Development Of Low-carbon Agriculture Research Articles

Spatial correlations and driving mechanisms of low-carbon agricultural development in china

Low-carbon agricultural development in China is a prerequisite for rural revitalization and a key to achieving socio-economic green transformation. This paper used agricultural data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2001 to 2020, considering both carbon emissions from farming and livestock, agricultural low-carbon total factor productivity (ALTFP) was measured using the RSBM-GML index. Based on this, the network characteristics and driving mechanisms of low-carbon synergistic development in agriculture were explored with the help of an improved gravity model and social network analysis, and the dominant provinces in low-carbon synergistic development in agriculture are identified. The study revealed that the spatially linked network of ALTFP in China exhibits multi-threaded characteristics of spillover to non-adjacent provinces, and the whole network has a sparse structure and hierarchy. The eastern regions such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang are at the core of the network, with closer ties to other regions and a stronger role in allocating resources. While the western regions such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Gansu are located at the periphery of the network, with weaker access to the resources. Meanwhile, the spatial proximity of provinces, the widening of differences in urbanization levels and differences in financial support for agriculture, and the narrowing of differences in the educational attainment of rural labor have significantly contributed to the formation of provincial spatial linkages. This study reveals that China’s government needs to give full play to the role of core regions as “leaders”, and promote the balanced and coordinated regional development of low-carbon agriculture in China. In addition, policy makers should further optimize the spatial allocation of agricultural resource elements between provinces. The findings of the study provide reference suggestions for the development of regionally differentiated agricultural low-carbon development plans.

Evaluating the impacts of technological progress on agricultural energy consumption and carbon emissions based on multi-scenario analysis.

Analyzing the impacts of technological progress on agricultural energy consumption and carbon emissions is of great significance for the development of low-carbon agriculture. Most of the existing studies focus on the agricultural sector level and lack of assessment of the impacts of technological progress on agricultural energy use and carbon emissions from the perspective of crops. In this study, we evaluated the impacts of technological progress on the energy consumption and carbon emissions of main crops in China under energy intensity constraints using a price endogenous partial equilibrium model with scenario analysis. We found that China's agriculture will have the highest yield and social welfare in 2025 under the production technological progress scenario, which will be 695.44 million t and 287.91 million yuan. Energy consumption for production will be the least under the energy technology progress scenario, which will be reduced by 9.02 million t ce or 16.01% compared to the baseline scenario. Under energy intensity constraints, synergy progress in production and energy technology will be the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions in the agricultural sector. Compared to the baseline, China's agricultural sector will reduce carbon emissions by 22.18 million t c in 2025 under the synergy scenario, a decrease of 16.18%. Therefore, we suggested that China's agricultural sector should pay more attention to the synergetic development of agricultural energy and production technology to further reduce carbon emissions and promote the development of green agriculture.

Spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of agricultural low-carbon economic efficiency in china

Developing low-carbon agriculture can effectively avoid the waste of natural resources, thus contributing to the long-term sustainability of agriculture. This study uses the Super-SBM model to measure agricultural low-carbon economic efficiency (ALEE) in China from 2000 to 2018, then analyzes the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics. Simultaneously, the influencing factors of ALEE are investigated using spatial econometric model. The results show that: (1) In terms of temporal evolution, the ALEE in most provinces is declined over time, with only a few provinces improving. The ALEE in China and the three regions all show an obvious “L” trend of decline first and then stability. (2) From the perspective of spatial differentiation, provinces in eastern region have higher ALEE, while those in central and western regions have lower ALEE. Hainan’s ALEE has an absolute advantage, while Shanxi is the worst. (3) China’s ALEE shows obvious spatial agglomeration characteristics of H-H and L-L agglomeration, which are further enhanced over time. The number of L-L agglomeration provinces gradually increases, indicating that China’s ALEE has not been improved significantly. (4) Economic growth level and Agricultural scientific and Technological progress have effectively improved the ALEE. However, Capital deepening, Government fiscal expenditure, Agricultural planting structure, and Agricultural disaster all have negative impacts. Rural electricity consumption also has a negative impact, but the impact is not significant. To accelerate the development of low-carbon agriculture, all regions must not only pursue a differentiated low-carbon agriculture development path, but also accelerate agricultural transformation, strengthen research and development, and popularize low-carbon agricultural technologies, reduce the input of traditional agricultural means of production, optimize the agricultural industrial structure, and adjust agricultural subsidy policies.

