Factors affecting intention to use variable rate technology-tillage by structural equation modeling.

Variable rate technologies are a type of precision agriculture (PA) technology used to evaluate soil stability. Tillage is applied for farmland conditioning in preparation for cultivation, and tillage objectives can be determined this technology. This study was based on a revised Technology Acceptance Model to investigate attitudes and intentions of agricultural experts using variable rate technology-tillage and working in the Agricultural Ministry of Iran; comparing results from two provinces. The study attempted to determine impacts of outer variables (attitudes of confidence, triability and observability) on the Technology Acceptance Model and to mark direct and indirect affects on experts' intentions and attitudes based on a theoretical model. The research method was a cross sectional survey. Two large and important provinces regarding agricultural production (Fars and Khuzestan) were selected and stratified; random sampling was used for data collection. 249 experts were selected as the sample group. The study was examined with Structural Equation Modeling and applied by PLS-Graph software. Findings demonstrated that those experts working in Fars province had less a positive attitude but more intention, perceived usefulness and ease of use toward variable rate technology-tillage than those of Khuzestan. Observability, as an outer variable affected experts’ attitudes and their intention to use, in both Fars and Khuzestan. Based on these research findings, some recommendations are presented.