Farmer Differentiation, Inter-Generational Differences and Chemical Fertilizer Reduction Behavior of Farmers in Rural China

The unsustainable and excessive application of chemical fertilizers constitutes a critical constraint to global agricultural sustainability, with China facing particularly acute challenges. Farmers' decisions concerning chemical fertilizer use are shaped by both intra-group heterogeneity and inter-generational attributes. Clarifying how these factors influence chemical fertilizer reduction behavior holds substantial theoretical and practical implications. Utilizing the 1,345 rice farmers data set collected Jiangxi Province, China, this study examines the influence of farmer differentiation on their chemical fertilizer reduction practices. And then evaluates the moderating role of inter-generational differences. Results show that merely 19.85% of respondents have adopted chemical fertilizer reduction behaviors, underscoring the persistence of this issue. Higher levels of differentiation among farmers were negatively associated with the likelihood of chemical fertilizer reduction. Moreover, new-generation farmers exhibited a greater propensity toward adopting reduction strategies compared to their older counterparts. The relationship between farmer differentiation and chemical fertilizer reduction behavior is significantly moderated by inter-generational differences.