## 4 Discussion
In the study area of Qiaotou Town, the area of perennial abandoned farmland is 83.49 hm\({}^{2}\), while the areas of seasonal abandoned farmland for the two periods are 123.10 hm\({}^{2}\), and 454.39 hm\({}^{2}\), with abandonment rates of 2.18%, 3.21%, and 11.86%, respectively. Kernel density analysis of abandoned farmland reveals that high-density cores are concentrated in the southeastern and northeastern parts of the study area, potentially linked to specific land-use patterns or economic factors. These density cores exhibit a ring-shaped distribution, typically located around the edges of roads and residential areas, indicating a relationship between land abandonment and human settlement patterns. In the study area of Qiaotou Town, abandoned farmland and areas with high abandonment rates are primarily concentrated in regions with a slope of 0-5\({}^{\circ}\). Although the abandonment rate is highest in areas with slopes greater than 15\({}^{\circ}\), its impact on overall abandonment is limited due to the relatively small area of farmland in these regions. In general, both farmland and abandoned farmland are predominantly found in areas with slopes of 0-5\({}^{\circ}\). This is because slope significantly affects temperature, sunlight, and the feasibility of large-scale mechanized agriculture. The distribution of abandoned farmland in Qiaotou Town is closely linked to the road layout and its distance from farmland. As the distance from the road network increases, the area of cultivated land decreases. This is because the road network is crucial for farmland accessibility. Areas closer to roads are better suited for mechanized operations, reducing the time and cost of transporting agricultural products. Conversely, as the distance from roads increases, the abandonment rate tends to decrease. This may be because income from non-agricultural work is generally higher than that from farming. Therefore, farmers living closer to roads are more likely to seek employment elsewhere, leading to a loss of rural labor and the abandonment of farmland. The area of cultivated land remains relatively stable as the distance from water systems increases, but the abandonment rate increases accordingly. Water resources are essential for crop growth, soil health, and overall agricultural production. Proper irrigation helps mitigate adverse climatic factors, such as drought, thereby boosting crop yields. For farmland far from water sources, crops struggle to obtain sufficient moisture, leading to poor growth and lower yields. This, in turn, impacts farmers' income and decreases their interest in farming. In light of the current challenges, optimizing irrigation systems is of paramount importance, with a particular focus on extending their reach to more remote agricultural regions. Implementing such measures is essential for achieving a more equitable distribution of irrigation resources [69]. This, in turn, can significantly reduce the incidence of farmland abandonment and enhance overall land use efficiency. To this end, the adoption of contemporary irrigation technologies, such as drip and sprinkler systems, becomes imperative for lands situated at a distance from water sources [31]. By doing so,not only can land consolidation and the facilitation of large-scale agricultural operations be promoted, reducing land fragmentation, but also the abandonment of farmland can be mitigated. These advancements are instrumental in bolstering agricultural productivity and ensuring the sustainable use of land resources. Based on the analysis of the residential zone, we observe that the farmland abandonment rate is highest in areas more than 500 m from residential areas. However, since the area of farmland in these regions is relatively small, its overall impact is not substantial. Meanwhile, the majority of farmland is concentrated within 500 m of residential zones. Within this range, farmland abandonment is likely associated with the expansion of residential and urban areas.