Strategies for sustainable nutrient management: Insights from a mixed natural and social science analysis of Chinese crop production systems

Main author: Bellarby, Jessica
Other authors: Siciliano, Giuseppina
Smith, Laurence
Xin, Lai
Zhou, Jianbin
Liu, Kun
Jie, Li
Meng, Fanqiao
Inman, Alex
Rahn, Clive
Surridge, Ben
Haygarth, Philip
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


Summary: In China intensification of agriculture has been achieved at a cost to the environment. The extension service is the leading public resource to address this but remains focused by a historic national ethos for food security, production and economic growth, whilst its administrative structure is hierarchical, slow to change and lacking in relevant functional integration. Investigation of three case study farming systems identifies how to rebalance productivity with stewardship of farm inputs and natural resources. Substance flow analyses for each case demonstrate that crop nutrient management can potentially be improved to reduce environmental risk without yield loss. Complementary stakeholder surveys and social network analyses identify barriers to change relating to the knowledge, attitudes, practices and operational constraints of farmers and extension agents, and to the structure and performance of agricultural knowledge and innovation systems. This combination of analyses offers an original synthesis of needs, planning priorities and strategies.
Other authors: Siciliano, Giuseppina, Smith, Laurence, Xin, Lai, Zhou, Jianbin, Liu, Kun, Jie, Li, Meng, Fanqiao, Inman, Alex, Rahn, Clive, Surridge, Ben, Haygarth, Philip
Language: English
English
English
Published: Elsevier 2017