Economic analysis of intercropping with Brachiaria brizantha grain annual crops geared to the recovery of pastures in the Amazon, Brazil

Abstract

The intercropping grain annual crop with tropical forages can be an economically interesting, since grain production minimizes costs dispensed with the recovery of pasture. This practice justified the economic analysis of intercropping Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and grain annual crops as a way to recover degraded pastures in the Amazon. The experiment was conducted in the agricultural year 2009/2010, using a randomized complete block design, with three replications, and treatments of the intercropping of B. brizantha cv. Marandu with: rice sown 30 days before Brachiaria, corn for grain sown simultaneously; seeded corn for silage simultaneously, grain sorghum sown simultaneously and sorghum silage sown simultaneously. The analysis of operational costs was based on the prices of inputs and agricultural operations and gross revenues in the average sales price of cereals in the State of Mato Grosso. Grain yield of rice, maize and sorghum intercropped with B. brizantha cv. Marandu determined gross revenues of R$ 1,962.41, R$ 1,804.18 and R$ 750.92, respectively. However, the production costs of these intercropping were high, resulting in lower net revenues, and in this context, the intercropping of corn and sorghum for silage with B. brizantha cv. Marandu were more competitive. Intercropping of rice, corn and sorghum for silage with B. brizantha cv. Marandu is economically viable, and can be used in training, recovery and reform of degraded pastures on the Amazon.