engleski

Economic efficiency of plant protein fodder production

Investigations were carried out in 2002 and 2003 on two locations in the lowland part of the Republic of Croatia. The research objective was to determine the technological and economic effectiveness of different intensities of soybean, fodder pea and faba bean production (tentatively called low- and high-intensity production systems). Trials on all three crops included application of two nitrogen rates (40 and 80 kg N/ha) and two weed control levels for each crop. Weather conditions had a dominant effect on trial results. In 2002, which was favourable in terms of precipitation, the highest protein yields were achieved in high-intensity soybean production. In the dry 2003, yields of fodder pea protein at both levels of production intensity and those of soybean protein at the high-intensity level were approximately equal. Faba bean responded most strongly to adverse weather conditions with reduced seed and protein yields. The highest profit in the favourable year was achieved in the high-intensity soybean production system. In dry conditions, investments into high-intensity production (higher nitrogen rates and more intensive weed control of soybean, fodder pea and faba bean) were not cost-effective.

economic efficiency; production system intensity; soybean; fodder pea; faba bean

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