Abstract:Soil health plays a vital role to ensure sustainable agricultural production. To protect soil health, the Government of India launched Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme in 19
th 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 (P) were significant variables at 1 and 5 percent level. For non-holders, human labour and Nitrogen (N) were significant at 1 percent level and machine labour was significant at 5 percent level. Technical efficiency was also estimated and reported as 20.65 percent in case of SHC holders and 48.57 percent 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 were high 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 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.