The Impact of Agricultural Production Efficiency on Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China

With the rapid development of China’s economy, China has become the world’s largest carbon emitter. China not only has an obvious growth rate of industrial carbon emissions but also the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions is hovering at a high level. The development of China’s agricultural economy has largely come at the expense of high emissions. Currently, under the background of global warming and difficulty in controlling greenhouse gas emissions, the development of low-carbon agriculture is an important way to realize the harmonious development of the ecological environment and economic growth and to promote the sustainable development of agriculture. The agricultural production efficiency is the main factor affecting the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions. Based on provincial panel data of China from 2010 to 2019, this paper establishes an indicator system and uses the super-efficiency SBM model to measure agricultural production efficiency. The regional agricultural carbon emissions were estimated using carbon-emission-related agricultural production activities. In order to study the nonlinear relationship between agricultural production efficiency and agricultural carbon emission intensity in the narrow sense, this paper uses a threshold regression model with agricultural carbon emissions as the threshold variable. Based on the analysis of China’s agricultural production efficiency and agricultural carbon emissions from 2010 to 2019, an empirical test is conducted through a threshold regression model. The results show an “inverted U-shaped” relationship between agricultural production efficiency and agricultural carbon emission intensity. In areas with high agricultural production efficiency, the improvement of production efficiency can suppress the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions; in areas with low agricultural production efficiency, the improvement of production efficiency increases the intensity of agricultural carbon emissions. Finally, based on the research conclusions, this paper provides feasible suggestions and countermeasures for China’s agricultural carbon emission reduction and improvement of agricultural production efficiency.

Analysis of regional agricultural carbon emission efficiency and influencing factors: Case study of Hubei Province in China.

In recent years, China’s industrial economy has grown rapidly and steadily. Concurrently, carbon emissions have gradually increased, among which agricultural production is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. It is necessary to reduce agricultural carbon emissions by improving their efficiency to achieve the global goal of peak carbon dioxide emissions in 2030. From a dynamic and static point of view, this study puts agricultural carbon emissions into the evaluation index system of agricultural carbon emission efficiency and analyzes the agricultural carbon emission efficiency and its influencing factors in Hubei Province. First, the unexpected output Slacks-based measure (SBM) model in data envelopment analysis was used to evaluate the agricultural carbon emission efficiency of Hubei Province in 2018 and compared it with other provinces horizontally. Second, the Malmquist–Luenberger index was used to analyze the comprehensive efficiency of agricultural carbon emissions in Hubei Province from 2004 to 2018. The role of technological progress and technical efficiency change in the development of low-carbon agriculture in Hubei Province was analyzed. The results showed that agricultural production efficiency in Hubei Province improved from 2004 to 2018, and the overall level was slightly higher than the average level in China. However, agriculture has not eliminated the extensive development modes of high input, low efficiency, high emission, and high pollution. The efficiency of technological progress in agricultural resource utilization in Hubei Province was close to the optimal level. The improvement space was small. Hence, the low efficiency of agricultural technology is a key factor restricting the improvement of agricultural production efficiency. The results provide a reference for low-carbon agricultural policy formulation and expand the policy choice path. This has practical significance.

