Open AccessImpact of soil health card on fertilizer consumption and yield of paddy in Karaikal district for sustainable agriculture
Author(s) -
D. Senthamizhselvan,
K.S. Kumaravel,
D. Baskar
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of agricultural sciences/international journal of agricultural sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0976-5670
pISSN - 0973-130X
DOI - 10.15740/has/ijas/18.1/24-27
Subject(s) - agriculture , business , fertilizer , report card , agricultural economics , soil health , agricultural science , toxicology , economics , environmental science , geography , agronomy , soil water , psychology , pedagogy , archaeology , soil science , soil organic matter , biology
Soil health plays a vital role to ensure sustainable agricultural production. To protect soil health, the Government of India launched Soil Health Cards (SHC) Scheme in 19th February 2015. A sample size of 60 farmers of two groups 30 SHC holders and 30 non-holders were randomly selected for the study. Fertilizer use efficiency was estimated through stochastic frontier analysis for card holders and the results revealed that area and phosphorus were significant variables at 1 and 5 per cent level. For non-holders, human labour and nitrogen was significant at 1 per cent level and machine labour was significant at 5 per cent level. Technical efficiency was also estimated and reported as 20.65 per cent in case of SHC holders and 48.57 per cent for non-holders. Cost of cultivation worked out for card holding farmer (Rs.27171.66/ac) was found to be lesser than the non-holders (Rs.28902.12/ ac). But gross income and net returns for card holders was more when compared to non-holders due to proper utilization of fertilizer and other resources. B: C ratio for card holders was 1.14 and for non-holders it was 1.06. The constraints were ranked using Garrett ranking technique and difficulty in calculating appropriate fertilizer dose matching the nutrient status of soil was ranked as first by card holders and non-issuance of SHC was reported by non-card holders.