# Comparison of Farmland Ecosystem Value in Core Area of Hakka Terrace System in Chongyi, Jiangxi Province

Authors: Hua Li; Yangdong Guo; Hao Liu; Feiping Chen
Journal: Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing
 (2022)

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## Abstract

Objective. This paper hopes to lay a foundation for properly understanding the role of the Hakka terrace system in the future development of agricultural economy by evaluating and comparing the values of the farmland ecosystem in the core area of The Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in the year 2013 and 2019. Methods. By sorting out the evolution of Chongyi Hakka terrace system, we can figure out the corresponding multidimensional values obtained in rural revitalization process, thus forming the value evaluation system, calculating the values of each value system in 2013 and 2019, analyzing and comparing the reasons behind numerical changes, and making suggestions accordingly. Results. In the year 2013, the economic value, ecological value, social value, and cultural value of the farmland ecosystem accounted for 11.72%, 6.15%, 80.36%, and 1.77% of the total value. In the year 2019, the figure is 19.22%, 2.75%, 76.67%, and 1.36%, respectively. Conclusion. The noneconomic value of terrace ecosystem far exceeds its economic value, so the utilization rate of farmland production should be increased based on the local conditions so as to maximize the value of the agricultural system and boost rural revitalization.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

### 1.1. Significance of the Research

According to the definition of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), globally important agricultural heritage system is “ the unique land use system and agricultural landscape formed by long-term cooperative coevolution and dynamical adaption between the countryside and its surroundings, this kind of system and landscape has rich biodiversity, and can meet the development need of local social economy and culture, moreover, it can promotes sustainable development in the region.” So far, there are 15 globally important agricultural heritage systems in China. In February 2018, the CPC Central Committee issued the first document “Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and The State Council on the Implementation of rural revitalization Strategy,” which has become the theme of China’s rural development. In-depth exploration of the value connotation of agricultural cultural heritage is not only of great significance to the cultural identity of the Chinese nation. Moreover, it provides a solid cultural accumulation for the development of China’s rural areas, enabling them to shoulder the responsibility of inheriting, protecting, and developing traditional culture in the context of rural revitalization.


### 1.2. Advances in Previous Research

The value of farmland ecosystem consists of economic, ecological, social, cultural, and other aspects, and there are mainly two value evaluation methods, namely, the quantitative and pricing models; the quantitative model mainly uses the factor analysis method, analytic hierarchy process etc., while pricing analysis model usually uses travel cost method, condition value method, and method of input and output. Tao Jin et al. put forward a systematical discussion on the cultural heritage value evaluation in China. Miao Jianqun et al. use qualitative method to evaluate the value of Chongyi Hakka terrace farmland and forest based on the data in 2012.


### 1.3. The Starting Point of This Research

This paper takes the core farmland ecosystem in Chongyi Hakka terraced farmland ecosystem system as the research object, via establishing its own value assessment system and digitizing the embedded value by contrasting value data in 2013 and 2019; this paper is aimed at laying a foundation for correctly understanding the value of Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace system in the role of the agricultural economy development.


### 1.4. Key Issues to Be Solved

Different assessment methods could lead to difference in the calculation results, so the same assessment method is used to calculate values in 2013 and 2019, respectively, and compare the value ratios of different parts; finally, this paper discusses the current development drawbacks and offers the suggestions for improving the Chongyi Hakka terrace system.


## 1.1. Significance of the Research

According to the definition of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), globally important agricultural heritage system is “ the unique land use system and agricultural landscape formed by long-term cooperative coevolution and dynamical adaption between the countryside and its surroundings, this kind of system and landscape has rich biodiversity, and can meet the development need of local social economy and culture, moreover, it can promotes sustainable development in the region.” So far, there are 15 globally important agricultural heritage systems in China. In February 2018, the CPC Central Committee issued the first document “Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and The State Council on the Implementation of rural revitalization Strategy,” which has become the theme of China’s rural development. In-depth exploration of the value connotation of agricultural cultural heritage is not only of great significance to the cultural identity of the Chinese nation. Moreover, it provides a solid cultural accumulation for the development of China’s rural areas, enabling them to shoulder the responsibility of inheriting, protecting, and developing traditional culture in the context of rural revitalization.


## 1.2. Advances in Previous Research

The value of farmland ecosystem consists of economic, ecological, social, cultural, and other aspects, and there are mainly two value evaluation methods, namely, the quantitative and pricing models; the quantitative model mainly uses the factor analysis method, analytic hierarchy process etc., while pricing analysis model usually uses travel cost method, condition value method, and method of input and output. Tao Jin et al. put forward a systematical discussion on the cultural heritage value evaluation in China. Miao Jianqun et al. use qualitative method to evaluate the value of Chongyi Hakka terrace farmland and forest based on the data in 2012.


## 1.3. The Starting Point of This Research

This paper takes the core farmland ecosystem in Chongyi Hakka terraced farmland ecosystem system as the research object, via establishing its own value assessment system and digitizing the embedded value by contrasting value data in 2013 and 2019; this paper is aimed at laying a foundation for correctly understanding the value of Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace system in the role of the agricultural economy development.


## 1.4. Key Issues to Be Solved

Different assessment methods could lead to difference in the calculation results, so the same assessment method is used to calculate values in 2013 and 2019, respectively, and compare the value ratios of different parts; finally, this paper discusses the current development drawbacks and offers the suggestions for improving the Chongyi Hakka terrace system.


## 2. Historical Context of Farmland Ecosystem in the Core Area of Hakka Terrace System in Chongyi, Jiangxi Province

Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace system became the second batch of China’s important agricultural cultural heritage in 2014. The system is located at Qiyun Mountain, Chongyi County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi province, with an altitude of 2.0613 km, a total core area of about 52,000 hm2, and forest coverage rate of 92.6% [1]. It was built in the late Song and early Yuan dynasties and completed in the early Qing Dynasty. With the history of more than 800 years, it was rated as one of the three wonders of terraced fields in China and named “xiu li tian ti” (the amazing sky ladder) [2]. The Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, has a long history. Between the end of the Southern Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, terraced fields began to take shape. Local residents reclaimed foothills and flat terrain to grow food. In the Ming Dynasty, people at the junction of Fujian and Guangdong provinces started to migrate to avoid wars and seek a living. The Hakka people in Ganzhou began to broaden the terrace cultivation channels and plant crops from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain; at this time, the area of terraced fields was gradually shifted to stepped terraced fields from sporadic small terraced fields; thus, the scale of terraced fields has been greatly increased. By the Qing Dynasty, Shangpu terraced fields were basically completed, and the techniques used in building terraced fields became more sophisticated. The period of the Republic of China is the later stage of terrace development, both the form and scale of terraced fields were basically stabilized, and a stable “four-element isomorphism” (as shown in Figure 1) agricultural production system has also been formed.Figure 1
Schematic diagram of “four-element isomorphism” of terraced fields (source: drawn by author).


