Impact of Environmental Values and Information Awareness on the Adoption of Soil Testing and Formula Fertilization Technology by Farmers—A Case Study Considering Social Networks

Mengling Tian, Ruifeng Liu (), Jian Wang, Jiahao Liang, Yefan Nian and Hengyun Ma
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Mengling Tian: College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Ruifeng Liu: College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Jian Wang: College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Jiahao Liang: College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450003, China
Yefan Nian: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Sandhill Research and Education Center, Clemson University, Columbia, SC 29634, USA
Hengyun Ma: College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450003, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-22

Abstract: The irrational application of chemical fertilizer affects agricultural land’s supply capacity and yield quality and may lead to serious agricultural non-point source pollution. Through scientific and accurate fertilization, soil testing and formula fertilization technology (STFFT) can effectively prevent excessive fertilizer use, improve its utilization efficiency, and have significant environmental and economic benefits. Based on evolutionary game theory, this paper constructed an evolutionary game model of farmers’ adoption of STFFT. We used a case study to reveal and verify the influence of farmers’ environmental values, information awareness, and social network on their adoption of STFFT and its mechanism. The findings were as follows: First, there are two optimal stable states in the evolutionary system; namely, all farmers adopt or do not adopt STFFT. Second, environmental values and information awareness positively correlate with farmers’ adoption of STFFT. Third, the strength of social networks can enhance the effectiveness of information awareness and environmental values, encouraging farmers to adopt STFFT. In addition, the social network plays a mediating role and moderating role in the influence of information awareness and environmental values on the farmers’ adoption of STFFT.

Keywords: environmental values; information awareness; adoption of soil testing and formula fertilization technology; evolutionary game; case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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