Positive Net Returns Research Articles

Economic impact of mortality prediction by predictive model at first and second treatment for bovine respiratory disease.

To evaluate a predictive model's ability to determine cattle mortality following first and second treatment for bovine respiratory disease and to understand the differences in net returns comparing predictive models to the status quo. 2 boosted decision tree models were constructed, 1 using data known at first treatment and 1 with data known at second treatment. Then, the economic impact of each outcome (true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative) was estimated using various market values to determine the net return per head of using the predictive model to determine which animals should be culled at treatment. This was compared to the status quo to determine the difference in net return. The models constructed for the prediction of mortality performed with moderate accuracy (areas under the curve > 0.7). The economic analysis found that the models at a high specificity (> 90%) could generate a positive net return in comparison to status quo. This study showed that predictive models may be a useful tool to make culling decisions and could result in positive net returns. Bovine respiratory disease is the costliest health condition experienced by cattle on feed. Feedyard record-keeping systems generate vast amounts of data that could be used in predictive models to make management decisions. It is essential to understand the accuracy of predictions made via machine learning. However, the economic impact of implementing predictive models in a feedyard will influence adoption.

Assessing the role of technology transfer and participatory technology development on farmers crop yield and income in Shawa village of Zalingei, Central Darfur State

This study is aiming at assessing the role of technology transfer and participatory technology development on farmers’ crop yield and income in Shawa village of Zalingei locality during 2022/2023 cropping rainy season. Clustered random sampling technique applied. Demonstration farm was established in an area of 1.5 feddan. Farmers field schools (FFSs) of 25 men and women farmers selected. Participatory Technology Development (PTD) for men and women farmers was also developed in an area of 1.5 feddan. Improved seeds will be grown versus local check. Each treatment comprising NPK fertilizer micro dose (0. 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 gram/ hole) randomly practiced. Fertilizer micro dose with percentage of 17-17-17 was added and mixed with seeds per hole at planting method. All farmers experienced to practical and theoretical farming of FFSs training in all research technical packages of land preparation, sowing date, seed preparation, seed dressing, thinning, weeding, water harvesting, soil conservation, pests and diseases control, seed production technologies, harvest and post harvest technologies. Results of partial crop budget revealed that all crops finically gave positive net returns. The highest yield kg/ha was obtained by Sorghum Wad-Ahmed 3500, Sorghum Butana with 3250, 3000 kg/ha for sorghum local and G/nut Gibaish, while the lowest yield/ha shown by sesame local (776 kg/ha). Therefore, the highest net returns was recorded by sorghum Butana (SDG 329048), sorghum wad-Ahmed (SDG 295477), sorghum local (SDG 269048) and G/nut Gibaish (SDG 108990). While the lowest net returns was computed by G/nut local with SDG 21,381. Results of marginal analysis revealed that sorghum Butana gave the highest MRR 1230. Results of Participatory Technology Development (PTD) of improved yields against local indicated that, the highest yield obtained by sorghum Wad-Ahmed and G/nut Gibaish (1100 and 950 kg/feddan), respectively. While the lowest yield obtained by sesame local (195 kg/feddan). The increased over decreased of improved versus local showed that sorghum wad-ahmed exceed local by 11%, millet Ashana 36%, sesame Promio 13% and groundnut Gibaish exceed local by 25%. The study recommended strengthening research extension farmers and enhancing farmers’ participatory technology development.

Research and Application on Kelly's Formula

The subject of investment finance holds significant importance in contemporary society, with position management in investment serving as a critical factor in determining outcomes of success or failure. Acquiring knowledge in the realm of efficient asset allocation can significantly enhance individuals' ability to effectively oversee their financial resources. The Kelly formula, initially employed for determining the proportion of funds wagered on a particular game, has emerged as a prominent betting strategy within the realm of probability theory. This method aims to optimize the overall growth rate of the main amount throughout a series of independent bets, each of which is intended to yield positive net returns. This study will examine the historical context of the Kelly formula, its mathematical derivation, its utilization in the realms of gambling and investment, and its consequential implications for individuals' investment strategies.

