Please wait a minute...
Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2013, Vol. 12 Issue (2): 364-373    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60237-3
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Farmer’s Adoption of Improved Nitrogen Management Strategies in Maize Production in China: an Experimental Knowledge Training
 JIA Xiang-ping, HUANG Ji-kun, XIANG Cheng, HOU Lin-ke, ZHANG Fu-suo, CHEN Xin-ping, CUIZhen-ling , Holger Bergmann
1.Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Institute for Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R.China
2.Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R.China
3.College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
4.Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, Goettingen D-37073, Germany
Download:  PDF in ScienceDirect  
Export:  BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      
摘要  Chemical fertilizer plays an important role in increasing food production in China. Nevertheless, excessive nitrogen fertilizer use in China has resulted in severe environmental problems. The goal of this paper is to examine the impacts of an improved nitrogen management (INM) training experiment on farmers’ chemical nitrogen (N) use behaviors in maize production in China. Based on household data collected from 813 maize farmers in Shandong, China, this study finds that while INM training can significantly reduce farmers’ N fertilizer use, an INM training is not sufficient to change farmer’s practices significantly, and farmers only partially adopted the recommended INM. This study reveals that China faces challenges to transform its agriculture to a low-carbon one. The research also sheds light on China’s extension system and future technologies in meeting the objectives of reducing the excessive nitrogen fertilizer use in agricultural production.

Abstract  Chemical fertilizer plays an important role in increasing food production in China. Nevertheless, excessive nitrogen fertilizer use in China has resulted in severe environmental problems. The goal of this paper is to examine the impacts of an improved nitrogen management (INM) training experiment on farmers’ chemical nitrogen (N) use behaviors in maize production in China. Based on household data collected from 813 maize farmers in Shandong, China, this study finds that while INM training can significantly reduce farmers’ N fertilizer use, an INM training is not sufficient to change farmer’s practices significantly, and farmers only partially adopted the recommended INM. This study reveals that China faces challenges to transform its agriculture to a low-carbon one. The research also sheds light on China’s extension system and future technologies in meeting the objectives of reducing the excessive nitrogen fertilizer use in agricultural production.
Keywords:  maize       nitrogen       training       farmer       China  
Received: 17 April 2012   Accepted:
Fund: 

We would like to thank the financial supports from the National Basic Research Program of China (MoST 2012CB955700), the Sino-German Research Project (MoST 2007DFA30850), and the China- UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network (SAIN).

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence HUANG Ji-kun, Tel: +86-10-64889833, Fax: +86-10-64856533, E-mail: jkhuang.ccap@igsnrr.ac.   
About author:  JIA Xiang-ping, E-mail: jiaxp.ccap@igsnrr.ac.cn

Cite this article: 

JIA Xiang-ping, HUANG Ji-kun, XIANG Cheng, HOU Lin-ke, ZHANG Fu-suo, CHEN Xin-ping, CUIZhen-ling , Holger Bergmann. 2013. Farmer’s Adoption of Improved Nitrogen Management Strategies in Maize Production in China: an Experimental Knowledge Training. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(2): 364-373.

[1]Brauw A D, Giles J. 2008. Migrant labor markets and thewelfare of rural households in the developing world:evidence from China. In: World Bank Policy ResearchWorking Paper No. 4585. The Word Bank. WashingtonD. C., the United States.

[2]Cai G X, Chen D L, Ding H, Pacholski A, Fan X H, Zhu Z L.2002. Nitrogen losses from fertilizers applied to maize,wheat and rice in the north china plain. Nutrient Cyclingin Agroecosystems, 63, 187-195

[3]Chen Q, Zhang X S, H Y Zhang, Christie P, Li X L, HorlacherD, Liebig H. 2004. Evaluation of current fertilizer practiceand soil fertility in vegetable production in the beijingregion. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 69, 51-58

[4]Chen X. 2003. Optimization of the N fertilizer managementof a winter wheat/summer maize rotation system in theNorthern China Plain. Ph D thesis, University ofHohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.

[5]Chen X, Zhang F, Römheld V, Horlacher D, Schulz R, Böning-Zilkens M, Wang P, Claupein W. 2006. SynchronizingN supply from soil and fertilizer and N demand of winterwheat by an improved Nmin method. Nutrient Cyclingin Agroecosystems, 74, 91-98

[6]Cui Z. 2005. Optimization of the nitrogen fertilizer management for a winter wheat-summer maize rotationsystem in the North China Plain from field to regionalscale. Ph D thesis, China Agricultural University,Beijing. (in Chinese)

[7]Cui Z, Chen X, Miao Y, Zhang F, Sun Q, Schroder J, ZhangH, Li J, Shi L, Xu J, et al. 2008a. On-farm evaluation ofthe improved soil nmin-based nitrogen management forsummer maize in North China Plain. Agronomy Journal,100, 517-525

