بررسي تاثير برخي عوامل اقتصادي و اجتماعي بر روي دانش حفاظت خاك كشاورزان حوزه آبخيز كرخه و دز

Some socio-economic factors influencing farmersʹ knowledge about soil conservation practices (A case study of Karkheh and Dez watershed, Khuzestan, Iran)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the farmers, knowledge about soil conservation practices. The study was descriptive-correlation survey research. The statistical population includes all farmers (N=394) living in 14 villages, which locate in the Karkheh and Dez Watershed in Khusestan Province of Iran. A sample of 82 farmers was selected by the use of "proportionate stratified random sampling" method. A questionnaire was designed and employed to gather the required data. A panel of experts verified its content validity. A pilot study was initially conducted to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics such as extent of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that majority of the farmers were on medium level of knowledge of soil conservation practices. The results showed that there was a significant and positive correlation between farmersʹ knowledge about soil conservation practices and level of using information sources and communication channels for acquisition of information about soil conservation practices, level of Cosmo politeness, land size and level of income from agriculture. The result of multiple regression showed that variables consisting level of Cosmo politeness, level of income from agriculture and level of access to infrastructure could explain 26% of the variation in the level of knowledge about soil conservation practices among farmers living in the Karkheh and Dez Watershed in Khusestan Province of Iran.