Carbon Farming Research Articles

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.

A water-energy-food-carbon nexus optimization model for sustainable agricultural development in the Yellow River Basin under uncertainty

Water scarcity, limited land resources and global warming are the most challenging issues facing sustainable agricultural development, and modern agriculture requires efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural water and land management practices. This paper proposes a water-energy-food-carbon nexus system optimization model, which aims to formulate a scientific and rational water and land resource allocation strategy for sustainable agricultural development to increase irrigation water productivity, reduce carbon emissions and enhance regional agriculture competitiveness. First, the carbon footprint life cycle assessment method was used to measure carbon sinks and carbon emissions across the ecosystem. Second, a multiobjective nonlinear programming model with the goal of maximizing irrigation water productivity, minimizing carbon emissions, and maximizing the competitiveness of low-carbon agriculture is established. Finally, an empirical study is performed in the Yellow River Basin, and an elitist nondominated sorting genetic algorithm is used to solve the model. The research results show that the water-energy-food-carbon nexus system optimization model based on uncertain conditions established in this paper, can maximize resource utilization efficiency and effectively measure the impact of regional agricultural production on the environment. It has reference significance for the realization of carbon neutrality in the region.

Overcoming legal barriers to coastal wetland restoration: lessons from Australia's Blue Carbon methodology

Globally, there is a recognized need for widespread restoration of coastal wetlands. Despite this recognition, progress in many places has been slow, for reasons including legal and policy barriers. In Australia many of these legal barriers have been overcome in the development of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative ‐ Tidal Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems) Methodology Determination 2022, which allows for certain coastal restoration projects to be accredited and ultimately receive Australian Carbon Credit Units. This paper describes the new methodology, outlines the key legal barriers which had to be addressed in its development, and analyzes the legal solutions utilized. It concludes with some general observations for fucoastal wetland restoration projects. Despite the jurisdictional focus on Australia, it is anticipated that these lessons will be of broader relevance to other countries grappling with restoration projects in the intertidal zone.

Research on the Relationship between Agricultural Carbon Emission Intensity, Agricultural Economic Development and Agricultural Trade in China

Under the interactive background of more emphasis on low-carbon and environmentally friendly agricultural production modes and the coordinated development of agricultural foreign trade, China is paying more and more attention to the coordination between agricultural trade, economic development and ecological agriculture development. This paper selects the relevant data of China from 2002 to 2020 as the research object. Taking the agricultural carbon emission intensity as an indicator of environmental pollution, measuring it and then constructing a time series model for analysis, the research finds that, in the long run, the increase in agricultural carbon emission intensity in China will reduce the level of agricultural trade by 2%, which will also lead to a decline in the overall development level of the agricultural economy by 2 to 4 percent. At the same time, this paper also finds that the current situation of China’s agricultural trade reduces the development of China’s agriculture by 1%, which will also lead to an increase in agricultural carbon emission intensity by about 0.5%. Finally, this paper finds that the development of the agricultural economy makes the overall increase in agricultural trade 2%, and with the development of the agricultural economy, the agricultural carbon emission intensity decreases by 0.1%, but the impact is small. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the construction of a leadership mechanism, implement the development strategy of low-carbon agriculture and provide corresponding financial security and other policy suggestions to promote the coordinated development of China’s agricultural trade and low-carbon agricultural production environment.

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.

Exploring the Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Agricultural Carbon Emission Performance in China.

This paper attempts to reveal the impact and mechanisms of digital inclusive finance (DIF) on agricultural carbon emission performance (ACEP). Specifically, based on the provincial panel data in China from 2011 to 2020, a super slacks-based measure (Super SBM) model is applied to measure ACEP. The panel regression model and spatial regression model are used to empirically analyze the impact of DIF on ACEP and its mechanism. The results show that: (1) during the study period, China’s ACEP exhibited a continuous growth trend, and began to accelerate after 2017. The high-value agglomeration areas of ACEP shifted from the Huang-Huai-Hai plain and the Pearl River Delta to the coastal regions and the Yellow River basin, the provincial differences displayed an increasing trend from 2011 to 2020. (2) DIF was found to have a significant positive impact on ACEP. The main manifestation is that the development of the coverage breadth and depth of use of DIF helps to improve the ACEP. (3) The positive impact of DIF on ACEP had a significant spatial spillover effect, that is, it had a positive effect on the improvement of ACEP in the surrounding provinces. These empirical results can help policymakers better understand the contribution of DIF to low-carbon agriculture, and provide them with valuable information for the formulation of supportive policies.

Adopting a Beneficial Carbon Farming in the Cropping Pattern Using an Optimization Technique: A Case Study

Adopting a Beneficial Carbon Farming in the Cropping Pattern Using an Optimization Technique: A Case Study

Decoupling of CO2, CH4, and N2O agriculture emissions in the EU

This research addresses the problem of CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions in the EU for the 2008–2018 period, and their contributing factors, through extensive and complex analysis. The research incubated in the manuscript answers the question of whether new state members managed to catch up with old state members regarding technology innovation and mitigation of N2O emissions from agriculture activities. The methodology used includes Tapio decoupling index and the metafrontier non-radial Malmquist N2O emission performance index. The research considers short-term, medium-term, and long-term decoupling analyses. Results suggest a shift of decoupling status is worse for the 2013–2018 period compared to the 2008–2013 period which should concern low-carbon agriculture policy-makers. Also, it was noticed an increase in total-factor N2O emission performance for the 2008–2018 period. New state members managed to catch up with old state members regarding technology innovation and mitigation of N2O emissions from agricultural activities; however, not all countries managed to do so. For example, Romania has experienced an efficiency loss due to a technology change and from this perspective, Romania should address first managing N2O and CO2 emissions. The findings extend the traditional framework of investigating the effects of CO2, CH4, and N2O in agriculture and highlight the necessity of addressing environmental aspects from a broader perspective of the policymakers and in developing innovative decoupling indexes. The research investigation is reporting from a post-transition country by prioritizing the measures to be implemented.

Mechanism and Dissemination of High Quality Vegetable Cultivation Technique Using Local Wood Biomass and Filamentous Fungi

Associate Professor Kae Miyazawa is investigating a new farming method called "Radical Carbon Farming”. Miyazawa heads up her own laboratory within the Laboratory of Global Plant Resource Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan. She and her team discovered that some farmers had succeeded in increasing yield and quality by applying wood chips without fertilisers or pesticides and conducted field surveys that revealed that filamentous fungi were dominating, the soil was free of traces of hardpan layers, and vegetables were growing large. This led Miyazawa to attempt to reproduce these outcomes and, over time, began to gain a sense of where to pay attention to grow fungi in the field. To date, the researchers' experiments have demonstrated that the radical carbon farming method softens the hardpan layer and increases the yield of vegetables, along with improvements in vegetable quality. Miyazawa and the team hypothesise that in radical carbon farming, filamentous fungi prevent the excessive release of inorganic nitrogen even in summer, thereby enabling high-quality leafy vegetables to be cultivated. The researchers intend to collaborate with other agricultural researchers, along with fields such as environmental psychology, neuroscience, and economics and, ultimately, usher in a future where human activities such as agriculture enrich rather than damage the global environment.

Carbon Farming with Bamboos in India: Opportunities and Challenges

Carbon farming provides a great opportunity towards net-zero carbon emissions through enhanced land management and conservation practices. Most studies on carbon farming and carbon trading potential mainly focused on agroforestry/tree species/forest ecosystems; whereas, works on woody bamboo species are limited. Bamboos being highly productive, have gained popularity amongst the scientific community for their diverse roles such as carbon stocking, ecosystem carbon budget, and other ecosystem services. Of the 136 bamboo species found in India, 125 are indigenous, and 11 are exotic. Studies from India show carbon sequestration rate ranges between 1 – 2.3 Mg ha -1 yr -1 in aboveground biomass and between 0.14 – 0.39 Mg ha -1 yr -1 in soil. The numerous benefits of bamboo, including its great significance in rural livelihoods for various traditional purposes and its wide geographical adaptability, suggest using bamboos to increase carbon stocks. The present synthesis highlights the tremendous opportunities offered by bamboos for carbon farming and carbon trading in India.

