Carrying Capacity of Cultivated Land in Shanxi Province

By aid of the ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity, analysis is given of the equilibrium index of the ecological carrying capacity. Some indices were selected to conduct a dynamic analysis and the conclusions were verified by the carrying capacity model of grains output. A preliminary study is done to investigate the ecological carrying capacity of the Shanxi Province during the5 years from2009 to2013. The results show that: (1)the cultivated land in Shanxi enjoys an eco- logical surplus with the average personal ecological carrying capacity of 0. 3612 hm2and the average personal ecological footprint of 0. 3001 hm2 ;(2) the average personal ecological carrying capacity underwent a downward trend while the average personal ecological footprint took an upward trend; (3) the population that the ecological carrying capacity, which is based on the grain output, can afford to support, is slightly bigger than the actual population, which can basically meet the real demand. Thus in the future efforts should be made to enhance the carrying capacity of farm land and keep the sustainability of land.