Ružica Lončarić

Profitability of winter wheat production influenced by liming and fertilization

Conducted experiments confirmed that fertilization and liming effected yield and production profitability regardless to considering impact of liming and fertilization as single or aggregate effect. The aggregate impact of liming and fertilization increased yield from 2,7 (control) to 6,7 t ha−1 in 2004 year and single effect of liming or fertilization increased yield from 4,7 to 5,5 or from 2,0 to 6,8 t ha−1, respectively in 2005 year. Cost analysis showes that share of fertilizer in total production costs were from 7% (liming) up to 55% (doubled liming and phosphorus fertilization). Moreover, costs calculation based on computer model for optimal fertilization implicates lower costs and higher profitability of wheat production. The aggregate profit analysis for all three experiments verified significantly lowest profit on control treatments, while any fertilization or liming treatment would increase profit. Optimal fertilization on all three sites would result in doubled profit.

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

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−1.