Investigation of farmers’ awareness of water conservation and its determinants in arid regions: A case study of the Turpan-Hami Basin

Farmers are the primary agents of agricultural water conservation, and their awareness of water conservation is a key factor in guiding their behavior and achieving efficient water use, which is particularly vital for ensuring the rational allocation and sustainable utilization of water resources in arid regions. This study used random sampling to assess water conservation awareness among 332 farmers in the Turpan–Hami Basin and systematically analyzed its spatial distribution and key influencing factors using kriging interpolation and a binary logit model. The results revealed that: (1) From 2005 to 2024, the water conservation rate in the Turpan–Hami Basin showed a fluctuating upward trend, surpassing 80 %, yet significant regional disparities in farmers’ water conservation awareness remained; (2) Areas with low levels of awareness were spatially associated with regions of low satisfaction with conservation outcomes and high levels of farmland investment. The spatial distribution of farmland income, water supply availability, and conservation subsidies was relatively scattered, while farmers’ understanding of conservation technologies and the intensity of government support exhibited a broadly consistent pattern, increasing from west to east; (3) The binary logit model identified nine statistically significant factors influencing water conservation awareness. Among these, the intensity of government support, farmland income, and satisfaction with conservation outcomes were critical determinants, with higher levels of these factors corresponding to stronger awareness. This study provides scientific and theoretical support for advancing water conservation agriculture and formulating relevant policies in arid regions.