Abstract: Based on the theory of technological changes, this paper discusses the theoretical logic of the path selection of the compelled changes of mechanized straw returning technology, analyzes the differential impact mechanism of different policy interventions on farmers with different operation scales in using mechanized straw returning technology, and conducts an empirical study by making use of the survey data of 679 farmers in the four provinces, i.e., Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Henan and Sichuan. The findings show that the mechanized straw returning technology has the characteristics of limited short term economic benefits, strong positive externality and easy constraints of institutional environment. Compared with the induced changes, the compelled changes are easier to achieve. Following the compelled change path, there are obvious differences in the effects of different government interventions; and economic incentives and behavioral control have a positive impact on the adoption of mechanized straw returning technology by large-scale farmers and small farmers, respectively. The above conclusion suggests that in order to alleviate the practical dilemma of mechanized straw returning technology being promoted but not widely, it is necessary to implement policy tools that focus on economic incentives for large-scale households and behavioral control on small farmers, so as to improve the effect of mandatory changes in mechanized straw returning technology on one hand; on the other hand, it is also necessary to improve the short-term economic benefits from the aspects of improving land conditions, strengthening technological innovation, and improving the quality of agricultural machinery services, so as to create conditions for the induced changes of mechanized straw returning as much as possible.

Key words: mechanized straw returning technology, compelled changes, cost benefit, behavior regulation, economic incentive