Land Fragmentation, Technology Adoption and Chemical Fertilizer Application: Evidence from China

Liang Chi, Shuqing Han, Meili Huan, Yajuan Li and Jifang Liu
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Liang Chi: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Shuqing Han: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Meili Huan: China Institute for Rural Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Yajuan Li: National Academy of Agriculture Green Development, Key Laboratory of Plant-Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
Jifang Liu: Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: Although it has been widely recognized that land fragmentation has increased chemical fertilizer application, little is known about the role of technology adoption in mitigating these adverse effects. To empirically examine the relationship between land fragmentation, technology adoption and chemical fertilizer application, we developed a mediation model. We applied our analysis to a survey data set encompassing 1388 farm-level samples collected in 14 Chinese provinces in 2019. Our study demonstrated that land fragmentation can not only directly increase chemical fertilizer application but also indirectly increase it by hindering the adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies (AMT’s) and soil testing fertilization technologies (STFT’s). Both are recognized as potent drivers of fertilizer use reductions. Moreover, the adoption of information and communications technologies (ICT’s) can help mitigate the negative effects of land fragmentation on technology adoption, thus reducing chemical fertilizer application intensity (CFAI). However, the direct effects of land fragmentation on CAFI was unaffected by ICT’s. Our findings suggest that ICT’s have revolutionized farmer recognition, promotion and adoption of agricultural technologies by increasing awareness and diffusion of agricultural technology information.

Keywords: land fragmentation; agricultural mechanization; ICT’s; soil testing fertilization; sustainable agricultural practices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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