Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coupling between the Grain for Green Program and a household level-based agricultural eco-economic system in Ansai, Shaanxi Province of China

  • Published:
Journal of Arid Land Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The implementation of the Grain for Green Program (GGP) has changed the development track of the agricultural eco-economic system in China. In response to the results of a lag study that investigated the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system in a loess hilly region, we used a structural equation model to analyze the survey data from 494 households in Ansai, a district of Yan’an City in Shaanxi Province of China in 2015. The model clarified the direction and intensity of the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system. The coupling benefits were derived through linkages between the program and various chains in the agricultural eco-economic system. The GGP, the agroecosystem of Ansai and their potential coupling effects were in a state of general coordination. The agroecosystem directly affected the coupling effect, with the standardized path coefficient of 0.87, indicating that the agroecosystem in Ansai at this stage provided basic material support for the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system. The direct path coefficient of agroeconomic system impacted on the coupling effect was -0.76, indicating that partial contradictions occurred between the agroeconomic system and the coupling effect. Therefore, although the current agroecosystem in Ansai should be provided sufficient agroecological resources for the benign coupling between the program and the agricultural eco-economic system, agricultural development failed to effectively transform agroecological resources into agricultural economic advantages in this region, which resulted in a relative lag in the development of the agricultural economic system. Thus, the coupling between the GGP and the agricultural eco-economic system was poor. To improve the coupling and the sustainable development of the agricultural eco-economic system in cropland retirement areas, the industrial structure needs to be diversified, the agricultural resources (including agroecological resources, agricultural economic resources and agricultural social resources) need to be rationally allocated, and the chain structure of the agricultural eco-economic system needs to be continuously improved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aderson J C, Gerbring D W. 1988. Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Pyschological Bulletin, 103(3): 411–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asah S T. 2008. Empirical social-ecological system analysis: From theoretical framework to latent variable structural equation model. Environmental Management, 42: 1077–1090.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett M T. 2008. China’s sloping land conversion program: Institutional innovation or business as usual? Ecological Economics, 65(4): 699–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertalanffy L V. 1987. General System Theory-Foundation Development, Applications (Reversion edition). New York: George Beazitler, 189–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen K A. 1989. Structural Equations with Latent Variables. New York: Wiley, 55–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brahim N, Blavet D, Gallali T, et al. 2011. Application of structural equation modeling for assessing relationships between organic carbon and soil properties in semiarid Mediterranean region. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, 8(2): 305–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne B M. 1998. Structural Equation Modeling with LISREL, PRELIS, and SIMPLIS; Basic Concepts, Applications, and Programming. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 66–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne B M. 2001. Structural equation modeling with AMOS, EQS, and LISREL: Comparative approaches to testing for the factorial validity of a measuring instrument. International Journal of Testing, 1(1): 55–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng L, Liu S, Kim D G, et al. 2017. Past and future carbon sequestration benefits of China’s grain for green program. Global Environmental Change, 47: 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan T E, Duncan S C, Strycker L A. 2006. An Introduction to Latent Variable Growth Curve Modeling: Concepts, Issues, and Applications. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 93–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough L, Grace J B. 1999. Effects of environmental change on plant species density: Comparing predictions with experiments. Ecology, 80(3): 882–890.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grace J B, Anderson T M, Scheiner O S M. 2010. On the specification of structural equation models for ecological systems. Ecological Monographs, 80(1): 67–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grosjean P, Kontoleon A. 2009. How sustainable are sustainable development programs? The case of the sloping land conversion program in China. World Development, 37(1): 268–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hung N T, Asaeda T, Manatunge J. 2007. Modeling interactions of submersed plant biomass and environmental factors in a stream using structural equation modeling. Hydrobiologia, 583(1): 183–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia X Q, Fu B J, Feng X M, et al. 2014. The trade off and synergy between ecosystem services in the Grain-for-Green areas in Northern Shaanxi, China. Ecological Indicators, 43: 103–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalaitzandonakes N G, Monson M J. 1994. An analysis of potential conservation effort of crp participants in the state of missouri: a latent variable approach. Journal of Agricultural & Applied Economics, 26(1): 200–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Q R, Wang J J, Guo M C. 2012. Coupling relationship of ecological agricultural system of commodities in Ansai county based on structural equation model. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 28(16): 240–247. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Q R, Amjath-Babu T S, Zander P, 2016a. Role of capitals and capabilities in ensuring economic resilience of land conservation efforts: A case study of the grain for green project in China’s Loess Hills. Ecological Indicators, 71: 636–644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Q R, Liu Z, Zander P, et al. 2016b. Does farmland conversion improve or impair household livelihood in smallholder agriculture system? A case study of Grain for Green project impacts in China’s Loess Plateau. World Development Perspectives, 2: 43–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Q R, Amjath-Babu T S, Sieber S, et al. 2018. Assessing divergent consequences of payments for ecosystem services (PES) on rural livelihoods: A case-study in China’s Loess Hills. Land Degradation & Development, 29(10): 3549–3570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Wang J J, Liu P L, et al. 2018. Study on the synergic relationship between grain for green and agricultural eco-economic social system—A case study in Ansai county. Journal of Natural Resources, 33(7): 1179–1190. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Wu B. 2010. Grain for Green Programme in China: Policy making and implementation? Policy Briefing Series, 60: 1–17. The University of Nottingham, China Policy Institute, Nottingham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J G, Li S X, Ouyang Z Y, et al. 2008. Ecological and socioeconomic effects of China’s policies for ecosystem services. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(28): 9477–9482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J X, Li Z G, Zhang X P, et al. 2013. Responses of vegetation cover to the Grain for Green Program and their driving forces in the He-Long region of the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Journal of Arid Land, 5(4): 511–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maruyama G M. 1998. Basics of Structural Equation Modeling. Thousand Oaks: Sage.148–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCune B, Grace L B. 2002. Analysis of Ecological Communities Gleneden Beach. Oregon: MjM Software Design, 1–300.

