This research was conducted to investigate land use patterns and soil types in Zhaozhuang

a village of Yan′an City in Northern Shaanxi Province. 298land parcels

14land utilization patterns and 28analysis units were analyzed according to 33high

medium and low-income household surveys. Based on the Cobb-Douglas production function model

the plot scale and the watershed scale were combined to analyze the eco-economic suitability of suburban rural land and explore the integration of ecological and economic benefits. Results showed that most of the land ecosystem types in Zhaozhuang village are appropriate for agriculture

except part of the lat-erite type. However

only some are highly suitable for traditional farming

while the others′suitability is not so high. For traditional farming such as corn and cereal

more organic fertilizers and rational fertilization are needed for an improved economic efficiency. For featured farming such as small melons and greenhouse vege-tables

improving the technical level is more important. For beans and cabbage farming

labor is less impor-tant for their yields. For tuber crops and turnips

the effects of technical level can be ignored.