Investigating the relationship between technical knowledge in the fed area and fertilizer usage by Iranian farmers in the city of Bajestan in Khorasan province: A Case study

The goal of this study was to determine farmers' technical knowledge in the fed area and its relationship with fertilizer consumption. It is based on information collected from survey by a researcher-made questionnaire. The face validity (based on expert opinion) and reliability (Coronbach Alfa coefficient) were established for the questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of 5500 farmers in Bajestan County and the sample size was determined by Cochrane formula (n= 140) through a random sampling technique. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted for 21 marks of technical knowledge, determine 5 factors, including:, familiarity with fertilizer management, familiarity with the results of the inappropriate use of fertilizers, familiarity with chemical fertilizers and organic manures and knowledge management process before use fertilizers and familiarity with biofertilizers, that could explain 62% of variances of technical knowledge. Also the result showed, components of technical knowledge mostly have negative and significant relationship with usage of chemical fertilizers and positive and significant correlation with the use of manure. The level of education has significant and negative correlation with consumption of urea and positive and significant correlation with the use of manure.