Research on low carbon financial support strategies from the perspective of eco-environmental protection

Abstract This paper provides an in-depth analysis and research on low carbon financial support strategies from the perspective of ecological environmental protection. The understanding and analysis of the development status of ecological environmental protection inspectors, the analysis of the current rule of law construction, organizational structure, operation mechanism and capacity of the current ecological environmental protection inspectors, the understanding of the defects and problems in the work of the inspectors, to provide a basis for improving the inspection function. Through financial instruments It is of great theoretical value and practical significance to realise the full utilization of resources, the optimization of industrial structure and the low-carbon cycle development of agricultural economy. Combining the current situation and constraints of financial support for low-carbon agriculture, we propose targeted financial policy recommendations such as credit innovation for agricultural green projects rich in characteristics and conducive to the development of low-carbon agriculture, broadening private financing channels for low-carbon agriculture, and exploring low-carbon agricultural insurance. The entropy value method is used to determine the index weights, and the comprehensive evaluation method is used to calculate the comprehensive development evaluation value of the two subsystems; finally, the coupling coordination degree model is used to analyse the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree of the carbon finance and low-carbon agriculture composite systems, and the factors affecting the coupling coordination degree are analysed on this basis. Although the coupling level between them is at a low level of coupling, it is in transition to a medium coupling; the coupling coordination degree is at a mild disorder, and gradually in transition to a near disorder.

Response of carbon footprint to plastic film mulch application in spring maize production and mitigation strategy

Producing more food with a lower environmental cost is one of the most crucial challenges worldwide. Plastic mulching has developed as one of the most dominant practices to improve crop yields, however its impacts on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the production life cycle of a crop are still unclear. The objective of this work is to quantify the impacts of plastic film on GHG emissions and to reduce GHG emissions with innovative agronomic practices. Carbon footprint per unit of area (CFa), per unit of maize grain yield (CFy), and per unit of economic output (CFe) were evaluated for three maize cultivation systems: a no mulch system, a conventional plastic mulching system (PM) and a biennial plastic mulching pattern, namely a ‘one film for 2 years' system (PM2), during 2015–2018 in a maize field located on the Loess Plateau of China. The results suggested that PM induced a 24% improvement in maize yields during the four experimental years compared to a no-mulch treatment (NM). However, PM dramatically increased the CFa by 69%, 59% of which was created by the input of the plastic film material, and 10% was created by increases in the soil N2O emissions. The yield improvements from PM could not offset the increases in CFa, and CFy and CFe were both increased by 36%. Shifting from PM to PM2 did not reduce crop yields, but it led to a 21% reduction in CFa and 23% reductions in CFy and CFe due to the reduced input amount of plastic film, decreased soil N2O emissions, and less diesel oil used for tillage. Compared to NM, CFy and CFe were only 5% higher in PM2. This study highlights the necessity of reducing the amount of plastic film input in the development of low-carbon agriculture and shifting from conventional PM cultivation to PM2 could be an efficient option for mitigating GHG emissions while sustaining high crop yields in plastic mulched fields.

Exploring the relationship between agricultural technological progress, economic development and carbon emissions based on province data from the western region

As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China is currently facing severe pressure to reduce emissions. As a large agricultural country, its agricultural carbon emissions accounted for 17% of total carbon emissions in recent years, which is much higher than the international average. It is urgent to control agricultural carbon emissions. At the same time, the development of agriculture is inseparable from the support of agricultural science and technology, and the progress of agricultural science and technology is also the source of power for agricultural economic growth. This article uses Stata 12.0 to study agricultural carbon emissions, agricultural technological progress and agricultural economic development in western provinces in China. The results show that the progress of agricultural science and technology plays an important role in the development of low-carbon agriculture. It can not only help reduce agricultural carbon emissions, but also promote the development of agricultural economy, providing an important reference for the development of low-carbon agriculture.

Low carbon economy and agricultural development

With the continuous development of China's industry, we improve the economy at the same time, also has a certain impact on the environment, and agriculture and the environment have a direct relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to develop low-carbon economy, which is an important way to promote agriculture forward. However, there are still some problems in the development of low-carbon agriculture in China, which need people to actively study, not only need to innovate technology, but also need to improve the system. This paper first describes the content of low-carbon agriculture, and then describes the development model of lowcarbon agriculture in China, understand the problems in the development, and finally explain the development strategy, to provide reference for relevant researchers.

