Economic viability for the sweet maize cultivation under inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and thiamine solutions

Abstract

Sweet maize is different from conventional maize mainly because of its higher sugar content and lower starch content and, although nutritious, its production is little explored. In other cultures, an increase in the quality of production has been obtained using biological nitrogen fixation and stimuli to the plant defense system. However, verifying the financial return of the cultural treatments given to the crops, which directly interferes in the interest on the management of the cultures, is essential. Thus, this study aimed to estimate and evaluate the economic indicators of sweet maize cultivation under joint or isolated action of inoculation with A. brasilense and treatment with thiamine solutions on seed (0, 15, 30, 45 mg kg^-1). To determine the production cost of a sweet corn production cycle, the structure of total operating cost was used, and post-harvest activities were disregarded. The highest values of sweet corn production were related to the manual harvesting and the acquisition of seeds, which together corresponded to R$ 980.00 or 52% of the total operating cost. The inoculation of A. brasilense and the use of thiamine, alone or in combination, increased productivity, not significantly burdening the total operating cost and, consequently, raising profitability-related indices from the sale of the product. For the conditions proposed in this study, the production of sweet maize for in natura consumption, as green maize, provides greater economic gains to the rural producer when compared with corn destined to the industry.