Suitability Regionalization of Jujube Production in Northern Shaanxi Province Calculated Using GIS Coupled with Geographical Detector.

(Objective) Jujube is one of the cash crops in northern Shaanxi. Understanding the suitable areas and conditions for its growth is important to its sustainable production but is currently lacking. This paper is to fill this knowledge gap. (Method) The analysis is based on GIS; the suitability for jujube growth in different areas is analyzed using the geographical detector model. (Result) 1 The suitability for jujube growth decreases progressively from the east and south to the northwest of the region, with the optimal area and sub-optimal area concentrated in Fu county. Suitable areas with large jujube planting are mainly in the districts and counties along the western region of the Yellow River. 2 Climatic and topographic factors combine to greatly influence the suitability of jujube, and their effects are nonlinearly confounded. 3 Annual precipitation, elevation and annual accumulative temperature (≥10 °C) are the main factors controlling suitability for jujube growth, and the suitability index is negatively correlated with annual precipitation and annual accumulated temperature, and positively with elevation. 4 Annual precipitation, elevation and annual accumulated temperature explain 22%, 15% and 11% of the suitability index, respectively, and the comprehensive interpretation rate reaches 78%.(Conclusion)The suitability for jujube growth in northern Shaanxi province decreases from the southeast to the northwest; developing jujube industry or forest ecosystem in this region should consider the jointed effects of annual precipitation, elevation and annual accumulated temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]