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL BREWERY BY-PRODUCTS ON FEED INTAKE, BODY WEIGHT CHANGE AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF WOYTO-GUJI GOATS FED HAY-BASED DIETS

Local brewery byproducts such as atella and tata, resulting from several fermented beverages, are used as animal feed in Ethiopia. However, there is no sufficient information on the nutritional value of those feed resources for animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing local brewery by-products on feed intake, body weight change, and economic profitability of Woyto–Guji goats fed on hay. Twenty-four yearling intact Woyto-Guji male goats were used. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block design. The goats were blocked into six groups of four animals based on initial body weight and randomly assigned to four different dietary treatments: hayalone (T1); haycombined with atella (T2); hay combined withtata (T3); and hay combined with an atella-tata mixture (1:1) (T4). The crude protein content of hay, atella, tata, and the atella-tata mixture used in this study were 7.35, 18.47, 17.51 and 17.86%, respectively. Dry matter intakes of 564.56 (T1), 810.27 (T2), 850.37 (T3), and 945.85 (T4) g/day, and crude protein intakes of 45.27 (T1), 104.18 (T2), 103.79 (T3), and 112.96 (T4) g/day were recorded. Total body weight gains were 2.76, 8.03, 6.15 and 9.72 Kg for the same treatments, respectively. Atella and tata, either supplemented alone or combined, increased body weight. The highest body weight gain was recorded in goats fed atella-tata mixture. All treatments had a positive net return.

Outdoor pilot-scale cultivation and techno economic assessment of a novel omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid over-producing Nannochloropsis oculata strain

Nannochloropsis oculata is a microalga that produces a significant amount of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Cultivating strains in photobioreactors commercially can be challenging. We cultivated a mutant N. oculata strain, capable of accumulating >40 % EPA more than the wild-type strain at laboratory scale, in an outdoor 300 L pilot-scale photobioreactor, in the U.K. The mutant N. oculata recorded the highest amount of EPA quantity at 129.87 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW) compared to the wild-type strain, which accumulated 75.43 mg/g DCW. A techno-economic assessment (TEA) evaluated the feasibility of the study. Using specific combined cultivation scenarios, the process resulted in a positive net present value (NPV) and return on investment (ROI) at £52,156,484.46 and 607.22 % after 10 years, respectively. The TEA of the improved EPA quantity by M1 N. oculata showed the high processing cost could be overcome by high yields and an optimised operational strategy.

Economics of Cover Crops

AbstractWhile a comprehensive economic analysis of cover crops accounting for all soil ecosystem services from cover crops is lacking, the available studies indicate that cover crops have potential to provide positive net returns if biomass production is sufficient. Among the opportunities to generate positive economic outcomes from cover crops include grazing and harvesting cover crops, savings on herbicides and fertilizers, carbon credits, and monetization of soil ecosystem services. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

Rationalizing mineral gypsum use through microbially enriched municipal solid waste compost for amelioration and regaining productivity potential of degraded alkali soils

