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The influence of risk preferences, knowledge, land consolidation, and landscape diversification on pesticide use

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  • Lingling Hou
  • Pengfei Liu
  • Jikun Huang
  • Xiangzheng Deng

Abstract

Researchers have spent substantial effort to identify factors influencing pesticide use intensity. However, few studies have compared the relative importance of these factors. This study examines four categories of factors that potentially influence farmers’ pesticide use decisions by evaluating incentivized experiment data, farm survey data, and remote sensing data in China. Our results suggest that land diversification has the largest effect on farmers’ pesticide use. Compared with the most rice‐intensive landscape type, less rice‐intensive systems cause farmers to spray less on middle rice. Heavy pesticide use intensity is associated with land fragmentation as small‐scale farms still dominate crop production. Farmers’ integrated pest management knowledge has significant effects on pesticide use. We also find that loss and ambiguity preferences, rather than risk preferences, are more likely to affect pesticide use intensity.

Suggested Citation

  • Lingling Hou & Pengfei Liu & Jikun Huang & Xiangzheng Deng, 2020. "The influence of risk preferences, knowledge, land consolidation, and landscape diversification on pesticide use," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(5), pages 759-776, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:51:y:2020:i:5:p:759-776
    DOI: 10.1111/agec.12590
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel C. Voica & Troy G. Schmitz, 2022. "Trading risk for ambiguity: Production versus health under pesticide application," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(4), pages 1327-1342, August.
    2. Christoph Duden & Oliver Mußhoff & Frank Offermann, 2023. "Dealing with low‐probability shocks: The role of selected heuristics in farmers’ risk management decisions," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 54(3), pages 382-399, May.
    3. Stéphane Couture & Stéphane Lemarié & Sabrina Teyssier & Pascal Toquebeuf, 2024. "The value of information under ambiguity: a theoretical and experimental study on pest management in agriculture," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 96(1), pages 19-47, February.
    4. Cai, Rong & Ma, Jie & Wang, shujuan & Cai, Shukai, 2024. "Can crop insurance help optimize farmers’ decisions on pesticides use? Evidence from family farms in East China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. 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.
    6. 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.

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