Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program

Conservation set-asides face a trade-off between soil erosion control and grain security. Using the Grain for Green Program (GGP) in China’s Loess Plateau as a case study, this study aims to reveal the main source of productivity improvements that help offset the possible negative effect of conserva...

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Main Authors: Shunbo Yao, Ying Lin, Yao Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2484
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author Shunbo Yao
Ying Lin
Yao Wang
author_facet Shunbo Yao
Ying Lin
Yao Wang
author_sort Shunbo Yao
collection DOAJ
description Conservation set-asides face a trade-off between soil erosion control and grain security. Using the Grain for Green Program (GGP) in China’s Loess Plateau as a case study, this study aims to reveal the main source of productivity improvements that help offset the possible negative effect of conservation set-asides on grain supply. For empirical estimation purposes, we combine county-level remote sensing data with detailed grain production information from 209 counties in the Loess Plateau, spanning from 2000 to 2015. The satellite image interpretation and statistical records show that the area of arable land has decreased while the grain supply has been increasing in the Loess Plateau since 2000. A multiple-mediation analysis reveals that the GGP has a negligible total effect on the grain supply, which contributes to the positive mediating effect of multiple cropping, rather than technological progress. Further analysis shows that the increasing land-use intensity exerts higher water stress on areas with less rainfall. The results indicate that studies investigating conservation set-asides and food security relationships should not overlook the changes in land-use intensity, especially in water-scarce areas.
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spelling doaj-art-e372cbbe5662460d9eb7aaa053f362e92025-08-20T01:53:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-10-011411248410.3390/agronomy14112484Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green ProgramShunbo Yao0Ying Lin1Yao Wang2School of Digital Economics and Trade, Guangzhou Huashang College, Guangzhou 511300, ChinaSchool of Economics and Finance, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, ChinaDepartment of Human Resources and Social Security of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710000, ChinaConservation set-asides face a trade-off between soil erosion control and grain security. Using the Grain for Green Program (GGP) in China’s Loess Plateau as a case study, this study aims to reveal the main source of productivity improvements that help offset the possible negative effect of conservation set-asides on grain supply. For empirical estimation purposes, we combine county-level remote sensing data with detailed grain production information from 209 counties in the Loess Plateau, spanning from 2000 to 2015. The satellite image interpretation and statistical records show that the area of arable land has decreased while the grain supply has been increasing in the Loess Plateau since 2000. A multiple-mediation analysis reveals that the GGP has a negligible total effect on the grain supply, which contributes to the positive mediating effect of multiple cropping, rather than technological progress. Further analysis shows that the increasing land-use intensity exerts higher water stress on areas with less rainfall. The results indicate that studies investigating conservation set-asides and food security relationships should not overlook the changes in land-use intensity, especially in water-scarce areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2484grain supplyconservation programmediating effectstructural model
spellingShingle Shunbo Yao
Ying Lin
Yao Wang
Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program
Agronomy
grain supply
conservation program
mediating effect
structural model
title Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program
title_full Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program
title_fullStr Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program
title_full_unstemmed Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program
title_short Cropping System and Technology Responses of Rainfed Agriculture to Conservation Set-Asides in China Under the Grain for Green Program
title_sort cropping system and technology responses of rainfed agriculture to conservation set asides in china under the grain for green program
topic grain supply
conservation program
mediating effect
structural model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2484
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AT yinglin croppingsystemandtechnologyresponsesofrainfedagriculturetoconservationsetasidesinchinaunderthegrainforgreenprogram
AT yaowang croppingsystemandtechnologyresponsesofrainfedagriculturetoconservationsetasidesinchinaunderthegrainforgreenprogram