Economy in greenhouse cultivation of organic lettuce with the use of developed seedlings

Abstract

The objective of this work was to carry out an economic analysis of the use of protected environments and different volumes of containers in the cultivation of lettuce in an organic production system. The experiments were carried out in two protected environments: greenhouse covered with polyethylene and open on the sides and greenhouse covered with polyethylene closed anti-insect screen, in both, the experimental design was in randomized blocks with five treatments (container volumes): 70, 160, 250, 340 and 430 cm³. The protected environments were in an greenhouse covered with polyethylene open at the sides and a greenhouse covered with polyethylene closed at the sides with anti-insect screen. In order to evaluate the economic analysis, productivity and costs were used for each m2 of cultivation and the local price for the lettuce and inputs was considered in the last quarter of 2017, considering a 3% administration cost and a 6% opportunity cost, depreciation of infrastructure and land costs. There was profit above the minimum rate (6% p.a.) in all treatments, except the one with 70 cm³ recipient in an greenhouse with anti-insect screen, in an greenhouse without anti-insect screen, the 250 cm³ recipient produces the best economic indicators among all treatments.