FARMER ASPECTS OF THE EFFECTS OF GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF SOIL AND WATER SOURCES: THE CASE OF ADANA PROVINCE

Abstract

To reveal the opinions of producers on the impact of good agricultural practices on the sustainability of soil and water resources, a total of 85 lemon and mandarin farmers, consisting 72 farmers from Yüreğir subprovince and 13 farmers from Seyhan subprovince of Adana province were surveyed for this study. A second survey was also conducted with the same number of farmers who did not apply good agricultural practices. The 67.06% of the farmers thought that good agricultural practices were positive regarding soil quality. The 68.42% of the farmers reported that the use of fertilisers with good agricultural practices decreased and consequently the factors causing pollution were left behind. 47.37% stated that soil fertility was also increased as a result of good agricultural practices and balanced fertilisation. About 65.88% of the farmers in the region believe that good agricultural practices give positive results regarding water quality. Nearly all of these producers have stated that there are no drug residues in irrigation and underground waters and that the factors that cause pollution in groundwater by reducing fertiliser use are decreasing.

Keywords

• Soil,water,sustainability,good agricultural practices,Turkey

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