Abstract
This research reports on two pepper species cultivated in a pilot plot and protected under white shade nets during the 2014, 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The goal of the study was to compare crop yield, water productivity, and economic productivity between sorghum and corn as extensive crops (ECs), and habanero peppers and bell peppers as intensive crops (ICs). The average values of crop yield, water productivity, and economic productivity were 4.8 Mg (Tons) ha−1, 1.1 kg m−3, and 722.00 USD ha−1 for sorghum; and 7.0 Mg ha−1, 1.2 kg m−3, and 1390.00 USD ha−1 for corn. Average values of 45.0 Mg ha−1, 7.3 kg m−3, and 85,900.00 USD ha−1; and 72.5 Mg ha−1, 10.4 kg m−3, and 66,390.00 USD ha−1 were obtained for habanero peppers and bell peppers, respectively—both were cultivated during 2014, 2015 and 2016. According to the climate conditions of this region, crop water requirements for pepper crops are 41.66% higher than for grain crops; nevertheless, the on-farm water application efficiencies are 92% and 58% respectively. Consequently, 11.97% more water is used for ICs than for ECs. The economic profitability for farmers was 72 times higher for intensive crops than for extensive crops.
Highlights
IntroductionThe green revolution brought with it mass production of staple cereals (wheat, rice, and corn) to solve the problem of feeding a growing population [1,2]
The green revolution brought with it mass production of staple cereals to solve the problem of feeding a growing population [1,2]
In the Mexican agricultural sector, application efficiency still prevails as one factor of great importance, especially in extensive cropping systems where economic benefits for producers hinder the implementation of infrastructure to irrigate more efficiently
Summary
The green revolution brought with it mass production of staple cereals (wheat, rice, and corn) to solve the problem of feeding a growing population [1,2]. According to several studies [16,17,18], higher rates of damage to the environment tend to occur in regions with low per capita income Such negative impacts are, in part, attributable to agriculture because of its use by governments as an economical mechanism to reduce rural poverty, mainly in developing countries [19,20]. In terms of groundwater extraction, irrigated agriculture is the principal user of this water source, inducing an excessive exploitation of the aquifers and degrading groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the process [12] Along these lines, several authors (e.g., Wang and Qiu [21]) have reported that agriculture is responsible for more than 70% of deforestation. Framework and index approaches have been developed for assessing environmental sustainability in agriculture [14,15,22], in an effort to implement policies to reduce agricultural pollution
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