Factors affecting sustainability of wheat cultivation system in Gorgan county

Sustainability in wheat cultivation systems depends on several components. The current study was conducted to identify and analyze the sustainability components of wheat cultivation system in Gorgan county. The statistical population was all farmers and wheat growers of Gorgan county. Samples volume was estimated through Cochran formula and samples were chosen randomly. Finally, 190 questionnaires were used. The validity of questionnaire was confirmed by the agricultural development experts and the reliability of the questionnaire items was calculated by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient as 0.806. Data analyzed by factor analysis method and in descriptive and analytical parts. There was a significant positive correlation between the main variables such as cultivated area of wheat, integrated pest management and land reform, using modified seeds, number of visits to extension centers, sustainable agricultural knowledge level, job satisfaction from agriculture, profit from wheat cultivation, wheat yield and sustainability factors of wheat cultivation system. In total, five factors of ecological-crop factors, sustainable-oriented crop operation, support-extension services factor, social-collaborative status factors, and economical factor consisting total of 21 variables accounted for about 74% of variance in sustainability of wheat cultivation system in Gorgan county. Improving rural resource management, expanding cooperative and participatory agricultural activities, native knowledge of farmers, policy-makings by extension planners and reducing production. Costs in the exploitation process can play an effective role in improving the process of agricultural stabilization.