An Economic Analysis of the Efficiency and Sustainability of Fertilization Programs at Level of Operational Systems of Soft Wheat in Umbria

This study analyzes the fertilization strategies in the perspective of the efficiency analysis. The analysis is conducted at farm level and framed into the conceptualization of the relationship between the decisional and operational systems (Sébillotte, Allain 1991). The conceptual framework emphasizes the importance of the response function approach, of the sustainability principles (Pretty, 2008) and of the organizational dimensions. Data on soft wheat were collected from FADN system. Data Envelopment Analysis indicates the importance of the operational systems organizational factors in determining the crop efficiency. The evidence suggests to consider the objectives of the fertilization program in the context of the organizational dimensions of the operational system.