Agricultural Green Development Research Articles

Comprehensive assessment system and spatial difference analysis on development level of green sustainable agriculture based on life cycle and SA-PP model

Consider the whole life cycle process of agricultural green production, a comprehensive evaluation index system of agricultural green development level is constructed by integrating the agricultural cycle development process from input, production to output. It consists 3 subsystems (green input, green production and green product) and 19 indicators. Simulated annealing algorithm was used for projection pursuit optimization. The comprehensive evaluation index system and simulated annealing-projection pursuit model are applied to the comprehensive evaluation of agricultural green development level in 31 provinces of China from 2013 to 2020, and the differences between the eastern, central and western regions are analyzed. The results suggest that: (1) The green production subsystem accounts for the largest proportion in the evaluation index system. (2) From 2013 to 2020, the agricultural greening level in China develops rapidly. In 2013, only Heilongjiang, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces reached a high level of agricultural greening. However, in 2020, there are 14 provinces at the high level of agricultural greening. (3) From 2013 to 2020, there were significant differences between eastern, central and western China, and the differences are still increasing. The order of the green development capacities of agriculture are central > eastern > western, indicating that China's agricultural green development is unbalanced. This study provides scientific decision-making basis for comprehensive evaluation and analysis of agricultural green development level and green agriculture development in China.

Impact of technological innovation on agricultural green total factor productivity in China: considering the threshold effect of environmental regulation

Based on the panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2020, this study explores the impact of technological innovation and environmental regulation on agricultural green total factor productivity by using the dynamic spatial Durbin panel model and the spatial panel threshold regression model. The results show that technological innovation significantly contributes to the improvement of AGTFP. Such positive impact is derived from the direct effect of technological innovation within the local province and the spatial spillover effect of technological innovation in neighboring provinces. Additionally, environmental regulation has a significant double-threshold effect on the technological innovation - AGTFP relationship. Within medium-level environmental regulation, the positive impact of technological innovation on AGTFP achieves a leap forward. Therefore, technological innovation serves as a motivator of agricultural green development, and appropriate intensity of environmental regulation is recommended in the endeavor of promoting green total factor productivity by technological innovation.

Research Progress of Phosphorus Fertilizer Utilization Efficiency in Soil

Phosphorus is one of the essential macrotrophic elements in plants. It plays an important role in physiological and biological processes such as energy metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis, photosynthesis and glycolysis. Phosphate mine is also a non-renewable mineral resource, to ensure high yield crop, our country pours a large amount of phosphate fertilizer into farmland every year. Therefore, it is imperative to study the mechanism of efficient utilization of phosphorus fertilizer and the technology of reducing weight. Therefore, how to improve the utilization efficiency of phosphorus fertilizer and soil cumulative phosphorus has become a major scientific problem related to the sustainable production of crops, the realization of weight loss and efficiency and the green development of agriculture. In this paper, the research progress on the efficient utilization of phosphorus fertilizer in soil at home and abroad was reviewed. Finally, the future research directions on the efficient utilization of phosphorus fertilizer in farmland soil were prospected.

Analysis of Measurement, Regional Differences, Convergence and Dynamic Evolutionary Trends of the Green Production Level in Chinese Agriculture

The development of green agriculture is conducive to accelerating the agricultural modernization process, making a significance for the sustainable development of agriculture and the environment in China. This paper constructs a comprehensive evaluation model by selecting 17 representative indicators from the perspective of sustainability. Then, this paper uses the entropy value method to measure the level of green agricultural production in 31 provinces from 2011 to 2021. We use Dagum’s Gini coefficient and decomposition method, the kernel density estimation method and spatial Markov chain analysis method to explore the main sources of spatial differences and dynamic evolution trends. The results show that: (1) The overall level of green production in Chinese agriculture is low, and the level in the central region is higher than that in eastern and western regions; (2) There are significant regional differences in the level of green production in China’s agriculture, and this is likely to widen. The interaction of inter- and intra-regional differences is the main reason for overall differences; (3) The trend of polarization in the level of green agricultural production is more obvious in the eastern part of China, while it is weaker in central and western regions; (4) There is a spatial spillover effect in the dynamic evolution of China’s agricultural green production level. And the longer the overall time, the more obvious the spillover effect is. This paper analyzes the past development of green agriculture in China, makes predictions and provides constructive suggestions for the improvement and development of green agricultural production in China in the future.

