Farmer and advisor perspectives on soil amendments: motivators, barriers, and insights for scaling

Soil amendments such as gypsum, structure lime, and pulp and paper mill sludge have multiple localised agronomic and broader environmental benefits, but their uptake by farmers remains limited. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined farmers’ and advisors’ perceptions of factors influencing soil amendment adoption through interviews with 11 farmers and 5 agricultural advisors in Southwest Finland, complemented by a nationwide survey of 20 advisors, which provided supplementary perspectives on advisor perceptions. The findings suggest that adoption was shaped by interconnected domains of knowledge, perceived cost-effectiveness, and practical implementation and that these influence both farm and system levels. Farmers identified soil health and water protection as key motivations but reported a need for reliable information and practical experience. Advisors played a pivotal role in meeting these needs, though advisory capacity and service structures limited consistent guidance on soil amendments. Perceived economic risks, logistical challenges, and climate-related uncertainties were also identified as barriers to adoption. The findings highlight the potential value of strengthened advisory services, targeted communication, and collaborative initiatives for supporting the effective scaling of soil amendments within sustainable soil management.