engleski

Economic effect of liming in maize, sunflower and winter barley production

Acidification is very significant problem, widespread in Eastern Croatia what affects limiting field crops yield. Liming with carbocalk is a usual recommendation for soil improvement in Eastern Croatia. The aim of paper was to meet requirements of Croatian farmers regarding optimal level of liming from the economic point of view. In paper was conducted economic analysis of already published yield data. Field experiment with increased rates of lime (carbocalk - waste of Osijek Sugar factory, 39% CaO) was set up in November 2000 on arable land of Kutjevo Agricultural Holding (Eastern Croatia). Liming treatments were 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 t/ha. Field trails were cropped by maize (2001) – maize (2002) – sunflower (2003) – winter barley (2004). Conducted four year experiment confirmed liming effect on yield and production profitability. Since liming investment is quite expensive measure (liming costs participate up to 44% in total cost structure) it is important to know which crop will return invested money more quickly. Conducted liming experiment approved that less profitable crops would result in financial deficit (like maize because of low subsidies and redemption price), while more profitable crops (sunflower and barley) would achieve more respective financial impact of liming. Different approaches to costs analyses showed that liming impact on profit should be analyzed by distribution of liming costs on all seasons in period with liming impact on yield, rather than taking into account liming costs only in production costs of first crop after liming. Regression model for comparing profits and costs during all four seasons determined that the optimal liming dosage on experimental site would be 19 t/ha.

liming ; maize ; sunflower ; winter barley ; economic effect ; profitability

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