Land degradation and adoption of soil conservation technologies among rice farmers in Osun State, Nigeria

Land degradation leads to decline in soil fertility and low yield of crop. The study investigates the causes of land degradation, and adoption of soil conservation practices using a two-stage decision making process. The data for the study were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive analysis, difference regression equation and simultaneous probit model. The results show erosion as the major cause of land degradation and 69% of the farmers experienced a low level of crop loss to land degradation while a one percent (1%) increase in land area cultivated results in 0.067% loss of rice output. Majority of the farmers (80%) prefer fertilizer application as a conservation method. Their level of education and membership of organization raise conservation practices by the farmers is influenced by the extent to which they perceive land degradation to be a problem; level of education, ownership of farmland; farm size and percentage of crop loss. The major problem identified by the farmers is the high cost of suitable soil conservation methods.Keywords: land degradation; perception and adoption; conservation practices; simultaneous probit modelJournal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol 3(1) 2005: 1-