Cropping System Diversification: Water Consumption against Crop Production

Carlos Bautista-Capetillo, Hugo Márquez-Villagrana, Anuard Pacheco-Guerrero, Julián González-Trinidad, Hugo Júnez-Ferreira and Manuel Zavala-Trejo
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Carlos Bautista-Capetillo: Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus Siglo XXI, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Hugo Márquez-Villagrana: Hydraulic Consultant, Letheos S. de R. L. de C. V., Constelación Can Menor 312, Zacatecas 98087, Mexico
Anuard Pacheco-Guerrero: Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus Siglo XXI, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Julián González-Trinidad: Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus Siglo XXI, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Hugo Júnez-Ferreira: Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus Siglo XXI, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Manuel Zavala-Trejo: Doctorado en Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Campus Siglo XXI, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: This research reports on two pepper species cultivated in a pilot plot and protected under white shade nets during the 2014, 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. The goal of the study was to compare crop yield, water productivity, and economic productivity between sorghum and corn as extensive crops (ECs), and habanero peppers and bell peppers as intensive crops (ICs). The average values of crop yield, water productivity, and economic productivity were 4.8 Mg (Tons) ha −1 , 1.1 kg m −3 , and 722.00 USD ha −1 for sorghum; and 7.0 Mg ha −1 , 1.2 kg m −3 , and 1390.00 USD ha −1 for corn. Average values of 45.0 Mg ha −1 , 7.3 kg m −3 , and 85,900.00 USD ha −1 ; and 72.5 Mg ha −1 , 10.4 kg m −3 , and 66,390.00 USD ha −1 were obtained for habanero peppers and bell peppers, respectively—both were cultivated during 2014, 2015 and 2016. According to the climate conditions of this region, crop water requirements for pepper crops are 41.66% higher than for grain crops; nevertheless, the on-farm water application efficiencies are 92% and 58% respectively. Consequently, 11.97% more water is used for ICs than for ECs. The economic profitability for farmers was 72 times higher for intensive crops than for extensive crops.

Keywords: crop water requirements; water productivity; economic productivity; intensive and extensive cropping systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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