Calculation and analysis of agricultural carbon emission efficiency considering water–energy–food pressure: Modeling and application

Agricultural carbon emission efficiency (ACEE) measurement, a tool for effectively achieving sustainable development goals, has garnered much attention. However, the impacts of resource pressures such as water, energy and food on ACEE have been overlooked, and the high dimensionality of the measurement model and insufficient sample data can easily distort the measurement results. Therefore, from a green development perspective, we established a new ACEE measurement framework considering the water–energy–food pressure index and a new integrated ACEE measurement model (CSMA-PPE-USSBM) that includes chaotic maps, the slime mould algorithm (SMA), projection pursuit evaluation (PPE) and the undesirable super slack-based measure (USSBM). The model was used to calculate ACEE in 13 prefecture-level municipalities in Heilongjiang Province, China, and analyze its spatiotemporal evolution and possible causes. The results showed that this model avoids the above problems. The reliability coefficient and stability coefficient reached 0.962 and 0.971, respectively; ACEE in Heilongjiang Province has much room for improvement, but there are obvious differences in carbon emission efficiency in different carbon emission type regions. The key driving forces of ACEE variation can generate significant scale effects. Provincial driving factors can affect ACEE variation in prefecture municipalities, where the influence range is limited or the influence of driving factors gradually emerges. The research results provide a theoretical reference for accurately measuring the regional ACEE and analyzing the driving mechanism of ACEE and green agricultural development.

Study on the Design and Experiment of Trichogramma Ball Delivery System Based on Agricultural Drone

Trichogramma-based biological control technology is of great significance to the development of green agriculture. Agricultural drones have the advantages of low-altitude and high-speed operations and have been well applied and widely recognized in the field of Trichogramma delivery. Drone-based Trichogramma ball delivery not only utilizes the efficiency and flexibility of drones but also enables remote precision control. However, existing delivery devices are relatively rudimentary, leading to reliability and precision issues. It is necessary to develop an efficient and accurate drone delivery device to improve the effect of drone delivery of Trichogramma. In this study, a device consisting of a rotary storage mechanism and a rotating hammer-type delivery mechanism was developed. The delivery port of the delivery device should be set in the airflow outlet area 50 cm below the drone’s body. The storage mechanism is equipped with eight storage tube units with a diameter of Φ38 mm, capable of delivering a total of 56 balls in a single mission. The reliable delivery speed ranges from 2 to 6 m/s, with the remote position of the lever serving as the optimal starting position. The release test results showed that 3 m/s flight speed and 4 m/s delivery speed resulted in a small coefficient of variation for the delivery deviation (29%), making it the best operating parameter set. The performance of the developed UAV-based Trichogramma delivery device meets the requirements of field delivery when the appropriate operating parameters are optimized. This study provides reference for further optimization and design of this delivery device prototype.

Environmental regulation, green credit, and farmers’ adoption of agricultural green production technology based on the perspective of tripartite evolutionary game

The adoption of agricultural green production technologies (AGPTs) is crucial for achieving agricultural green development in developing countries. This paper establishes a tripartite game model to explore the evolutionary influence mechanism of government environmental regulation policies and bank green credit policies on farmers’ adoption of AGPT under different initial conditions and strategy choices. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, we systematically deduce the evolutionary path and equilibrium conditions, as well as examine the synergistic evolutionary effect of these policies. The results demonstrate that government environmental regulation and banks’ implementation of the green credit policies effectively encourage farmers to adopt AGPT. However, conflicts may arise during the dynamic evolution process when banks choose to implement the green credit policy. These conflicts can be mitigated by utilizing market-oriented mechanisms such as loan interest rates, improving bank supervision efficiency, and enhancing farmers’ expected income. The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the development of external incentive mechanisms to promote the adoption of AGPT among farmers and foster green agricultural development.

The Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity

The digital economy is a key driver of greener agriculture and sustainable development. This paper focuses on the impact of the digital economy on green agricultural development and the mediating role of green technology innovation. Using provincial panel data from China from 2011 to 2020, we test hypotheses using fixed effects models. The results indicate that: (a) the digital economy boosts agricultural total factor productivity (AGTFP); (b) green technology innovation positively moderates the relationship between the digital economy and AGTFP; and (c) the positive impact of the digital economy on green agriculture varies across regions, favoring eastern areas.

What promote farmers to adopt green agricultural fertilizers? Evidence from 8 provinces in China

The utilization of green agricultural fertilizers is a crucial measure in promoting sustainable farming practices, facilitating the development of green agriculture and driving rural revitalization. However, the current adoption rate of green fertilizer in agricultural production remains low. Based on 960 questionnaires and combining individual, product and environment factors, this study used Logistic model to determine the influencing factors of farmers' decisions of green agricultural fertilizers, and used ISM model to analyze the hierarchical relationship among the influencing factors. The results revealed that out of 20 factors that included internal and external influences on farmers' choice of green agricultural fertilizers, 17 were found to significantly impact farmers' behavior. Notably, factors such as crop types, planting method, product price, get information from friends' recommendations and retailers' recommendations, and land fertility emerged as the surface factors affecting farmers' decisions. Furthermore, the deep factors were the farmer's gender and higher educational level, which were the farmer's own factor, and the others were the intermediate factor. The driving mechanism of each factor is different, and the effect is different. The study findings are expected to shed light on future research and policy-making efforts aimed at effectively promoting green agricultural fertilizers to accelerate the green transformation of agriculture and drive rural revitalization.

Do Green Production Technologies Improve Household Income? Evidence from Rice Farmers in China

Revealing the behavioral decision-making mechanism and behavioral effects of farmers adopting green production technologies will help motivate farmers to actively adopt green production technologies, thereby promoting the development of green agriculture. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 607 Chinese rice farmers, while the endogenous switching regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors and behavioral effects of farmers adopting green production technologies. The results show that the adoption of green production technologies by farmers can significantly increase household income. Among the green production technologies, soil testing and formula fertilization technology has the greatest impact on farmers’ income, followed by straw returning technology and planting green manure. The main influencing factors of farmers adopting green production technologies are education level, cultivated land area, cultivated land fragmentation, soil fertility, and the distance between home and agricultural technology stations. The results of this study provide an empirical basis for relevant government departments to carry out agricultural technology extension work and formulate relevant policies.

How do environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture affect agricultural green development? The mediating role of agricultural infrastructure

Environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture have been respectively proved as important means to break through the dilemma of agricultural green development in China. While their interactive influences on agricultural green development are rarely focused, as well as the mediation mechanism. This paper provides an interactive perspective by exploring the direct and indirect mechanisms affecting the relationship between environmental regulations, financial support for agriculture, and agricultural green development, among which the mediating effects of agricultural infrastructure, are further discussed. Based on the provincial panel data for China from the year 2000 to 2021, this paper constructs a fixed effect model, mediating effects model, and threshold panel model to empirically test the direct and indirect effects of environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture on agricultural green development. The results show that: (1) The full sample of agricultural green development in China shows an M-shaped trend, environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture show spatial and temporal heterogeneity among regions. (2) Environmental regulations, financial support for agriculture, and their interaction all have positive effects on agricultural green development, while their interactive effect is greater. (3) Agricultural power facilities not only significantly mediate the relationship between financial support for agriculture and agricultural green development, but also play a mediating role in the positive effect of the interaction between environmental regulations and financial support on agricultural green development. While rural transportation facilities only significantly mediate the positive effect of the interaction between environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture on agricultural green development. (4) Heterogeneity analysis results show that the effect of the interaction between environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture on agricultural green development is greatest in agricultural optimized developing areas; however moderate developing areas are insignificant. This research contributes to understanding how environmental regulations and financial support for agriculture affect agricultural green development and extends the mediating role of agricultural infrastructure in their relationships.