Reclamation of alkali soils to harness their productivity potential is more complex due to the presence of excess sodium ions, poor hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rate, resulting in poor plant growth and crop productivity. Sodic soil reclamation using inorganic ameliorants like mineral gypsum or phosphogypsum is beyond the reach of small and marginal farmers having alkali soils because of their higher market prices and shortage of availability. Conjoint use of inorganic and organic amendments can be a pragmatic solution for improving soil physico-chemical and biological properties and sustaining crop productivity. Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) available in abundant quantity if enriched with the efficient halophilic microbial consortium and used in conjunction with a reduced dose of gypsum can be a cost-effective approach for sustainable reclamation of alkali soils and harnessing their productivity potential. Hence, a field experiment was conducted on a high alkali soil (pH2 9.2 ± 0.10), electrical conductivity (EC) 1.14 ± 0.12 dS m−1, exchangeable sodium percentage 48 ± 2.50 and organic carbon (0.30%) was conducted during 2018–19 to 2020–21 to study the combined effect inorganic and organic (enriched municipal solid waste compost (EMSWC)) amendments on amelioration of alkali soils and sustaining productivity of rice–wheat cropping system. Application of gypsum @ 25% GR + enriched MSW compost @ 10 t ha−1 (T6) showed significant improvement in soil physico-chemical and biological properties over the sole application of organic (T3 and T4), inorganic (T2) and control (T1). A significant improvement in soil fertility status in terms of available nitrogen and micronutrients as well as CO3, HCO3, Cl, Ca and Mg content were recorded with the combined application of organic and inorganic soil amendments (T5 and T6) over the sole application of mineral gypsum. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN) and phosphorus (MBP) improved significantly due to the application of EMSWC with gypsum over the application of gypsum only. Grain yield of rice and wheat increased significantly (P < 0.05) owing to the application of a reduced dose of gypsum (25% GR) and EMSWC @ 10 t ha−1 (T6) with values of 5.55 and 3.83 t ha−1, respectively over rest of the treatments. Three years economic analysis of the study revealed that treatments T6 and T5 gave the highest positive net return whereas it was lowest in treatment T1 and negative in treatment T2. The highest benefit-to-cost ratio (B:C) was obtained in treatments T6 and T5 which were significantly higher compared to the rest of the treatments.

Partial Budgeting Analysis of Muguga Cocktail Vaccine on Pastoralists’ Cattle in Narok County, Kenya

A 3-month prospective cross-sectional study was carried out to determine partial budgeting analysis of infection and treatment method (ITM) using the Muguga cocktail vaccine on pastoralists calves in Narok district, Kenya. The study was carried out in Osupuko and Loita sub-counties in Narok County. Partial budgeting analysis recorded positive net returns, an indication of the profitability of the ITM technology. The ITM realized a net return of Ksh.1, 559.59 per immunized calf. This was significant in the study area since the average price of a calf was relatively low (Ksh.4, 700.00). High net returns are indicators of the high profitability of immunization. Thus, it can be concluded from the study that it is economically worthwhile to immunize calves against ECF in Narok County. If immunization against the disease is integrated with reduced acaricide usage, then accrued returns are even much higher.

Partial Budgeting Analysis of the Fifty Percent Reduction in Acaricide Use and Adoption of Infection and Treatment Method on Pastoralists’ Cattle in Narok County, Kenya

A 3-month prospective cross-sectional and simulation study was carried out to determine a partial budgeting analysis of infection and treatment method (ITM) using the Muguga cocktail vaccine with the fifty percent reduction in acaricide use on pastoralists cattle in Narok County, Kenya. The study was carried out in Osupuko and Loita sub-counties in Narok County. Partial budgeting analysis recorded positive net returns, an indication of the profitability of the ITM technology with fifty percent reduction in acaricide use. The ITM, with fifty percent acaricide use, realized a net return of Ksh.708.9 per immunized animal. This was significant because the information was generalized to the expansive Narok County. Thus, it can be concluded from the study that it is economically worthwhile to immunize cattle against ECF with fifty percent reduction in acaricide use in Narok County.

PARTIAL BUDGETING ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT REDUCTION IN ACARICIDE USE AND ADOPTION OF INFECTION AND TREATMENT METHOD ON PASTORALISTS’ CATTLE IN NAROK COUNTY, KENYA.

A 3-month prospective cross sectional and simulation study was carried out to determine partial budgeting analysis of infection and treatment method (ITM) using the Muguga cocktail vaccine with seventy-five percent in reduction in acaricide use on pastoralists cattle in Narok County, Kenya. The study was carried out in Osupuko and Loita sub-counties in Narok County. Partial budgeting analysis recorded positive net returns an indication of profitability of the ITM technology with seventy-five percent reduction in acaricide use. The ITM with seventy-five reductions in acaricide use realized a net return of Ksh.906.4 per immunized animal. This was significant because the information was generalized to the expansive Narok County. Thus, it can be concluded from the study that it is economically worthwhile to immunize cattle against ECF with seventy five reduction in acaricide use in the Narok County.

