Economic Evaluation of Production Methods for Sweet Corn in a Cool Climate

ABSTRACT

The use of plastic mulch offers an economically profitable approach for producing sweet corn (Zea mays L.) in Newfoundland (Canada) because of its warming effect on the soil and air around emerging plants in late spring. Information on the combined use of plastic mulch and planting dates is needed to develop a base for future research and on-farm maximum economic yield demonstration programs. Studies were conducted from May to mid-October in 2001, 2002, and 2003 to determine the effects of mulching and planting dates on days from planting to maturity (DH), total marketable yield (TMY) and the economic value (gross returns, GR; net returns, NR; and production efficiency, PE–a measure of output/input ratio) of sweet corn. The experiment was structured as a split plot design in a randomized complete block arrangement and three replicates. The main treatment was mulching: plastic mulch (PM) and no mulch (NM), and the subplot treatments were the planting dates: 1, 15 and 29 May, abbreviated PD1, PD2, and PD3, respectively. For each mulch-planting date treatment, matured ears were hand harvested and sold over a 3 wk period. There was no year effect on the measured variables. Planting date had significant effect on DH, TMY and GR. When averaged across planting dates, the PM decreased DH by 10 d. Mulching had significant effect on all variables, except TMY. However, the high premium price obtained from early planting with PM more than offset the extra cost of using plastic mulch. The beneficial effects of PM on GR were consistent across planting dates. With PM, GR had a more favorable response at PD1 than at PD2 or PD3 but with NM, GR was higher at PD2 and similar at PD1 and PD3. The PM increased NR by > $3,000.00 (Canadian)-ha⁻ over NM and had a PE of 5.37 compared to 4.94 for NM. The study confirmed the use of plastic mulch as a tool to reduce risk in sweet corn production and with a high potential to increase profitability in Newfoundland.

KEYWORDS:

• Plastic mulch
• economic returns
• sweet corn
• short growing season