Impact of green digital finance on green economic recovery and green agricultural development: implications for green environment.

This study explores the potential of green digital finance and green agricultural growth to contribute to the green economic recovery of the BRICS economies. We examine the relationship between these variables using empirical data and various statistical techniques, including vector error correction, co-integration, unit root tests and long-run analysis. Our results suggest that well-functioning financial institutions play a crucial role in facilitating the structural transformation of green digital finance and promoting green agricultural growth to achieve green economic recovery in the BRICS region. Our findings underscore the need for pro-financial and green economic development policies and institutions to support and enhance economic recovery. Our results are robust and supported by our study. We also suggest future research directions for stakeholders interested in promoting sustainable economic growth in the BRICS countries.

Biological roles of momilactones: achievements, challenges, and promising approaches to exploit their beneficial properties

Momilactones are defined as every lactone derived from rice husk. To date, these compounds can only be naturally found in rice (Oryza lineage) and moss (Pseudoleskeella papillosa and Hypnum plumaeforme). Their basic structure refers to the (9β-H)-pimarane skeleton bearing a γ-butyrolactone. In this review, the beneficial properties of momilactones, especially momilactones A (MA) and B (MB), including allelopathy, antimicrobials, antioxidants, anti-chronic diseases, anti-inflammation, and anticancer, are highlighted. Additionally, the signaling roles of momilactones in the response of host plants against environmental stresses are discussed, raising the question of whether momilactones act as novel phytohormones that require further comprehensive clarification. In another aspect, we come up with promising approaches to the future exploitation of these valuable compounds based on the current knowledge of their bioactivity mechanisms, biosynthetic pathways, and isolation protocols. However, momilactone biosynthetic processes remain elusive. Moreover, challenges in researching these compounds are mainly due to difficulties in isolation procedures and the lack of commercial sources, which have been least improved over the last half-century. Accordingly, we propose promising strategies to address these present problems and promote the effectiveness of further research, including: i) to improve the efficiency of momilactone extraction and isolation from plant sources; ii) to increase momilactone production applying synthetic models; iii) to generate crops that accumulate greater momilactone contents through genetic engineering approaches; iv) to discover new applications that combine momilactones with other prospective substances for enhancing targeted biological properties and preventing undesirable impacts; and v) to employ smart farming for optimizing the application of momilactones, monitoring their levels, and promoting sustainable agriculture. This paper may provide valuable insights for future strategies, focusing on the exploitation of momilactones for human health-beneficial purposes and the development of green agriculture aligned with sustainable development targets.

Can High-Standard Farmland Construction Policy Promote Agricultural Green Development? Evidence from Quasi Natural Experiments in Hunan, China

Can High-Standard Farmland Construction Policy Promote Agricultural Green Development? Evidence from Quasi Natural Experiments in Hunan, China

Influencing Factors and Improvement Suggestions for Agricultural Green Development Performance: Empirical Insights from China

Influencing Factors and Improvement Suggestions for Agricultural Green Development Performance: Empirical Insights from China

Can rural e-commerce contribute to carbon reduction? A quasi-natural experiment based on China's e-commerce demonstration counties.

As information and communication technologies gain prominence in rural areas, rural e-commerce has emerged as a crucial mechanism for fostering agricultural and rural development. While the economic impact of rural e-commerce is widely studied, its effects on carbon emissions remain underexplored. Utilizing a multi-period DID model and Chinese county-level panel data from 2011 to 2017, this paper examines the impact of rural e-commerce on carbon emission reduction, employing the "comprehensive demonstration of e-commerce into villages" policy introduced by the Chinese government in 2014 as a quasi-natural experiment. Our findings show that e-commerce demonstration counties experienced a 10.6% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the control group, indicating a significant emission reduction effect. Further analysis reveals that rural e-commerce drives carbon reduction through decreased fertilizer usage, altered cropping structures, and enhanced transportation efficiency. Notably, rural e-commerce's emission reduction effect is more pronounced in major grain-producing regions and areas with higher digitalization levels. This study has crucial theoretical and practical implications for achieving carbon emission reduction and sequestration in agriculture and advancing green agricultural development.

