ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF A CULTIVATION MODEL USING POLYHALITE FERTILIZATION AND SOIL MOISTURE CONTROL TO REDUCE ARIL HARDENING IN RI 6 DURIANS IN CAN THO CITY

Abstract

Seeking practical cultivation solutions to enhance the commercial value of agricultural products in the Mekong Delta, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a cultivation model aimed at reducing physiological disorders of Ri 6 durian through the combined application of polyhalite fertilization and plastic mulching was implemented in three durian orchards located in Dong Phuoc, Phung Hiep, and Phong Dien, Can Tho City, from June 2024 to May 2025. Through continuous monitoring and comprehensive data analysis, the cost-benefit landscape became distinctly clear. Specifically, the results showed that the proposed model achieved higher economic efficiency, with an average increase of VND 45.4 million ha⁻¹ compared with the farmers’ conventional practices. This profit margin increase was achieved by thoroughly addressing the fruit's physiological defects. Indeed, although production costs in the experimental model were higher due to additional inputs, including polyethylene (PE) plastic mulch, polyhalite fertilizer, and increased labor requirements, the model significantly reduced the physiological disorders (2%) compared with the farmers’ model (11%). By upgrading the output standards, consequently, the price of durian under the proposed model was VND 4,000 kg⁻¹ higher than that obtained under the farmers’ practices. This quality enhancement brought direct financial gains; as a result, total income and net profit were substantially higher than those of the farmers. Drawn from this vivid, highly feasible practical evidence, based on these findings, it is recommended that growers adopt this integrated cultivation approach to improve economic efficiency and fruit quality in durian production.