Production and profitabity of bean like monoculture and associated with Persian lemon in the north of Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

In Martinez de la Torre, Veracruz, Mexico, there are 15,115 ha established with citrus trees, which are not yet in production can be used to plant beans as an associated crop. The aim of the present research was to compare the yield and profitability of the bean crop alone or associated with Persian lemon, as well as to determine which bean cultivation system is more efficient in the use of the land. The experiment was established in November 2017 in three localities in northern Veracruz. In each cultivation system, beans were planted in strips and occupied a surface of 216 m2. Four bean planting areas of 6 m2 each were delimited, by crop system, in which different agronomic variables were quantified, including grain yield, which were analyzed in a completely randomized experimental design with four replications, considering the values of the variables obtained in each area delimited as a repetition.  The 5% DMS test was use for separation of averages. A benefit-cost ratio analysis was also carried out and the land equivalence ratio (LER) was obtained. With the bean cultivation system associated with Persian lemon, an average yield of 1430.7 kg ha-1  was obtained, significantly higher than that produced in monoculture. There was also a net profit per hectare, 52.3% higher and the best benefit-cost ratio, in addition to a greater efficiency in land use ratio (LER of 1.23), than when the beans were established in monoculture.