Comparison of agrochemicals allocation efficiency between greenhouse and open-field vegetables in China

Abstract

The overuse of agrochemicals in greenhouse production system has aroused high concerns in China. Existing studies have investigated the status and determinants of agrochemicals overuse for greenhouse vegetables whereas little is known about whether the agrochemicals are allocated efficiently from economic perspective. We use a translog production function and the inputs and outputs data of vegetable production in 34 Chinese cities during 2004–2017 to calculate agrochemicals allocation efficiency for both open-field and greenhouse vegetables. We find that the agrochemicals are allocated inefficiently due to overuse for both open-field and greenhouse vegetables, whereas the overuse degree of chemical fertilizer used in greenhouse vegetables is lower than that of open-field vegetables during a growing duration. In addition, we also find that the application levels of agrochemicals for greenhouse vegetables per mu (15 mu = 1 hectare) are higher than those of open-field vegetables, but the application levels of agrochemicals for per kilogram greenhouse vegetables are significantly lower. We conclude that the overuse of agrochemicals in greenhouse production system may attribute to the year-round production of greenhouse vegetables induced by economic incentives. Therefore, reducing the number of production rotations may be an effective method to alleviate the overuse of agrochemicals in greenhouse vegetables.

Pesticides in Greenhouse Airborne Particulate Matter: Occurrence, Distribution, Transformation Products, and Potential Human Exposure Risks

“…In the past two decades, food production in greenhouses has increased rapidly to over 3,600,000 ha globally because of its ability to grow crops year-round and the increasing demand of high-quality fresh produces . In China, more than 60% of the output value of the vegetable industry was produced in greenhouses, with more than 70 million greenhouse workers . Due to high planting density, temperature, and humidity inside greenhouses, the occurrence of plant pests and diseases is higher than that of open field. , Therefore, pesticides are heavily used in greenhouses to ensure the yield and quality of fresh produces .…”

“…1 In China, more than 60% of the output value of the vegetable industry was produced in greenhouses, with more than 70 million greenhouse workers. 2 Due to high planting density, temperature, and humidity inside greenhouses, the occurrence of plant pests and diseases is higher than that of open field. 3,4 Therefore, pesticides are heavily used in greenhouses to ensure the yield and quality of fresh produces.…”

“…3,4 Therefore, pesticides are heavily used in greenhouses to ensure the yield and quality of fresh produces. 2 Moreover, the greenhouse environment is a relatively enclosed area, making pesticides harder to diffuse and dissipate than those in open fields. 5,6 Hence, potential human exposure to various pesticides in greenhouse ambient environments is a major concern that could cause health issues.…”

“…In China, more than 60% of the output value of the vegetable industry was produced in greenhouses, with more than 70 million greenhouse workers . Due to high planting density, temperature, and humidity inside greenhouses, the occurrence of plant pests and diseases is higher than that of open field. , Therefore, pesticides are heavily used in greenhouses to ensure the yield and quality of fresh produces . Moreover, the greenhouse environment is a relatively enclosed area, making pesticides harder to diffuse and dissipate than those in open fields. , Hence, potential human exposure to various pesticides in greenhouse ambient environments is a major concern that could cause health issues.…”

Long-Term Organic Cultivation in Greenhouses Enhances Vegetable Yield and Soil Carbon Accumulation through the Promotion of Soil Aggregation

“…Greenhouse vegetable production has made significant contributions to China agricultural. However it relies heavily on fertilizer and water input, which places a considerable burden on the environment and ecology [1,2]. China, as the top vegetable-producing nation, achieved a staggering production of million tons of vegetables in 2017, representing for 51.2% of the global vegetables yield [3,4].…”