Economic feasibility of irrigation systems in broccoli crop

Fabricio C De Oliveira,Alexsandro C Dos S Almeida,Luciano O Geisenhoff,Joaquim A De Lima Junior,Rogério Lavanholi

doi:10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v36n3p460-468/2016

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of different irrigation systems in broccoli cropping, in Dourados - MS, Brazil. Initially, irrigation was performed using different systems (surface drip, subsurface drip, micro sprinkler, Santeno® and conventional sprinkler). Both yield of commercial inflorescence (CIY) and applied water depth (AWD) were determined during trial. Economic feasibility was analyzed through estimates of acquisition cost (AC), total annual cost (TAC), gross revenue (GR), net revenue (NR), benefit-cost rate (BCR), return rate (RR) and return time (RT). Subsurface drip irrigation was the most feasible in addition to using the second lowest AWD (170.3 mm) compared to the other systems. The values of CIY, AC, RR, BCR and TAC obtained by this system were 25.3 t ha-1, R $ 8,884.8 ha-1, R $ 65,446.9 ha-1 yr-1, 7.3 and 6.32%, respectively.

Highlights

Italica), irrigation is essential and a proper irrigation system is required to reach high yields, under a management that supplies the exact amount of water
Each irrigation system supplied a block of 80 plants, which was divided into four plots with 20 plants
We used a 25-year operating lifespan for the pumping system (KUMAR & SENSEBA, 2008); yet for dripping system, micro sprinkler and conventional sprinkler, we considered an operating lifespan of 15 years (MARQUES & COELHO, 2003)

Summary

Introduction

2016 required by plants, keeping soil moisture at desired levels, as well as providing water and energy savings (AYAS et al, 2011; KUMAR & SENSEBA, 2008). Broccoli cultivation is considerably new in Brazil (CECÍLIO FILHO et al, 2012); studies on most suitable irrigation systems for such crop are still needed. Literature studies highlight drip irrigation as most rational regarding water use, besides providing nutrients through fertigation practice (DOUH et al, 2013; van der KOOIJA et al, 2013; BORSSOI et al, 2012). All methods and systems such as surface drip irrigation (ERDEM et al, 2010), subsurface drip irrigation (DOUH et al, 2013), micro sprinkler (KUMAR & SENSEBA, 2008), Santeno® (GEISENHOFF et al, 2015), furrow irrigation (KUMAR & SENSEBA, 2008) and conventional sprinkling (LALLA et al, 2010) can be used for such vegetable cultivation

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion