Abstract
The present study was carried out to determine the amount of biomass of Calotropis procera and itsincorporation time into the soil that provide maximum productivity and profitability in the organic cultivation of coriander during the spring and autumn-winter, under the conditions of Serra Talhada, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in a randomised complete block design, in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with three replications. The first factor corresponded to the amount of biomass (5.4, 8.8, 12.2 and 15.6 t ha-1 on a dry basis), and the second to the incorporation time (0, 10, 20 and 30 days prior toplanting the coriander). In addition to the green-matter yield and production costs, the following economic indicators were determined: gross and net incomes, rate of return and profitability index. An amount of 12.2 t ha-1 C. procera in the spring and 8.8 t ha-1 in the autumn-winter resulted in greater productivity and profitability in coriander production. The incorporation of green manure 13 days (spring) and 23 days (autumn-winter) prior to sowing the crop was considered ideal for the economic viability of the activity. For the autumn-winter crop, the net income (BRL 19,607.10 ha-1) and rate of return (3.31) were respectively 58.6% and 28.8% higher than those obtained in the spring.
Highlights
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a leafy vegetable widely used in Brazilian cuisine in the composition and decoration of various dishes, especially in the Northeast of Brazil
From the results of the combined analysis of the variables evaluated as a function of the growing season, the amounts of C. procera biomass and their incorporation time into the soil, there was an interaction between the three factors for the characteristics of yield, green matter, gross income, net income and rate of return
Green-matter yield in the coriander reached a maximum value of 4.16 t ha-1 in the spring crop, associated with the amount of 12.2 t ha-1 C. procera, incorporated 10 days prior to sowing (Figure 2A)
Summary
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a leafy vegetable widely used in Brazilian cuisine in the composition and decoration of various dishes, especially in the Northeast of Brazil It is a crop with high commercial turnover, due to its short cycle (on average 30 to 40 days) and good emergence, generating a fast economic return for producers, which is one of the main reasons for its presence in vegetable farming (PEREIRA et al, 2011). It is traditionally cultivated by small producers, in home, school and community gardens, as a single crop or intercropped with other vegetables, especially chives and lettuce, using manure (cattle and goat) as a source of organic fertiliser. Among the organic fertilisers used, those of vegetable origin deserve attention: a technique that has recently been studied in the production of leafy and tuberous vegetables in the Northeast of Brazil (SILVA, M. et al, 2013)
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