The spatial distribution of fertilization intensity and its influencing factors are significant for the accurate management of fertilization and pollution prevention and control. Previous studies are mostly limited to the discussion of human factors that influences the spatial distribution of fertilization intensity while ignoring natural geographical factors. Based on the chemical fertilizer survey data collected from 23492 sites in Chengdu Plain and combined with Geostatistics analysis and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of average nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application intensity from 2010 to 2015 in this region were explored. The results show that:① the average annual application intensity of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer in the study area from 2010 to 2015 is generally in the low and medium risk intensity of 120-360 kg·hm-2 and 60-180 kg·hm-2. The high risk intensity is mainly distributed in the grain (fruit) and vegetable growing areas such as Pidu, Pengzhou, Shifang, Longquanyi and Jintang, while the relatively low value areas are mostly distributed in the south and northeast. ② the nugget coefficients of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application intensities are 66.17% and 41.60%. Their spatial distribution is determined by structural and random factors, showing a moderate spatial autocorrelation. ③ both human and natural factors have significant effects on the application intensity of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer. The crop type (fine classification) can explain the spatial variation of nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer respectively by 12.90% and 25.10%, which is the main controlling factor affecting the spatial distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus application intensity; the importance of soil parent material is second only to the planting crop type, and the independent explanation ability of phosphorus application intensity is about 3.6 times higher than that of nitrogen application intensity. When the type of planting crop plays a decisive role, the soil parent material still deeply restricts and affects the spatial distribution of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application intensity in the study area. Therefore, the comprehensive effects of planting crop types and soil parent materials should be considered in fertilization management and environmental risk analysis, and the effects of soil parent material should also be taken into account in the application of phosphate fertilizer.
Keywords: Chengdu Plain; crop type; fertilization intensity; influencing factors; soil parent material; spatial distribution.