Abstract
Water has a significant role in society, whether through human consumption or agricultural use. The Lavaca Watershed is an agricultural community affected by nonpoint source pollution, and water quality protection is of high concern. Beef cattle operations are linked to nonpoint source pollution which contaminates surrounding water sources. If proper grazing management practices are not used, wastes from the operation impair water quality in the area. Landowners should use proper stocking rates and implement best management practices to benefit land and water quality in addition to overall operation profit. Females reported a higher intention to adopt, indicating these respondents are more open to practice changes on their own operation. Results indicated a need for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board to conduct further outreach to increase interaction with landowners. NRCS agencies could help increase the use of water conservation plans and inquiries by making this clear to current landowners participating in their program as well as potential clients by sending informational flyers or speaking at local organizational gatherings. The importance of adopting water management practices and barriers to adoption are ongoing global concerns.
Highlights
Introduction and Problem StatementThe decline in water quality is a reoccurring concern, as water is one of our most significant resources
Many experts have stated increased communication and education on the impairment of water resources is essential in solving the water quality issue
Mulki et al (2018) stressed the need for the public to take a role in actively conserving water resources through investing “in thorough communication strategies to engage and educate” (p. 117)
Summary
The decline in water quality is a reoccurring concern, as water is one of our most significant resources. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) presents logic for why landowners’ may or may not adopt new water conservation practices. Ajzen (1991) presents TPB as a model to predict and explain human behavior in a specific setting. This theory, as shown, involves predicting behavior by evaluating the relationship of behavioral intention to the three elements: attitude, perceived behavior control and subjective norms (Ajzen, 1991). The purpose of this study was to understand landowner adoption of the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s recommended beef cattle grazing management practices. Explain Lavaca County landowner’s intention to adopt grazing management practices
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