Production and profitability of diversified agricultural systems

• Main Author: VOLSI,BRUNO
• Publication Date: 2021
• Other Authors: HIGASHI,GABRIEL EIJI, BORDIN,IVAN, TELLES,TIAGO S.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (Online)
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-37652021000301800
• topic: crop rotation; cost analysis; investment analysis; agricultural economy; conservation agriculture

Abstract Diversified crop rotation is an option for expanding producer incomes, and its adoption has presented a series of agronomic advantages compared to less diversified crop rotation systems. In this context, the objective of this study was to verify if higher-diversified crop rotation systems perform economically better than low-diversified ones. To this end, we conducted an experiment in no-tillage crop areas in Londrina, in south of Brazil, for the years 2014/15 to 2016/17. The experiment design was randomized blocks, with six treatments, consisting of crop rotation systems with different levels of diversification, and four replications. We observed that higher-diversified crop rotation systems yield higher revenues and profits. Only these systems, specifically the ones that included canola-corn, crambe-corn, and safflower-soybeans, or wheat-corn+brachiaria, canola-corn, and edible beans-soybeans were economically feasible. Despite higher cost, diversified systems with a greater number of commercial crops in winter presented higher profits. However, diversified systems with a high proportion of cover crops in winter are economically infeasible because their net return is negative.