Agric. sci. dev., Vol(3), No (6), June, 2014. pp.

218-221

TI Journals

ISSN:

Agriculture Science Developments

2306-7527

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Copyright 2014. All rights reserved for TI Journals.

Economic Analysis of the Use of Plastic Mulch in Cotton Planting in

Iran
Mohammad Mazhari *
Research Assistant Professor, Economic Research Department of Agricultural and Natural Research Center of Khorasan Razavi. Mashhad, Iran.

Mohammad Tabeei
Researcher of Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute, Karaj, Iran.
*Corresponding author: momazhari@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Cotton
Mulch
Partial budgeting
Economic
Agriculture

Water is the main factor of limiting crop production in arid and semi-arid regions in the world.
Limitation of water resources and less precipitation rate in recent years always made producing
the agricultural crops difficult and in addition to increased costs, which ultimately lead to a
dramatic reduction in farmers income will facilitate young farmers and villagers migration to
cities in the future. In order to improve irrigation efficiency, reduce water consumption and
increase farmers income in cotton planting, using of plastic mulch on the culture rows to reduce
evaporation from the soil surface and sweating by weeds, and increase the crop yield. Therefore,
research was conducted by using split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with
three main treatments of irrigation periods of 6, 9 and 12 days and three level of secondary
treatments 1- black plastic mulch 2- white plastic mulch (non-transparent) and 3 - control treatment
(without using plastic sheets) with three replications in Kashmar region in cotton research Station
in east of Iran. The results showed that yield and efficiency of water use dont have significant
difference with each other in different periods of irrigation. The kind of cover affected all three
factors, the amount of consumed water, yield and efficiency of water use to have significant effect
at level 1 and 5 percent. The results summary of the economic analysis was conducted using
economic models showed that the economical use of the black plastic mulch has been economical
justification in the cotton fields and it is advisable to cotton farmers in the region.

1.

Introduction

Whereas in arid and semiarid regions, the amount of surface water is not enough to supply the water requirements of crops that can be
cultivated mostly non-irrigated, Therefore, subsurface water has the biggest share in the crop production. Crops need the plenty of water
and lose the large amounts of it in the process of evapotranspiration and the water stored in the plant compared to the amount of the
consumed water for production is negligible. One way to decrease the water consumption in cotton which in its early growth period (first
two months of growth), doesnt ability to establish quickly a shading level to prevent excessive evaporation of water completely, is use an
appropriate cover (mulch) on soil surface, especially at the spaces between rows. Different materials can be used as mulch, but they can
also create various applications and their priority is relative, but one of the best, most practical, most accessible and perhaps most
advantageous in terms of cost is using of plastic sheets, in the large-scale in agriculture and production of vegetables and summer crops.
The purpose of this study was to review and economic analysis it which show that the use of plastic mulch in cotton farming compared to
conventional ways of cotton farmers will increase crop yield and income and also the types of mulch, were compared in terms of economic
and required evaluations have been conducted and for economical analysis of the experiment results, the partial budgeting and final
analysis method is used.
Many studies have been conducted in conjunction with using partial budgeting method in terms of using new techniques in the system of
different crops planting, such as [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] .
In a study by using partial budgeting method concluded that the overall required cost per unit area in mechanized culture conditions with
transplanting machine is less than compared to the traditional culture [6]. In a study about the use of hybrid cultivars instead of the standard
ones in the culture of tomato in Khorasan province by using partial budgeting technique came to the conclusion that although the use of
hybrid cultivars in tomato culture system, increase the production costs per unit area but, due to yield increase, changes to cost increase is
largely because of changes to cost increase [7]. Saeedirad (2004) In other study on the technical and economic comparison of different
methods of Crust breaking in the saffron fields by using partial budgeting technique concluded that in early and timely irrigation, using of
rotary cultivator was more economical than other treatments and witness treatment is economical in postponed irrigation [8].

2.

