Objective Litchi, as an evergreen fruit tree, has become a landscaping tree due to lack of management. It is of great significance to the spatial layout optimization and standardized management of litchi industry by accurately understanding and mastering the spatial distribution and spatial variation trend of litchi planting areas.

Method Taking the litchi planting areas in Zengcheng District of Guangzhou City as an example, the remote sensing technology was used to visually interpret the remote sensing images of 2015 and 2019, and the spatial variation characteristics of managed and unmanaged litchi planting areas were judged.The gravity center migration model and fragmentation index were used to quantitatively analyze the temporal and spatial variations of litchi planting areas.

Result The overall accuracy of remote sensing interpretation is high, reaching 86.54 %. The planting areas of litchi in Zengcheng District are decreased by 67.69 hm², in which the planting areas of litchi with management are decreased by 127.28 hm² and the planting areas of litchi without management are increased by 59.59 hm². Totally, the center of gravity of litchi planting areas gradually moves away from the town center, moving 45.14 m eastward and 107.01 m northward. Among them, the litchi planting areas with management move northwestward, and the litchi planting areas without management move southwestward. The fragmentation index of litchi planting areas increases from 0.0407 in 2015 to 0.0413 in 2019, and the spatial distribution shows a gradually dispersed pattern. However, the fragmentation index of litchi planting areas with management decreases from 0.0244 to 0.0238, showing a state of aggregation in space.

Conclusion By using remote sensing technology, it can accurately and quickly identify the spatial distribution and variation characteristics of litchi planting areas under different management modes, provide accurate data support for inefficient orchard transformation and standardized orchard construction, and promote the prosperity of rural industries.