Non-Radial Technical Efficiency of Water and Nitrogen Usage in Arkansas Rice Production

Arkansas rice production is highly dependent on energy related inputs such as water and nitrogen. This analysis uses Data Envelopment analysis (DEA) to calculate non-radial technical efficiency scores and quantifies input overuse for rice fields enrolled in the University of Arkansas, Rice Research Verification Program (RRVP), with special emphasis placed on estimation of water and nitrogen input overuse. The results reveal technical inefficiency exists in both water and nitrogen application, but other inputs may play more of a role in the overall technical inefficiency on rice fields. Average estimated overuse of water and nitrogen was 27.9% and 14.7%, respectively.