Agricultural production investigation using GF-1 CCD data in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Ample supplies of grain and other agricultural products is very important in China because the huge population and limited arable land resources. Recently, China issued an important strategic decision for synergy development in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, which plays a significant role in leading national economic development, but lost more and more cropland resources. So, policies must take consideration their effects on the balance of regional supply and demand of agricultural products, such as grain and vegetables, etc., to maintain regional economy's steady development. The objective of this study is to provide a technological support in crops identification based on crop calendar information, the study also investigated the potential of application of the Gaofen-1 (GF-1) CCD images in crop classification. The results showed that, in the BTH region, winter wheat and maize were the major crop type in the summer and autumn growth season, accounted for more than 60% of the farmland and ensured 88% of food demand in BTH region. Cotton and fruit trees were planted less, mainly distributed in the southern area. There are also plenty of vegetable greenhouses around cities, supplying the city residents' daily vegetables at a ratio about 48%.