IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0308300.html

Can internet use promote farmers to adopt chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technology in China?—an empirical analysis based on endogenous switching probit model

Author

Listed:
  • Zhifei Ma
  • Huan Huang
  • Xiangmin Zhang
  • Dongxue Qin
  • Xiaodi Li

Abstract

This study examines the impact of internet usage on farmer’s adoption behavior of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies in China. Based on 1,295 questionnaires in Henan Province, this study constructs a counterfactual analysis framework and used endogenous switching probit model to analyze the effects and pathways of internet usage on farmer’s adoption behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. The results indicate that. (1) The proportion of farmers adopting chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies is 60.15%, while the proportion of farmers not adopting these technologies is 39.85%. (2) Internet usage directly influences farmers’ adoption of fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies. According to counterfactual assumption analysis, if farmers who currently use the Internet were to stop using it, the probability of them adopting these technologies would decrease by 28.09%. Conversely, for farmers who do not currently use the Internet, if they were to start using it, the probability of them adopting fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies would increase by 40.67%. (3) Internet usage indirectly influences farmers’ adoption behavior through mediating pathways of expected benefits and risk perception. In addition, social networks negatively moderate the impact of internet usage on farmers’ behavior of chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhifei Ma & Huan Huang & Xiangmin Zhang & Dongxue Qin & Xiaodi Li, 2024. "Can internet use promote farmers to adopt chemical fertilizer reduction and efficiency enhancement technology in China?—an empirical analysis based on endogenous switching probit model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(8), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0308300
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308300
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0308300
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0308300&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0308300?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lee, Chien-Chiang & He, Zhi-Wen & Yuan, Zihao, 2023. "A pathway to sustainable development: Digitization and green productivity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    2. Haile, Kaleab K. & Nillesen, Eleonora & Tirivayi, Nyasha, 2020. "Impact of formal climate risk transfer mechanisms on risk-aversion: Empirical evidence from rural Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    3. Xinjian Chen & Di Zeng & Ying Xu & Xiaojun Fan, 2018. "Perceptions, Risk Attitude and Organic Fertilizer Investment: Evidence from Rice and Banana Farmers in Guangxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Liu, Yansui & Zhou, Yang, 2021. "Reflections on China's food security and land use policy under rapid urbanization," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    5. Hanlin Sun & Filippo Radicchi & Jürgen Kurths & Ginestra Bianconi, 2023. "The dynamic nature of percolation on networks with triadic interactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Hao, Jinghui & Bijman, Jos & Gardebroek, Cornelis & Heerink, Nico & Heijman, Wim & Huo, Xuexi, 2018. "Cooperative membership and farmers’ choice of marketing channels – Evidence from apple farmers in Shaanxi and Shandong Provinces, China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 53-64.
    7. Michael Lokshin & Zurab Sajaia, 2004. "Maximum likelihood estimation of endogenous switching regression models," Stata Journal, StataCorp LLC, vol. 4(3), pages 282-289, September.
    8. Terza, Joseph V., 1998. "Estimating count data models with endogenous switching: Sample selection and endogenous treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 129-154, May.
    9. Smith, Vernon L., 2005. "Behavioral economics research and the foundations of economics," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 135-150, March.
    10. Tang, Lin & Luo, Xiaofeng, 2021. "Can agricultural insurance encourage farmers to apply biological pesticides? Evidence from rural China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    11. Rong He & Chaofeng Shao & Rongguang Shi & Zheyu Zhang & Run Zhao, 2020. "Development Trend and Driving Factors of Agricultural Chemical Fertilizer Efficiency in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shengyang Sun & Chao Zhang & Ruifa Hu & Jian Liu, 2023. "Do Pesticide Retailers’ Recommendations Aggravate Pesticide Overuse? Evidence from Rural China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Sun, Shengyang & Zhang, Chao & Hu, Ruifa & Liu, Jian, 2023. "Do pesticide retailers’ recommendations aggravate pesticide overuse? Evidence from rural China," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(7), pages 1-1.
