Optimization algorithms are effective and powerful tools for solving the non-linear optimization problems. Backtracking Search Optimization Algorithm (BSA) is a newly proposed Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) and has been applied to optimize different complex optimization problems in science and engineering. In the present study, a new adaptive control parameter based Improved Backtracking Search Optimization Algorithm (IBSA) is suggested. Due to the validation of the suggested method, it has been applied to CEC2005 benchmark functions and the simulation results are compared with different existing algorithms. Also, it has been used to determine active earth pressure on retaining wall supporting c-Ф backfill using the pseudo dynamic method. Simulation result shows that the proposed method is suitable to solve such type of problems and the results obtained are found satisfactory.