Factors Affecting Framer's Soil Conservation Behavior in West Azerbaijan Province: A Cultural Approach

Soil is an important resource in agriculture, but inappropriate management and utilization has contributed toward degradation of this vulnerable resource. Statistical reports indicated 94 percent of the lands are being dagradation in Iran. Iran is in the second rank in the world in terms of soil erosion. In this regardpreventing the soil degradation, requaires improvement in the farmers’ soil conservation behavior. The Purpose of this study was to investigat cultural factors affecting farmers’ soil conservation behavior in West Azerbaijan province. This research used survey method to collect data. Statistical population included farmers of West Azerbaijan (N=221940). Using Krejcie and Morgan’s Table, 383 person were selected as sample. Stratified random sampling method was used to select farmers. The data collection tool was a questionnaire, which, its validity was determined by a panel of experts. Also, to assess the reliability of the questionnaire’s scales, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calcualetd. The results of correlation analysis showed that age, education, knowledge, attitudes, values, religious beliefs, norms and cultural biases have a significant relationship with the dependent variable (soil conservation behavior). Moreover, the results of path analysis showed that three variables of knowledge, attitudes and cultural biases (Egalitarian and Hierarchist) have more significant effect on the soil conservation behavior. Knowledge of the soil conservation has the most direct effect on the soil conservation behavior. Finally, based on the research results, some practical recommendation is presented.