The Impact of Planting Industry Structural Changes on Carbon Emissions in the Three Northeast Provinces of China.

This paper focuses on the impact of changes in planting industry structure on carbon emissions. Based on the statistical data of the planting industry in three provinces in Northeast China from 1999 to 2018, the study calculated the carbon emissions, carbon absorptions and net carbon sinks of the planting industry by using crop parameter estimation and carbon emissions inventory estimation methods. In addition, the multiple linear regression model and panel data model were used to analyze and test the carbon emissions and net carbon sinks of the planting industry. The results show that: (1). The increase of the planting area of rice, corn, and peanuts in the three northeastern provinces of China will promote carbon emissions, while the increase of the planting area of wheat, sorghum, soybeans, and vegetables will reduce carbon emissions; (2). Fertilizer application, technological progress, and planting structure factors have a significant positive effect on net carbon sinks, among which the changes in the planting industry structure have the greatest impact on net carbon sinks. Based on the comprehensive analysis, it is suggested that, under the guidance of the government, resource endowment and location advantages should be given full play to, and the internal planting structure of crops should be reasonably adjusted so as to promote the development of low-carbon agriculture and accelerate the development process of agricultural modernization.

The effect of trade openness on the relationship between agricultural technology inputs and carbon emissions: evidence from a panel threshold model.

The development of low-carbon agriculture systems has been a global consensus to reduce carbon emissions in the agricultural sector for addressing climate change challenges. This fact brings the need to study the agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs). Studies focusing on calculating the spatiotemporal changes of ACEs and analyzing the main factors for ACE changes have been conducted. The agricultural technology inputs (ATIs) as an important factor to influence ACEs have been identified. The traditional linear model was the commonly used method to study the relationship between ATIs and ACEs, whereas the impact of ATIs on ACEs in different areas might be complex and nonlinear due to the differences in trade openness causing different development levels of agricultural technologies. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of trade openness on the relationship between ATIs and ACEs using a panel threshold model and put forward policy implications for the low-carbon agriculture development. The analysis was based on data from a panel of 31 provinces of China during 2003-2018. The results show that ATIs and ACEs increased from 2003 to 2018 and the spatial distribution of ATIs was similar to that of ACEs. The ATIs had a positive effect on ACEs with a significant single-threshold effect from trade openness. When the trade openness was below the threshold (0.1425), the positive effect of ATIs on ACEs was significant (coefficient, 0.117), whereas, when the trade openness was above the threshold (0.1425), the positive effect of ATIs on ACEs significantly decreased (coefficient, 0.062). Furthermore, industrial structure and agricultural economic development were the positive drivers of ACEs, while trade openness, education level of rural workers, R&D funding, and natural disasters had negative relationships with ACEs. The results provide valuable references for understanding ACE drivers and developing low-carbon agriculture with the consideration of ATIs and trade openness.

湖南低碳农业发展的生态效应及对策研究

湖南低碳农业发展的生态效应及对策研究

Reducing the carbon footprint per unit of economic benefit is a new method to accomplish low-carbon agriculture. A case study: adjustment of the planting structure in Zhangbei County, China.

The development of low-carbon agriculture is promising for mitigating climate change. This study used adjustments to the planting structure in Zhangbei County, China, as an example to evaluate whether the carbon footprint per unit of economic benefit is a suitable indicator of low-carbon agriculture and to determine if low-carbon agriculture is not necessarily low-input non-intensive agriculture. The results showed that total greenhouse gas emissions increased; therefore, the adjustments to the planting structure were ostensibly not a low-carbon process. However, if we obtain the same economic benefit as the actual distribution of the planting industry by adopting the scenario of planting only grain crops, then the annual greenhouse gas emissions would be 1608.00 × 103 t CO2 eq, and 5769.94 × 103 ha of farmland would be required. However, if we adopt the scenario of planting only vegetable crops, then only 82.52 × 103 ha of farmland would be required, and the annual greenhouse gas emissions would be 323.52 × 103 t CO2 eq. These results indicated that the carbon footprint per unit of economic benefit is a suitable indicator to assess agricultural sustainability and that intensive agriculture with high input and high output is a form of low-carbon agriculture if the carbon footprint per unit of economic benefit is low. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Empirical Study on the Decomposition of Carbon Emission Factors in Agricultural Energy Consumption