The Sustainable Future of Carbon Farming with Virginia Fanpetals, a Carbon-Negative Species

In 2016–2018, an experiment with Sida hermaphrodita L. Rusby (Virginia fanpetals) called Sida was conducted in the system of random blocks on sandy and sandy loam soil. Each year, the yields of dry aboveground mass and dried mass of roots were determined. Before sowing Sida and after the end of the research, the composition of earthy fractions in the soils was determined. In the stalks and roots of Sida, the percentage content was determined, and the mass of carbon was calculated. When Sida was grown in sandy soil, the average dry mass yield (stalks and roots) in the third year of cultivation (2018), was slightly above 13 t∙ha−1, and in the sandy loam soil it was three times higher (36 t∙ha−1). In the third year of cultivation, the carbon sequestration in the stems and roots exceeded 5 t∙ha−1 (sandy soil), and 15 t∙ha−1 (sandy loam). The carbon content in the stems was 46.25%, and in the roots–42.67%. The results were statistically processed using ANOVA. It was found that the cultivation of Sida caused a percent decrease in the sand fraction, an increase in the floatable (fine) fraction in sandy soil, and an increase in humus content; the opposite changes were noted in the sandy-loam soil.

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.

Quantifying the Spatial–Temporal Patterns and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Carbon Emissions Based on the Coupling Effect of Water–Land Resources in Arid Inland Regions

Agricultural carbon emissions are supposed to be a fundamental component of the regional carbon cycle in regions with intense agricultural activities. However, the patterns and controls of agricultural carbon emissions based on the water–land resource coupling effect remain poorly understood in arid inland regions. Thus, we constructed a research framework combining water and land resources with agricultural carbon emissions to assess the linkage of water–land–agricultural carbon emissions in arid inland regions. The agricultural carbon emission measurement model and water–land resource coupling coordination degree model (WLCD) were used for exploring the spatial and temporal patterns of agricultural carbon emissions and water–land elements. The interaction between societal , economic , and ecological factors on agricultural carbon emissions was clarified using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI). The applicability of the method was verified in the Zhangye oasis in northwest China. The results are as follows: 1) from 2012 to 2019, the agricultural carbon emissions in Zhangye increased first and then declined, with 96% of which mainly coming from chemical fertilizers and plowing; 2) the coupling coordination index of water–land resources in Zhangye increased from 0.3715 in 2012 to 0.5399 in 2019, an increase of 45.33%, indicating a conversion from mild disordered to basic coordination; 3) regarding the effects among the factors, the economic output of agricultural water resource, cropland area per capita, and population (the water and land resource ratio and agricultural carbon emission intensity) exerted positive (negative) impacts on agricultural carbon emissions. Accordingly, it is suggested that the green and low-carbon development strategies for oasis agriculture require a high level of integrated planning and management of water and land resources, as well as comprehensive consideration of low-carbon agriculture and elements related to water and land.

How Does Social Embeddedness Affect Farmers’ Adoption Behavior of Low-Carbon Agricultural Technology? Evidence From Jiangsu Province, China

