Authors

Abstract

Intensive agriculture-driven soil degradation has become a global environmental challenge, urgently requiring governance strategies that integrate farmer behavior with policy intervention to support sustainable development. In this study, matched soil experimental data and household survey responses were used to assess the status and degradation characteristics of key soil nutrient indicators, including soil pH, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, quick-acting potassium, organic carbon, and the C/N ratio. The effects of policy measures and farmers’ behavioral practices on both individual soil nutrient indicators and the overall degree of soil degradation were empirically examined. Across 178 plots with an average management duration of 17.93 years, widespread soil acidification (mean pH = 4.535), nitrogen saturation effects, and other nutrient imbalances were identified. The application of restoration technologies was found to significantly reduce soil degradation, although the magnitude of improvement varied by nutrient type. Technical training and farmland transfer policies indirectly mitigated soil degradation by promoting the adoption of restorative practices. Furthermore, combinations of policy instruments demonstrated synergistic effects, compensating for the limitations of single-policy approaches. These findings highlight the need for policy frameworks that incorporate degradation-based targeted guidance, restoration subsidies, and standardized farmland transfer mechanisms. The study deepens understanding of the micro-level mechanisms linking farmer behavior with soil ecological processes and provides empirical evidence supporting progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of achieving zero net land degradation.

Abstract in Chinese

集约农业造成的土壤劣变是全球性环境挑战，亟需从农户行为与政策干预视角探索有效治理路径，推动集约农业可持续发展。因此，本研究创新性地采用一对一匹配的土壤实验数据和农户调查数据，分析亚热带高强度集约农业的土壤pH值、全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮、有效磷、速效钾、有机碳和碳氮比等土壤养分指标状况及劣变特征，并实证检验政策措施与农户技术采纳行为对上述土壤养分指标及整体劣变程度的影响。研究发现，178块平均经营年限达17.93年的集约经营样地普遍存在土壤酸化（pH均值4.535）和“氮饱和”效应等土壤养分结构性失衡问题。撒施生石灰和休耕等适合普通农户采纳的劣变土壤恢复技术能够显著缓解土壤劣变程度，且不同恢复技术对土壤养分指标具有差异化改善效应。技术培训和农地流转措施可通过影响农户的劣变土壤恢复技术采纳行为，间接改善集约农业土壤劣变程度。此外，不同的政策措施具有协同效应，联合施用可克服单一政策措施的局限性。这些发现意味着，根据高强度集约农业实际的土壤劣变程度为农户提供精确的指导至关重要。此外，应构建以土壤劣变治理为导向的补贴激励机制，并积极引导和规范农地流转市场发展。本研究在理论上丰富了农户行为与土壤环境互动的微观机制认知，为实现联合国可持续发展目标中的土地退化零增长贡献科学依据。