Optimize farm size and agronomic practices to improve agricultural sustainability: a case of multi-indicator assessment from the North China Plain

文献类型： 外文期刊

第一作者： Luo, Bolun

作者： Luo, Bolun;Zang, Huadong;Sawut, Abdurahman;Feng, Ximei;Yang, Yadong;Zeng, Zhaohai;Zhou, Jie;Peixoto, Leanne;Olesen, Jorgen E.;Wang, Xiquan

作者机构：

关键词： Farm size; Greenhouse gas; Reactive N losses; Energy use efficiency; Agricultural sustainability

期刊名称：ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY （ 影响因子：4.9； 五年影响因子：4.7 ）

ISSN： 1387-585X

年卷期： 2023 年

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： Farm size plays a critical role in agricultural sustainability, which has profound implications for the economic and environmental performances of food production. However, the mechanisms and magnitude of how farm size impacts sustainability remain incomplete. Based on 365 farms survey in the North China Plain, we aimed to evaluate agricultural sustainability of large and small farms (LF vs. SF) concerning greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), reactive nitrogen (N) losses, energy use efficiency, and net economic benefits. Our results showed that the sustainability performance index of LF (7.7-9.2) was higher than that of SF (6.7-7.7) mainly due to the 1.4-2.1 times higher net profit in LF than SF. The relationship between sustainability performance index and farm size revealed that 35-55 ha was an optimal range for farms with wheat-maize double cropping. The LF and SF with low GHGs had a higher sustainability performance index relative to the high emission ones. Both wheat and maize for the low GHG emission LF had the highest sustainability performance index (9.2 and 8.4). This was mainly due to low GHG emission farms having more efficient management, i.e., optimized N fertilization and scientific irrigation schedule. A literature review supported that increasing farm size improves agricultural sustainability in China. In conclusion, optimal farm size and the use of low emission agronomic practices could improve agricultural sustainability by reducing the environmental consequences and enhancing economic benefits.

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