Exploring barriers to map-based variable-rate nitrogen fertilization adoption: a COM-B framework analysis of German farmers

Abstract Agricultural nitrogen pollution presents a critical environmental challenge, with variable-rate nitrogen fertilization (VRNF) technology offering potential mitigation. Despite demonstrated benefits, VRNF adoption remains low. We applied the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) framework to identify map-based VRNF adoption barriers through a survey of German farmers collected from December 2024 to January 2025. Statistical analysis revealed statistically significant differences in technology access, technical skills, and perceptions of economic profitability between adopter and non-adopter groups. Notably, both groups equally recognized map-based VRNF’s environmental benefits, indicating environmental awareness alone fails to drive adoption. By structuring adoption barriers within COM-B, our findings suggest that capability-focused education and training, opportunity-focused infrastructure and service provision, and motivation-focused profitability-based persuasion strategies merit investigation as potential pathways for fostering adoption.