Analysis of the mechanism of the impact of fairness perception and social trust on collective action of water-saving irrigation under the framework of socio-ecological system

Based on the field survey data of 663 farmers in the Tarim River Basin, China, this study used a binary logistic regression model to incorporate fairness perception and social trust into the socio-ecological system (SES) framework, to reveal the mechanism of the impact of fairness perception and social trust on farmers' collective action for adopting water-saving irrigation (CAWI). The results show that fairness perception and social trust are key factors influencing farmers' collective actions in water-saving irrigation (CAWI), with both significantly positively affecting farmers' adoption of water-saving irrigation practices. Moreover, social trust plays a partial moderating role between fairness perception and farmers' CAWI. In terms of heterogeneity, fairness perception significantly promotes CAWI among younger farmers and farmers of different operating conditions.Therefore, enhancing the public's overall sense of fairness by enhancing multi-dimensional fairness and the positive role of social trust in promoting public participation are conducive to improving farmers’ motivation to participate in collective action and achieving collective action. • Extend and apply Ostrom's Socio-Ecosystem framework to the construction of water-saving irrigation systems in rural China. • Fair perception and social trust are the key factors affecting farmers' collective action on water-saving irrigation. • Social trust has a significant regulatory effect between fair perception and farmers' collective action on water-saving irrigation. • Intergenerational differences of household heads and variations in operating conditions heterogeneously affect equity perceptions in water allocation.