SCIENCE & SOCIETY INSIGHTS

Abstract

Soil fertility decline poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity and food security, particularly in South Punjab, Pakistan. This study investigates the role of farmer innovativeness and positive affirmation in the adoption of Soil Fertility Management (SFM) practices among 300 farmers in District Vehari. Using a cross-sectional survey, data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and binary logistic regression. Results revealed that crop rotation (M = 4.25, SD = 0.82) and integrated nutrient management (M = 4.10, SD = 0.89) were the most widely adopted practices, while soil testing had the lowest adoption (M = 2.95, SD = 1.08). Pearson’s correlation indicated strong positive relationships between innovativeness, affirmation, and adoption, with the highest correlation between affirmation and adoption (r = 0.702, p < 0.01). Logistic regression showed that positive affirmation (B = 0.684, p = 0.000, OR = 1.982) and innovativeness (B = 0.517, p = 0.001, OR = 1.677) were the strongest predictors of adoption, alongside access to extension services and education. The model explained 57% of the variation in adoption decisions (Nagelkerke R² = 0.567) and achieved 81.4% prediction accuracy. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance farmer confidence, promote innovation, and strengthen extension networks to improve sustainable soil fertility management.