Does land management scale influence farmers' utilization of straw resources? Empirical evidence from rural China

Abstract

Non-resource utilization, such as burning straw, exacerbates the frequency of extreme climate events and presents significant obstacles to global sustainable development. Identifying methods to enhance straw resource utilization (SRU) is essential for achieving environmentally sustainable agricultural development and mitigating climate change. Large-scale land management has become a cornerstone of contemporary agriculture. However, there is limited empirical evidence on the influence of land management scale (LMS) on farmers' SRU behavior. Specifically, the mechanisms through which LMS impacts farmers' SRU remain unclear. Utilizing comprehensive survey data from rural revitalization efforts in China in 2020, this study employs an IV-Probit model to investigate the quantitative impact and mechanism of LMS on farmers' SRU. The findings indicate that: (1) LMS significantly enhances farmers' SRU behavior, with a one-unit increase in LMS correlating with a 3.90 % rise in the probability of farmers engaging in SRU. This conclusion holds true even after robustness testing. (2) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that LMS exerts a more pronounced influence on SRU among new-generation farmers, large-scale farmers, high-income farmers, pure farmers, and farmers in the southern region. (3) LMS enhances farmers’ SRU behavior by increasing their awareness of environmental protection and economic considerations. The mediating effects of environmental protection awareness and economic considerations on SRU behavior are 5.45 % and 7.82 %, respectively. These findings offer valuable theoretical guidance for refining and enhancing SRU practices in rural areas.