## 3. Value Evaluation for Farmland Ecosystem in the Core Area of Hakka Terrace System in Chongyi, Jiangxi Province

### 3.1. Value Evaluation System

After years of historical succession, in some level, the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi of Jiangxi province has bred Ganzhou Hakka culture, and the “four-element isomorphism” agricultural production system formed by terrace system is also a concrete embodiment of the harmonious coexistence between man and the nature. The value of land such as landscape perception, ecological regulation, and cultural characteristics are all its main value. According to the research of Eryang et al., agricultural value can be divided into three categories: economic value, ecological value, and social value [3]. Under the guideline of rural revitalization, the value of farmland ecosystem in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, is evaluated in a multidimensional and systematical way, and scientific research and calculation methods are adopted to promote the digitization and visualization of the value of agricultural cultural heritage, as shown in Table 1.Table 1
Specific classification and value evaluation methods of farmland ecosystem value system in the core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province.
General requirements for rural revitalizationGeneral classification of valueSubclassification of valueValue explanationEvaluation methodEvaluation notesMeasuring formulaMeasuring formula notesThriving business, prosperous lifeEconomic valueValue of commercial crops and their subsidiary productsThe economic value generated by rice and rapeseed oil grown in the terrace systemIncome statistic methodMeasuring net income generated by crops and its subsidiary products under normal market conditionsV1=TdPd+TyPy (1) [4]Td is the total annual yield of rice in the evaluated area(t); Pd is the price of rice in the evaluated area; Ty is the total annual yield of rapeseed oil in the evaluated area (t); Py is the total annual yield of rapeseed oil (yuan/t)Tourism valueThe economic value generated by tourism experience such as sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing in the terraceIncome statistic methodMeasuring net income generated by tourism under normal market conditionsV2=QlPl (2) [5]Ql is the total annual number of tourist in the evaluated area (person-time); Pl is the average consumption amount in the evaluated area in that year (yuan/person-time)Pleasant living environmentEcological valueClimate adjustment valueThe value of climate modification from carbon fixation and oxygen release process by plant photosynthesis and cooling effect value from water evaporation in wetlandEffect calculation methodMeasuring the value generated by carbon fixation and oxygen release and cooling effect from water evaporation in Chongyi Hakka terrace areaQCO2=1.63∗NPP∗A (3)QO2=1.19∗NPP∗A (4)VCO2=QCO2∗PCO2 (4)VO2=QO2∗PO2 (6)Wh=β∗A∗ET∗θ (7)V3=2.778∗10−4∗P∗Wh (8) [5]QCO2 is the amount of standard carbon dioxide in the terrace field (t/a), QO2 is the annual amount of oxygen emitted by terrace (t/a), NPP is the net primary productivity of forest (t·hm2/a) the per unit area yield of grain, A is vegetation area (hm2) PCO2 is price of carbon in Sweden (yuan/t), PO2 is the cost price of industrial oxygen (yuan/a), Wh is the heat absorbed by water evaporation in wetland during summer (kJ), β is the rate of water area in wetland (%), A 为 is the size of wetland (hm2), ET is water evaporation in Chongyi during summer (mm), θ water heat of vaporization (kJ/kg), P is the unit price of electricity (yuan·kW/h), 2.778∗10-4 is energy conversion factorWater conservation valueFarmland can conserve water, crops can retain water to certain extent, and soil also has pores to conserve waterEffect calculation methodThe value of farmland water conservation is derived by calculating the amount of water infiltration multiplied by the price of agricultural waterV4=βKPwD (9) [4]β is water infiltration rate in evaluated area (mm/d); K is the size of paddy field (hm2); Pw is the price of agricultural water (yuan/m3); D is the duration of rice growing in the field (d)Soil conservation valueTerraced ecosystem can improve soil and increase soil organic matterExpenses methodCalculating the difference between input output of organic matter in the soil and the market price of organic mineral fertilizer, thus measuring soil conservation valueVa=Ka∗5∗β1+Kb∗11%∗β2 (10)Vb=Z1∗0.27+Z2∗0.75 (11)Vc=Va−Vb (12)V5=Vc∗PF∗C (13) [4]Va is the soil organic matter input (kg/hm2); Ka is the amount of root system biomass in rice (kg/hm2); Kb is straw biomass (kg/hm2); β1 and β2 are carbon content in root and straw, respectively (kg/hm2); Vb is organic matter output in soil (kg/hm2); Z1 and Z2 is the output of CO2 and CH4 in paddy field, respectively (kg/hm2); 0.27and 0.75 are the rates of carbon in CO2 and CH4, respectively; Vc is the amount of accumulated organic matter in the soil (kg/hm2); PF is the price of pure carbon organic fertilizer (1.47yuan/kg); C is the size of paddy field in the evaluated field (m2)Rural civilizationSocial valueSocial stability valueThe rice terrace system produces rice, which helps ensure food production security and promote social stabilityCost evaluationFees levied by the state on the occupation of cultivated land and fees spent on cultivated land protection [6]V6=QgPg+QgPd (14) [5]V6 is the value of terrace (yuan), Qg is the size of all kinds of cultivated land (hm2), Pg is the cultivated land expropriation compensation standard (yuan/hm2); Pd is subsidies standard for cultivated land protection (yuan/hm2)Social development valueThe operation and management of Hakka terrace system helps increase job opportunity and increase local infrastructure investmentMarket alternative methodThis paper uses market price to calculate the value of employment settlement and study relevant material to measure the value of infrastructure construction investmentV7=PgC+Q (15) [5]Pg is the number of jobs created by terrace (piece); C is the average salary of the job increased by terrace (yuan); Q is infrastructure construction investmentSocial security valueIt can guarantee farmers’ basic living standard and food production securityMarket alternative methodEndowment insurance value, minimum living security amount, etc.V8=Ps∗C∗12∗Sr/Su (16) [5]Ps is the number of people living on the minimum living allowance (man); C is minimum urban social security standards (yuan/month); Sr and Su are living expenses in rural and urban area (yuan)Effective administrationValue in science and technology publicity and educationSocial publicity and education valueGenerally speaking, it overlaps with tourism value in economic value; thus, we will not measure it separately————Historical and spiritual valueThis includes value in agricultural history and history inheritance; agricultural history value overlaps with sightseeing value in economical perspective; thus, we will not measure it separately. History inheritance value refers to all kinds of publicity and education value, such as publishing related journal, making pamphlet for publicityMarket value methodThe cost of publishing related journal, making pamphlet for publicity in normal marketV9=DzPcQd (17) [5]Dzis the number of kind of publication (kind); Pc is the copy of each kind of publication (copy); Qd is the average price of all the publication (yuan/copy)(Source: this table was made by author based on relevant material).


### 3.2. Data Sources

All statistics in this paper are from the yearbook of Chongyi (2014), “the yearbook of Chongyi (2018),” the yearbook of Chongyi (2019), “China’s agricultural products price survey yearbook (2020), the rapeseed production situation in Jiangxi province data analysis report 2019 edition, the Chongyi people’s government websites, people’s government websites of Jiangxi province, and relevant literature.


