Land transfer, collective action and the adoption of soil and water conservation measures in the Loess Plateau of China

Based on the data of 849 rural households in the Loess Plateau of China, this paper uses exploratory factor analysis to study farmers’ participation in collective action from the aspects of information, participation, organization and effect of action. Through Bootstrap mediation effect test, this paper investigates the direct and indirect impacts of land transfer area and period on the soil and water conservation measures of farmers, respectively. The results show that the area of land transfer directly affects the use of terraced fields, plastic film and afforestation, but not the use of water-saving irrigation techniques. The transfer period has a significant direct impact on the adoption of the four measures mentioned above. Although the mediating effect of collective action in the process of land transfer area affecting the use of terraced fields, afforestation and water-saving irrigation techniques is significant, it is not significant on the use of plastic film. The mediating effect of collective action in the process of land transfer period affecting the use of terraced fields and water-saving irrigation techniques is significant, while it is not significant on the use of plastic film and afforestation.