131 Evaluating Supplementation Programs for Growing Calves Grazing Bermudagrass Pastures

Abstract Due to factors such as, high delivery costs, supplement availability, and labor; producers are interested in supplement delivery alternatives. Our objective was to determine gain in response to hand-fed (HF) or self-fed (SF) summer supplementation programs at the University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Research Station, on 20, 0.81-ha common bermudagrass pastures at a stocking rate of 5 growing calves per pasture (BW ± SD = 247 ± 24.6) over three years. This was a 2 x 2 + factorial arrangement of treatments, which included: Control (CON) – only free choice mineral; HF 1.13 kg/d by-product-based supplement offered only late summer (LS) or all summer (AS); SF tub supplement (PVM Cattle Tub, Positive Feed Ltd., Sealy, TX) either LS or AS. The HF supplement in year was a 50:50 blend of soybean hulls and corn gluten feed, in year 2 an extruded dried distillers grains cube (MasterHand Milling, Lexington NE) was used for HF, while in year 3 corn gluten feed was the HF supplement. Data were analyzed as a generalized randomized complete block design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Fixed effects in the model included supplementation treatment, year, and year by treatment interaction. Even though different HF supplements were used each year there was no year X treatment interactions (P ≥ 0.10); therefore, results are presented pooled across years. Early summer ADG was greater for HFAS (P &amp;lt; 0.01) than CON and SFAS, while supplemental efficiency (SE, kg added gain/kg supplement) in early summer was less (P = 0.05) SFAS than HFAS. Late summer ADG was greater for HF than SF and CON; while SE did not differ (P = 0.52) among treatments. Total supplement costs, in US dollars per steer for SF, were $67.50 when fed AS and $49.36 when fed in late summer only. Supplement costs for HF were much lower, $33.54 and $15.72/steer for AS and LS, respectively. Cost of added gain for SF was $28.33 and $16.14/kg for SFAS and SFLS, respectively. When providing supplement by HF, cost of added gain was $3.32 and $1.68/kg for HFAS and HFLS, respectively. With these results, we determined the most cost-effective way to add gain with supplement to growing calves grazing bermudagrass pasture is to hand-feed. When calves were HFAS, total supplement costs were higher, but considering the greater ADG, ending bodyweight, and supplemental efficiency ratio, HF supplements should provide a positive net return. Calves on this experiment did not respond as expected to the SF supplement, likely because the bermudagrass pastures in this experiment averaged over3% CP and were in excess of 10% even in the LS sampling periods.

Bioeconomic Analysis of In-Pond Raceway System Production of Foodsize and Stocker Hybrid Catfish (Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus ♀ × Blue Catfish, I. furcatus ♂)

The U.S. catfish industry is seeking production systems that are efficient, intensive, and profitable. Growing foodsize and stocker-sized fish in the same pond is attractive as it is often difficult to obtain larger-sized stockers early each year. This case study evaluated the performance and economics of producing foodsize hybrid catfish and stocker-sized fingerlings in in-pond raceway systems (IPRS) placed into four 0.4 ha ponds. Growout raceways (RW1/RW2) in ponds 1 and 2 were 63 m3, and 45 m3 in ponds 3 and 4 (RW3/RW4). Each pond had one (14 m3) stocker unit raceway and a 5 HP of aeration that maintained adequate dissolved oxygen levels. Average growout production was 12,050 kg/ha in 63 m3 raceways and 12,078 kg/ha in 45 m3 raceways (228 days of production) and achieved harvest weights ranging from 564 to 661 g. The raceway stocker unit had production yields ranging from 3537 to 4388 kg/ha (143 days of production) and achieved harvest weights ranging from 123 to 234 g. Stocker units in ponds 1 and 2 generated 8540 stocker–fingerlings (21,102 fingerlings/ha) and units in ponds 3 and 4 generated 7954 fingerlings (19,654 fingerlings/ha). An investment of USD 39,996 was needed for ponds 1 and 2 and USD 21,196 for ponds 3 and 4. When scenarios were analyzed financially, positive financial net returns occurred when farm level investment decreased, leading to reduced payback periods, increased net present values, and higher internal rates of return. IPRS used stocker units to culture fingerlings for future stocking of foodsize fish. IPRS provided good inventory control, and high production yields compared to traditional pond culture of catfish.

