Objective The aims were to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of ‘non-grain’ cultivated land in Shenyang in recent years, in order to explore its driving factors and inhibit the ‘non-grain’ of arable land, so as to provide decision-making references for suppressing the ‘non-grain’ and optimizing the use of arable land in Shenyang.

Methods Based on the data of Shenyang city's arable land resource quality classification, statistical analysis methods were used to measure and analyze the degree and changes of Shenyang arable land ‘non-grain’. The standard elliptic difference model and the natural breakpoint method were used to study the spatial differentiation pattern of arable land ‘non-grain’. The geoprobe model was used to explore the influencing factors of ‘non-grain’ cultivated land.

Results The rate of ‘non-grain’ of arable land in Shenyang decreased year by year during the four years of 2019 ~ 2022, from 0.42 in 2019 to 0.15 in 2022. Te highest degree of ‘non-g in Huanggu and Shenhe Districts, and the highest degree of ‘non-grain’ was in Huanggu District and Shenhe District, and the highest degree of ‘non-food’ was in Huanggu District and Shenhe District, and the highest level was in Huanggu District in 2019. The highest degree of ‘non-grain’ was in Huanggu District and Shenhe District, with the rate of ‘non-grain’ of arable land in 2019 being 4.14 and 2.18 respectively; the spatial distribution of the degree of ‘non-food’ of arable land is obvious, with the overall presentation of ‘high in the south and low in the north’. The overall spatial distribution characteristics are obvious, showing the spatial pattern of ‘high in the south and low in the north’ and ‘high in the suburbs and low in the far suburbs’. The proportion of dry land, the proportion of paddy land and the area of arable land restoration were the main factors affecting the ‘non-grain’ of arable land in Shenyang.

Conclusion The problem of ‘non-grain’ of arable land in Shenyang has been alleviated year by year. The phenomenon of ‘non-grain’ of arable land in peri-urban areas is significantly higher than that in remote suburban unties and districts. The low efficiency of planting grains and the strength of policy control are the main factors that induce and inhibit the ‘non-grain’ of arable land. The low efficiency of grain cultivation and the strength of policy control are the main factors inducing and inhibiting the ‘non-grain’ phenomenon.