Work

Impact of Aging Agricultural Labor Force on Mulch Film Recycling Behavior: Evidence from Rural China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mulch film recycling is essential for reducing soil pollution, ensuring sustainable land use, and promoting green agricultural development. This study examines the impact of agricultural labor age on mulch film recycling behavior, utilizing survey data from 739 households in Xinjiang. The relationship between labor age and recycling behavior follows an inverted U-shape, with participation initially increasing and then decreasing as age advances. We explore the mediating roles of human capital and ecological cognition in this relationship. Both human capital and ecological cognition display inverted U-shaped patterns with age, which in turn influence recycling behavior. Furthermore, social norms were found to positively moderate the relationship between labor age and ecological cognition, while no significant moderating effect was observed between age and human capital. These findings suggest that enhancing human capital and ecological awareness, coupled with the reinforcement of social norms, can facilitate mulch film recycling. The study underscores the importance of developing targeted policies to support various age groups in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

Source: Land

DOI: 10.3390/land14112170

Authors: Honghong Yang, Hua Li, Huimin Guo, Qi Li, Liting Fang

Institution: Northwest A&F University

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Education and Sustainability

Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Decent work and economic growth, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137