Economic analysis of maize production as a function of theorical speed of the tractor-seeder set and the sowing site

Abstract

Economic feasibility analysis is the fundamental tool in planning any agricultural activity. Thus, the objective of this work was to analyze the economic viability of corn production in the semiarid region of Ceará. The study was carried out in an experimental area at the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, consisting of 3 theoretical speeds (5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 km/h) and 3 sowing sites (ridges, furrows and conventional), with 5 repetitions. The following were evaluated: operating costs, crop productivity, gross revenue (RB), contribution margin (MC), contribution margin index (BMI) and the cost-benefit ratio (C/B). Operating costs for the installation of 1 ha of corn, second crop 2018/2019, reached R$ 3,864.49, the largest disbursement was obtained with supplementary irrigation, received by the crop during the course of the cycle. The L1V2 treatment showed higher average productivity, generating a higher RB (R$ 5,461.44) and, consequently, a higher MC (R$ 3,238/ha), as well as a higher BMI (59.29%). The best C/B ratio was obtained in treatment L3V3 (1.33), being considered viable.