Does grazing winter cereal rye in Iowa, USA, make it profitable?

Unproven economic returns at the farm level are a major barrier to large-scale adoption of cover crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-run private net returns to producers implementing a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop preceding the no-till corn (Zea mays L.) phase of a US Midwest corn–soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) rotation in an integrated crop and cow–calf operation. We used experimental agronomic data from six location-years in Iowa to estimate private net returns to cereal rye across alternative scenarios in a partial budget framework. Net returns in the absence of grazing averaged −$123.74 ha−1 and were negative for 82.2% of the treatments, while net returns under partial grazing averaged −$15.24 ha−1 and were negative for 54.8% of the treatments. Early-broadcast cereal rye produced higher biomass and larger net cost savings in the livestock enterprise than late-drilled cereal rye, but it also resulted in higher corn yield penalties. In the no-grazing scenario, net losses for early-broadcast cereal rye were $165.97 ha−1 larger, on average, than for late-drilled cereal rye. Our findings should raise awareness about the low probability of obtaining positive annual private net returns to cereal rye in Iowa in the absence of sizable targeted financial incentives, and inform the policy discussion on the cost-effectiveness of government-sponsored conservation programs.

Is There an Economic Advantage to Planting Diverse Summer Annual Forage Mixtures?

This study examined economic implications of planting summer annual mixtures of grasses, legumes, and forbs at varying nitrogen rates. No differences in yield occurred between the three mixtures, indicating that mixtures with lowest seed cost will be most economical. Applying N resulted in yield increases of 12.26 lb DM per lb N applied. Although yield responses to N were positive, sensitivity analyses showed that applying N resulted in positive net returns only when hay prices were high and N prices were low. When utilization rates are accounted for, enterprise budgets determined grazing to be 18% cheaper to implement than haying.

Economics of Bulk Storage Techniques: Maize and Cowpea Storage in Ghana

High postharvest loss is one of the major challenges faced by farmers in many African countries in their efforts to achieve food and nutrition security. Several postharvest techniques have been developed and introduced to farmers aimed at reducing food losses. This study evaluated the economic viability of four such grain storage techniques using capital budgeting techniques. Two grain protectants were applied at recommended rates in three treatment combinations to jute sacks, PICS sacks, polytanks, and poly sacks at different treatment levels and at different discount rates. Under maize storage, the net present value of all treatments yielded positive net returns. The polytank technique proved to be the most economically viable storage technique, followed by PICS and then jute sacks. Under cowpea storage, polytank proved to be the most viable, followed by PICS. This is consistent under replacement chain method and equivalent annual annuity under the three different discount rates used. Cowpea is best stored in polytanks and PICS sacks. Polytank is recommended as the most economically viable storage technique for both maize and cowpea storage. PICS is also recommend for both maize and cowpea storage. However, jute sacks and poly sacks are not suitable for cowpea storage even under chemical treatment, especially under long-term storage (over 6 months). The choice of storage technique should consider the commodity under consideration.

Production trials of in-pond raceway system growing stocker and foodsize hybrid Catfish plus Nile tilapia

