Social capital and the use of organic fertilizer: an empirical analysis of Hubei Province in China

In the context of zero chemical fertilizer growth, using organic instead of chemical fertilizers is the inevitable future of agricultural production, and social capital may be an important factor that affects whether farmers choose organic or chemical fertilizer. Based on a survey data from 1116 farmers in Hubei Province, this paper analyzes the influence of social capital and its three sub-dimensions (political identity, interpersonal trust, and relationship network) on farmer fertilizer choice. It also explores the mechanism and the degree of influence and examines how the primary effect differs across three sub-dimensions of social capital. The results show the following: (1) Social capital has a positive and statistically significant effect on the adoption of organic manure; (2) Three sub-dimensions of social capital promote the use of organic manure, although there are large differences in their degrees of influence. In detail, interpersonal trust had the greatest effect, followed by political identity, while relationship network was less effective; (3) Social capital has a positive influence on farmers’ opportunity perception, risk aversion, production skills, and production supply, which further affect farmers’ fertilizer choices. This paper enriches the research findings of social capital theory on the micro level of farmers’ green production behavior. The conclusion is of great practical significance to activate the substitution of organic fertilizer for chemical fertilizer and promote the green transformation of agricultural development.