### 3.3. Comparison of Value Evaluation (2013 and 2019)

#### 3.3.1. Calculation of Farmland Ecosystem Value in 2013

(1) Economic Valuation. (1)1. Value of Economic Crops and Their Subsidiary Agricultural Products. Based on the study of Jianqun et al. [7], in 2013, the farmland area in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, was about 1 491.13 hm2. According to the Chongyi yearbook (2014), the rape planting area in the core area was about 15.33 hm2. In 2013, the total output of rice and rapeseed in the core area of Chongyi Hakka rice terraces system was 9.349∗106 kg and 2.2∗104 kg, respectively. The average purchase price of rice was 2.70 yuan/kg, and the average purchasing price of rapeseed was 4.2 yuan/kg. Based on formula (1),we can calculate that the value of economic crops and their affiliated agricultural products in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.0253 billion yuan/a.(1)2. Value of Tourism. The Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, has excellent landscape recreation and sightseeing value. In the early stage of development, it has not yet gained great popularity, so the tourism and sightseeing value is calculated by the travel expense method (income statistics method), with reference to the data of Shangbao villager and formula (2). It was estimated that the number of tourists in 2013 in Chongyi Hakka terrace system (core area) of Jiangxi province was about 65000 people, and the per capita travel cost was 627 yuan/person. Accordingly, it was estimated that the tourism value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system of Jiangxi province was 0.0408 billion yuan/a.(1)3. Climate Adjustment Value. Farmland vegetation has the function of carbon fixation and oxygen release. The amount of carbon fixation and oxygen release can be estimated based on plant photosynthesis principle; that is, green vegetation consumes 1.63 g CO2 for every gram of dry matter produced and release 1.2 g of oxygen. According to the terraced field data of Chongyi county in 2013, the yield per unit area of grain crop and oil crop in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terraced field system is 6.27 t·hm2/a and 1.40 t·hm2/a, respectively. Combined with formulas (3)–(8), it is estimated that farmland in the core area fixed 15 273.26 t CO2 and released 11 150.41 t O2 annually. The Swedish carbon tax price of 2016 is about 794.4 yuan/t, and the industrial oxygen production cost is 1 000 yuan/t, so the value of carbon sequestration and oxygen release of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is 0.0233 billion yuan/a.At the same time, farmland often maintains water content, which to a certain extent has the value of water surface evaporation and cooling. Its cooling capacity can be calculated by referring to the evaporation heat absorption of wetland in summer. According to formula (9), water evaporation in Chongyi during summer is 1 182.7 mm [8], and water coverage of wet land is 11.2% [9]. The heat of vaporization of water is 2.25 kJ/kg. In 2013, the unit price of agricultural electricity in Chongyi county was 0.6 yuan/kW·h, so it is estimated that the evaporation and cooling value of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi county was 74 yuan.In conclusion, in 2013, the regulating value of farmland gas in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 23.3 million RMB/a.(1)4. Water Conservation Value. Farmland can conserve water, crops can retain water to some extent, and soil also has pores to conserve water. According to the study of Lihua et al. [10], we can use formula (10) to calculate water conservation value, if water infiltration rate is 6 mm [11]. The price of farmland water is 1.55 yuan/t, and the average number of days for rice underwater growth in Ganzhou in 2013 is 100 days. Therefore, it is estimated that the water conservation value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is 0.0014 billion yuan/a.(1)5. Soil Conservation Value. Paddy fields play an excellent role in soil and water conservation, and it can greatly improve soil erosion, so soil conservation value can be measured based on the balance between output and input of organic matter in paddy field. According to the research of Baolin et al., the input of organic matter mainly includes organic fertilizer and some straw precipitation from roots, while the output of organic matter is mainly consumed by CH4 and CO2 emission from rice fields to the atmosphere. The carbon content of roots is 0.2, that of straw is 0.8, that of carbon dioxide is 0.27, and that of methane is 0.75. According to the study of Ma [12], the biomass of rice straw is about 5 910 kg/hm2. After combining formulas (10)–(12), it can be concluded that the soil organic matter accumulated in the core area is 4 468.05 kg/hm2. In 2013, the paddy field area in the core area of the Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi is 1 491 hm2. The value of organic fertilizer measured by pure carbon is 1.47 yuan/kg. According to formula (13), the soil conservation value is 0.0098 billion yuan/a.(2) Social Value Measurement. (2)1. Social Stability Value. Terrace field system produces rice and rapeseed oil, which has the value of guaranteeing food production security and promoting social stability. Land expropriation compensation is adopted to measure its social stability value. The social stability value can be calculated by referring to the land expropriation compensation standard of four types of township farmland in Chongyi county in 2013 and the subsidy standard of cultivated land protection in Jiangxi province: area price (paddy field): 3.0∗105 yuan/hm2, and the cultivated land protection standard is 1 410 yuan/hm2. Since most of the system consists of paddy fields and forestland, excluding other vegetable fields and orchards, etc., according to formula (14), it is estimated that the social stability value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is about 0.45 billion yuan/a.(2)2. Value of Social Development. The daily operation of Hakka terrace system solves the livelihood problems of local people; meanwhile with the continuous development of the industry, it brings more jobs to local residents, which has the value of employment settlement. Due to the rise of various industries, the local government has continuously improved the infrastructure construction within the terraced field system and increased investment, which has boosted the local economic and social development.According to formula (15), the value of employment placement is calculated by the market price method. According to the data of Chongyi county, the core area of Chongyi terrace system introduced investment by government in 2013, and the number of newly increased jobs is not great, so the value of employment settlement in 2013 can be ignored. The amount of infrastructure investment in 2013 was about RMB 0.022 million. In summary, the social development value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2013 was RMB 0.0022 billion/a.(2)3. Social Security Value. For individuals, the traditional agricultural system is resilient, because its normal production can guarantee the livelihood of the rural residents; therefore, to some extent, it can offer unemployment security. For the calculation of unemployment security, please refer to formula (16). In 2013 county Baoxiang in Chongyi county, the number of people with of lowest life guarantee is about 390, the urban lowest social security standard is 200 yuan/month, the rural consumption expenditure is 5 654 yuan, and the urban consumption expenditure is 13 851 yuan. Therefore, it is estimated that the social security value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.0003.8 billion yuan/a.(3) Measurement of Cultural Value of Science and Technology Publicity.(4) Social Publicity Value. Social publicity value is mainly reflected in the external publicity and education by means of brochures, video media, etc. Its calculation generally overlaps with the tourism value in economic value and the historical and spiritual value in the following paragraphs, so it is not calculated separately here.(4)1. Historical and Cultural Value. Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace ecological system has a long history which can be traced back to the Song and Yuan period; through thousand years of changes, it gradually formed a world famous Hakka culture, among which the historical of cultural value is a unique value in agricultural cultural heritage. According to Li Heyao et al.’s research, historical value mainly refers to its value as historical evidence, which can be measured by market value method [13]. On the one hand, the value of historical inheritance is reflected through various forms of publicity and education, such as publishing related publications and making brochures. On the other hand, the cultural and spiritual value can be calculated by calculating the cost voluntarily invested by the local government or people to protect or enhance the connotation of the heritage site. Based on formula (17), it is estimated that the historical and cultural value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.01 billion yuan/a.


#### 3.3.2. Calculation of Farmland Ecosystem Value in 2019

(1) Economic Valuation. (1)1. Value of Economic Crops and their Affiliated Agricultural Products. In 2019, the cultivated land in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 1 267.46 hm2. According to relevant data, the total output of rice and rapeseed in Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2019 was 7.81∗106 kg and 1.25∗106 kg, respectively. The average purchase price of rice was 2.72 yuan/kg, and that of rapeseed market was 5.39 yuan/kg. Referring to formula (1), it can be calculated that the value of economic crops and their affiliated agricultural products in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is about RMB 0.028 billion yuan/a.(1)2. Tourist Ornamental Value. According to formula (2), it is determined that the number of tourists in Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2019 is about 300,000, and the per capita travel cost is 650 yuan/person. Therefore, it is estimated that the tourism value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is 0.195 billion yuan/a.(2) Ecological Value Measurement. (2)1. Value of Climate Adjustment. According to the terrace data of Chongyi county in 2019, the yield per unit area of grain and oil crops in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi county is 6.16 t·hm2/a and 1.84 t·hm2/a, respectively. Combined with formulas (3)–(6), it is estimated that the amount of CO2 fixed by farmland is 14 766.16 t, and the amount of O2 released is 10 780.20 t. According to the Swedish carbon tax price, the price of 2016 is about 794.4 yuan/t, and the industrial oxygen production cost is 1 000 yuan/t, so it is estimated that the carbon sequestration and oxygen release value of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is 122.5 million yuan/a.According to formulas (7) and (8), the value of evaporation cooling is 62.96 yuan.(2)2. Water Conservation Value. The water conservation value can be calculated using formula (9).Water infiltration rate is 6 mm, and the price of farmland water is 1.55 yuan/t. In 2019, the average number of underwater growing days of rice in Ganzhou was 100 days. Based on this, it is estimated that the water conservation value of the core area of the Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province in 2019 was RMB 0.0012 billion/a.(2)3. Soil Conservation Value. Combined with formulas (10)–(12), it can be concluded that the soil organic matter accumulated in the core area is 4 468.05 kg/hm2. In 2019, the paddy field area in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is 1 267.46 hm2, and the value of organic fertilizer measured by pure carbon is 1.47 yuan/kg. According to formula (13), the soil conservation value is 0.0083 billion yuan/a.(3) Social Value Measurement. (3)1. Social Stability Value. The social stability value can calculated by with reference to the farmland expropriation compensation standard in Chongyi county in 2019 and the farmland protection subsidy standard of Jiangxi province: area price (paddy field): 4.94∗105 yuan/hm2. The cultivated land protection standard is 1 680 yuan/hm2. According to formula (14), it is estimated that the social stability value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2019 is about 0.628 billion yuan/a.(3)2. Value of Social Development. According to formula (15) and the data of Chongyi County, the Chongyi terrace system provided about 330 jobs in 2019, and the salary of the new jobs was about 30,000 yuan/year. According to the adjustment of the consumer price index in 2019 (2.9% higher than the previous year), the value of employment placement was about 0.1 million yuan. The infrastructure investment in 2019 is about 0.251 billion yuan. In summary, the social development value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2019 is 0.261 billion yuan/a.(3)3. Social Security Value. According to formula (16), in 2019, the minimum number of insured people in Shangbao village, Chongyi County, is about 280, the minimum urban social security standard is 450 yuan/month, the rural living expenditure is 11 564 yuan, and the urban living expenditure is 17 122 yuan. According to this, it is estimated that in 2019, the social security value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 0.001 billion yuan/a.(4) Measurement of Cultural Value of Science and Technology Propaganda. (4)1. Historical and Cultural Value. From 2013 to 2019, a total of 3 kinds of books and publications related to the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, were published, and the number of each publication is 5,000 pieces, with an average unit price of 50 yuan per book, and the government and the public invested 0.015 billion yuan to protect the heritage of this place. According to formula (17), it is estimated that, in 2019, the historical and cultural value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 0.016 billion yuan/a.


