Check dam construction mitigates the pressure from urbanization on grain production in adjacent city: Evidence from Shaanxi Province, China

Check dams are widely used across the world for soil conservation and hydrological control. However, their role in grain production is rarely assessed. This study explores the impact of check dam construction on grain production in local and surrounding districts using statistical data between 2001 and 2021. The results show that the construction of check dams helps improve grain yield in local district. During period of rapid check dam construction, the grain yield in Yulin City grew by 117%, and the percentage contribution of Yulin to the annual grain yield of the entire province rose from 10 to 19%. In contrast, Xi'an shifted away from its traditional role of grain production due to urbanization. Over 95% of the increased artificial surface area in Xi'an between 2000 and 2020 was converted from farmland, resulting in a decline in the percentage contribution of Xi'an to the annual grain yield of the entire province from 16 to 8%. Furthermore, Yulin where the check dams were constructed had the potential to supply grain to Xi'an. Consequently, the linkage strength of grain production between Yulin and Xi'an, an index reflecting the interaction of grain production between the two cities, grew significantly from 16.2 to 64.0 in the period of 2000 to 2010. Dynamic changes in the farmland area in Yulin and Xi'an have led to the overall stability of grain production in Shaanxi Province. This indicates that surplus farmland resources in eroded areas, including dam farmland, can be used to balance regional urban development and grain supply.