ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENTIAL CULTURAL PRACTICES IN CORN
Keywords:
Benefit-cost-ratio, Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria juncea, mineral nutritionAbstract
The aim of this study was to economically assess different crop management practices for corn cultivation, involving soil management with the utilization of cover crops, hybrid breeds and nitrogen levels in topdressing, to estimate the benefit-cost-ratio (BCR) of different practices. The corn experiment was planted at the beginning of February, in the Embrapa Arroz e Feijão research station, on a Distrophic Red Latosol. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks, with three replications and sub-subdivided plots. The plots were formed by four types of soil management: direct planting of corn on black mucuna stubble; on crotalaria stubble; and on spontaneous vegetation (fallow), and planting of corn in the conventional tillage system. The subplots were formed by five levels of nitrogen in topdressing (0 kg ha-1, 45 kg ha-1, 90 kg ha-1, 180 kg ha-1, and 360 kg ha-1) and the sub-subplots by four corn hybrids (BRS 3003, AG 1051, Green Maize HT-1, and Green Maize HT-2). The benefit-cost-analysis was performed on the basis of prices of inputs and operations collected on April 2007, using an Excel sheet. The practices with a BCR of more than 1.0 were considered economically viable. Considering BCR, the best soil management option was the fallow, without any addition of nitrogen in topdressing, followed by the system of conventional tillage, with 45 kg ha-1 of nitrogen in topdressing.
KEY-WORDS: Benefit-cost-ratio; Mucuna aterrima; Crotalaria juncea; mineral nutrition.
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