Methodology

Two sets of data are used for economical analysis of the research findings. The first set contains obtained data from the test implementation
at the farm level which is including variables such as crop yield, the amount of consumed water, the weight amount of weeds, the amount
of used plastic mulch and its cost and labor employed in various stages of culture and harvesting. The second category have been consist of
the required information regarding obtained economical analysis from the results at the farm level included in the crop price, labor wage
and the price of consumed water which have been used from the market prices prevailing in the study region. It should be noted that the

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Economic Analysis of the Use of Plastic Mulch in Cotton Planting in Iran

Agriculture Science Developments Vol(3), No (6), June, 2014.

above-mentioned expenses for each of the treatments was different and because the remaining costs were similar for all treatments so they
were not considered in the economic analysis.
In April after spring plowing, leveling and fertilizing were done. Culture on rows with a distance of 70 cm from each other was done. The
distance of holes was 20 cm from each other on the culture rows. Immediately after culturing plastic sheets were placed over the irrigation
furrows. Width of the applied plastic sheets was 65-60 cm with thickness of 30-20 microns. Used statistical plan in this study was a splitplot plan in a completely randomized block plan that carried out in three replications. The period of irrigation every 6 days, 9 days and, 12
days as main plots and type of cover, including control treatment without using plastic cover, treatment with the black plastic mulch
treatment on irrigation furrows and treatment with a semitransparent plastic mulch cover (conventional plastic) on irrigation furrows as
subplots were considered. Each plot consisted of six culture lines. Weight sampling method was used for determining the amount of
required water for each treatment in each irrigation soil samples from each treatment, has been taken separately the day before each
irrigation and by putting in the hothouse for 24 hours, soil moisture was measured by gravimetric and the lack of soil moisture was
calculated up to the field capacity. The required water of each treatment was enough to bring the moisture before irrigation up to the field
capacity. By revealing the depth of the irrigation water and the area of each plot, the amount of required water in each irrigation is
calculated and was controlled by water meter and entered to the plots. In order to distribute water in the plots evenly, the drip irrigation
tapes were used (The purpose of this work was to increase test accuracy) the length of plots was 12 m that 6 rows were planted in each plot
the parameters studied in this project were: the amount of consumed water which obtained from the sum of the consumed water in different
irrigations.
The purpose of this study was economical analysis to show that the use of plastic mulch in cotton agronomy compared to conventional
methods of farmers will increase crop yield and income and also the types of mulch be compared economically and necessary evaluation to
be done. To conduct an economical evaluation of the test results, the partial budgeting method and final analysis were used. In this study
first the costs and income of different treatments were calculated and then net income has been obtained from the difference between the
total yield value and costs which differ in treatments [9].
The final return rate of a treatment indicates the percentage of the net income of a treatment against the surplus of its implementation cost
(net efficiency on investments). For economical evaluation and comparison of treatments, first order them based on increasing costs and
ordered them first and then the relevant comparisons will be done. As regards, the treatments are ordered by increasing cost therefore,
treatments that their final income is negative will remove because the increased costs associated with decrease of income and then
comparisons will continue with the remaining treatments ultimate treatment will be selected according to the efficiency rate index. Also as
regards that the income and expenditure data is pertained to the 2 years plan implementation so the present value formula is used for
equaling the relevant data [10].

cost B cost A

100
cost B cost A

A= Treatment A
B= Treatment B

Ci
(1 + )

In which:
PV= Present value of Ci
Ci= Income or expenses in the i year
n= Project Life
i= Rate of Return

3.

Discussion and conclusions

In conducting the plan, the costs related to the purchase of the black and white plastic, the labor used for Placement of plastic, irrigation,
weeding and harvesting are calculated because of the difference in the yield of different treatments and also the cost of consumed water for
the experimental treatments separately for first and second year and also the mean of two years of study. It should be noted that the
information about income and expenses in the second year of the plan implementation is converted and then relevant average calculated by
using the present value analysis and short-term interest rate (14%) of the base year i.e., the first year of the plan implementation. To check
which treatment of the test is advisable economically, first, in each of the respective tables, the experimental treatments were arranged in
terms of increasing the total cost and then according to the cost and total income of each experimental treatment per ha and also calculating
the final income index that shows the amount of change in total income per change unit in cost, according to the computational numbers,
treatments that their final income were negative were removed because they are not advisable economically. Then the treatments that their
final income was positive re-examined and finally the rate of return is calculated for each of them. According to the three main plots of
irrigation periods 6, 9 and 12 days, the results of the calculation of the black plastic mulch secondary treatments. White plastic mulch (non-

