The impact of household labor allocation and non-farm employment on farmland abandonment behavior and its interaction effect

Investigating the impact mechanisms of household labor allocation and non-farm employment on farmland abandonment behavior holds significant implications for advancing farmland protection and ensuring food security. Based on 2025 survey data from 786 rural households across 15 provinces, this study employs Logit models to analyze the effects of labor allocation and non-farm employment on farmland abandonment. The results indicate that increased agricultural labor quantity significantly suppresses farmland abandonment, while improved labor quality exacerbates it; both non-farm employment intensity and non-farm income share exhibit significant positive impacts on abandonment; household labor allocation and non-farm employment demonstrate interaction effects, with labor quality showing significant moderating effects whereas labor quantity shows no significant moderating effect; the influence of labor allocation and non-farm employment on farmland abandonment behavior exhibits heterogeneity. The research indicates that both labor allocation and non-farm employment significantly affect farmland abandonment behavior, with interaction effects and heterogeneity observed. Future strategies should implement differentiated governance approaches tailored to different farmer groups, along with targeted policies and reasonable subsidies based on actual conditions to further alleviate farmland abandonment.