The Impact of Farmers’ Cognition and Attitudes on the Adoption of Conservation Tillage: An Empirical Study Based on the Lishu Model

Hongwei Yu, Yue Sun, Yixin Cui, Xinyue Tan, Yufeng Hou () and Zongren Kuang ()
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Hongwei Yu: Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University No. 17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Yue Sun: College of Information and Electrical Engineering, China Agricultural University, No. 17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Yixin Cui: Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University No. 17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Xinyue Tan: Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University No. 17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Yufeng Hou: Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University No. 17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Zongren Kuang: Department of Communication, College of Humanities and Development Studies, China Agricultural University No. 17 Qinghua East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Promoting conservation tillage (CT) is central to advancing ecological transformation in China’s agricultural sector under the “Dual Carbon” strategy. However, despite strong institutional support, the adoption of CT technologies—especially the “Lishu Model” integrating no-till and straw mulching—remains uneven. This study applies the Cognition–Attitude–Behavior (CAB) framework to examine the behavioral mechanisms underlying CT adoption, drawing on a 2024 household survey in Lishu County, Jilin Province. Descriptive and regression analyses reveal that, while cognitive awareness is positively associated with adoption, only attitudinal alignment has a significant predictive effect. The findings identify a distinct group of “informed non-adopters”, underscoring that knowledge alone does not ensure behavioral uptake. These results highlight the importance of motivational alignment over information provision in shaping sustainable technology adoption and suggest the need for more psychologically grounded policy interventions.

Keywords: conservation tillage; CAB framework; green agriculture; farmer behavior; attitude–behavior gap; policy alignment; rural China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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