The Impact of Rural Population Aging on Farmers’ Cleaner Production Behavior: Evidence from Five Provinces of the North China Plain

The purpose of this article is to examine the impact of rural population aging on farmers’ cleaner production behavior through the intervening effects of three aspects (learning capacity, factor substitution and behavior imitation). The data used in this article were collected from a questionnaire survey of 916 farmers in the main grain producing provinces of the North China Plain. First, confirmatory factor analysis was carried out, and then data were analyzed through structural equation modeling using the bootstrap methodology in AMOS 24. The findings indicate that rural population aging inhibits farmers’ cleaner production behavior through learning capacity. In contrast, rural population aging promotes farmers’ cleaner production behavior through factor substitution and behavior imitation. From the perspective of both challenges and opportunities, this article investigates the impact mechanism and comprehensive effect of rural population aging on farmers’ cleaner production behavior, so as to explore new ways to promote cleaner agricultural production under the background of an accelerated aging the of rural labor force and provide reference for the formulation of relevant policies.

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Size-resolved characterization of organic aerosol in the North China Plain: new insights from high resolution spectral analysis

Environmental Science: Atmospheres ◽

10.1039/d1ea00025j ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Weiqi Xu ◽

Chun Chen ◽

Yanmei Qiu ◽

Conghui Xie ◽

Yunle Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Radiative Forcing ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Fine Particles ◽

Large Fraction ◽

Organic Aerosol ◽

Size Distributions ◽

The North ◽

The Impact

Organic aerosol (OA), a large fraction of fine particles, has a large impact on climate radiative forcing and human health, and the impact depends strongly on size distributions. Here we...

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Impact of crop field burning and mountains on heavy haze in the North China Plain: A case study

10.5194/acp-2016-80 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

X. Long ◽

X. X. Tie ◽

J. J. Cao ◽

R. J. Huang ◽

T. Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Wind Condition ◽

Beijing City ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

Crop Field ◽

The Impact ◽

Field Burning

Abstract. Crop field burning (CFB) has important effects on air pollution in China, but it is seldom quantified and reported in a regional scale, which is of great importance for the control strategies of CFB in China, especially in the North China Plain (NCP). With the provincial statistical data and open crop fires captured by satellite (MODIS), we extracted a detailed emission inventory of CFB during a heavy haze event from 6th to 12th October 2014. A regional dynamical and chemical model (WRF-Chem) was applied to investigate the impact of CFB on air pollution in NCP. The model simulations were compared with the in situ measurements of PM2.5 (particular matter with radius less than 2.5 μm) concentrations. The model evaluation shows that the correlation coefficients (R) between measured and calculated values exceeds 0.80 and absolute normalized mean bias (NMB) is no more than 14 %. In addition, the simulated meteorological parameters such as winds and planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) are also in good agreement with observations. The model was intensive used to study (1) the impacts of CFB and (2) the effect of mountains on regional air quality. The results show that the CFB occurred in southern NCP (SNCP) had significant effect on PM2.5 concentrations locally, causing a maximum of 35 % PM2.5 increase in SNCP. Because of south wind condition, the CFB pollution plume is subjective a long transport to northern NCP (NNCP-with several mega cities, including Beijing of the capital city in China), where there are no significant CFB occurrences, causing a maximum of 32 % PM2.5 increase in NNCP. As a result, the heavy haze in Beijing is enhanced by the CFB occurred in SNCP. Further more, there are two major mountains located in the western and northern NCP. Under the south wind condition, these mountains play important roles in enhancing the PM2.5 pollution in NNCP through the blocking and guiding effects. This study suggests that the PM2.5 emissions in SNCP region should be significantly limited in order to reduce the occurrences of heavy haze events in NNCP region, including the Beijing City.

