Farmers’ Acceptance of Water–Fertilizer Integration Technology: Theory and Evidence

The traditional rough development method for irrigation and fertilization techniques has resulted in the waste of fertilizer and water sources and the degradation of black soil. The implementation of integrated water and fertilizer technology has the potential to address these issues. However, its success depends on farmers’ willingness to adopt it. This study aims to explore the incentives for farmers to adopt water and fertilizer integration technology through a practical investigation in China, revealing the driving mechanisms. The study constructed a technology adoption model and conducted a cross-sectional field study with farmers in Northeastern China. Financial consequences were incorporated into the integrated UTAUT-NAM to examine farmers’ acceptance. The validity and applicability of the model were evaluated through a partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling. The results showed that personal norms and financial consequences were the most critical factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt water–fertilizer integration technology. In addition, expected performance, facilitating conditions, and effort required were also significant predictors. The study further highlighted the pivotal role of awareness of consequences and responsibility in influencing farmers’ intentions to adopt the new technology, while social influence had no significant impact. The findings demonstrated that the established research model elucidated 69.1% of the observed variation in farmers’ intention to adopt water–fertilizer integration technology. The results of this study provide theoretical support for promoting water–fertilizer integration technology and inform practical strategies for its implementation. The study offers actionable insights for policymakers, agricultural advisors, and technology developers to promote resource-efficient irrigation and fertilization methods.