Impacts of farmland size and benefit expectations on the utilization of straw resources: Evidence from crop straw incorporation in China

Promoting the technique of crop straw incorporation holds great significance for soil fertility and the green development of agriculture, and the participation of farmers is crucial for the adoption of this technique. Crop straw incorporation has been carried out and promoted in China for more than 30 years, but the adoption rate among farmers remains relatively low. Based on micro survey data on farmers in Jiangsu Province, China, this study quantitatively examines the effects of farmland size and benefit expectations on farmers' willingness to incorporate crop straw (hereinafter referred to as FWIS) by using an ordered logit (ologit) model. The results show that there are significant differences in the willingness to incorporate crop straw among farmers with different farmland sizes; farmers with larger farmland sizes are less willing to adopt crop straw incorporation than those with small-scale farmland. Benefit expectations significantly affect FWIS. Yield expectations are the key factor in improving FWIS. Cost and soil quality expectations are also important factors that affect FWIS. Plot size affects FWIS more than farmland size. A larger plot size is associated with stronger FWIS. To improve farmers' expectations of crop straw incorporation, the government should increase the use of micro-incentive policies for farmers and enterprises that provide social services for crop straw incorporation. Promoting the circulation and integration of adjacent farmland, appropriately expanding plot size and reducing the cost of crop straw incorporation will help promote FWIS.