Empirical analysis of political identity and organic fertilizer substitution behavior: evidence from new-type agricultural operators in Fujian, China

As core micro-level agents integrating systematic innovation in traditional agriculture with modern factors, New-Type Agricultural Operators play a pivotal role in advancing agricultural modernization in China. Against the dual backdrop of severe soil degradation and the national “Zero Growth in Chemical Fertilizer” policy, this study draws on identity economics to examine the factors influencing the extent to which these operators substitute chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers, aiming to provide empirical evidence on how political mechanisms can accelerate the green transition in agriculture. Using survey data from 398 New-Type Agricultural Operators in Fujian Province, we employ ordinary least squares regression, mediation effect analysis, and an instrumental variable approach to address potential endogeneity. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) Political identity significantly promotes the substitution ratio of organic fertilizers among New-Type Agricultural Operators. (2) Prior government service exerts a positive influence on the organic fertilizer substitution ratio specifically among cooperatives, whereas grassroots People’s Congress representation positively affects family farms, cooperatives, and leading agribusiness firms alike. (3) Political identity facilitates this substitution mainly through two channels: alleviating external financing constraints and strengthening internal ecological awareness. Based on these results, we propose two policy recommendations: improving the financial institutional support system to unleash empowering effects and ease operators’ liquidity constraints, and establishing an integrated publicity–training pathway to strengthen the internalization and practical application of ecological awareness.