RENTABILIDADE DA RÚCULA FERTILIZADA COM BIOMASSA DE FLOR-DE-SEDA EM FUNÇÃO DA ÉPOCA DE CULTIVO

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the profitability of the production of rocket ferti-lized in different amounts of roostertree biomass and times of incorporation of this green manure into the soil, in two cultivation seasons (spring-summer and autumn), in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The exper-imental design was a randomized block with the treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 4, with three replications, with the first factor consisting of amounts of roostertree biomass (5.4, 8.8, 12.2 and 15.6 t ha-1 on a dry basis), and the second factor by the incorporation times into the soil (0, 10, 20 and 30 days before sowing of the rock-et). Beyond the green mass yield and production costs, were determined the following economic indicators: gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin. The optimal agronomic performance of the rocket was obtained into monetary terms. Spending on hand labor accounted for 69% of protuction costs. Due to the increase in the daily price of rural workers, the costs of preparation of the green manure were higher in autumn. The cultivation of the rocket under fertilization with roostertree was feasible from the economic perspective, regardless the amount of green manure, time of incorporation into the soil and cultivation season. The amount of 12.2 t ha-1 of roostertree biomass promoted greater profitability for the production of rocket. The incorpora-tion of green manure at 20 days before planting the crop was considered ideal to the economic viability of the activity. The net income of the rocket was higher in the autumn season.