Gross Margin Analysis of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Genotypes As Influenced By Sowing Dates

Abstract

In this study the economic performance of different sowing times of alfalfa cultivars were examined. Plots were established in 2015-2017 period, in the area of Siirt University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops,in Turkey. The randomized split block experimental design with three replications was applied in the study. Main plots were consisted from the genotypes and the subplots were consisted from the sowing times. The experimental material comprised of four alfalfa genotypes, three different planting times. The gross margin analysis were used to analyse the data for the study. Gross margin, indicator per unit area was used to evaluate of production success level and compare economic efficiency of different dates of planting for alfalfa genotypes. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test used for data normality test and analysis of variance used to analyze the differences between group means. As a result, maximum gross margin was obtanied at Magnum V planted on 5th April (D2) in 2017, while Nimet planted on 30th April (D3) in 2015 have the minimum gross margin (-13.61).