Modeling farmers’ perception of agricultural practices and soil quality in arid regions of UAE: A PLS-SEM approach to sustainable land use

Sustainable land productivity in arid regions is critical for food security and agricultural resilience, particularly under climate variability and water scarcity. This study investigates the behavioral and environmental factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of land suitability and productivity (LSPP) in the UAE's arid region. For this purpose, an integrated theoretical model was developed considering the Theory of planned behavior (TPB), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF). Responses were collected from 620 farmers across agricultural regions in seven emirates of the UAE using a structured survey comprised of 12 constructs. The integrated theoretical model was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine both direct and indirect relationships among twelve constructs and investigate the factors affecting LSSP. Results showed that sustainability awareness (β=0.264, p = 0.000), water resource management (β=0.223, p = 0.000), crop preferences (β=0.214, p = 0.000) and knowledge sharing and support networks (β=0.123, p = 0.004) significantly influenced LSPP. The model explained 62.4 % of the variance in LSPP indicating strong explanatory power. Soil quality perception partially mediated the influence of awareness on land productivity perception, while factors such as soil management practices and environmental constraints had minimal impact. These findings emphasize the importance of water governance and sustainability engagement in enhancing farmer decision-making and land utilization strategies in arid environments. These insights provide evidence-based guidance for policymakers, agricultural extension services and land use planners to support sustainable farming in climate vulnerable regions.