Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Adoption of Soil Conservation Non-Mechanical Methods in Order to Maintain the Sustainability (Case Study: Urmia County)

Soil is one of the natural resources that has an important role in the agricultural production and food safety, but the land degradation caused by soil erosion is a serious environmental problem that threatens human welfare and agricultural sustainablity. In this study factors that affecting the adoption of non-mechanical method of soil conservation were investigated in crop lands of the Nazlo in Urmia County. Data were collected in 2016 by completing questionnaires from 150 farmers. The cluster sampling method and Cochran formula were used to select farmers. Logit model were used to analysis the data. The results showed that variables including participate in educational and promotional classes, Total income from rainfed farming, Slope of agricultural land, education, Attitude to soil conservation, Employment history in agriculture, Level of familiarity with conservation agriculture, the rate of soil erosion in agricultural land, enough labor to do protective actions, Believing in increasing long-term profits by carrying out soil conservation measures have a positive and significant effect on the adoption of soil conservation Practices. Also, variable include non-agricultural employment has a negative and significant effect on the adoption of soil conservation Practices. According to the results, it is essential to provide training on soil conservation techniques that increase the technical knowledge and awareness of farmers about the consequences of erosion and the benefits of soil conservation Practices.