Economic aspects of phosphorus application to the corn crop

Abstract

Phosphorus has an expressive participation in corn crop production costs, especially for the Brazilian 'cerrado' soils. The economic aspects of this practice must be evaluated, mainly in the case of a competitive global market. Therefore an assessment of certain economic aspects related to the application forms of phosphorus was made. Cast and single furrow application methods were used in comparisson to the alternative double furrow practice. The BR 3123 hybrid corn was used. Treatments consisted of the P application modes in double furrow, single furrow and cast, at the levels of: 0; 0.50; 0.75; 1.00; 1.25; 1.50 of the recommended rates for corn (90kg of P2O5 ha-1). For the analysis average prices in force during the 1990's of one ton of corn and one ton of triple superphosphate were considered (US$86.06 and US$224.69, respectively), and the total operating cost of US$342.22 ha-1. In general the increase of the phosphorus rate boosted the yield and the net income per hectare; the cast fertilizer aplication by hand proved to be economically unfeasible. The double furrow treatment resulted, on the average, in a higher net income and a cost/benefit ratio exceeding by 17.7% that of the single furrow application mode.