In Pond Raceway systems (IPRS) consist of floating or fixed floor rectangular raceways (RW) assembled or placed into existing earthen ponds. This case study evaluated the performance and economics of producing foodsize hybrid Catfish and stocker sized fingerlings in IPRS and Nile tilapia grown in cages, placed into four 0.4 ha ponds. Growout raceways in ponds 1 and 2 were 63 m3, and 45 m3 in ponds 3 and 4. Each pond had one (14 m3) stocker unit raceway plus a 36 m3 Nile tilapia cage placed into ponds 2 and 4. Each pond had 5.0 HP of aeration that maintained adequate DO levels. Catfish were fed a 32% CP commercial diet twice a day; Nile tilapia were allowed only to graze the phytoplankton flow generated by the growout and stocker IPRS units. The combined production from growout (186 days) and stocker (142 days) resulted in 19,712 kg/ha in pond 1, 19,302 kg/ha in pond 2, 19,426 kg/ha in pond 3, and 16,555 kg/ha in pond 4. The same number of Nile tilapia were stocked into the two cages and resulted in yields of 2167 kg/ha (pond 2) and 2160 kg/ha (pond 4); when combined with catfish production resulted in total gross production of 21,469 kg/ha in pond 2 and 18,715 kg/ha in pond 4. Foodsize average harvest weights ranged from 670 to 894 g, with survival rates ranging from 86 to 98%, and having weight gain per day (WGD) of 1.74 to 3.22 g/day. Raceway stocker unit achieved harvest weights ranging from 173 g to 186 g, with survival rates ranging from 75 to 90% and having WGD from 1.02 to 1.37 g. In general, efficient FCRs were achieved in all growout and stocker hybrid Catfish IPRS units. Hybrid Catfish raised in IPRS demonstrated excellent fish inventory control, promoted uniform hybrid Catfish production, with 90 to 95% of the foodfish harvested in the preferred premium size range. Production strategies for inclusion of co-cultured Nile tilapia along with the catfish IPRS systems were achieved with little investment and operating costs, resulting in overall positive net returns. Ponds housing IPRS catfish units plus a Nile tilapia cage had reduced investment payback periods, increased net present value and higher internal rates of return.

Comparing the cost-benefit probability of management based on early-stage and late-stage economic thresholds with that of seed treatment of Aphis glycines.

The current integrated pest management (IPM) curative strategy for soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), relies on responsive spraying foliar insecticides during the R1-R5 soybean stage when aphid abundance reaches the economic threshold (ET) of 250 aphids plant-1 (traditional IPM). By analyzing the relationship between aphid abundance and yield loss before the R1 stage, we developed an early-stage ET. We propose to spray foliar insecticides on plants colonized with aphids using the early-stage ET as a trigger (improved IPM), together with seed treatment to manage A. glycines and delay them exceeding the ET of 250 aphids plant-1 in the late stage for whole-field spraying (traditional IPM). Finally, we compared the cost-benefit probabilities of the three management approaches. The early-stage ET over all potential yields, market prices, and control costs was 64 aphids plant-1 , providing growers 7 days of preparation time to spray foliar insecticides before the economic injury level of 187 aphids plant-1 was reached. Improved IPM achieved the highest cost-benefit probabilities followed by traditional IPM, and the seed treatment achieved the lowest. However, in fields where the pressure from white grubs was high, the probability of achieving a positive net return with seed treatment was higher than that in other locations. Improved IPM based on early-stage ET of 64 aphids plant-1 was the most cost-effective of all the three approaches. Neonicotinoid seed treatment can be applied as an insurance strategy to supplement A. glycines IPM in Liaoning, China. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Economic analysis of smallholder dairy cattle enterprises in Senegal

Smallholder dairy production in Senegal is important to both livelihoods and food and nutrition security. Here, we examine the economic performance of smallholder dairy cattle enterprises in Senegal, using data from longitudinal monitoring of 113 households. The mean (and standard deviation) of the net returns (NR) per cow per annum (pcpa) was 21.7 (202.9) USD, whilst the NR per household herd per annum (phpa) was 106.1 (1740.3) USD. Only about half (52.2%) of the dairy cattle enterprise had a positive NR. The most significant income components were milk sale followed by animal sale, whilst the most significant cost components were animal feed followed by animal purchase. When households were grouped by ranking on NRpcpa, an interesting trend was observed: whilst the mean NRpcpa showed a fairly linear increase from the lowest to highest NR groups, income and cost did not. Income and costs were both higher for the lowest and highest NR groups, in comparison to the intermediate NR groups. The mean NRs of households grouped by the main breed type they kept were not significantly different from each other, due to large variances within the breed groups. However, the mean total income and costs were significantly higher for households mainly keeping improved dairy breeds (Bos taurus or Zebu × Bos taurus crosses) in comparison to those keeping indigenous Zebu or Zebu by Guzerat crosses. This study highlights the highly variable (and often low) profitability of smallholder dairy cattle enterprise in Senegal. Further actions to address this are strongly recommended.

