Abstract:The change in the quantity of cultivated land influences the structure, function and evolvement of ecosystem. The rational change in the quantity of cultivated land will be propitious to ecological security and sustainable development, and irrational change will deteriorate ecological environment. The concept of cultivated land quantity niche regulation was firstly put forward based on niche theory and the action-feedback mechanism between cultivated land quantity niche and cultivated land benefit niche. Then, the regulation measures of cultivated land quantity niche were brought forward in rural−urban area, agro−forest area and consolidation-reclamation-exploitation area. Finally, the ecological environmental effect after regulation was analyzed. The results show that different measures should be taken to regulate cultivated land quantity niche in different areas. The economic and social benefit niche of cultivated land should be promoted to regulate cultivated land quantity niche in rural−urban area and consolidation−reclamation−exploitation area. The social benefit niche of cultivated land should be reduced in agro−forest area. The regulation goal of cultivated land quantity niche will be attained by different measures.

Key words: niche theory; cultivated land quantity niche regulation; land reclamation; environmental effect