Economic evaluation of cereal cropping systems under semiarid conditions: minimum input, organic and conventional

Abstract

Cropping systems like organic farming, selling products at a higher price and promoting environmental sustainability by reducing fertilizer and pesticides, can be more profitable than conventional systems. An economic evaluation of three cropping systems in a seven year period experiment was performed, using a common rotation (fallow-barley-vetch-durum wheat) in a semi-arid rainfed field of Spain. The minimum input system included mouldboard ploughing, cultivator preparation, sowing and harvest. The conventional system involved mineral fertilizer and herbicide treatments, while the organic system involved composted manure and mechanical weed control. The resulting economic margins were highest with the minimum input system, followed by the organic and conventional systems. If the cereal grain from the minimum input system was sold at a higher price on the organic market, this system was the most profitable. Without the price difference, the organic system was as profitable as the conventional one. Key words: profitability, organic agriculture, crop rotation AVALIAÇÃO ECONÔMICA DE SISTEMAS DE CULTIVO DE CEREIAS EM CONDIÇÕES SEMIÁRIDAS: CULTIVO MÍNIMO, ORGÂNICO E CONVENCIONALRESUMO: Sistemas de cultivo como agricultura orgânica, cujos produtos têm custo mais alto, mas que promova sustentabilidade ambiental pela redução do uso de fertilizantes e pesticidas, pode ser mais lucrativo do que sistemas convencionais de cultivo. Efetuou-se uma avaliação econômica de três sistemas de cultivo num período experimental de sete anos, utilizando um sistema comum de rotação

Organic Versus Conventional Methods of Fertilization and Weed Control in a Long Term Rotation of Cereals in Semiarid Spain

“…Secondary factor (weed control): E1: Control, without weed control; E2: Mechanical weed control with harrow: one superficial pass along the sowing lines with a light flex-tine harrow (Hatzenbichler, St. Andrä, Austria), at tillering of the cereal. The regulation was set for the maximum weed control while avoiding appreciable crop damage according to previous work (Pardo et al, 2009a); and E3: Chemical weed control: herbicides chosen according to the existing weeds, aiming for selectivity and efficiency at an authorized dose and at the right moment (Table 4). The herbicides were selected according weed flora, crop (barley or wheat) and growth stages of both weeds and crop.…”

“…although it is difficult to determine a priori whether it is better than the chemical fertilizer. In any case, increase in yield could be not enough to compensate the costs of treatment application (Pardo et al, 2009a). Some authors underline that in dry years production is higher with compost than with chemical fertilizer, but the opposite occurs in wet years (Maiorana et al, 1992).…”

“…Under the semiarid climate of the studied sites the rotation and the nutrients remaining after the harvest were enough to maintain the relatively attainable low production levels through time (< 2500 kg). Focusing on the profitability of fertilizer treatments, only in one especially rainy year in Toledo location (2002) of 23 cases, the increase in crop yield with chemical fertilizer is justified (Pardo et al 2009a). The use of compost is not profitable in any case.…”

“…These problems have given rise to new productive models such as organic farming and integrated agriculture. These production systems can be profitable while providing environmental benefits by reducing or avoiding the use of chemicals and preventing other agricultural problems like pesticide resistance and soil residues (Pardo et al, 2009a). Furthermore, the reduction in agrochemicals can improve the sustainability of the system in the long term.…”

Qualidade do solo cultivado com morangueiro sob manejo convencional e orgânico

“…Alguns estudos têm demonstrado a superioridade do sistema de produção orgânico frente ao convencional, sobre os indicadores físicos, químicos e biológicos de qualidade do solo (Reganold et al 1993, Reganold et al 2001, Mäder et al 2002. No entanto, existem estudos nos quais não foram observadas vantagens (Trewavas 2004, Pardo et al 2009, ou sequer diferenças entre estes sistemas (Glover et al 2000, Kamiyama et al 2011.…”