Translating Cultivated Land Multifunctionality Assessment into Differentiated Governance in Northeast China

Cultivated land multifunctionality plays an important role in balancing food security, rural development, and ecological sustainability. However, existing studies often remain fragmented, with limited integration of long-term functional evolution, interfunctional relationships, coordination, and governance-oriented zoning. Using multi-source data from 2000 to 2024, this study examined the spatiotemporal evolution, synergy–trade-off relationships, coupling coordination, spatial associations, and functional zoning of cultivated land production, social, ecological, and landscape functions in Northeast China. The results show pronounced temporal fluctuations and spatial differentiation. Landscape function maintained the highest overall level, with a mean of approximately 0.82, while ecological function remained relatively high and stable. Production function fluctuated over time, whereas social function increased markedly in 2020 before declining slightly in 2024. Synergies dominated among production, ecological, and landscape functions, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.54 to 0.97, while social function remained weakly associated with the other functions (r < 0.22). The coupling coordination degree ranged from 0.639 to 0.665, indicating a moderate but relatively stable coordination level with clear regional differences. Functional zoning identified single-function-dominated, dual-function composite, multifunctional composite, and characteristic agricultural zones, accounting for 53.44%, 21.30%, 8.94%, and 16.33% of cultivated land, respectively. These findings provide a basis for shifting cultivated land management from uniform regulation toward differentiated governance that better coordinates agricultural production, ecological protection, and rural development.