Spatiotemporal patterns and optimization of dominant and recessive morphology of cultivated land use in the Ili River Valley.

In recent years, the rapid expansion and functional degradation of cultivated land have intensified the pressure on this crucial resource, and the protection of cultivated land needs urgent attention. Based on an integrated view of dominant and recessive, combined with landscape index selection, spatial mapping method, kernel density estimation, and coupling coordination degree, this study examines the spatiotemporal changes in cultivated land in the Ili River Valley from 2005 to 2020 and proposes optimization strategies. Key findings include: (1) The dominant morphology of cultivated land use shows a slow growth trend, and the recessive morphology (total function) exhibits a faster growth rate than that of the dominant morphology. (2) The coupling coordination has gradually shifted from barely coordinated and primary coordination to intermediate coordination. (3) The region is divided into three primary zones and six secondary zones, and this study proposes targeted differentiated development strategies. It is helpful to the sustainable utilization of cultivated land and the rational planning of land space in arid oasis regions.