#### 3.3.3. Comparison and Analysis of Value Results

As shown in Table2, the total value of farmland ecosystem in the core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 and 2019 is both consistent and different in structural distribution.Table 2
Comparative table of farmland ecosystem value in core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province.
General classification of valueSubclassification of valueFarmland ecosystem value in 2013 (100 million yuan)Percentage in 2013 (%)Total percentage in 2019 (%)Farmland ecosystem value in 2019 (100 million yuan)Percentage in 2013 (%)Total percentage in 2019 (%)Total valueTotal value5.6 41810010011.5 882100100Economical valueValue of commercial crops and their subsidiary products0.2534.4811.720.2802.4119.22Tourism value0.4087.231.95316.81Ecosystem valueClimate adjustment value0.2334.136.150.2251.942.75Water conservation value0.0140.250.0120.10Soil conservation value0.1001.770.0830.71Social valueSocial stability value4.50879.9080.366.28354.0976.67Social development value0.0220.392.61222.49Social security value0.0 0380.070.0 1020.09Spiritual valuePublicity and education value001.77001.36Historical spiritual value0.11.770.1581.36The consistency is mainly reflected in the overall proportion of each value, which is social value > economic value > ecological value > spiritual value. Moreover, the economic value accounts for only 1/10-1/5 of the total value, while the social value accounts for more than 70%. Therefore, the value of terrace system is mainly reflected in its social value.The differences is mainly reflected on the changes in the percentage of each value category. In 2013, Chongyi terrace system has yet to become China’s important agricultural cultural heritage, so relevant government policies were not made. Regarding crops, there is only one kind, that is rice, which does not has high economic value and tourism value, so the main value only comes from its inherent social value. In 2019, as the terraced field system was listed as a world agricultural heritage, the government has strengthened protection and publicity of the terraced field system in recent years, and combined with rural revitalization strategy, the value of the overall farmland ecosystem has been greatly improved, especially the economic value, which increased by nearly 8 percentage. As time goes by, more and more young people are no longer willing to engage in agricultural production activities, which lead to serious land abandonment issue. The abandonment rate in core areas even reaches 20%-30%; meanwhile, farmers’ willingness for farming is weak. In recent years, the government’s protection policy of cultivated land has been mainly focusing on improving its economic value, but it has not set up a higher protection consciousness for some noneconomic values, and to some extent, it has not achieved the goal of “developing both material and spiritual civilization.” Regarding spiritual civilization, in the past six years, although the data of spiritual value ascend to a certain extent, the overall increase is not too big. Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace agriculture system has evolved continuously based on the local culture and cultural heritage, but the local people lack the adequate knowledge of its historical and spiritual value and greatly lack the driving force of spiritual civilization.


## 3.1. Value Evaluation System

After years of historical succession, in some level, the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi of Jiangxi province has bred Ganzhou Hakka culture, and the “four-element isomorphism” agricultural production system formed by terrace system is also a concrete embodiment of the harmonious coexistence between man and the nature. The value of land such as landscape perception, ecological regulation, and cultural characteristics are all its main value. According to the research of Eryang et al., agricultural value can be divided into three categories: economic value, ecological value, and social value [3]. Under the guideline of rural revitalization, the value of farmland ecosystem in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, is evaluated in a multidimensional and systematical way, and scientific research and calculation methods are adopted to promote the digitization and visualization of the value of agricultural cultural heritage, as shown in Table 1.Table 1
Specific classification and value evaluation methods of farmland ecosystem value system in the core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province.
General requirements for rural revitalizationGeneral classification of valueSubclassification of valueValue explanationEvaluation methodEvaluation notesMeasuring formulaMeasuring formula notesThriving business, prosperous lifeEconomic valueValue of commercial crops and their subsidiary productsThe economic value generated by rice and rapeseed oil grown in the terrace systemIncome statistic methodMeasuring net income generated by crops and its subsidiary products under normal market conditionsV1=TdPd+TyPy (1) [4]Td is the total annual yield of rice in the evaluated area(t); Pd is the price of rice in the evaluated area; Ty is the total annual yield of rapeseed oil in the evaluated area (t); Py is the total annual yield of rapeseed oil (yuan/t)Tourism valueThe economic value generated by tourism experience such as sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing in the terraceIncome statistic methodMeasuring net income generated by tourism under normal market conditionsV2=QlPl (2) [5]Ql is the total annual number of tourist in the evaluated area (person-time); Pl is the average consumption amount in the evaluated area in that year (yuan/person-time)Pleasant living environmentEcological valueClimate adjustment valueThe value of climate modification from carbon fixation and oxygen release process by plant photosynthesis and cooling effect value from water evaporation in wetlandEffect calculation methodMeasuring the value generated by carbon fixation and oxygen release and cooling effect from water evaporation in Chongyi Hakka terrace areaQCO2=1.63∗NPP∗A (3)QO2=1.19∗NPP∗A (4)VCO2=QCO2∗PCO2 (4)VO2=QO2∗PO2 (6)Wh=β∗A∗ET∗θ (7)V3=2.778∗10−4∗P∗Wh (8) [5]QCO2 is the amount of standard carbon dioxide in the terrace field (t/a), QO2 is the annual amount of oxygen emitted by terrace (t/a), NPP is the net primary productivity of forest (t·hm2/a) the per unit area yield of grain, A is vegetation area (hm2) PCO2 is price of carbon in Sweden (yuan/t), PO2 is the cost price of industrial oxygen (yuan/a), Wh is the heat absorbed by water evaporation in wetland during summer (kJ), β is the rate of water area in wetland (%), A 为 is the size of wetland (hm2), ET is water evaporation in Chongyi during summer (mm), θ water heat of vaporization (kJ/kg), P is the unit price of electricity (yuan·kW/h), 2.778∗10-4 is energy conversion factorWater conservation valueFarmland can conserve water, crops can retain water to certain extent, and soil also has pores to conserve waterEffect calculation methodThe value of farmland water conservation is derived by calculating the amount of water infiltration multiplied by the price of agricultural waterV4=βKPwD (9) [4]β is water infiltration rate in evaluated area (mm/d); K is the size of paddy field (hm2); Pw is the price of agricultural water (yuan/m3); D is the duration of rice growing in the field (d)Soil conservation valueTerraced ecosystem can improve soil and increase soil organic matterExpenses methodCalculating the difference between input output of organic matter in the soil and the market price of organic mineral fertilizer, thus measuring soil conservation valueVa=Ka∗5∗β1+Kb∗11%∗β2 (10)Vb=Z1∗0.27+Z2∗0.75 (11)Vc=Va−Vb (12)V5=Vc∗PF∗C (13) [4]Va is the soil organic matter input (kg/hm2); Ka is the amount of root system biomass in rice (kg/hm2); Kb is straw biomass (kg/hm2); β1 and β2 are carbon content in root and straw, respectively (kg/hm2); Vb is organic matter output in soil (kg/hm2); Z1 and Z2 is the output of CO2 and CH4 in paddy field, respectively (kg/hm2); 0.27and 0.75 are the rates of carbon in CO2 and CH4, respectively; Vc is the amount of accumulated organic matter in the soil (kg/hm2); PF is the price of pure carbon organic fertilizer (1.47yuan/kg); C is the size of paddy field in the evaluated field (m2)Rural civilizationSocial valueSocial stability valueThe rice terrace system produces rice, which helps ensure food production security and promote social stabilityCost evaluationFees levied by the state on the occupation of cultivated land and fees spent on cultivated land protection [6]V6=QgPg+QgPd (14) [5]V6 is the value of terrace (yuan), Qg is the size of all kinds of cultivated land (hm2), Pg is the cultivated land expropriation compensation standard (yuan/hm2); Pd is subsidies standard for cultivated land protection (yuan/hm2)Social development valueThe operation and management of Hakka terrace system helps increase job opportunity and increase local infrastructure investmentMarket alternative methodThis paper uses market price to calculate the value of employment settlement and study relevant material to measure the value of infrastructure construction investmentV7=PgC+Q (15) [5]Pg is the number of jobs created by terrace (piece); C is the average salary of the job increased by terrace (yuan); Q is infrastructure construction investmentSocial security valueIt can guarantee farmers’ basic living standard and food production securityMarket alternative methodEndowment insurance value, minimum living security amount, etc.V8=Ps∗C∗12∗Sr/Su (16) [5]Ps is the number of people living on the minimum living allowance (man); C is minimum urban social security standards (yuan/month); Sr and Su are living expenses in rural and urban area (yuan)Effective administrationValue in science and technology publicity and educationSocial publicity and education valueGenerally speaking, it overlaps with tourism value in economic value; thus, we will not measure it separately————Historical and spiritual valueThis includes value in agricultural history and history inheritance; agricultural history value overlaps with sightseeing value in economical perspective; thus, we will not measure it separately. History inheritance value refers to all kinds of publicity and education value, such as publishing related journal, making pamphlet for publicityMarket value methodThe cost of publishing related journal, making pamphlet for publicity in normal marketV9=DzPcQd (17) [5]Dzis the number of kind of publication (kind); Pc is the copy of each kind of publication (copy); Qd is the average price of all the publication (yuan/copy)(Source: this table was made by author based on relevant material).


