Adoption of green production technologies by farmers through traditional and digital agro-technology promotion-An example of physical versus biological control technologies.

Traditional and digital agro-technology promotion are two critical methods for disseminating agricultural technology information, which effectively encourages farmers to employ green production technologies. This paper empirically examines the effects of traditional and digital agro-technology promotion on the adoption of green production technologies by 619 apple producers in the primary apple production area of Guanzhong Plain, China, using micro-survey data. The study's findings suggest that both promotion models significantly influence the adoption of green production technologies by farmers. This conclusion remains valid after the instrumental variables approach and a series of robustness tests are implemented to address endogeneity concerns. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that the impact of the two promotion modes on the adoption behavior of green production technologies by farmers varied by scale. Specifically, digital agro-technology promotion had a greater impact on the adoption of physical control technologies by small-scale farmers, while traditional agro-technology promotion had a greater impact on the adoption of biological control technologies by large-scale households. In addition, the technological differences between traditional agrotechnology promotion and digital agrotechnology promotion result in clear complementary and substitution effects. The two modes of promotion have evident complementary effects for biological control technologies. The two modalities of promotion for physical control technologies exhibit complementary effects between social communication-type promotions and traditional agro-technology promotions, as well as substitution effects between short-video promotions and traditional agro-technology promotions.

Individual self-regulation, external monitoring, and farmers' safe production behavior: Evidence from the Kuan-chung Plain, China.

Sustainable agricultural development requires comprehending the fundamental factors influencing farmers' adoption of safe production behavior. This study investigates intrinsic and extrinsic determinants, encompassing the influence of individual self-regulation and external monitoring, regarding the endorsement of safe labor practices among farmers in Kuan-Chung Plain, China. The findings underscore the pivotal role of personal self-regulation in stimulating farmers' implementation of safe production behavior. Additionally, governmental and public monitoring can act as catalysts, motivating farmers to shift from conventional agricultural production methods to safer alternatives. Moreover, the results revealed that a synergistic effect arises from the collaboration between public and governmental monitoring, combined with individual self-regulation. This collaborative approach significantly enhances farmers' propensity to embrace safe production behavior. Hence, policymakers should prioritize educating farmers on ethical restraint, optimizing policy strategies, and strengthening supervision practices to establish an effective platform for public monitoring. These measures will augment farmers' comprehension of the significance of safe production behavior and empower them to proactively implement these behaviors.

Does digital technology innovation promote low-carbon development in agriculture?: A spatial econometric analysis based on 31 provinces in China.

China's traditional agriculture has grown quickly but at the cost of excessive pollution and energy consumption. Therefore, low-carbon development in agriculture is crucial to achieving "carbon neutrality" and "carbon peaking." With the development of China's digital economy and the construction of digital villages in recent years, digital technology innovation (DTI) is probably going to a significant role in lowering agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs). Based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2006 to 2021, we analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of DTI and ACE, explore the impact and the pathways of DTI on ACE using a spatial econometric model, and reveal this impact's heterogeneity and nonlinear character. The findings show that DTI and ACE increased significantly throughout all Chinese provinces. DTI agglomeration is becoming stronger, whereas ACE displays a tendency for discontinuous distribution. DTI is essential in promoting low-carbon development in agriculture, and there are significant spatial spillover effects due to technology spillovers. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that DTI has positive impacts on local agriculture in different regions. However, there is variation in the impact's degree. The mechanism test's findings show how DTI reduces ACE by improving technology and enhancing resource endowment. The relationship between DTI and ACE exhibits an inverted "U" curve, and the level of economic development is the threshold variable that constrains the relationship between the two variables. To achieve a regional balanced low-carbon development in agriculture through DTI, it is important to emphasize the impact of DTI on reducing carbon emissions and to encourage the transfer of mature technology from high-level regions to low-level regions.

Benefits of A Three-Day Bamboo Forest Therapy Session on the Psychophysiology and Immune System Responses of Male College Students.

Forest therapy is a fast-growing treatment approach, as it has the potential to alleviate stressful life events and to improve psychological well-being and physical health. Bamboo forests are widespread in southwestern China. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap on the specific health benefits of bamboo forest (BF) therapy still exists. To explore the psycho-physiologic responses of participants to the effects of BF therapy, 60 male adults aged between 19 and 24, with similar healthy conditions, were selected to participate in this study. A one-group pretest-posttest design was used for the BF sites and the city site (CS) to compare the difference in the psycho-physiologic responses of participants before and after the test. Participants at the BF sites participated in a three-day bamboo forest therapy session, and those at the CS participated in a three-day urban program. Blood pressure, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation were measured as the physical signs, and the profile of mood state (POMS) questionnaire was completed by the participants for the psychological evaluation. Blood was sampled, and natural killer (NK) activity, the number of NK cells, and the levels of corticosterone, granulysin, perforin, and granzyme A/B in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were measured. All the measurements mentioned above were performed at 08:00 on the first and fourth days within the test. Results indicated that the three-day BF therapy was capable of enhancing positive mood states and also reducing negative mood states in the male participants. The blood pressure and heart rates of the male participants decreased, while the peripheral oxygen saturation increased after the three-day BF therapy session. Furthermore, BF therapy significantly increased NK activity and the number of NK cells and perforin-, granulysin-, and granzyme A/B-expressing cells and significantly decreased the corticosterone level in PBLs in the male participants. The three-day BF therapy session improved the psychological and physiological well-being and enhanced the immune functions of the male college students.