AN INDEX FOR MEASURING KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPTION BEHAVIOR OF SOIL HEALTH CARD RECOMMENDATIONS IN MANDYA DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA

The present study was carried out during 2018-19 to analyse the knowledge level of soil Health Card (SHC) beneficiaries and their adoption behavior on recommendations done in Soil Health Card. Out of 120 soil health card beneficiaries 60 were selected from each taluk by taking six villages in Mandya and Maddur taluks of Mandya district. Ten SHC beneficiaries from each village were randomly selected for the study. Data was collected using a pre-tested interview schedule. A perusal of this table revealed that about 53 percent belongs to middle age (35 to 50 years) however , one third of the respondents (33.33 per cent) belongs to old age category and 22.50 per cent were belongs to young age. Most of the respondents were educated from primary school level to post graduation level (Percentage varies). More than one third of the respondents (43.33 %, 41.66% and 40.83 %) were having high cosmopoliteness and medium mass media exposure and high Extension agency contact respectively. More than one third of the SHC beneficiaries were having medium extension participation (40.00%), medium achievement motivation (42.50%), medium scientific orientation (40.83%) and followed by high and low groups. Almost 96.66 per cent of the SHC beneficiaries have knowledge on the major nutrients covered in SHC' and 87.50 per cent of the SHC beneficiaries have knowledge on the place from where soil samples should be collected. Majority of the Soil Health Card beneficiaries (95 %) adopted application of major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potash as recommended in soil health cards. one fourth of soil health card beneficiaries (28.33%) were applying micro nutrients as recommended in SHCs. This may be due to lack of knowledge on the importance of micro nutrients to the crops. More than three forth of the soil Health Card beneficiaries are adopted ideal depth while collecting soil sample. More than half of the SHC beneficiaries are aware of ideal time of soil sampling and followed it. This may be due to high and medium level of cosmopoliteness, Extension participation and mass media exposure. Before distributing soil health cards, a series of interactions and technical training programmes organized by agriculture department and other stakeholders helps to achieve better adoption of soil health management aspects.