Abstract
Introduction

Soil is the foundation of agricultural production and one of the most vital natural resources. Soil degradation through erosion, salinization, loss of organic matter, and compaction reduces fertility and threatens food security. Therefore, farmers’ behavior toward soil conservation plays a crucial role in agricultural sustainability. Farmers’ soil conservation behavior depends on a combination of economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors. Farmers’ soil conservation behavior extends beyond technical skills—it reflects their beliefs, economic conditions, education, and long-term understanding of natural resource value. The Theory of Planned Behavior provides a powerful framework for understanding farmers’ soil conservation behavior. By identifying the roles of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control, programs can be better designed to foster positive and sustainable behavioral change.

Materials and Methods
This research is applied in terms of its purpose, quantitative-correlational in nature, and descriptive-survey in terms of its method of conducting or implementing research. The statistical population was farmers in Midavoud district of Baghmalek county (N=1400), and the number of sample members was determined as 302 farmers using Morgan table. The sample individuals were studied using a completely random sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, which was developed using various studies. To determine the validity and reliability of the research instrument, content validity, construct validity (diagnostic validity), composite reliability, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used.
Results and Discussion
The results of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that the variables of Moral Norms,, Motivation and Attitude are the variables that affect farmers' intentions positively and directly and behavior positively and indirectly, and the variables of intention, perceived behavioral control, perceived knowledge and barriers are significant positively and directly on farmers' behavior, and these variables were ultimately able to predict 55 and 60 percent of the changes in farmers' intentions and behavior variables for soil conservation, respectively.
Conclusion
The results showed that the planned behavior model is a valid framework for understanding soil conservation intentions and behaviors among farmers. Therefore, educational programs should be designed by combining technical knowledge and psychological principles so that, in addition to increasing awareness, they also have an impact on the attitude and motivation of farmers. In this regard, educational specialists and relevant planners should act in programs designed for farmers in a way that these programs and courses can be most effective and create in the minds of the audience a concern for soil protection and the need to pay attention to it.
Keywords: Soil conservation, intention, behavior, theory of planned behavior