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Aerosol chemical compositions in the North China Plain and the impact on the visibility in Beijing and Tianjin

Atmospheric Research ◽

10.1016/j.atmosres.2017.09.014 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 201 ◽

pp. 235-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Jianan Zou ◽

Zirui Liu ◽

Bo Hu ◽

Xiaojuan Huang ◽

Tianxue Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Chemical Compositions ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

The Impact

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Impact of the methods of groundwater access on irrigation and crop yield in the North China Plain

China Agricultural Economic Review ◽

10.1108/caer-12-2015-0177 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 613-633 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lijuan Zhang ◽

Jinxia Wang ◽

Guangsheng Zhang ◽

Qiuqiong Huang

Keyword(s):

Crop Yield ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Climate Factors ◽

Groundwater Use ◽

Content Type ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

Groundwater Markets ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is: to track the methods by which farmers access groundwater for irrigation in the North China Plain (NCP); to explore whether climate factors influence farmers’ decisions on the methods of groundwater access for irrigation; and to examine whether the amount of groundwater use for irrigation and crop yield systematically differ across groups of farmers using various methods of groundwater access, and how climate factors affect them. Design/methodology/approach Descriptive statistical analysis and econometric models are used on household survey data collected over several years and county-level climate data. Findings Over the past few decades, a significant share of farmers have switched the methods of groundwater access from collective tubewells to own tubewells or groundwater markets. Farmers who bought water from groundwater markets applied less water to wheat plots than those who had their own tubewells. However, wheat yield was not negatively affected. Both average climate conditions and long-term variations were found to be related to farmers’ choice of methods of groundwater access for irrigation. More frequent droughts and increasingly volatile temperatures both increased the likelihood of farmers gaining groundwater irrigation from markets. Originality/value The analysis results suggest farmers are using groundwater markets to help them adapt to climate change. Applying empirical analysis to identify the impact of the methods by which farmers access groundwater for irrigation on the amount of groundwater use and crop yield will help policy makers design reasonable adaptation policies for the NCP.

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Study on the Change Characteristics of and Population Exposure to Heatwave Events on the North China Plain

Advances in Meteorology ◽

10.1155/2019/7069195 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Long-Fei Zhan ◽

Yanjun Wang ◽

Hemin Sun ◽

Jianqing Zhai ◽

Mingjin Zhan

Keyword(s):

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Population Exposure ◽

Central Position ◽

Daily Maximum ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

The Impact

In accordance with the China Meteorological Administration definition, this study considered a weather process with a maximum surface temperature of ≥35°C for more than three consecutive days as a heatwave event. Based on a dataset of daily maximum temperatures from meteorological stations on the North China Plain, including ordinary and national basic/reference surface stations, the intensity-area-duration method was used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of heatwave events on the North China Plain (1961–2017). Moreover, based on demographic data from the Statistical Yearbook and Greenhouse Gas Initiative (GGI) Population Scenario Database of the Austrian Institute for International Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), population exposure to heatwave events was also studied. The results showed that the frequency, intensity, and area of impact of heatwave events on the North China Plain initially decreased (becoming weaker and less extensive) and then increased (becoming stronger and more extensive). Similarly, the trend of population exposure to heatwave events initially decreased and then increased, and the central position of exposure initially moved southward and then returned northward. Population exposure in the eastern Taihang Mountains was found significantly higher than in the western Taihang Mountains. In relation to the change of population exposure to heatwave events on the North China Plain, the influence of climatic factors was found dominant with an absolute contribution rate of >75%. Except for 2011–2017, increase in population also increased the exposure to heatwaves, particularly in the first half of the study period. Interaction between climatic and population factors generally had less impact on population exposure than either climatic factors or population factors alone. This study demonstrated a method for assessing the impact of heatwave events on population exposure, which could form a scientific basis for the development of government policy regarding adaption to climate change.

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Observation of atmospheric peroxides during Wangdu Campaign 2014 at a rural site in the North China Plain

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-16-10985-2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 10985-11000 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Yin Wang ◽

Zhongming Chen ◽

Qinqin Wu ◽

Hao Liang ◽

Liubin Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biomass Burning ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Chemical Mechanism ◽

