Abstract
Application of technologies has an important role in agricultural development. Identifying and assessing the impacts of agricultural technologies is necessary. This study aimed at assessing the impacts of laser levelling economically, socially, environmentally, and technically in the viewpoint of the agricultural experts and identifying factors determining their perception of the impacts. The study samples (151 experts) were selected using multi-stage random sampling in Fars Province, Iran. The results revealed that experts considered uniform distribution of water, using conservation tillage, facilitating agricultural activities, decreased water consumption and decrease of water wasting as the most important technical impacts of laser levelling technology. The most environmentally important impacts were the decrease of soil erosion and retention of crop residues. Experts stated the most significant social impacts as improvement in villages living conditions and sense of belonging to rural areas. Besides, an increase of income and reduction of inputs costs were among the economic impacts of laser levelling technology. According to the results, attitude towards water and soil resources conservation and environmental beliefs had the highest direct effect on individual perception toward impacts. Practical recommendations have been presented based on the results of the study.
Highlights
Previous studies revealed that agricultural inputs such as soil, water, chemical fertilizers, seeds, agricultural machines and human resources are not used in uneven lands in an optimized way (Das et al 2018; Tajer et al 2010; Sattar et al 2003; Jat et al 2006)
Technical impacts of laser Levelling Technical impacts of laser levelling can be examined in five categories including water consumption, yield management, mechanization, good farming, and farm area expansion
As seen in the table, 76.8% of experts assessed that the impact of laser levelling on uniform distribution of water was high and only 4% believed that laser levelling had low impact on uniform distribution of water
Summary
Previous studies revealed that agricultural inputs such as soil, water, chemical fertilizers, seeds, agricultural machines and human resources are not used in uneven lands in an optimized way (Das et al 2018; Tajer et al 2010; Sattar et al 2003; Jat et al 2006). Agricultural technologies have several significant impacts on the economy and society locally, regionally and nationally from different aspects (Yang 2005). Assessing the impacts of agricultural technologies is necessary for maximizing benefits and minimizing negative consequences. Planning for equilibrium development requires economic, social, environmental and technical impacts to be taken into consideration (Pasakarnis and Maliene 2010). Environmental impacts refer to variations made as a result of different activities in physical environment (climate, land and soil), ecology (quality and quantity of surface water, air, sound and soil), biology (animal and plants species, sensitive environmental areas, natural habitats, diseases vectors), and social-economy (population, education, specialty, income, facilities, employment, sanitation, health, views and landscape) (Memari and Soleimani 2006)
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