  • Persson M, Moberg J, Ostwald M, et al. 2013. The Chinese Grain for Green Programme: Assessing the carbon sequestered via land reform. Journal of Environmental Management, 126: 142–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ren J Z, He D H, Wang N, et al. 1995. Models of coupling agro-grassland systems in desert-oasis region. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2: 11–19. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rong T S. 2009. AMOS and Research Methods. Chongqing: Chongqing University Press, 25–33. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith J, Scherr S J. 2003. Capturing the value of forest carbon for local livelihoods. World Development, 31(12): 2143–2160.

    Google Scholar 

  • State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China. 2016. China forestry development report 2016, Beijing, China. [2016-12-09]. http://www.forestry.gov.cn/.main/62/content-957369.html. (in Chinese)

  • Steiger J H. 1990. Structural model evaluation and modification: An interval estimation approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25(2): 173–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton-Grier A E, Kenney M A, Richardson C J. 2010. Examining the relationship between ecosystem structure and function using structural equation modelling: A case study examining denitrification potential in restored wetland soils. Ecological Modeling, 221(5): 761–768.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomarken A J, Waller N G. 2005. Structural equation modeling: strengths, limitations, and misconceptions. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1(1): 31–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchida E, Xu J, Rozelle S. 2005. Grain for green: cost-effectiveness and sustainability of China’s conservation set-aside programme. Land Economics, 81(2): 247–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchida E, Rozelle S, Xu J. 2009. Conservation payments, liquidity constraints, and off-farm labor: Impact of the Grain-for-Green Program on rural households in China. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 91(1): 70–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J J, Guo M C, Jiang Z D, et al. 2010. The construction and application of an agricultural ecological-economic system coupled process model. Acta Ecological Sinica, 30(9): 2371–2378. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang J J, Wang Z S, Cheng S M, et al. 2017. Eco-economic thinking for developing carbon sink industry in the de-farming regions. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 28(12): 4109–4116. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X H, Shen J X, Zhang W. 2014. Emergy evaluation of agricultural sustainability of Northwest China before and after the grain-for-green policy. Energy Policy, 67: 508–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner C, Schermelleh-Eagel K. 2009. Structural equation modeling: Advantages, challenges, and problems. Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling with LISREL. Goethe University, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright S. 1934. The method of path coefficients. Annals of Mathematical Statistics, 5(3): 161–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Z, Xu J, Deng X, et al. 2006. Grain for Green versus grain: conflict between food security and conservation set-aside in China. World Development, 34(1): 130–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao S, Guo Y, Huo X. 2010. An empirical analysis of the effects of China’s land conversion program on farmers’ income growth and labor transfer. Environmental Management, 45(3): 502–512.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41571515) and the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0501707, 2016YFC0503702). We sincerely thank Prof. LIU Guobin for his guidance on this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    Yue Li, Jijun Wang, Mancai Guo, Mei Qiao & Xiaocui Zhao

  2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, China

    Jijun Wang, Xiaojia Han & Simin Cheng

Authors
  1. Yue Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jijun Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaojia Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mancai Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Simin Cheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mei Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaocui Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jijun Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, Y., Wang, J., Han, X. et al. Coupling between the Grain for Green Program and a household level-based agricultural eco-economic system in Ansai, Shaanxi Province of China. J. Arid Land 12, 199–214 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-020-0060-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-020-0060-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation