Anti-substitution effect of coupling crop and livestock production on fertilizer use: Evidence from Chinese smallholder farms

Abstract

The coupling crop and livestock production (CCLP) is considered to be an effective way to mitigate the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. However, this is based on the assumption that organic fertilizer and manure has the substitution effect on fertilizer use (SEF). Is the assumption universal across all scenarios? In order to explore this question, this paper uses 1295 pieces of agricultural production data at crop type level in China and the econometric model to study the impact of CCLP on fertilizer application rate. The results showed that CCLP significantly promoted the organic fertilizer and manure application rate and the chemical fertilizer application rate at the same time, showing an anti-substitution effect on fertilizer use (anti-SEF). Further, anti-SEF was mainly appeared in large-scale farms, head of household with male-headed, older, and less-educated, and maize planting. This study provides a counter-evidence to challenge CCLP's assumption of SEF from smallholder farms.