Exploratory factor analysis of manure utilization for sustainable dairy farming: Evidence from crop-dairy farming systems in Turkey

The present study aimed to carry out an exploratory factor analysis to understand how manure utilization can contribute to sustainable dairy farming in integrated farming with crop-dairy farming systems. Factor analysis was used to put forth the sustainable manure utilization of farmers. The principal component method and varimax rotation were used in factor analysis. A total of 4 factors explaining the sustainable manure utilization of farmers were obtained as a result of the factor analysis. These 4 factors explain 51.29 % of the total variance. Factor 1 “Chemical fertilizer and manure utilization level and efficiency perception, Factor 2 “Soil analysis and crop nutrient utilization”, Factor 3 “Correlation between manure sufficiency and expenses (cost)”, Factor 4 “Limitations in chemical fertilizer and manure utilization”. Of these factors, Factor 1: “Chemical fertilizer and manure utilization level and efficiency perception” was identified as the most important explanatory factor. Factor 1 explains 19.06 % of the total variance. Chemical fertilizer applications integrated with manure can be made ecologically and economically more effective by increasing the awareness levels on sustainable manure utilization and nutrient management of farmers at the integrated farming in the study region.