Rural Site ◽

Direct Production ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

The Impact ◽

Haze Days

Abstract. Measurements of atmospheric peroxides were made during Wangdu Campaign 2014 at Wangdu, a rural site in the North China Plain (NCP) in summer 2014. The predominant peroxides were detected to be hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), methyl hydroperoxide (MHP) and peroxyacetic acid (PAA). The observed H2O2 reached up to 11.3 ppbv, which was the highest value compared with previous observations in China at summer time. A box model simulation based on the Master Chemical Mechanism and constrained by the simultaneous observations of physical parameters and chemical species was performed to explore the chemical budget of atmospheric peroxides. Photochemical oxidation of alkenes was found to be the major secondary formation pathway of atmospheric peroxides, while contributions from alkanes and aromatics were of minor importance. The comparison of modeled and measured peroxide concentrations revealed an underestimation during biomass burning events and an overestimation on haze days, which were ascribed to the direct production of peroxides from biomass burning and the heterogeneous uptake of peroxides by aerosols, respectively. The strengths of the primary emissions from biomass burning were on the same order of the known secondary production rates of atmospheric peroxides during the biomass burning events. The heterogeneous process on aerosol particles was suggested to be the predominant sink for atmospheric peroxides. The atmospheric lifetime of peroxides on haze days in summer in the NCP was about 2–3 h, which is in good agreement with the laboratory studies. Further comprehensive investigations are necessary to better understand the impact of biomass burning and heterogeneous uptake on the concentration of peroxides in the atmosphere.

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The impact of agricultural land rights confirmation on agricultural machinery service adoption:Evidence from the North China Plain

资源科学 ◽

10.18402/resci.2021.06.05 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 1115-1127

Author(s):

Bin HUANG ◽

Qiang GAO ◽

Keyword(s):

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Land Rights ◽

Agricultural Machinery ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

The Impact

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System dynamics analysis of water supply and demand in the North China Plain

Water Policy ◽

10.2166/wp.2011.106 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 214-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Huanhuan Qin ◽

Amy Cha-tien Sun ◽

Jie Liu ◽

Chunmiao Zheng

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

System Dynamics ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Supply And Demand ◽

Water Shortage ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain ◽

Water Supply And Demand ◽

The Impact

Water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) is an important metric for regional sustainable development in China. It is defined as the difference between the total water supply and demand. The North China Plain (NCP) currently faces a serious water shortage if the WRCC is not managed at a sustainable level. This study focuses on applying system dynamics (SD) methodology to evaluate different water use scenarios and their associated WRCC for the NCP. System characteristics of local water resources and demand in the NCP are captured and simulated using VENSIM® software. A SD model of the WRCC is constructed which consists of five sub-systems: agricultural irrigation, population growth, urbanization level, water recycle and industrial output. The impact on the WRCC is tested through three growth scenarios: keeping the status quo, aggressive industrial growth and modest growth combined with wastewater recycle. Based on the simulation results, the WRCC that can most likely sustain economic growth without overly stressing the water supply is the one with modest growth combined with wastewater recycle.

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The Impact of Village Rules and Formal Environmental Regulations on Farmers’ Cleaner Production Behavior: New Evidence from China

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18147311 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (14) ◽

pp. 7311

Author(s):

Shichun Du ◽

Jing Liu ◽

Zetian Fu

Keyword(s):

Environmental Regulations ◽

Regulatory System ◽

Probit Model ◽

Green Technology ◽

Cleaner Production ◽

Informal Institution ◽

Production Behavior ◽

The Impact ◽

New Evidence ◽

The Village

Village rules and formal environmental regulations are of great significance for standardizing farmers’ cleaner production behavior, promoting green transformation of agriculture and realizing sustainable development of agriculture. Based on the survey data of 946 farmers in five provinces of China, taking seed coating technology, soil testing and formulated fertilization technology, subsoiling tillage technology, green technology for pest and disease control and straw returning technology as examples, this article empirically analyzes the impact of village rules and formal environmental regulations on farmers’ cleaner production behavior by using the multivariate probit model. When formal environmental regulations are relatively lacking or weak, village rules can be used as a useful supplement to formal environmental regulations to promote farmers’ participation in cleaner production. Based on this, this article argues that the important reason for formal environmental regulations falling into relative system failure is that village rules have not been paid enough attention in promoting farmers’ cleaner production behavior. In the future, we should not only continue to strengthen the role of formal environmental regulations in farmers’ cleaner production, but also cultivate the informal institution represented by the village rules, and build the regulatory system of mutual support between informal institution and formal institution.

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