## 3.2. Data Sources

All statistics in this paper are from the yearbook of Chongyi (2014), “the yearbook of Chongyi (2018),” the yearbook of Chongyi (2019), “China’s agricultural products price survey yearbook (2020), the rapeseed production situation in Jiangxi province data analysis report 2019 edition, the Chongyi people’s government websites, people’s government websites of Jiangxi province, and relevant literature.


## 3.3. Comparison of Value Evaluation (2013 and 2019)

### 3.3.1. Calculation of Farmland Ecosystem Value in 2013

(1) Economic Valuation. (1)1. Value of Economic Crops and Their Subsidiary Agricultural Products. Based on the study of Jianqun et al. [7], in 2013, the farmland area in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, was about 1 491.13 hm2. According to the Chongyi yearbook (2014), the rape planting area in the core area was about 15.33 hm2. In 2013, the total output of rice and rapeseed in the core area of Chongyi Hakka rice terraces system was 9.349∗106 kg and 2.2∗104 kg, respectively. The average purchase price of rice was 2.70 yuan/kg, and the average purchasing price of rapeseed was 4.2 yuan/kg. Based on formula (1),we can calculate that the value of economic crops and their affiliated agricultural products in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.0253 billion yuan/a.(1)2. Value of Tourism. The Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, has excellent landscape recreation and sightseeing value. In the early stage of development, it has not yet gained great popularity, so the tourism and sightseeing value is calculated by the travel expense method (income statistics method), with reference to the data of Shangbao villager and formula (2). It was estimated that the number of tourists in 2013 in Chongyi Hakka terrace system (core area) of Jiangxi province was about 65000 people, and the per capita travel cost was 627 yuan/person. Accordingly, it was estimated that the tourism value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system of Jiangxi province was 0.0408 billion yuan/a.(1)3. Climate Adjustment Value. Farmland vegetation has the function of carbon fixation and oxygen release. The amount of carbon fixation and oxygen release can be estimated based on plant photosynthesis principle; that is, green vegetation consumes 1.63 g CO2 for every gram of dry matter produced and release 1.2 g of oxygen. According to the terraced field data of Chongyi county in 2013, the yield per unit area of grain crop and oil crop in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terraced field system is 6.27 t·hm2/a and 1.40 t·hm2/a, respectively. Combined with formulas (3)–(8), it is estimated that farmland in the core area fixed 15 273.26 t CO2 and released 11 150.41 t O2 annually. The Swedish carbon tax price of 2016 is about 794.4 yuan/t, and the industrial oxygen production cost is 1 000 yuan/t, so the value of carbon sequestration and oxygen release of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is 0.0233 billion yuan/a.At the same time, farmland often maintains water content, which to a certain extent has the value of water surface evaporation and cooling. Its cooling capacity can be calculated by referring to the evaporation heat absorption of wetland in summer. According to formula (9), water evaporation in Chongyi during summer is 1 182.7 mm [8], and water coverage of wet land is 11.2% [9]. The heat of vaporization of water is 2.25 kJ/kg. In 2013, the unit price of agricultural electricity in Chongyi county was 0.6 yuan/kW·h, so it is estimated that the evaporation and cooling value of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi county was 74 yuan.In conclusion, in 2013, the regulating value of farmland gas in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 23.3 million RMB/a.(1)4. Water Conservation Value. Farmland can conserve water, crops can retain water to some extent, and soil also has pores to conserve water. According to the study of Lihua et al. [10], we can use formula (10) to calculate water conservation value, if water infiltration rate is 6 mm [11]. The price of farmland water is 1.55 yuan/t, and the average number of days for rice underwater growth in Ganzhou in 2013 is 100 days. Therefore, it is estimated that the water conservation value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is 0.0014 billion yuan/a.(1)5. Soil Conservation Value. Paddy fields play an excellent role in soil and water conservation, and it can greatly improve soil erosion, so soil conservation value can be measured based on the balance between output and input of organic matter in paddy field. According to the research of Baolin et al., the input of organic matter mainly includes organic fertilizer and some straw precipitation from roots, while the output of organic matter is mainly consumed by CH4 and CO2 emission from rice fields to the atmosphere. The carbon content of roots is 0.2, that of straw is 0.8, that of carbon dioxide is 0.27, and that of methane is 0.75. According to the study of Ma [12], the biomass of rice straw is about 5 910 kg/hm2. After combining formulas (10)–(12), it can be concluded that the soil organic matter accumulated in the core area is 4 468.05 kg/hm2. In 2013, the paddy field area in the core area of the Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi is 1 491 hm2. The value of organic fertilizer measured by pure carbon is 1.47 yuan/kg. According to formula (13), the soil conservation value is 0.0098 billion yuan/a.(2) Social Value Measurement. (2)1. Social Stability Value. Terrace field system produces rice and rapeseed oil, which has the value of guaranteeing food production security and promoting social stability. Land expropriation compensation is adopted to measure its social stability value. The social stability value can be calculated by referring to the land expropriation compensation standard of four types of township farmland in Chongyi county in 2013 and the subsidy standard of cultivated land protection in Jiangxi province: area price (paddy field): 3.0∗105 yuan/hm2, and the cultivated land protection standard is 1 410 yuan/hm2. Since most of the system consists of paddy fields and forestland, excluding other vegetable fields and orchards, etc., according to formula (14), it is estimated that the social stability value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is about 0.45 billion yuan/a.(2)2. Value of Social Development. The daily operation of Hakka terrace system solves the livelihood problems of local people; meanwhile with the continuous development of the industry, it brings more jobs to local residents, which has the value of employment settlement. Due to the rise of various industries, the local government has continuously improved the infrastructure construction within the terraced field system and increased investment, which has boosted the local economic and social development.According to formula (15), the value of employment placement is calculated by the market price method. According to the data of Chongyi county, the core area of Chongyi terrace system introduced investment by government in 2013, and the number of newly increased jobs is not great, so the value of employment settlement in 2013 can be ignored. The amount of infrastructure investment in 2013 was about RMB 0.022 million. In summary, the social development value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2013 was RMB 0.0022 billion/a.(2)3. Social Security Value. For individuals, the traditional agricultural system is resilient, because its normal production can guarantee the livelihood of the rural residents; therefore, to some extent, it can offer unemployment security. For the calculation of unemployment security, please refer to formula (16). In 2013 county Baoxiang in Chongyi county, the number of people with of lowest life guarantee is about 390, the urban lowest social security standard is 200 yuan/month, the rural consumption expenditure is 5 654 yuan, and the urban consumption expenditure is 13 851 yuan. Therefore, it is estimated that the social security value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.0003.8 billion yuan/a.(3) Measurement of Cultural Value of Science and Technology Publicity.(4) Social Publicity Value. Social publicity value is mainly reflected in the external publicity and education by means of brochures, video media, etc. Its calculation generally overlaps with the tourism value in economic value and the historical and spiritual value in the following paragraphs, so it is not calculated separately here.(4)1. Historical and Cultural Value. Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace ecological system has a long history which can be traced back to the Song and Yuan period; through thousand years of changes, it gradually formed a world famous Hakka culture, among which the historical of cultural value is a unique value in agricultural cultural heritage. According to Li Heyao et al.’s research, historical value mainly refers to its value as historical evidence, which can be measured by market value method [13]. On the one hand, the value of historical inheritance is reflected through various forms of publicity and education, such as publishing related publications and making brochures. On the other hand, the cultural and spiritual value can be calculated by calculating the cost voluntarily invested by the local government or people to protect or enhance the connotation of the heritage site. Based on formula (17), it is estimated that the historical and cultural value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.01 billion yuan/a.


