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Efficiency performance of fertilizer use in arable agricultural production in China

Author

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  • Wei Huang
  • Li Jiang

Abstract

Purpose - Fertilizer overuse is regarded as one of the main contributors to agricultural pollution and environmental problems in China. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate technical efficiency (TE) and fertilizer overuse index (FOI) with respect to China’s arable agricultural production and examine regional variations in terms of fertilizer overuse. Design/methodology/approach - The maximum likelihood random effects–time varying inefficiency effects model was applied to estimate TE, fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and FOI. Findings - Over the study period (2011–2015), TE steadily increased for each individual province. Overall, mean annual TE was 0.811, implying that, on average, Chinese provinces could increase output by 18.9 per cent given unchanged levels of inputs and technology. Mean annual FOI ranged from 0.008 to 3.139, with a mean of 0.685, suggesting that there is fertilizer overuse in almost all provinces, and that large regional variation exists. Coastal provinces were found to have the highest TE scores, while the central region showed the highest degree of fertilizer overuse. Originality/value - The results indicate that fertilizer use has had a significant positive impact on production in the China’s arable agricultural sector. High TE was not necessarily associated with low FUE.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Huang & Li Jiang, 2018. "Efficiency performance of fertilizer use in arable agricultural production in China," China Agricultural Economic Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(1), pages 52-69, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:caerpp:caer-12-2017-0238
    DOI: 10.1108/CAER-12-2017-0238
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ma, Wanglin & Zheng, Hongyun, 2021. "Impacts of Smartphone Use on Agrochemical Use Among Wheat Farmers in China: A Heterogeneous Analysis," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314991, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Song, Donghui & Chen, Tong Zhang Po & Chen, Fengbo, 2021. "Heterogeneous Effects of Off-farm Employment on Production Choices of Rice Farmers in China," 2021 ASAE 10th International Conference (Virtual), January 11-13, Beijing, China 329415, Asian Society of Agricultural Economists (ASAE).
    3. Lilin Zou & Xumin Zheng & Yongsheng Wang, 2022. "Spatial‐temporal evolution and influence factors of China’s agricultural non‐point source pollution discharge intensity in recent 40 years," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 1170-1189, September.
    4. Wanglin Ma & Hongyun Zheng, 2022. "Heterogeneous impacts of information technology adoption on pesticide and fertiliser expenditures: Evidence from wheat farmers in China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(1), pages 72-92, January.
    5. Tao Jin & Candi Ge & Hui Gao & Hongcheng Zhang & Xiaolong Sun, 2020. "Evaluation and Screening of Co-Culture Farming Models in Rice Field Based on Food Productivity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, March.
    6. Chao Zhang & Ruifa Hu, 2020. "Does Fertilizer Use Intensity Respond to the Urban-Rural Income Gap? Evidence from a Dynamic Panel-Data Analysis in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, January.
    7. Hongyun Zheng & Wanglin Ma & Gucheng Li, 2021. "Adoption of organic soil amendments and its impact on farm performance: evidence from wheat farmers in China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 65(2), pages 367-390, April.
    8. 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).
    9. Jianfei Shen & Erli Dan & Yalin Lu & Yiwei Guo, 2021. "Exploratory Research on Overfertilization in Grain Production and Its Relationship with Financial Factors: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.

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