The development of low-carbon agriculture is an effective way to maintain sustainable development of agriculture. By using Kaya’s identities to study the factors affecting China’s agricultural energy consumption carbon emissions, it is found that technical factors, low-carbon agricultural factors, rural living standards, and indirect urbanization. Factors and population size factors are important factors influencing the carbon emissions of agricultural energy consumption. Based on this, the paper uses LMDI index analysis method to decompose the above factors and the contribution rate. It is found that both technical factors and low-carbon technology factors can reduce agricultural carbon emissions, and the emission reduction ability of agricultural low-carbon technology factors is stronger than that. Agricultural technology factors. The total population change can drive carbon emissions positively, but the driving force is not strong. Urbanization indicators are driving a weaker positive for agricultural carbon emissions. To this end, the paper proposes that in the process of developing modern agriculture, it is necessary to strengthen the research and development of low-carbon agriculture technology, and promote the development of urbanization in an orderly manner in order to achieve the goal of low-carbon agriculture and sustainable development.

Combined Effect of Different Amounts of Irrigation and Mulch Films on Physiological Indexes and Yield of Drip-Irrigated Maize (Zea mays L.)

Exploring the effect of irrigation on biodegradable film-covered drip-irrigated maize is essential for sustainable agricultural development in arid areas. These regions, like Xinjiang in China, are home to suitable irrigation and biodegradable films. Through field trials, four levels of irrigation, and two biodegradable films and one common polyethylene film were set up to study the effects of different treatments on the physiology, growth indicators, and yield of maize. The results showed that the effects of irrigation and biodegradable films on the photosynthetic index and fluorescence index of maize reached a very significant level (p < 0.01). The effect of single factor irrigation and biodegradable films on the photosynthetic index and fluorescence index of maize reached a significant level (p < 0.05). The photosynthesis index, fluorescence index, plant height, LAI (leaf area index) and yield of W3M3 treatment had the highest value, when compared with other treatments. The W1M1 treatment had the lowest value. The photosynthesis index, fluorescence index, plant height, LAI, and yield of the W3M2 treatment were second only to W3M3. In addition, the output was only 40 kg ha−1 less than W3M3. W3M2 has the best treatment effect from a perspective of sustainable agricultural development and efficient water saving; the optimal irrigation amount was 5625 m3 ha−1, induction period was 60 d, and thickness was 0.01 mm. The results of this study are of guiding significance for the promotion of the use of biodegradable films, search for suitable irrigation, and development of low-carbon agriculture.

Dynamic of carbon footprint and its composition for double rice production in Southern China during 2004-2014

The area of rice production in Southern China is one of the most important farming regions in China, due to its great contribution to national food security. To assess the differences in carbon footprints (CF) of double rice production will benefit the achievement of low carbon agriculture. Base on the statistical data of crop yield and farmland investment of double rice production from 2004 to 2014, the spatiotemporal dynamics of CF and its composition of double rice in Southern China was estimated using the theory of CF and life cycle assessment method. The results showed that the CF of early and late rice in each province tended to increase, with the CF of early rice being higher than that of late rice. CF of early and late rice in Anhui were the highest (1000 kg CO2-eq·hm-2), and those in Fujian, Hubei and Hunan were the lowest (750 kg CO2-eq·hm-2). The highest component of CF in double rice was the production, transportation and utilization of fertilizers (60%), followed with the consumption of diesel. Progressive regression analysis showed that CF of double rice from 2004 to 2014 was mainly affected by diesel, compound fertilizer and K2O fertilizer. The analysis of net profit income showed that Hubei was a province with low-emission and high-yield, which was conducive to the sustainable development of low carbon agriculture. Given to the large transfer of rural labor from agricultural to non-agricultural sections and the development of mechanization, diesel and other mechanical inputs would increase rapidly in the future. Therefore, improving fertilizer utilization, mechanical and irrigation efficiencies in crop production would be the main approach to promote low-carbon agriculture in rice production of southern China.