### 3.3.2. Calculation of Farmland Ecosystem Value in 2019

(1) Economic Valuation. (1)1. Value of Economic Crops and their Affiliated Agricultural Products. In 2019, the cultivated land in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 1 267.46 hm2. According to relevant data, the total output of rice and rapeseed in Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2019 was 7.81∗106 kg and 1.25∗106 kg, respectively. The average purchase price of rice was 2.72 yuan/kg, and that of rapeseed market was 5.39 yuan/kg. Referring to formula (1), it can be calculated that the value of economic crops and their affiliated agricultural products in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is about RMB 0.028 billion yuan/a.(1)2. Tourist Ornamental Value. According to formula (2), it is determined that the number of tourists in Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2019 is about 300,000, and the per capita travel cost is 650 yuan/person. Therefore, it is estimated that the tourism value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is 0.195 billion yuan/a.(2) Ecological Value Measurement. (2)1. Value of Climate Adjustment. According to the terrace data of Chongyi county in 2019, the yield per unit area of grain and oil crops in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi county is 6.16 t·hm2/a and 1.84 t·hm2/a, respectively. Combined with formulas (3)–(6), it is estimated that the amount of CO2 fixed by farmland is 14 766.16 t, and the amount of O2 released is 10 780.20 t. According to the Swedish carbon tax price, the price of 2016 is about 794.4 yuan/t, and the industrial oxygen production cost is 1 000 yuan/t, so it is estimated that the carbon sequestration and oxygen release value of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is 122.5 million yuan/a.According to formulas (7) and (8), the value of evaporation cooling is 62.96 yuan.(2)2. Water Conservation Value. The water conservation value can be calculated using formula (9).Water infiltration rate is 6 mm, and the price of farmland water is 1.55 yuan/t. In 2019, the average number of underwater growing days of rice in Ganzhou was 100 days. Based on this, it is estimated that the water conservation value of the core area of the Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province in 2019 was RMB 0.0012 billion/a.(2)3. Soil Conservation Value. Combined with formulas (10)–(12), it can be concluded that the soil organic matter accumulated in the core area is 4 468.05 kg/hm2. In 2019, the paddy field area in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is 1 267.46 hm2, and the value of organic fertilizer measured by pure carbon is 1.47 yuan/kg. According to formula (13), the soil conservation value is 0.0083 billion yuan/a.(3) Social Value Measurement. (3)1. Social Stability Value. The social stability value can calculated by with reference to the farmland expropriation compensation standard in Chongyi county in 2019 and the farmland protection subsidy standard of Jiangxi province: area price (paddy field): 4.94∗105 yuan/hm2. The cultivated land protection standard is 1 680 yuan/hm2. According to formula (14), it is estimated that the social stability value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2019 is about 0.628 billion yuan/a.(3)2. Value of Social Development. According to formula (15) and the data of Chongyi County, the Chongyi terrace system provided about 330 jobs in 2019, and the salary of the new jobs was about 30,000 yuan/year. According to the adjustment of the consumer price index in 2019 (2.9% higher than the previous year), the value of employment placement was about 0.1 million yuan. The infrastructure investment in 2019 is about 0.251 billion yuan. In summary, the social development value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2019 is 0.261 billion yuan/a.(3)3. Social Security Value. According to formula (16), in 2019, the minimum number of insured people in Shangbao village, Chongyi County, is about 280, the minimum urban social security standard is 450 yuan/month, the rural living expenditure is 11 564 yuan, and the urban living expenditure is 17 122 yuan. According to this, it is estimated that in 2019, the social security value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 0.001 billion yuan/a.(4) Measurement of Cultural Value of Science and Technology Propaganda. (4)1. Historical and Cultural Value. From 2013 to 2019, a total of 3 kinds of books and publications related to the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, were published, and the number of each publication is 5,000 pieces, with an average unit price of 50 yuan per book, and the government and the public invested 0.015 billion yuan to protect the heritage of this place. According to formula (17), it is estimated that, in 2019, the historical and cultural value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 0.016 billion yuan/a.


### 3.3.3. Comparison and Analysis of Value Results

As shown in Table2, the total value of farmland ecosystem in the core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 and 2019 is both consistent and different in structural distribution.Table 2
Comparative table of farmland ecosystem value in core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province.
General classification of valueSubclassification of valueFarmland ecosystem value in 2013 (100 million yuan)Percentage in 2013 (%)Total percentage in 2019 (%)Farmland ecosystem value in 2019 (100 million yuan)Percentage in 2013 (%)Total percentage in 2019 (%)Total valueTotal value5.6 41810010011.5 882100100Economical valueValue of commercial crops and their subsidiary products0.2534.4811.720.2802.4119.22Tourism value0.4087.231.95316.81Ecosystem valueClimate adjustment value0.2334.136.150.2251.942.75Water conservation value0.0140.250.0120.10Soil conservation value0.1001.770.0830.71Social valueSocial stability value4.50879.9080.366.28354.0976.67Social development value0.0220.392.61222.49Social security value0.0 0380.070.0 1020.09Spiritual valuePublicity and education value001.77001.36Historical spiritual value0.11.770.1581.36The consistency is mainly reflected in the overall proportion of each value, which is social value > economic value > ecological value > spiritual value. Moreover, the economic value accounts for only 1/10-1/5 of the total value, while the social value accounts for more than 70%. Therefore, the value of terrace system is mainly reflected in its social value.The differences is mainly reflected on the changes in the percentage of each value category. In 2013, Chongyi terrace system has yet to become China’s important agricultural cultural heritage, so relevant government policies were not made. Regarding crops, there is only one kind, that is rice, which does not has high economic value and tourism value, so the main value only comes from its inherent social value. In 2019, as the terraced field system was listed as a world agricultural heritage, the government has strengthened protection and publicity of the terraced field system in recent years, and combined with rural revitalization strategy, the value of the overall farmland ecosystem has been greatly improved, especially the economic value, which increased by nearly 8 percentage. As time goes by, more and more young people are no longer willing to engage in agricultural production activities, which lead to serious land abandonment issue. The abandonment rate in core areas even reaches 20%-30%; meanwhile, farmers’ willingness for farming is weak. In recent years, the government’s protection policy of cultivated land has been mainly focusing on improving its economic value, but it has not set up a higher protection consciousness for some noneconomic values, and to some extent, it has not achieved the goal of “developing both material and spiritual civilization.” Regarding spiritual civilization, in the past six years, although the data of spiritual value ascend to a certain extent, the overall increase is not too big. Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace agriculture system has evolved continuously based on the local culture and cultural heritage, but the local people lack the adequate knowledge of its historical and spiritual value and greatly lack the driving force of spiritual civilization.


