Abstract
The swift advancement of urbanization poses considerable obstacles to the sustainable growth of agriculture and the development of rural regions. The Yellow River Basin, a key area for agricultural production and ecological conservation in China, faces critical challenges such as land resource depletion and uneven rural development. A thorough exploration of the interaction and alignment between agricultural land use efficiency and rural revitalization in the Yellow River Basin is important for advancing sustainable agricultural and rural development. Accordingly, this study utilizes panel data from 62 cities in the Yellow River Basin covering 2013 to 2022. Building on a clear understanding of the coupling mechanism between agricultural land use efficiency and rural revitalization, the research employs a comprehensive approach, integrating Malmquist index analysis, the entropy weight-TOPSIS method, a coupling coordination degree model, the Dagum Gini coefficient, and GIS-based spatial analysis to examine the spatial-temporal evolution and regional disparities in their coupling coordination. The study revealed the following findings: (1) The coupling coordination level between agricultural land use efficiency and rural revitalization in the Yellow River Basin has remained at a "grudging coordination" stage and exhibits an unstable development trend. The fluctuating characteristics of Moran's I value and the misalignment between the policy framework and its objectives are potential causes of this phenomenon. (2) The cities in the Yellow River Basin are spatially interdependent. The core city radiates resources and economic vitality, driving the development of neighboring cities at the coupling coordination level, while the resource siphon effect remains relatively small. (3) Interregional differences between the upper and middle reaches are the primary sources of variation in the coupling coordination level within the basin. The upstream region has significantly contributed to the reduction in the overall Gini coefficient, leveraging its "late-mover advantage." In this regard, we put forward suggestions such as transforming the primitive development mode, adhering to the concept of integrated basin development, and emphasizing regionally differentiated policies to provide inspiration for achieving coupling coordination between the two.