Production efficiency and GHG emissions reduction potential evaluation in the crop production system based on emergy synthesis and nonseparable undesirable output DEA: A case study in Zhejiang Province, China.

Maintaining crop outputs to feed its large population with limited resources while simultaneously mitigating carbon emissions are great challenges for China. Improving the efficiency of resource use in crop production is important in reducing carbon emissions. This paper constructs a methodological framework combining emergy-based indicator accounting and a nonseparable undesirable output slack-based measurement (SBM) data envelopment analysis (DEA) model. This framework is used to explore the efficiency of inputs and outputs and the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction potential for crop production systems, using Zhejiang province, China, as a case study. It is found that an emergy synthesis and a nonseparable undesirable output SBM-DEA framework is compatible with the case study. Crop production in Zhejiang province has relied heavily on an increase in agrochemical inputs to maintain agricultural output. Energy and chemical fertilizer use are determined as the province’s major carbon emissions sources. Although carbon emissions per unit of monetary output has decreased sharply, the carbon emissions per unit emergy output has increased, demonstrating a high carbon intensity reality. The DEA highlighted the differences in crop production efficiency, resource factor redundancy and carbon mitigation potential in the different prefectures of the province. To conclude this research, policies to support low carbon agriculture development, including subsidizing low carbon agriculture technology development and expansion and the cancellation of subsidies to high carbon production factors, such as chemical fertilizer production and sales, are discussed to conclude the research.

Research on the Payment for the Government-Driven Program of Low Carbon Agriculture

Research on the Payment for the Government-Driven Program of Low Carbon Agriculture

Low Carbon Agriculture and GHG Emission Reduction in China: An Analysis of Policy Perspective

Although agriculture is an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet it has huge potentials for GHG emissions reduction. Therefore, vigorously to develop low-carbon agriculture is one of the most important means for China to achieve the targets of GHG emissions reduction. This paper uses cost-benefit analysis method to demonstrate the key factors that affect low-carbon agriculture and green agricultural product development and related policy measures. Research results indicate that, key to promoting the transition of high-carbon to low-carbon agriculture is how to create good scheme, mechanism and policy, and the most effective measures for low-carbon agriculture development are fully to play the role of market mechanism. Meanwhile, other policies, such as the improvement of agricultural inputs and land cultivation, wetland protection, carbon sink agriculture development and so forth, have to be practiced, too.

Shifts in soil microbial community, soil enzymes and crop yield under peanut/maize intercropping with reduced nitrogen levels

A field experiment with five nitrogen (N) application rates (120, 140, 160, 180, 200kghm−2) under peanut/maize intercropping regime was conducted to evaluate cropping patterns and N application rates on yield, soil enzyme activities, and rhizosphere microbial community structure. The field experiment showed that the land equivalent ratio (LER) in maize/peanut intercropping system was not decreased as compared with the monoculture pattern, though the total N supply was approximately reduced by 20%. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) results showed that the treatments of intercropping (IMP100%, IMP80% and IMP60%) increased the abundance of Rhizobium hainanense, Rhizobium leguminosarum and Frankia which are associated with nitrogen fixation as compared to monoculture pattern (M100% and P100%). The qPCR results revealed that the copy number of nifH was significantly higher in the treatments of intercropping than in monoculture pattern. The result was also consistent with the T-RFLP analysis. In conclusion, peanut and maize under the condition of intercropping can promote the population of microorganisms associated with nitrogen-fixing in the rhizospheric soil. Our results provide a theoretical basis and technical support to soil N utilization, development of low carbon agriculture and protection of farmland ecological environment.