International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

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 Volume 11, Issue 9 (September 2024), Pages: 48-55

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 Original Research Paper

Development of a training manual to enhance agriculturists' knowledge and skills in using African nightcrawler earthworm fertilizer for environmental conservation

 Author(s): 

 Prayoon Wongchantra 1, Suparat Ongon 1, *, Siripan Ponsen 2, Worapol Aengwanch 3, Likhit Junkaew 1, Kannika Sookngam 1, Uraiwan Praimee 1

 Affiliation(s):

 1Research Unit Environment, Culture, Education, Herbs and Biodiversity, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
 2Faculty of Technology, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
 3Stress and Oxidative Stress in Animal Research Unit of Mahasarakham University, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand

 Full text

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 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4115-0683

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2024.09.006

 Abstract

The aim of this research was to create a training manual that promotes the use of African nightcrawler earthworm fertilizer for environmental conservation among agriculturists. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to using African nightcrawler earthworm fertilizer for environmental conservation before and after training. The sample included 30 agriculturists from Ban Han, Moo 4, Kwao sub-district, Muang district, Maha Sarakham province. Research instruments included a training manual, knowledge test, attitude test, and skills test related to the use of the fertilizer. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and paired t-test with a statistical significance level of .05. The findings were as follows: 1) The training manual was found to be effective, with an efficiency rate of 88.93/81.07, meeting the established criteria. Agriculturists showed a 65.15% improvement in their knowledge of African nightcrawler earthworm fertilizer for environmental conservation after using the manual. 2) The agriculturists' average scores in knowledge, attitude, and practical skills related to using the fertilizer were significantly higher after training, with a statistical significance level of .05.

 © 2024 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 African nightcrawler earthworm fertilizer, Environmental conservation, Training manual, Agriculturists, Knowledge and skills improvement

 Article history

 Received 13 December 2023, Received in revised form 19 August 2024, Accepted 2 September 2024

 Acknowledgment

This research project was financially supported by Mahasarakham University. This research was successfully completed thanks to the great kindness and help from the Faculty of Technology, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies and Stress and Oxidative Stress in Animal Research Unit of Mahasarakham University, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Ethical considerations

This study adhered to ethical standards with informed consent obtained from all participants, ensuring confidentiality and voluntary participation. Ethical approval was granted by Mahasarakham University.

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Wongchantra P, Ongon S, Ponsen S, Aengwanch W, Junkaew L, Sookngam K, and Praimee U (2024). Development of a training manual to enhance agriculturists' knowledge and skills in using African nightcrawler earthworm fertilizer for environmental conservation. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 11(9): 48-55

 Permanent Link to this page

 Figures

 Fig. 1 

 Tables

 Table 1 Table 2 Table 3 Table 4 Table 5 

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