    3. Ma, Wanglin & Zheng, Hongyun & Nnaji, Amaka, 2023. "Cooperative membership and adoption of green pest control practices: Insights from rice farmers," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 67(03), April.
    4. Kunxi Nie & Yueji Zhu, 2025. "Internet access, female’s non-farm employment, and income effects: insights from China," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, December.
    5. Song, Hengfei & Li, Xiubin & Xin, Liangjie & Wang, Xue, 2025. "Improving mechanization conditions or encouraging non-grain crop production? Strategies for mitigating farmland abandonment in China’s mountainous areas," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    6. Zhang, Daojun & Yang, Wanjing & Kang, Dingrong & Zhang, Han, 2023. "Spatial-temporal characteristics and policy implication for non-grain production of cultivated land in Guanzhong Region," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    7. Sènakpon F.A. Dedehouanou & Dugassa Aichatou Ousseini & Abdoulaziz Laouali Harouna & Jabir Maimounata, 2015. "Spillovers from Off-farm Self-Employment Opportunities in Rural NIGER," Working Papers 2015/03, Maastricht School of Management.
    8. Fang Wu & Xibao Guo & Xia Guo, 2023. "Cooperative membership and new technology adoption of family farms: Evidence from China," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 719-739, September.
    9. Huma Neupane & Krishna P. Paudel & Qinying He, 2023. "Impact of cooperative membership on market performance of Nepali goat farmers," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(3), pages 805-830, September.
    10. Guoqiang Liu & Dakuan Qiao & Yuying Liu & Xinhong Fu, 2022. "Does Service Utilization Improve Members’ Welfare? Evidence from Citrus Cooperatives in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, May.
    11. Ningbo Cui & Xuezhen Ba & Jin Dong & Xiaofan Fan, 2022. "Does Farmland Transfer Contribute to Reduction of Chemical Fertilizer Use? Evidence from Heilongjiang Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-15, September.
    12. Lin, Bin & Wang, Xiaoxi & Jin, Songqing & Yang, Wanjiang & Li, Houjian, 2022. "Impacts of cooperative membership on rice productivity: Evidence from China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    13. Jinsuk Yang & Qing Hao & Mahmut Yaşar, 2023. "Institutional investors and cross‐border mergers and acquisitions: The 2000–2018 period," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(3), pages 553-583, September.
    14. repec:ebl:ecbull:v:4:y:2006:i:33:p:1-7 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Tambo, Justice A. & Wünscher, Tobias, 2016. "Beyond adoption: welfare effects of farmer innovation behavior in Ghana," Discussion Papers 235297, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    16. repec:ebl:ecbull:v:3:y:2008:i:42:p:1-13 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Melaku, Astewale Bimr & Qaim, Matin & Debela, Bethelhem Legesse, 2024. "Maternal employment in high-value agriculture and child nutrition: Evidence from the Ethiopian cut-flower industry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    18. Kifle T. Sebhatu & Fatemeh Taheri & Tekeste Berhanu & Miet Maertens & Steven Van Passel & Marijke D'Haese, 2021. "Beyond focus: Exploring variability of service provision of agricultural cooperatives," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 92(2), pages 207-231, June.
    19. Peng, Yue & Wang, Wei & Zhen, Shangsong & Liu, Yunqiang, 2024. "Does digitalization help green consumption? Empirical test based on the perspective of supply and demand of green products," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    20. Gatti, Nicolas & Cecil, Michael & Baylis, Kathy & Estes, Lyndon & Blekking, Jordan & Heckelei, Thomas & Vergopolan, Noemi & Evans, Tom, 2023. "Is closing the agricultural yield gap a “risky” endeavor?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    21. Mathithibane, Mpho Steve, 2021. "Climate risk coping strategies of maize low-income farmers: A South African Perspective," MPRA Paper 107677, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Zhang, Qianxiang & Min Du, Anna & Lin, Boqiang, 2025. "Driving total factor productivity: The spillover effect of digitalization in the new energy supply chain," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0308300. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.