Kale, Prof. N. M.PATALE, MINAKSHI RAVISHANKAR2018-07-202018-07-202017-08-10Patale, M. R., (2017). Knowledge And Adoption of Farmers About Soil And Water Conservation Practices. Department of Agriculture Extension Education, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. M. Sc. 2017, print, xiii, 91p. (Unpublished).http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810061320Land and water are the most precious natural resources, the importance of which in human civilization needs no elaboration. The total available land area in the State sets the limits within which the competing human needs have to be met. The needs of agricultural, industrial, domestic and others often result in diversion from one use to the other. Diversion of land from agriculture to non-agriculture uses adversely affects the growth in agriculture sector. Even the available land is subjected to soil-erosion of varying degrees and degradation problems of different magnitudes. Water supports all forms of life on this mother earth. It plays a vital role in agricultural and industrial development and sustaining human life. Rainfall is the only source of water. The water is confined as i) soil moisture, ii) stored water in surface storage like reservoirs, tanks, ponds, temple tanks, and in open wells etc., iii) groundwater in sub surface, iv) sea water and v) waste water like sewage and effluent. Depending upon the rainfall, its intensities, and frequencies, an area becomes drought or flood affected. For sustaining food availability, conservation of soil and water resources is a pre-requisite. The deterioration of precious natural resources can be checked by adopting the water shed management practices. Integrated watershed development is a process by which land and water resources are conserved in situ. Out of the total geographical area (328.73 mha.) of the country only 143.70 mha. (43.72%) is under cultivation. Only 30 per cent of total cultivated area is under irrigation and the remaining 70 per cent (i.e. 108 mha) is under rain fed condition, and it accounts for 42 per cent of total food grain production. Soil and water conservation practices serve to conserve soil moisture as well as reduce erosion. Most farmers are aware of the seriousness of soil erosion on their land. Soil and water conservation programme can become more cost effective if they are based upon an understanding of farmer’s perception about soil erosion and the conditions under which they adopt and maintain soil conservation structures. Understanding indigenous methods of soil and water conservation and adoption pattern among farmers are crucial in terms of their utility and scope for further improvement.The study entitled, “Knowledge and Adoption of Farmers About Soil and Water Conservation Practices” was purposively conducted in Wardha district. For present study, 150 farmers were selected from 10 villages by using random sampling method. The findings of the present investigation indicate that near about half of the respondents were in middle age group and educated upto high secondary school level. The majority of respondents (44.67%) had land up to 1.01 to 2.00 ha. The 69.33 per cent of respondents had agriculture as a main occupation. More than one fourth of the respondents had annual income between 1,00,001 to 2,00,000. Majority (60.67%) of the respondents were having class 1 type of soil followed by 38.00 per cent respondents having class 2. The majority (72.00%) of the respondents having plane topography of land. Majority (42.00%) of the respondents having cropping pattern kharif + rabi. Majority (35.33%) of the respondents having irrigation on above 2.00 ha. The majority (59.33%) of the selected respondents were in low social participation category. The majority (86.67%) of respondent kept low extension contact with extension agencies for seeking information. The majority (57.33%) of the respondents having medium level of risk preference. The majority (57.67%) of the respondents had high level of knowledge about the recommended soil and water conservation practices by the farmers, whereas 43.33 per cent respondents were having medium knowledge level. The most of respondents (76.67 %) had low level of adoption of recommended soil and water conservation practices. The percentage of respondents having medium level of adoption was 23.33 per cent. The variables namely education, land holding, annual income, topography of land, cropping pattern, risk preference are positively significant with knowledge about soil and water conservation practices at 0.01 level of probability. The variables namely education, land holding, annual income, topography of land, cropping pattern, irrigation status and risk preference are significantly correlated with adoption of soil and water conservation practices. Whereas age of respondents are negatively significant with adoption of soil and water conservation practices by the farmers. The result pertaining to the regression analysis is positive and highly significant contribution of topography of land, cropping pattern, irrigation status, risk preference with knowledge and adoption of soil and water conservation practices. It means that increase in topography of land, cropping pattern, irrigation status, risk preference increases the knowledge and adoption of soil and water conservation practices. The present study concludes that although majority of the farmers have medium to high level of knowledge, however their adoption of recommended soil and water conservation practices was very low. The probable reasons are situational, technical as well as financial constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of recommended soil and water conservation practices.ennullThesis