Understanding rice farmers’ fertilizer application behavior to advance sustainable agricultural practices in Bangladesh: insights from the extended KAP model

= 0.606). Knowledge showed significant positive associations with attitudes (β = 0.586, p < 0.01) and practices (β = 0.450, p < 0.01). Education (β = 0.230, p < 0.01), training (β = 0.610, p < 0.01), and extension services (β = 0.752, p < 0.01) significantly enhanced knowledge, while peer influence (β = 0.505, p < 0.01) and farmer perceptions (β = 0.265, p < 0.01) shaped attitudes. Attitudes positively influenced practices (β = 0.431, p < 0.01) and mediated the knowledge-practice relationship (indirect effect β = 0.243, p < 0.01). Among non-adherent farmers (72%), training and extension effects were substantially stronger (β = 0.833 and β = 0.912, respectively). Farm size (β=-0.106, p < 0.01) negatively and income positively (β = 0.093, p < 0.01) influenced practices. This study demonstrates that sustainable fertilizer practices require integrated interventions addressing knowledge gaps, institutional support, and social networks, offering evidence-based insights for targeted policy design.