Linking Agronomic and Knowledge Barriers to Adoption of Conservation Practices for Nitrogen Management

Agricultural nitrogen (N) use is a major contributor to environmental problems arising from nitrous oxide emissions and N loading groundwater. Advances in the adoption of conservation practices requires better understanding agronomic context for cropping systems. This paper tests hypotheses about how knowledge barriers influence management orchard agroecosystems. Agronomic are characterized by farm size, irrigation systems access water resources, influenced availability information sources. Our study focuses on California’s San Joaquin Valley where we collected 879 in-person surveys fruit nut growers focused ten different related fertilizer use, soil health. We used logistic regression models identify parameters influencing differences between growers. results indicate that overall report higher compared Growers with larger parcels, microirrigation more security had probability practice adoption. Nut crops agronomically intense than requiring rates use. adopted significantly growers, also utilized sources experienced fewer challenges. collectively support our differ help explain variance conversation Furthermore, significance work offers case other regions agroecosystems address need linking an effort promote global climate-smart regenerative agriculture initiatives.