Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices on Organic Fertilizer Application for Growing Rice of Farmers, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province

Abstract

The objectives of  this study were to find out : (1) The kind, and quantity of organic fertilizer application, and  also the cost of  growing rice  (2) the relationship between farmers’ knowledge,  attitudes,  practice and their personal  economical and environmental factors and (3) Their problems and recommendation on organic fertilizer application.  The study was done by sampling 347 farmers in Mae Suai  District,  Chiang  Rai Province. The result showed that all of the farmers had one kind of fertilizer application which was organic incorporated with inorganic fertilizer for growing rice. Farmers used animal manure more than compost and green manure fertilizers. The costs of growing rice were 3,577.10 and 4,010.50 bath per rai for the rainy-season rice and the dry-season rice, respectively. Independent variables including gender and knowledge about the environment in the rice field were found to be significantly related to knowledge of organic fertilizer application. Obtaining of messages in organic fertilizer, frequency of training and the knowledge about the environment in the rice field were also significantly related to attitudes of organic fertilizer application. In addition, area of rice field, training , frequency of training, experience of organic fertilizer use, places and existence of organic fertilizer production, number of in household labors and  access to the place of organic fertilizer production were significantly related  to  practice of organic fertilizer application. their lack of knowledge and experience of compost production were the biggest problem of farmers in using organic fertilizer. More training should be provided on production and application of organic fertilizer, and training for using organic mixed with inorganic fertilizers for growing rice.