Reducing chemical fertilizer application through mechanized fertilization: Insights from maize farmers

Abstract

Reducing the overuse of chemical fertilizers is a challenging and urgent task for the whole world. Mechanized fertilization can potentially reduce chemical fertilizer application by optimizing the mode and efficiency of chemical fertilizer use. This study investigates the relationship between the adoption of mechanized fertilization and the use of chemical fertilizers among maize farmers in China. Using the conditional mixed process model to analyze the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey data, we find that the adoption of mechanized fertilization reduces maize farmers’ chemical fertilizer application by 75.1%. This negative association is supported by the positive impact of chemical fertilizers on productivity and the negative impact of the mechanized fertilization ratio on the application of chemical fertilizers. Our findings suggest that the government should enhance the provision of mechanized fertilization-targeted subsidies and training and promote land transfer to accelerate the adoption of the practice. Meanwhile, the government should make considerable efforts to improve farmers’ health conditions, thereby facilitating a reduction in chemical fertilizer application.