Do Land Characteristics Affect Farmers' Soil Fertility Management?

Soil fertility management (SFM) has important implications for sustaining agricultural development and food self-sufficiency. Better understanding the determinants of farmers' SFM can be a great help to the adoption of effective SFM practices. Based on a dataset of 315 plots collected from a typical rice growing area of South China, this study applied statistical method and econometric models to examine the impacts of land characteristics on farmers' SFM practices at plot scale. Main results showed that in general land characteristics affected SFM behaviors. Securer land tenure arrangements facilitated effective practices of SFM through more diversified and more soil-friendly cropping pattern choices. Plot size significantly reduced the intensities of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application. Given other factors, 1 ha increase in plot size might reduce 3.0 kg ha−1 P2O5 and 1.8 kg ha−1 K2O. Plots far from the homestead were paid less attention in terms of both chemical fertilizers and manure applications. Besides, plots with better quality were put more efforts on management by applying more nitrogen and manure, and by planting green manure crops. Significant differences existed in SFM practices between the surveyed villages with different socio-economic conditions. The findings are expected to provide important references to the policy-making incentive for improving soil quality and crop productivity.