Effectiveness of Agricultural Technology Services on Fertilizer Reduction in Wheat Production in China

Under the intensifying constraints of resources and environment, reducing fertilizer use while enhancing efficiency in China’s grain production has become imperative. This study empirically analyzes the effect of agricultural technical services on fertilizer reduction in wheat production using 2024 micro-survey data. Agricultural technical services exert a significantly negative influence on the fertilization intensity among wheat growers. In comparison with non-adopters, adopters achieve a reduction in fertilization amounting to 8.351 kg/mu (equivalent to 125.265 kg/ha) and realize a decrease in chemical fertilizer costs of CNY 26.735/mu (or USD 56.625/ha). Additionally, from the perspective of service components heterogeneity, soil testing, formula fertilization, mechanical fertilization, and straw returning significantly contribute to fertilizer reduction. From the perspective of service model heterogeneity, if farmers participating in market-oriented, cooperative, and industrialized services discontinue participation, their fertilizer application intensity would increase by 5.43%, 7.96%, and 12.79%, respectively. Finally, this study calls on the government to further leverage the technological dissemination advantages of agricultural technology service institutions, guide farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, so as to accelerate the realization of more sustainable agriculture.