Abstract: Here, we estimate the rationality of specific agricultural inputs and discuss the sensitivity of integrated agricultural output to various resources input for Chaohu City, China. We used two parameters, marginal output and elastic coefficient, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, which has an unambiguous geometric meaning and is simple and convenient, to integrate various output and input. The results indicate that for most of 2001-2009, agricultural inputs rose except that the number of people engaged in agricultural production fell. Although integrated agriculture output increased, the proportion of resources with a negative utilization efficiency was 23.82% from 2001 to 2009. Integrated output was more sensitive to agricultural pesticide, the irrigation ratio and the use of plastic film. Integrated outputs may be increased by moderate decreases in input. This type of agricultural production meets the requirements of resource saving and is a sustainable mode of resource utilization.

Key words: marginal output, elastic coefficient, TOPSIS method, resources input, rationality, sensitivity