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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2022, Vol. 21 Issue (6): 1799-1811    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63859-5
Special Issue: 农业经济与管理合辑Agricultural Economics and Management
Agricultural Economics and Management Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
ICT-based agricultural advisory services and nitrogen management practices: A case study of wheat production in China
DING Ji-ping1, LI Jing-han2, LIU Jia-huan3, ZHANG Wei-feng3, JIA Xiang-ping4

1 College of Economics & Management, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, P.R.China

2 Knowledge Technology and Innovation Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6706KN, The Netherlands

3 College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, P.R.China

4 Agricultural Information Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, P.R.China

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摘要  

氮肥在中国的过度使用及其对农业生产的不利影响已在国内和国际引起关注。除公共机构推动的多种促进农业可持续发展的实践外,借助信息通讯技术或数字服务手段推动可持续农业实践的私人部门创新和创业正在崭露头角。本研究探讨了一个创业企业依托信息技术提供农业技术推广服务对农户采用可持续农业实践的影响。结果表明,依托信息技术的农业社会化服务并没有显著减少小麦种植中的氮肥使用量。然而,信息技术在农业社会化服务的使用却促使农民的氮肥施用趋向于可持续和精准施肥。创业企业的此种创业模式在农户参与性和财务可持续性方面面临巨大挑战。




Abstract  Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer in China and its adverse effects on agricultural production have been a national and global concern. In addition to massive public initiatives to promote sustainable farm practices, grass-rooted innovations are emerging in the niche, many of which take the forms of information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital services. This study examines the effects of ICT-based extension services provided by an entrepreneurial startup on adopting sustainable farming practices. We found no significant reduction in N-fertilizer use for wheat production. But the ICT-based services promoted farmers to adapt N-fertilizer use towards site-specific management. The business model of the entrepreneurial venture faces great challenges in becoming participatory and financially sustainable.


Keywords:  venture capital       innovations        precision farming        private-public partnerships        nitrogen management  
Received: 18 October 2021   Accepted: 17 February 2022
Fund: 

We acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72003148), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS-ASTIP–2016-AII), the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (2452020072), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0201303).

About author:  DING Ji-ping, E-mail: ding.jiping2015@hotmail.com; Correspondence JIA Xiang-ping, Tel/Fax: +86-10-82107843, E-mail: jiaxiangping@caas.cn

Cite this article: 

DING Ji-ping, LI Jing-han, LIU Jia-huan, ZHANG Wei-feng, JIA Xiang-ping. 2022. ICT-based agricultural advisory services and nitrogen management practices: A case study of wheat production in China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 21(6): 1799-1811.

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