Knowledge and attitude of farmers about soil testing practices in Hisar district
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Date
2005
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The problem of gap in the use of balanced fertilizer still remains
even after lot of extension programmes initiated and highlighted for the same.
The skewed use as indicated is a dangerous trend which may encourage lot of
imbalance in flora and fauna of soils. Therefore, fertilizer application based on
soil test is the need of the hour. Soil testing is a comprehensive soil fertility
evaluation programme through which farmers can help themselves in better
management of their agricultural operations and use of fertilizers, for
optimum production.
The study was conducted in two villages of block Hisar-II in
district Hisar. Fifty respondents from each village were selected. The total
sample size was 100 respondents, out of which 60 were adopters and 40 were
non adopters Half of adopters and 40 per cent of non adopters belonged to
middle age. Forty two per cent of non adopters were of old age. Majority of
adopters possessed medium level of education, half of non adopters
possessed low level of education. Half of adopters fall in medium category of
land holding. Sixty five per cent of non adopters fall in small land holding
category. 41.67 per cent of adopters and half of non adopters belonged to
medium and low category of socio economic status respectively. Sixty five per
cent of adopters and half of non-adopters possessed medium and low level of
family education respectively. Majority of adopters and non adopters were
having medium and low level of extension contact. Half of the adopters and
non adopters were having medium and low level of mass media exposure.
Half of the adopters and non adopters had medium and low level of
knowledge about soil testing practices respectively. Half of adopters and non
adopters had medium and low level of attitude towards soil testing practices
respectively. Education, socio economic status, family education, extension
contact had positive and significant relationship with knowledge of adopters,
age had negative and significant relationship with knowledge and attitude of
non adopters towards soil testing practices. Education and family education
had positive and significant relationship with attitude of adopters. Socio
economic status and education had positive and significant relationship with
knowledge and attitude of non adopters respectively. Constraints as perceived
by respondents were high cost of recommended fertilizers non-availability of
material recommended by soil testing staff, non availability of mobile soil
testing laboratories, contact of extension personnel with a few
influencial/resource persons and soil testing is time consuming process. The
suggestions given by respondents were Government should organize training
programmes to Convince/aware farmers about soil testing practices before
each season (kharif/Rabi), the results of soil testing should be given timely,
and after soil testing the recommended material such as fertilizer and
amendment like gypsum/ pyrite should be supplied to farmers at subsidized
rates.