Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1990

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agriculture and Extension Education

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr

Committee Members

Roy Lessly, G. Douglas Crater

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between producer and farm characteristics, and use of selected fertilizer practices, and Extension contacts. Data were collected through interviews with 92 randomly selected nurserymen in Warren County. The data were coded and processed for computer analysis and computations at the University of Tennessee Computing Center. The chi square test was used to determine the strength of relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Chi square values which achieved the .05 probability level were accepted as significant.

Major findings included the following:

1. Over 80 percent of the producers were high school graduates or had at least attended college.

2. Although over 77 percent of the producers had some type of contact with Extension, only 23 percent had attended the nursery short-course, and just over 14 percent considered Extension as their major source of information while almost 74 percent considered each other as their major source of information.

3. Just over 52 percent of the producers were growing nursery on 25 acres or less.

4. Eighty-five percent of the producers considered nursery as their major farm enterprise, while just over 78 percent of the nurseries were certified with the state.

5. Almost 98 percent of the producers purchased the majority of their fertilizer in the bag.

6. Almost 74 percent of the producers that tested their soil followed the soil test recommendations.

7. While over 51 percent of the producers were making split applications of nitrogen, only 15 percent were applying phosphate and potash preplant.

8. Four characteristics of the producers and their nursery operations were significantly related to whether or not the producers were association members. Those producers that were members were more likely than those who were not: (1) to not be employed off the farm, (2) had attended college, (3) had attended the nursery short-course, and (4) grew nursery stock on 26 acres or more.

9. Producers that had attended college were more likely to soil test, soil test by specific type stock and lime according to the soil test than those who had not.

10. Producers who considered Extension as their major source of information were more likely to fertilize according to soil test recommendations than those who did not.

11. Producers who had contacts with Extension over the past 12 months were more likely to soil test, soil test by specific type stock, lime according to soil test and fertilize according to soil test than were those producers who had no contacts with Extension.

12. Producers who had attended the nursery short-course were more likely to soil test by specific type stock and lime according to the soil test than those who did not attend the short-course.

13. Producers who were members of nursery associations were more likely to soil test by specific type stock, lime according to the soil test and fertilize according to the soil test than those who were not members.

14. Producers who had contacts with Extension over the past 12 months did not differ from those producers who did not have contacts with Extension as to their personal and farm characteristics.

15. Producers who were older, were not employed off the farm, and farmed 25 acres or less were no more likely to use any of the seven selected production practices than those producers who were younger, employed off the farm, or farmed larger acreage.

Implications and recommendations also were included in this study.

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