## 3.3.1. Calculation of Farmland Ecosystem Value in 2013

(1) Economic Valuation. (1)1. Value of Economic Crops and Their Subsidiary Agricultural Products. Based on the study of Jianqun et al. [7], in 2013, the farmland area in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, was about 1 491.13 hm2. According to the Chongyi yearbook (2014), the rape planting area in the core area was about 15.33 hm2. In 2013, the total output of rice and rapeseed in the core area of Chongyi Hakka rice terraces system was 9.349∗106 kg and 2.2∗104 kg, respectively. The average purchase price of rice was 2.70 yuan/kg, and the average purchasing price of rapeseed was 4.2 yuan/kg. Based on formula (1),we can calculate that the value of economic crops and their affiliated agricultural products in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.0253 billion yuan/a.(1)2. Value of Tourism. The Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, has excellent landscape recreation and sightseeing value. In the early stage of development, it has not yet gained great popularity, so the tourism and sightseeing value is calculated by the travel expense method (income statistics method), with reference to the data of Shangbao villager and formula (2). It was estimated that the number of tourists in 2013 in Chongyi Hakka terrace system (core area) of Jiangxi province was about 65000 people, and the per capita travel cost was 627 yuan/person. Accordingly, it was estimated that the tourism value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system of Jiangxi province was 0.0408 billion yuan/a.(1)3. Climate Adjustment Value. Farmland vegetation has the function of carbon fixation and oxygen release. The amount of carbon fixation and oxygen release can be estimated based on plant photosynthesis principle; that is, green vegetation consumes 1.63 g CO2 for every gram of dry matter produced and release 1.2 g of oxygen. According to the terraced field data of Chongyi county in 2013, the yield per unit area of grain crop and oil crop in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terraced field system is 6.27 t·hm2/a and 1.40 t·hm2/a, respectively. Combined with formulas (3)–(8), it is estimated that farmland in the core area fixed 15 273.26 t CO2 and released 11 150.41 t O2 annually. The Swedish carbon tax price of 2016 is about 794.4 yuan/t, and the industrial oxygen production cost is 1 000 yuan/t, so the value of carbon sequestration and oxygen release of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is 0.0233 billion yuan/a.At the same time, farmland often maintains water content, which to a certain extent has the value of water surface evaporation and cooling. Its cooling capacity can be calculated by referring to the evaporation heat absorption of wetland in summer. According to formula (9), water evaporation in Chongyi during summer is 1 182.7 mm [8], and water coverage of wet land is 11.2% [9]. The heat of vaporization of water is 2.25 kJ/kg. In 2013, the unit price of agricultural electricity in Chongyi county was 0.6 yuan/kW·h, so it is estimated that the evaporation and cooling value of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi county was 74 yuan.In conclusion, in 2013, the regulating value of farmland gas in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 23.3 million RMB/a.(1)4. Water Conservation Value. Farmland can conserve water, crops can retain water to some extent, and soil also has pores to conserve water. According to the study of Lihua et al. [10], we can use formula (10) to calculate water conservation value, if water infiltration rate is 6 mm [11]. The price of farmland water is 1.55 yuan/t, and the average number of days for rice underwater growth in Ganzhou in 2013 is 100 days. Therefore, it is estimated that the water conservation value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is 0.0014 billion yuan/a.(1)5. Soil Conservation Value. Paddy fields play an excellent role in soil and water conservation, and it can greatly improve soil erosion, so soil conservation value can be measured based on the balance between output and input of organic matter in paddy field. According to the research of Baolin et al., the input of organic matter mainly includes organic fertilizer and some straw precipitation from roots, while the output of organic matter is mainly consumed by CH4 and CO2 emission from rice fields to the atmosphere. The carbon content of roots is 0.2, that of straw is 0.8, that of carbon dioxide is 0.27, and that of methane is 0.75. According to the study of Ma [12], the biomass of rice straw is about 5 910 kg/hm2. After combining formulas (10)–(12), it can be concluded that the soil organic matter accumulated in the core area is 4 468.05 kg/hm2. In 2013, the paddy field area in the core area of the Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi is 1 491 hm2. The value of organic fertilizer measured by pure carbon is 1.47 yuan/kg. According to formula (13), the soil conservation value is 0.0098 billion yuan/a.(2) Social Value Measurement. (2)1. Social Stability Value. Terrace field system produces rice and rapeseed oil, which has the value of guaranteeing food production security and promoting social stability. Land expropriation compensation is adopted to measure its social stability value. The social stability value can be calculated by referring to the land expropriation compensation standard of four types of township farmland in Chongyi county in 2013 and the subsidy standard of cultivated land protection in Jiangxi province: area price (paddy field): 3.0∗105 yuan/hm2, and the cultivated land protection standard is 1 410 yuan/hm2. Since most of the system consists of paddy fields and forestland, excluding other vegetable fields and orchards, etc., according to formula (14), it is estimated that the social stability value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is about 0.45 billion yuan/a.(2)2. Value of Social Development. The daily operation of Hakka terrace system solves the livelihood problems of local people; meanwhile with the continuous development of the industry, it brings more jobs to local residents, which has the value of employment settlement. Due to the rise of various industries, the local government has continuously improved the infrastructure construction within the terraced field system and increased investment, which has boosted the local economic and social development.According to formula (15), the value of employment placement is calculated by the market price method. According to the data of Chongyi county, the core area of Chongyi terrace system introduced investment by government in 2013, and the number of newly increased jobs is not great, so the value of employment settlement in 2013 can be ignored. The amount of infrastructure investment in 2013 was about RMB 0.022 million. In summary, the social development value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2013 was RMB 0.0022 billion/a.(2)3. Social Security Value. For individuals, the traditional agricultural system is resilient, because its normal production can guarantee the livelihood of the rural residents; therefore, to some extent, it can offer unemployment security. For the calculation of unemployment security, please refer to formula (16). In 2013 county Baoxiang in Chongyi county, the number of people with of lowest life guarantee is about 390, the urban lowest social security standard is 200 yuan/month, the rural consumption expenditure is 5 654 yuan, and the urban consumption expenditure is 13 851 yuan. Therefore, it is estimated that the social security value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.0003.8 billion yuan/a.(3) Measurement of Cultural Value of Science and Technology Publicity.(4) Social Publicity Value. Social publicity value is mainly reflected in the external publicity and education by means of brochures, video media, etc. Its calculation generally overlaps with the tourism value in economic value and the historical and spiritual value in the following paragraphs, so it is not calculated separately here.(4)1. Historical and Cultural Value. Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace ecological system has a long history which can be traced back to the Song and Yuan period; through thousand years of changes, it gradually formed a world famous Hakka culture, among which the historical of cultural value is a unique value in agricultural cultural heritage. According to Li Heyao et al.’s research, historical value mainly refers to its value as historical evidence, which can be measured by market value method [13]. On the one hand, the value of historical inheritance is reflected through various forms of publicity and education, such as publishing related publications and making brochures. On the other hand, the cultural and spiritual value can be calculated by calculating the cost voluntarily invested by the local government or people to protect or enhance the connotation of the heritage site. Based on formula (17), it is estimated that the historical and cultural value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 is about 0.01 billion yuan/a.