[8]Cui Z, Zhang F, Miao Y, Sun Q, Li F, Chen X, Li J, Ye Y,Yang Z P, Zhang Q, et al. 2008b. Soil nitrate-N levelsrequired for high yield maize production in the NorthChina Plain. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 82,187-196

[9]Feder G, Umali D L. 1993. The adoption of agriculturalinnovations: a review. Technological Forecasting andSocial Change, 43, 215-239

[10]He F, Jiang R, Chen Q, Zhang F S. 2009. Nitrous oxideemissions from an intensively managed greenhousevegetable cropping system in Northern China.Environmental Pollution, 157, 1666-1672

[11]Heisey P W, Norton G W. 2007. Fertilizers and other farmchemicals. In: Evenson R, Pingali P, ed., Handbook ofAgricultural Economics. vol. 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam,North Holland. pp. 2741-2777

[12]Hu R, Yang Z, Kelly P, Huang J. 2009. Agricultural extensionsystem reform and agent time allocation in China. ChinaEconomic Review, 20, 303-315

[13]Huang J K, Hu R, Cao J, Rozelle S. 2008. Training programsand in-the-field guidance to reduce China’s overuse offertilizer without hurting profitability. Journal of Soiland Water Conservation, 63, 165A-167A

[14]Huang J K, Xiang C, Jia X, Hu R. 2012. Impacts of trainingon farmers’ nitrogen use in maize production inShandong, China. Journal of Soil and WaterConservation, 67, 321-327

[15]Izaurralde R C, McGill W B, Rosenberg N J, Schlesinger WH. 2000. Carbon cost of applying nitrogen fertilizer.Science, 288, 811-812

[16]Ju X T, Xing G X, Chen X P, Zhang S L, Zhang L J, Liu X J,Cui Z L, Yin B, Christie P, Zhu Z L, et al. 2009. Reducingenvironmental risk by improving N management inintensive Chinese agricultural systems. Proceedingsof the National Academy of Sciences of the UnitedStates of America, 106, 3041-3046

[17]Khanna M. 2001. Sequential adoption of site-specifictechnologies and its implications for nitrogenproductivity: a double selectivity model. AmericanJournal of Agricultural Economics, 83, 35-51

[18]Leathers H D, Smale M. 1991. A bayesian approach toexplaining sequential adoption of components of atechnological package. American Journal ofAgricultural Economics, 73, 734-742

[19]Ma W, Li J, Ma L, Wang F, Sisák I, Cushman G, Zhang F.2008. Nitrogen flow and use efficiency in productionand utilization of wheat, rice, and maize in China.Agricultural Systems, 99, 53-63

[20]Peng S, Buresh R, Huang J, Yang J, Zou Y, Zhong X, WangG, Zhang F. 2006. Strategies for overcoming lowagronomic nitrogen use efficiency in irrigated ricesystems in China. Field Crop Research, 96, 37-47

[21]SAIN. 2010. UK-China sustainable agriculture innovationnetwork policy brief. [2011-3-2] http://www.sainonline.org/English.html

[22]Sunding D, Zilberman D. 2001. The agricultural innovationprocess: research and technology adoption in achanging agricultural sector. In: Gardner B, Rausser G,eds., Handbook of Agricultural Economics. Elsevier,Amsterdam, North Holland. pp. 207-261

[23]Thrikawala S, Weersink A, Kachanoski G, Fox G. 1999.Economic feasibility of variable-rate technology fornitrogen on corn. American Journal of AgriculturalEconomics, 81, 914-927

[24]Wang X, Huang J K, Zhang L X, Rozelle S. 2011. The rise ofmigration and the fall of self employment in rural China’slabor market. China Economic Review, 22, 573-584

[25]Xing G X, Zhu Z L. 2000. An assessment of N loss fromagricultural fields to the environment in China. NutrientCycling in Agroecosystems, 57, 67-73

[26]Zhang F S, Fan M S, Zhang W F. 2007. Principles,dissemination and performance of fertilizer bestmanagement practices developed in China. In:International Fertilizer Industry Association. ed., IFAInternational Workshop on Fertilizer BestManagement Practices. Brussels, Belgium. pp. 193-202

[27]Zhu Z L, Chen D L. 2002. Nitrogen fertilizer use in China -Contributions to food production, impacts on theenvironment and best management strategies. NutrientCycling in Agroecosystems, 63, 117-127
[1] Xucun Jia, Fuli Li, Zhengyan Miao, Xiaoyong Li, Leikang Sun, Yuepeng Wei, Kangna Yang, Hangzhao Guo, Rui Song, Haipeng Shang, Xianli Feng, Yuxia Li, Rongfa Li, Qun Wang. Cultivar mixtures of maize enhance grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency by promoting canopy photosynthetically active radiation and root growth[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(4): 0-.
[2] Pan Hou, Qiang Gao, Yingkai Ren, Jinhong Yu, Lijun Gao, Xiaoxue Liu, Dong Jiang, Weixing Cao, Tingbo Dai, Zhongwei Tian. Straw returning and night-warming improve grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of winter wheat under rice-wheat rotation[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(4): 0-.
[3] Guoming Li, Xiaotian Ren, Shengyan Pang, Changjie Feng, Yuxi Niu, Yanjie Qu, Changhong Liu, Xiang Lin, Dong Wang. Nitrogen redistribution during the grain-filling stage and its correlation with senescence and TaATG8 expression in leaves of winter wheat[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(4): 0-.
[4] Meiqi Guo, Tongtian Guo, Chuan Guo, Jiqiong Zhou, Gaowen Yang, Yingjun Zhang. Legume introduction enhances rhizosphere phosphorus availability through organic acid-induced dissolution and microbial transformation: Insights from an 11-year field experiment in grassland[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(4): 0-.
[5] Shijie Zhang, Yingchun Han, Guoping Wang, Lu Feng, Yaping Lei, Shiwu Xiong, Beifang Yang, Xiaoyu Zhi, Minghua Xin, Yahui Jiao, Xiaofei Li, Yabing Li, Zhen Jiao. Opportunistic keystone diazotrophs from co-occurrence networks drive biological nitrogen fixation in peanut/cotton intercropping systems [J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 1209-1222.
[6] Qiaohong Fan, Jingnan Zou, Zhimin Lin, Gui Chen, Wu You, Kai Su, Wenxiong Lin. Underlying mechanisms of high carbon budget surplus in low-stubble rice ratooning in Southeast China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 918-937.
[7] Xiaodong Fan, Xiaotao Hu, Yakun Wang, Dianyu Chen, Wene Wang, Fang Wang, Qing Zha. Deep storage irrigation can recharge farmland deep soil moisture and sustain production of summer maize (Zea mays L.) through flood resources utilization in irrigation districts of northern China[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 1243-1262.
[8] Zhenlong Wang, Pin He, Xuyao Li, Tieshan Liu, Saud Shah, Hao Ren, Baizhao Ren, Peng Liu, Jiwang Zhang, Bin Zhao. Enhancing yield of modern maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids through optimization of population photosynthetic capacity and light-nitrogen use efficiency under high planting density[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 938-951.
[9] Ping Lin, Shanshan Liu, Zhidan Fu, Kai Luo, Yiling Li, Xinyue Peng, Xiaoting Yuan, Lida Yang, Tian Pu, Yuze Li, Taiwen Yong, Wenyu Yang. Rhizosphere flavonoids alleviate inhibition of soybean nodulation caused by shading under maize–soybean strip intercropping[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 952-964.
[10] Hao Wu, Wenjiang Jing, Yajun Zhang, Ying Zhang, Weilu Wang, Kuanyu Zhu, Weiyang Zhang, Junfei Gu, Lijun Liu, Jianhua Zhang, Hao Zhang. Optimized application strategy of controlled-release nitrogen improves grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and lodging resistance of rice[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(3): 903-917.
[11] Teng Li, Shumei Wang, Qing Liu, Xuepeng Zhang, Lin Chen, Yuanquan Chen, Wangsheng Gao, Peng Sui. Effects of changing assimilate supply on starch synthesis in maize kernels under high temperature stress[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(2): 639-647.
[12] Xiqiang Li, Yuhong Gao, Zhengjun Cui, Tingfeng Zhang, Shiyuan Chen, Shilei Xiang, Lingling Jia, Bin Yan, Yifan Wang, Lizhuo Guo, Bing Wu . Optimized nitrogen and potassium fertilizers application increases stem lodging resistance and grain yield of oil flax by enhancing lignin biosynthesis[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(2): 659-670.
[13] Muhammad Waseem, Erbao Cao, Ihsan Jamil, Bushra Mughal, Mi Yu. Pathways to improved food and nutrition security: The role of farm production diversity in household dietary outcomes in rural area of Pakistan[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(1): 377-389.
[14] Ligong Peng, Sicheng Deng, Wentao Yi, Yizhu Wu, Yingying Zhang, Xiangbin Yao, Pipeng Xing, Baoling Cui, Xiangru Tang. Partial organic fertilizer substitution and water-saving irrigation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in aromatic rice paddy by regulating soil microorganisms while increasing yield and aroma[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(1): 273-289.
[15] Lei Wu, Jing Hu, Muhammad Shaaban, Jun Wang, Kailou Liu, Minggang Xu, Wenju Zhang. Long-term manure amendment enhances N2O emissions from acidic soil by alleviating acidification and increasing nitrogen mineralization[J]. >Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2026, 25(1): 262-272.
No Suggested Reading articles found!