The knowledge levels, perceptions, and practices of irrigation farmers in the context of soil salinity management in the South African sugarcane industry*

Abstract

Soil salinity is a well-researched issue. However, farmers' knowledge and perceptions of salinity management are less known. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 34 sugarcane growers, farming 18,174 ha under irrigation in South Africa. The questionnaire evaluated current knowledge levels, management practices, and perceptions about salinity management. The results reveal several knowledge gaps. Many farmers were not monitoring their soil salinity status or the water quality used for irrigation. A large portion (71%) of farmers observed visible signs of salinity; however, very few were implementing flushing of salts with irrigation. Contrastingly, participants suggested that they perceived the threat of salinity and have sufficient knowledge about causes and the preventative and corrective measures for salinity management. In addition, respondents were satisfied that the benefits of salinity management outweigh the costs. Participants, however, perceived practical difficulty and hassle factors relating to the knowledge and skill required for implementation. In conclusion, extension activities need to extend beyond knowledge sharing to the level of implementation. On-farm testing, demonstration plots, farm visits, and technical tours are recommended. Relevant economic and practical case study information must be gathered and shared with larger farmer groups.adoption, extension, knowledge exchange, soil salinity, sugarcane * Les niveaux de connaissance, les perceptions et les pratiques des agriculteurs irrigants dans le contexte de la gestion de la salinité du sol dans l'industrie sud-africaine de la canne à sucre.

Perceptions and attitudes of farmers and landowners on soil salinity management and use of elemental sulphur in Oman

“…All respondents were educated to some degree: 24.6% with a secondary school education, 2.5% with a vocational degree, 9.8% with a diploma, 50.8% with a bachelor's degree and 12.3% with a postgraduate degree. Literature indicates that young and highly educated farmers exhibit a greater propensity to adopt new technologies and embrace sustainable agricultural practices (Jumman et al, 2022). Moreover, individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to possess a deeper understanding of soil and water conservation practices, as they have increased access to information and opportunities for training (Njenga et al, 2021).…”

“…Assessing the levels of knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of farmers is essential in determining the success of the adoption of salinity management practices (Jumman et al, 2022). Our study aimed to evaluate general awareness of the issue by assessing respondents' thoughts on the causes and effects of soil salinity.…”

“…However, widespread adoption of these strategies requires shifting public behaviours and practices towards sustainable soil management and water conservation. Such a shift necessitates active farmer participation and a deep understanding of their perceptions regarding soil salinity and its management, which are crucial for the initial adoption and subsequent propagation of sustainable practices for managing soil salinity (Giordano et al, 2010; Jumman et al, 2022). Hence, farmers' perceptions about soil salinity and its management are critical to ensure the initial adoption of this technology and the later spread of sustainable practices of soil salinity to other farms.…”

Citrullus lanatus plant response to irrigation water magnetized in sandy soil

“…The majority of the world's dry and semi-arid lands lack irrigation water, and one of the effects of using saline groundwater for irrigation is salinization (Acosta-Motos et al, 2017;Majeed and Muhammad, 2019), which affects more than a third of the lands irrigated with groundwater (Foster et al, 2018). According to Eswar et al (2021) and Jumman et al (2022) and other researchers, the effects were caused by farmers' ignorance of the mechanisms underlying water *Corresponding author. E-mail: ghemamamaradjilani@gmail.com, djilani-ghemamamara@univ-eloued.dz.…”