Level of Application of Scientific Recommendations for the Management of Citrus Orchards in Semi-Arid Environments: The Case of Iraq

• Ahmed Qasim Ali1*, Haseeb Mahmood Amin2

  Author

This study aims to assess the level of farmers’ application of scientific recommendations related to citrus orchard management under semi-arid conditions, using a field survey conducted in Ishaqi district, Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq. A structured questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 130 farmers, covering seven key management domains, including land preparation, planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest control, harvesting and marketing, and pruning. The results revealed that the overall level of application was moderate (mean = 136.93), indicating the existence of an application gap between scientific recommendations and actual farming practices. High levels of application were observed in harvesting, fertilization, and pruning, while lower levels were recorded in land preparation and weed control. The findings also showed significant positive relationships between application level and farmers’ age, education, experience, access to information, and attitudes toward modern agricultural technologies, whereas no significant relationship was found with household income sources. The study concludes that farmers tend to adopt a selective application approach, prioritizing practices with immediate economic returns over foundational management practices. This highlights the need for strengthening agricultural extension systems by focusing on practical training and targeted interventions to enhance sustainable citrus production under resource-constrained environments.

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