The irrational application of chemical fertilizer affects agricultural land’s supply capacity and yield quality and may lead to serious agricultural non-point source pollution. Through scientific and accurate fertilization, soil testing and formula fertilization technology (STFFT) can effectively prevent excessive fertilizer use, improve its utilization efficiency, and have significant environmental and economic benefits. Based on evolutionary game theory, this paper constructed an evolutionary game model of farmers’ adoption of STFFT. We used a case study to reveal and verify the influence of farmers’ environmental values, information awareness, and social network on their adoption of STFFT and its mechanism. The findings were as follows: First, there are two optimal stable states in the evolutionary system; namely, all farmers adopt or do not adopt STFFT. Second, environmental values and information awareness positively correlate with farmers’ adoption of STFFT. Third, the strength of social networks can enhance the effectiveness of information awareness and environmental values, encouraging farmers to adopt STFFT. In addition, the social network plays a mediating role and moderating role in the influence of information awareness and environmental values on the farmers’ adoption of STFFT.

This study describes the water management practice (WMP) use patterns by producers in Arkansas, USA, identifies the factors related to producers' choices among WMP groups, and examines the correlations between WMP uses and irrigated acreage. Using data from the 2016 Arkansas Irrigation Survey, WMPs are divided into four groups: field management, water flow control, water recovery/storage, and advanced irrigation scheduling practices. We find that about 77% of producers in the study area use two or more groups of WMPs to manage multiple aspects of irrigation, but that the factors that are associated with choices of WMPs vary by WMP group. Regression results show that the use of water flow meters, providing producers with education on the looming groundwater shortage problems and awareness of financial assistance available for conservation efforts, such as the state tax credits program, and use of WMPs by family members, friends, and neighbors are associated with increased use of WMPs. However, we find that producers that are older, have smaller farms, and rely more on groundwater are less likely to use some of the WMPs. Regression results also show that using water flow meters positively correlates with total irrigated acres, irrigated acres in rice, and irrigated acres in soybeans, and that for soybeans using more groups of WMPs is associated with a reduced extent of irrigated acreage. This study contributes to the small economics literature on WMPs and provides a more comprehensive picture of how producers use different WMPs to manage irrigation.

As China is transferring from a centrally planned economy to a market economy, the land market becomes more active. With the rapid transition from an agricultural society to an industrialized society, both economic and social factors could influence the choice of land lease agreement. This paper investigates the choice behavior of land lease agreement based on the household data collected from the largest wheat-producing province in China, Henan province. The results provide strong evidence that economic interest plays a key role in the choice of land lease agreement. Meanwhile, the paper has also found that social relations still affect the choice of land lease agreement. To speed up the transfer of land use rights and scale of operation, this study proposes: reducing the land dependence of rural households; improving agricultural machinery and achieving farming mechanization; creating more non-farm work opportunities for rural laborers; promoting the citizenization of rural households; respecting farmers’ choice of contracts; and attaching importance to the role of social relations in farmland transfer.

Purpose: This paper aims to identify Chinese consumers’ dish value systems and investigate whether and to what extent their dish values vary by type of consumers.Design/methodology/approach: We used a best–worst scaling (BWS) developed based on previous literature on food values and attributes of Chinese dishes to elicit Chinese consumers’ dish value structure. Then, we estimated each participant’s share of preferences for dish values and applied Ward’s linkage cluster analysis to identify the heterogeneity of their dish values.Findings: Our results indicate that food safety values, including the safety of agricultural products, additives and food processing, are valued most by Chinese consumers. They rate health-nutrition values as the second most important dish values. There is significant heterogeneity in Chinese consumers' dish values. Their dish values tend to drive their dish consumption patterns.Originality/value: The dish is the mainstay of the Chinese meal. This study is among a few studies that examine Chinese consumers’ dish values that underlie consumer dish preferences and choices. The results provide essential information to promote a healthy and sustainable diet among Chinese consumers by understanding their values and motivations for making dish choices.