Economic Efficiency of Slow Release Fertilizer Application in Sedge Production in Nga Son District, Thanh Hoa Province

Abstract

       The aim of the present study was to assess the economic efficiency of slow release fertilizers (SRF) in sedge production in Nga Son district, Thanh Hoa province. Data was collected from 34 and 87 households with and without SRF usage, respectively, in summer crop of 2014. The indicator used to measure economic efficiency was value added (VA) in the value chain analysis (VCA) in accordance with household economics. Partial budget analysis (PBA) was utilized to clarify the differences in VA between households with SRF and without SRF usage. It is found that the application of SRF (N: P: K = 17: 7:10) at 700 kg.ha^-1 with supplementary fertilization of 70kg super phosphate yielded in highest economic return. Two-way sensitivity analysis with various sedge price and productivity scenarios confirmed the stability of the practice. Therefore, tt is strongly recommended that this practice should be used in sedge production in Nga Son, Thanh Hoa.