The Impact of Agricultural Mechanisation on Agriculture Carbon Emission Intensity: Evidence from China | [Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences • 2025]

Author(s):

1. Shenglin Ma: School of Economics and Management, North University of China,Taiyuan,China

2. Han Yan: School of Accountancy, Hebei University of Economics and Business,Hebei,China

3. Ding Li: College of Economics and Management, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University,Daqing,China

4. Huifang Liu: School of Economics and Management, Shandong Youth University of Political Science,Jinan,China

5. Hongjun Zeng: Department of Financial Planning and Tax, School of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, RMIT University,Melbourne,Australia

Abstract:

In the framework of the dual carbon objectives, agricultural mechanisation is a key factor in driving agricultural modernisation and promoting high-quality, green development within the sector. A thorough examination of how agricultural mechanisation influences agricultural carbon emission intensity can contribute to advancing China's agricultural sector along a green, lowcarbon development path. This study, based on panel data from 30 provinces in China covering the period from 2004 - 2023, employs panel fixed effects models, mediation effect models, and spatial econometric models to explore the effects of agricultural mechanisation on agricultural carbon emission intensity and its underlying mechanisms. The research also analyses the differences in influence across various agricultural economic advancement, regions, types of agricultural machinery (large, medium, and small), and whether the region is a major grain-producing area. The findings indicate that increased levels of agricultural mechanisation significantly reduced agricultural carbon emission intensity, with mechanisation also contributing to a decrease in emission density by improving the scale of land management. During the observation period, regions with lower agricultural economic advancement exhibited a suppressive effect on agricultural carbon emission strength. Regionally, the eastern provinces had a more pronounced effect on reducing carbon emission intensity. Small agricultural machinery showed potential in decreasing carbon emissions, while medium- and large-sized machinery contributed to increased emissions to some extent. In comparison to non-grain-producing regions, the spatial carbon reduction influence of agricultural mechanisation was more pronounced in major grain-producing regions. Based on these findings, this paper recommends that in agricultural carbon reduction efforts, emphasis should be placed on promoting eco-friendly agricultural machinery and technologies, driving green reforms and innovations in agricultural machinery, appropriately expanding the scale of land management, and selecting machinery based on local conditions to contribute to sustainable development.

Page(s): 99-110

DOI: 10.21162/PAKJAS/25.385

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Volume: 62, Issue: 1, Year: 2025

Keywords:

agricultural carbon emission intensity , Agricultural mechanization , land management scale , agricultural economic development

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