Factors Influencing Adoption of Gardening in Sloping Lands: A Case of Minoodasht and Galikesh Counties in Golestan Province

Soil erosion is a major problem and a serious obstacle for achieving sustainable agriculture. This problem is more acute in Sloping lands. Planting trees and gardening is one of the methods of soil conservation in these lands. The aim of this research was to investigate the factors influencing adoption of gardening in sloping lands of Minoodasht and Galikesh counties in Golestan province. The descriptive-correlation research method was used. The study population consisted of all farmers with at least one hectare in Sloping lands. They have been targeted group in Land Use Change Plan in 2005 through 2010 (N= 1985). Cluster random sampling method was used in which 145 farmers from 25 villages were selected. The sample size was estimated using Cochran formula. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. Face validity of questionnaire was confirmed by university faculty members and experts’ viewpoint of agriculture departments in two city of Minoodasht and Galikesh. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by conducting a pilot study and estimating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the indicators of risk-taking (0.65), foresight (0.75) and attitude towards soil conservation (0.87). Results showed that adopter and non-adopter of gardening in sloping lands are different significantly in terms of number of land plots, level of mechanization, amount of owned land area, farm income, governmental assistance, community participation, attitude towards soil conservation, knowledge about soil conservation, foresight and level of education. In all mentioned variables, the mean scores of adopters were more than non-adopters except foresight. Furthermore, governmental assistance, number of land plots and farm income are the best explanatory variables in adoption of gardening in sloping lands.