Economic Evaluation of Nitrogen Fertilization Levels in Beef Cattle Production: Implications for Sustainable Tropical Pasture Management

William Luiz de Souza, Eliéder Prates Romanzini (), Lutti Maneck Delevatti, Rhaony Gonçalves Leite, Priscila Arrigucci Bernardes, Abmael da Silva Cardoso, Ricardo Andrade Reis and Euclides Braga Malheiros
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William Luiz de Souza: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Eliéder Prates Romanzini: Institute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4701, Australia
Lutti Maneck Delevatti: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Rhaony Gonçalves Leite: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Priscila Arrigucci Bernardes: Institute for Future Farming Systems, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4701, Australia
Abmael da Silva Cardoso: Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, FL 33865, USA
Ricardo Andrade Reis: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
Euclides Braga Malheiros: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Understanding economic scenarios is crucial in all production chains. Tropical pastures are Brazil’s primary food source for beef cattle production, and current pasture management is not ideal due to land degradation. An economic evaluation assists farmers with improving pasture management using novel techniques, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization, which is straightforward and practical. The economic effects of different N fertilizer levels in beef cattle production were evaluated. This study was conducted over three years (2014/2015, 2015/2016, and 2016/2017) using four concentrations of urea fertilizer (0, 90, 180, and 270 kg N/ha). A principal component analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed using financial data. A financial pattern was observed, with increases in some variables, such as cost-effective operating and cost-total operating from those measuring costs and gross revenue, operating profit, and net income from those estimating revenues. Treatment with 180 kg N/ha fertilizer resulted in increased profitability, payback, internal rate of return, and net present value (at 6% and 12% tax) of 17.76%, 2.79 years, 35.79%, and USD 5926.03 and USD 1854.35, respectively. For this study, the main costs associated with profitability were supplementation, animal purchases, and sale prices. The best treatment to achieve excellent grazing pressure in tropical areas with oxisol is 180 kg/ha per year.

Keywords: cost-total operating; nitrogen fertilization; pasture management; principal component analysis; sustainable farming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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