Influence of Transfer Plot Area and Location on Chemical Input Reduction in Agricultural Production: Evidence from China

The development of a farmland transfer market and the spatial characteristics of transfer plots are crucial factors influencing chemical input reduction in agricultural production with relation to the endowment of fragmented agricultural land resources. Through a theoretical discussion, this study analyzed the heterogeneity of transfer plots' spatial characteristics and their effect on the intensity of chemical input in agricultural production in the process of farmland transfer. Plot-level survey data from the Heilongjiang, Henan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces were used for empirical analysis. The results indicated that the values of pesticide and fertilizer input in the large plot group were CNY 10.154 and CNY 8.679 lower than those in the small plot group, respectively. Additionally, compared with non-adjacent plots, the per-unit area input was CNY 2.396 and CNY 6.691 lower in adjacent plots. This indicated that plot area expansion and location adjacence significantly reduced the intensity of pesticide application and fertilizer input in the plots. Simultaneously, location linkage reduced chemical input in agricultural production in small plots; however, the difference was unnoticeable in large plots. This study provides a theoretical basis for promoting farmland integration in China as well as introduces a specialized method for reducing agricultural chemical usage.