Abstract

RUIZ-ESPINOZA, F. H. et al. Comparison of the Energetic Cost of Two Management of Soil for Basil. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.4, pp.383-389. ISSN 2395-8030.

The objective of this study was to determine the energy costs and economic returns of agroecological (reduced) tillage and conventional tillage systems used for basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), hypothesizing that reduced tillage would incur lower energy costs, resulting in increased economic returns. The experimental field study was conducted at the Agronomy Department of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur. The energy cost of reduced tillage system was 33% lower than the cost of conventional tillage, with savings equivalent to 644 MJ ha¹ (11 L diesel ha¹). Production cost with conventional management was only 4.8% higher; however, reduced tillage system showed higher yields (11 Mg ha^-1) and profits were 45% higher. This study suggests that energy inputs may decrease with reduced tillage systems; also, yield and economic returns were higher with the agroecological reduced tillage system evaluated.

Keywords : fuel; agroecological tillage system; conventional tillage.

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