Dergi makalesi Açık Erişim

Comparison of cost and profitability of organic and conventional apple nursery tree growing

2016    Demircan, Vecdi; Atasay, Adem; Ekinci, Kamil; Isci, Mesut; Altindal, Mesut

The objective of hereby study is to compare various applications of organic apple nursery tree cultivation with conventional apple nursery tree cultivation in terms of cost and profitability. The study was conducted at Fruit Research Institute in Egirdir district of the Isparta province, Turkey. Results showed that cultivation cost per decare and nursery tree via conventional methods was lower than the cost through organic production. A comparison between various applications of organic apple nursery tree cultivation showed that SOF (solid organic fertilizer) farming practice yielded lowest cultivation cost. In terms of net profit, conventional cultivation brought along higher net profit per decare and nursery tree. A comparison within various applications of organic cultivation indicated that SOF (solid organic fertilizer) + LOF (liquid organic fertilizer) was the most advantageous practice. Nursery trees, which were cultivated via conventional method, were more advantageous in Turkey, since they are sold at the same price with organic apple nursery trees. This fact was due to lack of an organic apple nursery tree market in Turkey. Therefore, it is very important to support organic cultivation of apple nursery tree for environment and human health; besides, apple cultivators should be encouraged for using organic nursery trees by means of appropriate training and informing activities. Most probably, organic cultivation will become more preferable than conventional method in case cultivators are supported in this respect.