The role of landholder education in adoption of soil health management systems

Abstract

Management for soil health has received increasing attention, but, despite this, adoption of soil health management plans (SHM) has been slow and is possibly affected by landholder education. This paper investigates the role of landholder education in the adoption of SHM systems, using salinity and sodicity as indicators. Through the use of a landholder response mail based survey consisting of likert scale rank questions, categorical responses and open ended questions, education was shown to mildly affect the adoption of SHM programs, but was not considered an overriding impediment by landholders. However, there is a disparity between education as an impediment and landholders knowledge. This disparity is potentially overcome by a reliance on agronomists and extension officers to guide landholders through SHM issues that they find complex. In terms of managing soils for salinity, education was shown to be adequate, although for sodicity education is still a major limiting factor.