Economic Efficiency of Different Irrigation Regimes for Silage Corn as Major Crop

Abstract

The study was conducted during the period 2009 – 2012 in the experimental field of the Agricultural Institute – Stara Zagora. In the field experiment on block method with silage corn was studied the influence of five irrigation regimes with different levels of water sufficiency on the economic efficiency of their application. It was found that: from the studied irrigation regimes for silage corn as first crop the most cost – effective irrigation regime is with optimal irrigation rate (60 mm), where the volume of total productivity increased by 78.3%. The net income increased by 115.3%, while the cost of 1 ton of biomass decreased by 19.8% compared to the non-irrigation regime. Irrigation of corn with 40% of optimal irrigation rate is economically ineffective. The efficiency ratio of net income in relation to expenses decreased by 9.9% compared to non-irrigated option. Under conditions of water deficit and expensive irrigation water it is recommended the irrigation of silage corn to be done with 60% of the optimal irrigation rate which increases the net income by 40.2% and reduces the cost of production by 13.4% compared to non-irrigated corn.