The Heterogeneous Impact of Livestock Manure Application on Growers’ Income: Empirical Evidence from Different Crop Types in China

The economic viability of livestock manure as a green agricultural input is a key determinant of growers’ adoption decisions, yet evidence on its income effects across cropping types remains limited. This study uses field survey data from growers in Jiangsu Province, China, and employs a Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method to construct a counterfactual analysis framework. We assess the impact of manure application on farm income using two core indicators: income per mu (a Chinese unit of area, approximately 0.067 hectares) and total household agricultural income. The findings demonstrate that: (1) Livestock manure application significantly increases both average income and overall household agricultural income. Cooperative membership and access to technical training significantly promote the adoption of livestock manure. (2) The income effect exhibits significant heterogeneity across crop types: vegetable and fruit growers benefit most, followed by seedling growers, while grain growers gain relatively less. By systematically comparing three cropping types, this study extends the single-crop-focused literature and provides empirical evidence for designing targeted, crop-specific policies. These findings inform the differentiated fiscal incentives and cooperative-based extension strategies proposed in this paper to enhance manure utilization efficiency in sustainable agriculture.