Agricultural carbon emissions, which are the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in China, not only place great pressure on emission reduction but also seriously affect food security and sustainable development of agriculture. As farmers are the direct users of cultivated land and the main adopters of agricultural technology, their adoption behavior of low-carbon agricultural technology directly determines its promotion and subsequent emissions reduction. It is of great theoretical and practical significance to analyze farmers’ adoption behavior of low-carbon agricultural technology and their influencing factors. Based on social embeddedness theory and the survey data of 688 farmers in Jiangsu Province, this study applied a logistic model to analyze the impact of government support, farmers’ cognition, social capital, personal characteristics, and family characteristics on farmers’ adoption behavior of low-carbon agricultural technology. The results showed that (1) only 58.72% of farmers have adopted such a technology, which needs to be further improved; (2) government support and farmers’ cognition had significantly positive influences on farmers’ adoption behavior; (3) social capital is an important factor affecting farmers’ adoption decisions, where social trust, networks, and norms play a significant role in promoting the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technology; and (4) party membership and household-contracted farmland area also had positive influences on farmers’ adoption behavior of low-carbon technology. Therefore, to continue developing low-carbon agriculture, it is recommended to further strengthen government support, raise the price of low-carbon agricultural products, strengthen environmental supervision, and build a social embedded environment according to local conditions, and further improve farmers’ social trust, enrich social networks, improve social norms, and give full play to the guiding and exemplary role of social capital. Additionally, it is also recommended to reinforce education and training to raise farmers’ awareness regarding low-carbon agricultural technology, thereby guiding them to actively adopt these technologies.

Novel Methodology for the Assessment of Organic Carbon Stocks in German Arable Soils

There is currently a significant focus on oil organic carbon, as interest in mitigating climate change by increasing soil carbon stocks is leading to efforts to include this within carbon farming and the trade of CO2 certificates. In addition, soil organic carbon controls many other soil functions, such as soil productivity. However, results from long-term field experiments suggest that an ever-increasing carbon content in soil, at some point, will no longer increase productivity, but will cause environmental risks, especially from excess nitrogen. In Germany, the most widely recognized soil organic matter (SOM) balance method, VDLUFA (Association of German Agricultural Investigation and Research Institutions), addresses soil management only, without a relation to the soil carbon stock. To close this gap, a methodology is developed based on results from European long-term field experiments that allows for an assessment of agricultural management both in terms of the carbon input to soil and the amount of carbon stored in soil. Due to the transformation of carbon stock into carbon flux, it is possible to apply the classification scheme of the VDLUFA balance to the carbon content of topsoils. This provides information to qualify further decisions about fostering carbon accumulation. This was demonstrated on experimental results from Bad Lauchstädt, as well as on data from the German Agricultural Soil Inventory (BZE-LW) for arable soils on a regional scale.

Обґрунтування підходів і стратегічних напрямів щодо секвестрації й збільшення органічного вуглецю в ґрунтах зони Полісся

Goal. To scientifically substantiate zonal approaches and directions of organic carbon management in the soils of the Polissia zone and search for ways of its sequestration, restoration of soil fertility, and reduction of carbonic acid production in the atmosphere, which will be taken as a basis for the formation of key carbon farming systems in this area. Methods. System approach, scientific analysis of information, comparison, theoretical and practical generalization, abstract-logical. Results. Problems of restoration of humus reserves in low-yielding sod-podzolic soils of the Polissia zone, and preservation of their ecological and energy potential are analyzed. The possibilities and expediency of organic carbon management at the regional level and its sequestration in the soils of the Polissia zone are highlighted. Scientific approaches and strategic directions for the reproduction, absorption, and retention of organic carbon in sod-podzolic soils to ensure neutral land degradation are considered. The main ways of development of carbon agriculture at the regional level to achieve the stabilization of organic carbon in the soils of the Polissia zone and its further increase are proposed. Conclusions. Carbon uptake and retention in the soil reservoir are ensured through appropriate zonal farming systems that regulate soil fertility. This problem is solved by arranging arable land, introducing low-carbon use with reforestation, stimulating livestock development, including the creation of hayfields and pastures, increasing production, and applying optimal doses of organic and mineral fertilizers, including secondary organic raw materials and local natural resources. As well as changing the structure of sown areas with a reduction of row crops, increasing the share of perennial grasses, the inclusion of legumes and cover and green crops in crop rotations, increasing crop yields, and introducing technologies of minimal tillage. With the application of anti-degradation measures, agro-technologies of soil cultivation, and involvement of all renewable organic resources, a positive balance of humus is achieved, which is a prerequisite for reducing carbon emissions, restoring and increasing soil fertility and productivity of agrocenoses.

