International Journal of Horticulture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 299-311 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/ijh 305 The solo organic fertilizer cost averaged 56,742 (SD=28,928.84) overall, with small producers averaging 65,295 (SD=34,639.37) and large producers at 46,051 (SD=13,829.39), also showing significant difference. Table 4 Compared the costs of various agricultural inputs of solo cropping Variables Overall (N=90) Small producer (N=50) Large producer (N=40) Mean difference t-value p-value Solo mini-tiller cost-NRs/ha 875 (1972.02) 758(999.61) 968 (2499.61) 210.48 0.50 0.618 Solo bullock cost-NRs/ha 14453 (7749.05) 16 818(8598.00) 11497 (5293.36) -5320.75*** -3.42 0.001 Solo organic fertilizer-NRs/ha 56742 (28928.84) 65295(34639.37) 46051 (13829.39) -19243.21*** -3.30 0.001 Solo chemical fertilizer cost-NRs/ha 15266(5671.77) 14410 (6146.34) 16335 (4882.31) 1924.46 1.61 0.110 Solo potato tuber cost-NRs/ha 30733(14876.96) 25628 (3153.24) 34817 (18862.54) 9188.26*** 3.04 0.003 Solo pesticide cost-NRs/ha 2979 (2072.56) 3845 (2366.14) 1895 (775.92) -1949.85*** -4.99 0.001 Solo irrigation cost-NRs/ha 5506 (6365.28) 8124 (7578.22) 2234 (730.40) -5890.83*** -4.89 0.001 Solo transportation cost-NRs/ha 4363 (3228.07) 2334 (833.65) 5985 (3511.14) 847.16*** 7.17 0.001 Solo storage cost-NRs/ha 1048 (696.75) 1425 (734.89) 578(142.95) -847.16*** -7.17 0.001 Solo labour requirement cost-NRs/ha 44992 (21509.08) 32259 (10478.55) 55178 (22687.10) 22918.27*** 5.90 0.001 Note: *** indicate significant at 1% level For solo chemical fertilizer costs, the overall average was 15,266 (SD=5,671.77), small producers at 14,410 (SD=6,146.34), and large producers at 16,335 (SD=4,882.31), showing no significant difference (p=0.110). The average for solo potato tuber costs was 30,733 (SD=14,876.96), with small producers averaging 25,628 (SD=3 153.24) and large producers at 34,817 (SD=18,862.54), showing significant difference. Solo pesticide costs had an overall average of 2,979 (SD=2,072.56), small producers at 3,845 (SD=2,366.14), and large producers at 1,895 (SD=775.92), with a significant difference. The solo irrigation costs averaged 5,506 (SD=6,365.28) overall, with small producers at 8,124 (SD=7,578.22) and large producers at 2,234 (SD=730.40), also showing significant difference. For solo transportation costs, the overall average was 4,363 (SD=3,228.07), with small producers averaging 2,334 (SD=833.65) and large producers at 5,985 (SD=3,511.14), showing significance difference. Solo storage costs averaged 1,048 (SD=696.75) overall, small producers at 1,425 (SD=734.89), and large producers at 578 (SD=142.95), showing significant difference. Finally, the solo labour requirement cost had an overall average of 44,992 (SD=21,509.08), with small producers averaging 32,259 (SD=10,478.55) and large producers at 55,178 (SD=22,687.10), also showing significant difference. In summary, costs for bullock, organic fertilizer, potato tubers, pesticides, irrigation, transportation, storage, and labour were significantly different at 1%, while chemical fertilizer costs showed no significant difference. 3.5 Comparison of solo potato production and mixed potato production between small and large producers The analysis of potato production revealed that the overall average solo potato production was 4,216 kg with a standard deviation of 1,465.91 (Table 5). For small producers, the average was 4,452 kg (SD = 1,824.46), while large producers had an average of 3,922 kg (SD = 749.61). In terms of returns, the overall average was 293 646 NRs/ha (SD = 99,757.64), with small producers averaging 308,899 NRs/ha (SD = 123,893.77) and large producers averaging 274,580 NRs/ha (SD = 52,473.30). The total cost averaged 193,123 NRs/ha (SD = 76,445.36)
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