Written by publisher• November 1, 2025• 5:35 am• Tech • Views: 0

Harnessing Digital Agriculture: A Pathway to Widespread Adoption of Green Fertilization Techniques

Can Digital Agricultural Technology Extension Promote Green Fertilization?

Published: October 31, 2025
Source: Higher Education Press / Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2024590

Introduction

Mineral fertilizers have long been essential to modern agriculture, playing a critical role in ensuring global food security. However, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers poses significant environmental risks, including soil nutrient imbalance, degradation of soil fertility, water pollution, and deteriorating air quality. In China, such overuse has become a pressing concern, particularly in key agricultural regions. To mitigate these challenges, organomineral fertilizer (OMF)—a hybrid of organic materials and mineral nutrients—has been introduced as a promising "green fertilizer" alternative.

By combining the benefits of organic matter with mineral nutrients, OMF helps balance soil nutrients, reduces environmental pollution, and enhances crop yields and quality. Despite its advantages, adoption of OMF has remained relatively low among smallholder farmers, especially those in remote areas, due to limited awareness and technical understanding.

Leveraging Digital Agricultural Technology Extension Services (DATES)

Recent advances in digital technology have opened new avenues for agricultural knowledge dissemination. Digital agricultural technology extension services (DATES) utilize internet-based platforms such as WeChat official accounts and mobile applications to provide farmers with timely and accessible planting knowledge. Unlike traditional extension services limited by time and geography, DATES offer continuous, user-friendly access to vital agricultural information.

A pertinent question, therefore, is whether these digital platforms can effectively encourage farmers to adopt environmentally friendly fertilization practices like OMF, thus advancing the green transformation of agriculture.

The Study: Methodology and Findings

Professor Minjuan Zhao and her team at the College of Economics and Management, Northwest A&F University, investigated this issue through a comprehensive survey of 1,167 apple-growing households in the major fruit-producing provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu, China.

The survey revealed that many local fruit farmers hold the entrenched belief: “the more fertilizer applied, the higher the yield.” This mindset has resulted in the widespread overapplication of mineral fertilizers, raising concerns over food safety, public health, and the environment.

Through rigorous data analysis, the research demonstrated that farmers engaged with DATES had a 7.2% to 10.2% higher likelihood of adopting OMF compared to those who did not use such digital services. Additionally, the intensity of OMF use increased by 7.0% to 9.9% among DATES users, underscoring the effectiveness of digital extension platforms in promoting greener fertilization choices.

Understanding the Mechanisms

The study delved deeper into how DATES influences OMF adoption, identifying two main pathways:

Enhancement of Farmer Awareness
Farmers using DATES showed a better understanding of the multifaceted benefits of OMF—including its economic advantages (such as increased income), ecological contributions (improving soil quality), and social impacts (enhancing the rural environment). The digital platforms effectively communicated these benefits, cultivating farmers’ willingness to experiment with OMF.
Reduction of Information and Transaction Costs
By providing easy access to planting technologies and up-to-date market information, these services lowered the risks associated with trying new agricultural methods. They also minimized the time and money farmers would otherwise spend seeking out scientific knowledge, thus fostering greater enthusiasm for adopting OMF.

Heterogeneity Among Farmers: Social and Economic Factors

The effectiveness of DATES was not uniform across all farming households. Farmers with higher social capital—meaning stronger local networks and community ties—benefited from faster information dissemination and faced lower technology learning costs. These farmers were more responsive to digital extension efforts.

Similarly, households with better economic resources had greater capacity to absorb risks and invest in new technologies, making them more likely to adopt OMF when supported by digital knowledge tools.

This nuanced finding suggests that agricultural policies promoting green fertilization via digital means must acknowledge the heterogeneity among farmers. Targeted support approaches are necessary to address varying social and economic contexts.

Policy Implications and Recommendations

The research offers valuable guidance for fostering sustainable agricultural development:

Strengthen Rural Digital Infrastructure: Enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas is fundamental to expanding the reach and accessibility of DATES.
Integrate Online and Offline Channels: Combining digital platforms with traditional extension methods ensures comprehensive knowledge transfer and caters to diverse farmer preferences.
Implement Tailored Strategies: Differentiate extension efforts based on farmers’ social and economic backgrounds—encouraging highly responsive farmers to lead by example while assisting less resourced farmers in overcoming barriers related to information and finances.

By following these recommendations, policymakers can harness the potential of digital agricultural extension to promote environmentally friendly fertilization practices and contribute to the transformation toward greener agriculture.