Herbicide use in conventional cereal production in northern Greece: An appraisal through the theory of planned behavior

BACKGROUND Herbicides are the major method of weed control in most conventional cropping systems, but what affects farmers' intention to use herbicides has not been studied extensively. This study examined herbicide use among cereal farmers of northern Greece and tested for the first time whether the theory of planned behavior (TPB) can explain farmers' behavior in the adoption of herbicide use. RESULTS Most farmers showed favorable attitudes towards herbicide use (71.2%), high levels of perceived behavioral control (PBC) of herbicide use (62.4%), and positive intention to use herbicides (67.6%). By contrast, most farmers (60.4%) were negative in following the advice of others in the adoption of herbicides. Finally, most farmers (82.8%) used herbicides in cereal production. The TPB explained 47.6% of the variation in farmers' intention to use herbicides. Logistic regression showed that intention and PBC positively affected (P < 0.01) farmers' behavior in herbicide use, explaining 45.8-76.2% of the variation in farmers' behavior. Path analysis showed that attitudes, subjective norms, and PBC had a direct impact on intention. Gender had an indirect impact on intention through PBC, while age and farming as a main profession had an indirect impact on intention through attitudes and subjective norms. Furthermore, education had an indirect impact on intention through attitudes and PBC. CONCLUSION Farmers' intentions and behavior in the use of herbicides in cereal production could be explained by the TPB. Attitudes showed the strongest total effect on the intention to use herbicides. (c) 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Automated summary

This study examined herbicide use among cereal farmers in northern Greece and tested whether the theory of planned behavior (TPB) can explain farmers’ behavior in adopting herbicide use. The findings showed that most farmers had favorable attitudes towards herbicide use, perceived high levels of behavioral control, and positive intentions to use herbicides.