Mohammad Mazhari *, Mohammad Tabeei

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Agriculture Science Developments Vol(3), No (6), June, 2014.

transparent) and control treatment (without using plastic sheets) are shown separately based on the data average of two years of study in
Tables 1, 2 and 3. As shown in the tables experimental treatment of the black plastic mulch is chosen relevant, according to the irrigation
circuits of every 6 and 9 days, and the experimental treatment of the white plastic mulch is chosen based on the irrigation circuit for 12
days. As shown in Table 2, top treatments are listed based on calculations about the final comparison treatments, treatments mulched with
black plastic irrigation for 6 days as the preferred option is accepted.
The experimental treatment of the black plastic mulch with the irrigation period of 6 days is accepted as the superior option. In the tables 1
and 2 the results of the economic comparison of all studied treatments is shown. As can be seen in Table 1, because of using the final
analysis method, based on calculated final income we can say that the best treatment economically is to use a black plastic cover with
period of 6 days that the its return rate compared to its previous treatment means black plastic mulch with irrigation period of 9 days is
equivalent to 114 percent. This high rate, justify the acceptance of the experimental treatment of black plastic mulch with irrigation period
of 6 days even in the risk conditions. Therefore, the mentioned treatment can be recommended economically to local farmers.
According to the cost survey of each treatment and comparison of each treatment and also yield comparison and their income, Use the
black plastic mulch was explainable economically and responsible organizations can teach, propound and recommend this technique to
cotton farmers.

Table 1. Economic indicators of all treatments (unit: Million Rial)

Return
Net
Marginal
Net
Total
rate (%) Marginal income income income
income
4.16
15.84

Total Irrigation Labor Plastic Yield

Treatment
cost
cost
cost
ton/ha
cost
11.68
8.96
2.71
0
4.25 Irrigation period of 12
days without mulch

-0.46

-0.86

0.53

3.29

16.85

13.56

10.57

2.99

4.53 Irrigation period of 6

days without mulch

-224.5

-0.65

-1.24

2.63

16.49

13.85

9.15

2.88

1.81

4.43 Irrigation period of 12

days with black mulch

56.6

0.06

1.56

2.70

16.68

13.97

10.82

3.15

4.48 Irrigation period of 9

days without mulch

488.4

2.3

5.88

5.01

19.46

14.45

9.17

3.46

1.81

5.23 Irrigation period of 9

days with black mulch

114.4

1.4

2.14

6.50

22.25

15.75

10.03

3.89

1.81

5.98 Irrigation period of 6

days with black mulch

-783.2

-1.9

-6.83

4.50

20.51

16.00

9.20

3.49

3.30

5.51 Irrigation period of 12

days with white mulch

66.7

0.64

1.66

5.15

22.12

16.97

9.89

3.77

3.30

5.94 Irrigation period of 9

days with white mulch

-261.00

-0.76

-1.61

4.38

21.65

17.26

10.14

3.82

3.30

5.82 Irrigation period of 6

days with white mulch

Resources: Research findings

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Economic Analysis of the Use of Plastic Mulch in Cotton Planting in Iran

Agriculture Science Developments Vol(3), No (6), June, 2014.

Table 2. Economic indicators of treatments (unit: Million Rial)

Return
Net
Marginal
Net
Total
rate (%) Marginal income income income
income
4.16
15.84

Total Irrigation Labor Plastic Yield

cost
cost
cost
cost ton/ha

Treatment

11.68

8.96

2.71

4.25 Irrigation period of 12

days without mulch
4.53 Irrigation period of 6
days without mulch

-46.00

-0.86

0.53

3.29

16.85

13.56

10.57

2.99

194.6

1.72

2.94

5.01

19.46

14.45

9.17

3.46

1.81

5.23 Irrigation period of 9

days with black mulch

114.4

1.48

2.14

6.50

22.25

15.75

10.03

3.89

1.81

5.98 Irrigation period of 6

days with black mulch

Resources: research findings

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