase fertilizer use efficiency is one of the effective measures to reduce CF.