## 3.3.2. Calculation of Farmland Ecosystem Value in 2019

(1) Economic Valuation. (1)1. Value of Economic Crops and their Affiliated Agricultural Products. In 2019, the cultivated land in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 1 267.46 hm2. According to relevant data, the total output of rice and rapeseed in Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2019 was 7.81∗106 kg and 1.25∗106 kg, respectively. The average purchase price of rice was 2.72 yuan/kg, and that of rapeseed market was 5.39 yuan/kg. Referring to formula (1), it can be calculated that the value of economic crops and their affiliated agricultural products in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is about RMB 0.028 billion yuan/a.(1)2. Tourist Ornamental Value. According to formula (2), it is determined that the number of tourists in Chongyi Hakka terrace system in 2019 is about 300,000, and the per capita travel cost is 650 yuan/person. Therefore, it is estimated that the tourism value of the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is 0.195 billion yuan/a.(2) Ecological Value Measurement. (2)1. Value of Climate Adjustment. According to the terrace data of Chongyi county in 2019, the yield per unit area of grain and oil crops in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi county is 6.16 t·hm2/a and 1.84 t·hm2/a, respectively. Combined with formulas (3)–(6), it is estimated that the amount of CO2 fixed by farmland is 14 766.16 t, and the amount of O2 released is 10 780.20 t. According to the Swedish carbon tax price, the price of 2016 is about 794.4 yuan/t, and the industrial oxygen production cost is 1 000 yuan/t, so it is estimated that the carbon sequestration and oxygen release value of farmland in the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, is 122.5 million yuan/a.According to formulas (7) and (8), the value of evaporation cooling is 62.96 yuan.(2)2. Water Conservation Value. The water conservation value can be calculated using formula (9).Water infiltration rate is 6 mm, and the price of farmland water is 1.55 yuan/t. In 2019, the average number of underwater growing days of rice in Ganzhou was 100 days. Based on this, it is estimated that the water conservation value of the core area of the Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province in 2019 was RMB 0.0012 billion/a.(2)3. Soil Conservation Value. Combined with formulas (10)–(12), it can be concluded that the soil organic matter accumulated in the core area is 4 468.05 kg/hm2. In 2019, the paddy field area in the core area of Chongyi Hakka terrace system in Jiangxi province is 1 267.46 hm2, and the value of organic fertilizer measured by pure carbon is 1.47 yuan/kg. According to formula (13), the soil conservation value is 0.0083 billion yuan/a.(3) Social Value Measurement. (3)1. Social Stability Value. The social stability value can calculated by with reference to the farmland expropriation compensation standard in Chongyi county in 2019 and the farmland protection subsidy standard of Jiangxi province: area price (paddy field): 4.94∗105 yuan/hm2. The cultivated land protection standard is 1 680 yuan/hm2. According to formula (14), it is estimated that the social stability value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2019 is about 0.628 billion yuan/a.(3)2. Value of Social Development. According to formula (15) and the data of Chongyi County, the Chongyi terrace system provided about 330 jobs in 2019, and the salary of the new jobs was about 30,000 yuan/year. According to the adjustment of the consumer price index in 2019 (2.9% higher than the previous year), the value of employment placement was about 0.1 million yuan. The infrastructure investment in 2019 is about 0.251 billion yuan. In summary, the social development value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2019 is 0.261 billion yuan/a.(3)3. Social Security Value. According to formula (16), in 2019, the minimum number of insured people in Shangbao village, Chongyi County, is about 280, the minimum urban social security standard is 450 yuan/month, the rural living expenditure is 11 564 yuan, and the urban living expenditure is 17 122 yuan. According to this, it is estimated that in 2019, the social security value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 0.001 billion yuan/a.(4) Measurement of Cultural Value of Science and Technology Propaganda. (4)1. Historical and Cultural Value. From 2013 to 2019, a total of 3 kinds of books and publications related to the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi, were published, and the number of each publication is 5,000 pieces, with an average unit price of 50 yuan per book, and the government and the public invested 0.015 billion yuan to protect the heritage of this place. According to formula (17), it is estimated that, in 2019, the historical and cultural value of the core area of the Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, was about 0.016 billion yuan/a.


## 3.3.3. Comparison and Analysis of Value Results

As shown in Table2, the total value of farmland ecosystem in the core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province, in 2013 and 2019 is both consistent and different in structural distribution.Table 2
Comparative table of farmland ecosystem value in core area of Hakka terrace system in Chongyi, Jiangxi province.
General classification of valueSubclassification of valueFarmland ecosystem value in 2013 (100 million yuan)Percentage in 2013 (%)Total percentage in 2019 (%)Farmland ecosystem value in 2019 (100 million yuan)Percentage in 2013 (%)Total percentage in 2019 (%)Total valueTotal value5.6 41810010011.5 882100100Economical valueValue of commercial crops and their subsidiary products0.2534.4811.720.2802.4119.22Tourism value0.4087.231.95316.81Ecosystem valueClimate adjustment value0.2334.136.150.2251.942.75Water conservation value0.0140.250.0120.10Soil conservation value0.1001.770.0830.71Social valueSocial stability value4.50879.9080.366.28354.0976.67Social development value0.0220.392.61222.49Social security value0.0 0380.070.0 1020.09Spiritual valuePublicity and education value001.77001.36Historical spiritual value0.11.770.1581.36The consistency is mainly reflected in the overall proportion of each value, which is social value > economic value > ecological value > spiritual value. Moreover, the economic value accounts for only 1/10-1/5 of the total value, while the social value accounts for more than 70%. Therefore, the value of terrace system is mainly reflected in its social value.The differences is mainly reflected on the changes in the percentage of each value category. In 2013, Chongyi terrace system has yet to become China’s important agricultural cultural heritage, so relevant government policies were not made. Regarding crops, there is only one kind, that is rice, which does not has high economic value and tourism value, so the main value only comes from its inherent social value. In 2019, as the terraced field system was listed as a world agricultural heritage, the government has strengthened protection and publicity of the terraced field system in recent years, and combined with rural revitalization strategy, the value of the overall farmland ecosystem has been greatly improved, especially the economic value, which increased by nearly 8 percentage. As time goes by, more and more young people are no longer willing to engage in agricultural production activities, which lead to serious land abandonment issue. The abandonment rate in core areas even reaches 20%-30%; meanwhile, farmers’ willingness for farming is weak. In recent years, the government’s protection policy of cultivated land has been mainly focusing on improving its economic value, but it has not set up a higher protection consciousness for some noneconomic values, and to some extent, it has not achieved the goal of “developing both material and spiritual civilization.” Regarding spiritual civilization, in the past six years, although the data of spiritual value ascend to a certain extent, the overall increase is not too big. Jiangxi Chongyi Hakka terrace agriculture system has evolved continuously based on the local culture and cultural heritage, but the local people lack the adequate knowledge of its historical and spiritual value and greatly lack the driving force of spiritual civilization.


## 4. Conclusions and Suggestions

It is not difficult to find that the noneconomic value of terrace ecosystem far exceeds its economic value. By comparing and analyzing the value of farmland ecosystem in the core area of Hakka terrace ecosystem in Chongyi, Jiangxi Province, in 2013 and 2019, we can obtain the following enlightenment:On the one hand, people should first change their concept so as to objectively and correctly understand the multifunction of agriculture and focus on the ecological value and historical and cultural value of agriculture. This study results show that for a long time, both the government and the people only see the economic value of the farmland ecosystem and neglect its ecological value, spiritual value, and other noneconomic value, but the noneconomic value is far valuable more than the economic value. It not only improves the cultivated land resources which people rely on for survival but also brings vital ecological service.On the other hand, decision-makers should formulate differentiated cultivated land protection policies according to the actual situation and agricultural production conditions in Chongyi. The main part of terraced agricultural ecosystem is the existence of terraced fields. Once the nature of terraced land changes, the above values will no longer exist. Therefore, policy-makers should carefully introduce relevant policies after conducting sufficient research to avoid improper policies affecting the agricultural production and life of terraced fields. At the same time, multiple measures should be taken to reduce the abandoned area of terraced fields, especially not to blindly expand agricultural production. Although it will bring great economic benefits to a certain extent, it will also significantly lower the ecological benefits.


## 5. Conclusions

The paper mainly studies the value of Chongyi Hakka terrace system before (2013) and after (2019) it became one of China’s important agricultural cultural heritage; the value is researched from four aspects and from the point of value digitization, which is innovative. However, the relationship with the general goal of rural revitalization is not clear enough, especially the research in cultural level is not enough, what is more, the analysis of tourism value is not comprehensive enough, and the current analysis is more focused on the perspective of tourism consumption and has not been deeply involved in the analysis of hidden tourism resources. Therefore, the authors hope that the future agricultural cultural heritage research could overcome the aforementioned shortcoming and carry out in-depth study of structural evolution in the agricultural cultural heritage, including cultural system structure (material culture, organizational culture, spiritual culture, etc.) and outer composite structure; the inner factors of structure, from the perspective of more systematic attention to agricultural development trend and cultural heritage protection strategy, thus promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.



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*Source: 3165112-2022-08-18.xml*