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Evolution and Efficiency Assessment of Pesticide and Fertiliser Inputs to Cultivated Land in China

Author

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  • Xuesong Zhan

    (National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Biomass Resource Utilization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Chaofeng Shao

    (National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Biomass Resource Utilization, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China)

  • Rong He

    (Sichuan Academy of Environmental Policy and Planning, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Rongguang Shi

    (Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Afairs, Tianjin 300071, China)

Abstract

Excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers has been a key issue limiting sustainable agricultural development. China is a typical pesticide- and chemical-fertiliser-dependent agricultural production area. We have matched the target indicators related to sustainable agricultural development (SDG1 and SDG2) and analysed the gap between China and four developed countries in terms of fertiliser and pesticide use intensity and efficiency from 2002 to 2016. We have used an improved Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model and cluster analysis to identify the factors and effects driving increased pesticide and fertiliser inputs in China, and we discuss the exploratory effects of different provinces in reducing pesticide and fertiliser application and increasing efficiency. The findings reveal that (1) China is a typical pesticide- and fertiliser-dependent agricultural production area. The average combined fertiliser application efficiency in China from 2002 to 2016 was only 28% of that of the Netherlands, and the country’s average combined pesticide application efficiency was only 35% of that of the USA. (2) The most important of the three main drivers of the increase in pesticide and fertiliser inputs in China is the value added of the primary industry, contributing 56% for the period 2007–2016. (3) Further analysis at the provincial level according to four types—high-intensity high-yield type, high-intensity low-yield type, low-intensity high-yield type, and low-intensity low-yield type—clarified the provinces that should be focused on at the national level in terms of pesticide and fertiliser application reduction and efficiency increase in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuesong Zhan & Chaofeng Shao & Rong He & Rongguang Shi, 2021. "Evolution and Efficiency Assessment of Pesticide and Fertiliser Inputs to Cultivated Land in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-21, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3771-:d:530139
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xu, Jin-Hua & Fleiter, Tobias & Eichhammer, Wolfgang & Fan, Ying, 2012. "Energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China's cement industry: A perspective from LMDI decomposition analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 821-832.
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    1. Zilu Zhao & Bo Li, 2022. "Beyond a Spray: Pesticide Application Management in Rural China Based on Quadrilateral Evolutionary Game," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-25, September.
    2. Xiaodan Wang & Hua Ma & Chunyun Guan & Mei Guan, 2022. "Decomposition of Rapeseed Green Manure and Its Effect on Soil under Two Residue Return Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Shuaichen Guo & Hongpeng Guo, 2024. "Development of Ecological Low-Carbon Agriculture with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era: Features, Practical Issues, and Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-25, September.
    4. Binglu Wu & Di Mu & Yi Luo & Zhengguang Xiao & Jilong Zhao & Dongxu Cui, 2022. "Rural Ecological Problems in China from 2013 to 2022: A Review of Research Hotspots, Geographical Distribution, and Countermeasures," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-22, August.
    5. Yuanhe Yu & Liang Wang & Jinkuo Lin & Zijun Li, 2022. "Optimizing Agricultural Input and Production for Different Types of at-Risk Peasant Households: An Empirical Study of Typical Counties in the Yimeng Mountain Area of Northern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Minglong Zhang & Yanfang Huang & Yunzheng Zhang & Fengying Nie & Xiangping Jia, 2024. "Farmers’ Adoption of Agricultural Nature-Based Solutions in Northeast China: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Approach," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Guangchun Xu & Dongdong Yan & Wensheng Fang & Dejin Xu & Lu Xu & Qiuxia Wang & Aocheng Cao, 2023. "Synergistic Effect of Orange Oil Adjuvant on Acetamiprid in the Control of Edentatipsylla shanghaiensis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-13, June.
    8. Silin Chen & Xiangyu Guo, 2024. "Analysis of the Club Convergence and Driving Factors of China’s Green Agricultural Development Levels," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Wei Li & Yanpeng Wei & Jiale Zhao & Weiye Han & Ding Li & Jianzhong Wang & Mengfei Zhao & Lin Chen & Limei Chen & Lina Zhou, 2023. "Effects of Fertilization Mode on the Growth of Lactuca sativa L. and Soil Nutrients in Facilitated Cultivation," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, August.
    10. Hao Li & Huina Liu & Wei-Yew Chang & Chun Wang, 2023. "Factors Affecting Farmers’ Environment-Friendly Fertilization Behavior in China: Synthesizing the Evidence Using Meta-Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
    11. Tianyi Cai & Xinhuan Zhang & Fuqiang Xia & Danni Lu, 2022. "Function Evolution of Oasis Cultivated Land and Its Trade-Off and Synergy Relationship in Xinjiang, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, August.
    12. Houtian Tang & Yuanlai Wu & Jinxiu Chen & Liuxin Deng & Minjie Zeng, 2022. "How Does Change in Rural Residential Land Affect Cultivated Land Use Efficiency? An Empirical Study Based on 42 Cities in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, December.

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