Synergizing Microbial Enriched Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Mineral Gypsum for Optimizing Rice-Wheat Productivity in Sodic Soils

Municipal solid waste management and poor fertility status of sodic soils are two important issues experienced by all developing nations including India. Disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) being produced in huge amounts is a challenging task for researchers and policy makers. Reclamation of salt affected soils with chemical amendments is a costly affair for resource-poor farmers. Composting of MSW and its enrichment with microbes is one of the options for its recycling and utilization for the reclamation of salt-affected soils. A field experiment was conducted in sodic soil to study the performance of microbial enriched municipal solid waste compost (EMSWC) alone and in combination with a reduced dose of gypsum on growth, yield, nutrient uptake, and grain quality of rice and wheat. The experiment was conducted for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2019 and 2020 to 2021 at ICAR Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Research farm, Shivri, Lucknow, India, in sodic soil having pH 9.2, electrical conductivity (EC) 1.14 dSm−1, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) 48, and organic carbon 0.30%. There were six treatments consisting of control, recommended dose of gypsum (50% GR), and enriched and un-enriched MSW compost with reduced dose of gypsum (25% GR). Based on the results pertaining to plant growth, yield-attributing characters, and yields, the treatment T6 (application of microbial enriched MSW compost @ 10 t ha−1 in conjunction with gypsum @25% GR) performed the best. Grain yield of rice and wheat (5.45 and 3.92 t ha−1) with treatment T6 was 29.45% and 110.75% higher over control (T1) and 29.45% and 110.06% over the recommended dose of gypsum (T2). Maximum nutrient content and N, P, and K uptake in rice-wheat grain and straw was observed with the treatment T6 (MSW compost plus gypsum @ 25 GR). However, the highest Na content and Na: K ratio in plant parts were recorded in treatment T2. The highest positive net return and benefit to cost (B/C) ratio were observed in treatment T6 followed by T5 and the lowest in treatment T1 (control), whereas negative return was calculated in treatment of gypsum alone (T2). This shows that the cost of sodic soil reclamation with application of gypsum was not recovered until the second year of cultivation. The results of this study showed significant impacts in MSW management for regaining the productivity potential of sodic soils.

Costs and Profitability for Mechanized Pruning and Harvest in Two Cider Apple Orchard Systems

Growers need reliable information on costs and returns they can expect for a cider apple (Malus ×domestica) orchard suitable for mechanization because specialty cider apples can only be used for making cider, and returns are expected to be lower than for fresh table apples. This study estimates the costs, returns, and net profit that growers may realize by planting cider apples in either a freestanding or tall spindle system that use a mechanical harvester (both systems) and mechanical hedger (tall spindle system only). Results show that both production systems have positive net returns during full production, and their respective break-even returns are lower than the current market price, demonstrating that both systems are potentially profitable investments. Results also show that the tall spindle system is potentially more profitable due to the advantages of earlier start of fruiting and higher crop yield. The estimated net returns of the tall spindle system during full production are nearly 4 times higher than that of a freestanding system. At a discount rate of 10%, the net present value (NPV) of the tall spindle system is positive and payback period is 13 years, whereas the NPV of the freestanding system is negative. The discount rate represents the time value of money and reflects the perception of risk for the investment. The break-even discount rates (i.e., NPV = 0) are ≈6.88% for the freestanding system and 10.78% for the tall spindle system. Sensitivity scenarios found that when all else was constant, profitability increased as market price, crop yield, and production area increase and also when the cost of the harvester decreased. Because mechanical harvesters are expensive, profitability tends to be more favorable for larger farms due to economies of scale. Also, a high picking efficiency is important because fruit that falls on the ground is considered crop yield loss and reduces the gross income from cider apples.