Integration of indigenous and formal knowledge in the assessment of soil quality performance assessment using multiple factor analysis in Alborz central mountains

• Efficient indicators of formal and indigenous knowledge in the soil quality assessment. • Comparative analysis, synthetic performance index; subsequent allocation dimensions. • "Scientific" has the least similarity with "indigenous knowledge". • "Visual" and "indigenous knowledge" have the most similarity. • A methodology proposed a combined perspective of farmers’ and scientists’ knowledge. Despite the data gap between researchers and farmers in soil fertility assessment, there are similarities and coincidences between the achievements of scientific versus local assessments. Farmers’ land management practices are a function of perceived soil fertility assessment in day-to-day management decisions. Despite the efforts made, studies have yielded different results when comparing soil fertility assessments in terms of indigenous and scientific knowledge, thus calling for closer assessments using extensive creative and systematic approaches. The current study uses Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) to propose efficiency indicators based on the weighting of familiar, organizational, or productive variables in groups evaluating indigenous, scientific, and data variability. The end goal is to help identify the decision-makers’ training needs and decide on future institutional endeavors for developing productive skills and adopting better measures to evaluate soil fertility. By combining indigenous knowledge with innovations and improving the relationship between scientists and indigenous peoples and also promoting collaboration, thinking, and knowledge acquisition of farmers on how to maintain soil fertility and health, we hope to move towards sustainable agriculture as an institutional reform.