Characterization of bifunctional alginate lyase Aly644 and antimicrobial activity of enzymatic hydrolysates.

An alginate lyase gene aly644 encoding a member of polysaccharide lyase family 6 was obtained from a metagenome of Antarctic macroalgae-associated microbes. The gene was expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was purified using a Ni-NTA His Tag Kit. With sodium alginate as the substrate, recombinant Aly644 exhibited an optimum reaction temperature of 50°C and an optimum reaction pH of 7.0. The Vmax and Km values of Aly644 toward sodium alginate were 112.36 mg/mL·min and 16.75 mg/mL, respectively. Substrate specificity analysis showed that Aly644 was a bifunctional alginate lyase that hydrolyzed both polyguluronic acid and polymannuronic acid. The hydrolysis products of Aly644 with sodium alginate as the substrate were detected by thin-layer chromatography, and were mainly di- and trisaccharides. The oligosaccharides produced by degradation of sodium alginate by Aly644 inhibited the mycelial growth of the plant pathogens Phytophthora capsici and Fulvia fulva; the 50% maximal effective concentration (EC50) values were 297.45 and 452.89 mg/L, and the 90% maximal effective concentration (EC90) values were 1341.45 and 2693.83 mg/L, respectively. This highlights that Aly644 is a potential candidate enzyme for the industrial production of alginate oligosaccharides with low degree of polymerization. Enzyme-hydrolyzed alginate oligosaccharides could support the development of green agriculture as natural antimicrobial agents. KEY POINTS: • An alginate lyase was obtained from a metagenome of Antarctic macroalgae-associated microbes. • Aly644 is a bifunctional alginate lyase with excellent thermostability and pH stability. • The enzymatic hydrolysates of Aly644 directly inhibited Phytophthora capsici and Fulvia fulva.

Can digital inclusive finance promote agricultural green development?

Digital inclusive finance (DIF) provides new momentum for green agricultural development (AGD). This paper measured AGD with entropy weight TOPSIS in five dimensions, including resource conservation, environmental friendliness, ecological conservation, green supply, and economic growth. After that, it estimated the regional spillover effects and threshold impacts of DIF on AGD utilizing China's provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020. The paper shows that (1) DIF and AGD have such a U-shaped complex interrelationship; (2) the AGD is spatially impacted by DIF. The unique manifestation is that as DIF has increased, its effect on AGD has steadily changed from being direct to being indirect, and this effect has regional heterogeneity; and (3) in regions with higher levels of green technology innovation, better development of traditional finance, or relatively concentrated agricultural industries, DIF plays a more prominent role in promoting the AGD.

Measuring And Evaluating The Development Level Of Green Agriculture In China Under The Carbon Peaking And Carbon Neutrality Background

Under the background of "Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality", improving the level of green development in agriculture is of great significance for China to achieve the strategic goal of green and sustainable development. Starting from the four dimensions of agricultural inputs, agricultural outputs, agricultural environment and agricultural technology, and combining the factors affecting agricultural carbon emissions and the research results of scholars at home and abroad, the article constructs a system of indicators to measure the level of green development of Chinese agriculture, and evaluates the quality of China's agricultural green development and its evolutionary trend by using the factor analysis method. The results show that: ① Between 2001 and 2021, the level of China's agricultural green development increased by 200%, and the overall trend of steady increase was maintained. ② Agricultural economic development and technological progress have become the main driving force for the current increase in the level of green development of Chinese agriculture, while excessive inputs of agricultural production factors and the increase of greenhouse gases have become the main obstacles to the green development of agriculture. Therefore, based on the current situation of China's agricultural green development level, this paper puts forward suggestions from the three perspectives of the government, universities and farmers to help China's sustainable agricultural development.

Retraction: Efficiency measurement and spatial spillover effect of green agricultural development in China

Retraction: Efficiency measurement and spatial spillover effect of green agricultural development in China