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.

Effect of Land Use on Plant Nutrient Availability and Soil Carbon Stock of Mokonisa Machi Watershade, Dugda Dawa Woreda, West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background: Various land use practices have a different influence on soil degradation on both physical and chemical property of soil as well as on soil carbon sequestration capacity. A small number of studies have studied the effects of land use on plant nutrient availability and soil carbon sequestration in Ethiopia. Therefore, current study was to explore the effects of land use on vegetation nutrient accessibility and soil carbon restoration. Methods: Further definitely the study pointed out the difference between various land use category on soil texture, soil pH, available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium and the implication the farming practices on soil carbon sequestration. Soil sample were collected from the upper 0-40 cm depth of forest land, cultivated land and grazing land. The soil texture was primarily clay and heavy clay textural class. Result: Along soil depth, bulk density (BD) increasing ranges from (1.12 to 1.27 g/cm in all sampling sites. Slight increase in pH was recorded with increase in soil depth in all land use system. The average total soil organic carbon stock forest, grazing and farm land was ranged between 95.2, 88.45 and 65.5 t/ha, respectively for surface soil and 93.3, 73.75, 62.5 respectively for sub surface soil. Soil organic carbon concentration and bulk density improvement are the most important management interventions to increase soil organic carbon storage capacity.

A Review on Carbon Source and Sink in Arable Land Ecosystems

Arable land ecosystems are among the most important terrestrial systems. The issues of carbon sequestration and emission reductions in arable land ecosystems have received extensive attention. Countries around the world have actively issued policies to manage arable land ecosystems. At present, more than 100 countries have made carbon neutralization target commitments. Various arable land management measures and arable land planting strategies have important impacts on the carbon storage of arable land ecosystems. Research on arable land carbon is of great significance to global climate change. This study attempts to investigate the problems and deficiencies in the current research by summarizing a number of studies, including the main methods for the quantitative research of carbon sources and sinks as well as the influencing factors in these ecosystems. In this study, it is found that due to the differences of climate patterns, soil properties and management practices in arable land ecosystems, the factors affecting carbon sources and sinks are of great heterogeneity and complexity. Generally, variations in natural factors affect the carbon balance in different regions, while human management measures, such as irrigation, fertilization and the degree of agricultural mechanization, are the leading factors causing changes to carbon sources and sinks in these ecosystems. In addition, there are still great uncertainties in the evaluation of carbon sources and sinks in these ecosystems caused by different estimation models and methods. Therefore, emphasis should be placed on model parameter acquisition and method optimization in the future. This review provides a scientific basis for understanding carbon sources and sinks in arable land ecosystems, enhancing their carbon sink capacity and guiding low-carbon agriculture on arable land.

The effects of combined digital and human advisory services on reducing nitrogen fertilizer use: lessons from China’s national research programs on low carbon agriculture

ABSTRACT In the context of emerging digital advisory services that can make a potential difference in sustainable farming practices, this article analyzes the connection between on-farm human interaction and digital advice. Based on an experimental case from China’s largest ever national research initiative on reducing agrochemical use in agricultural production, this study found that introducing university facilitators to promote ICT-based advisory services is conducive to site-specific fertilizer use. Through interactions with farmers, the facilitator complemented digital advisory services to achieve optimal N-fertilizer use in maize production. Digital service providers favoured large farms and usually would not service smallholder farmers, thus limiting the potential of digital advisory services. A main theoretical implication is that digital technology should not be completely relied upon because it may only give part of the answer. A human facilitator still plays an important role in integrating new technologies in interaction with farmers. Human advisory services can interpret or translate data to improve farmers’ decision-making, going beyond the advisory capacity of ICT technology. This is an important policy implication for China regarding its national research policies on agricultural sustainability and digital advisory services, and also calls for further research on interactions between digital and human advisory services.