engleski

The economical analysis of conventional and integrated crop management of lettuce (Lacuta sativa L.) growing in different agroecological conditions

The most representative method of cultivating crops in the vegetable productions is the conventional system, which is characteristic for the high use of chemical substances, high yield and low cost per unit of land. But consequently this system of production can cause the increase of pollution in the area and high pesticide level in food. In the last twenty years the main theme of political, social and economic movement has been sustainable management, which goal is nature preservation considering its social as well as cultural characteristics. Such trends are becoming representative mainly in the developed countries of the EU and the USA, where the demand for fresh as well as processed organically grown garden crops has been increasing. Due to specific natural and economic conditions Croatia boasts advantageous spacial and climatic conditioins for growing vegetable crops according to the integrated crop system especially in the areas – (a lot of land is available), where chemical substances have not yet been used. The aim of our study was to compare the economic performance of growing lettuce in the conventional and integrated crop management of production in the mainland and the Mediterranian part of Croatia. In the years 2002 and 2003 the experiment was carried out on family farms in the vicinity of Pulj (the Mediterranian area) and in the vicinity of Otočac (the mainland area). The obtained results show that the cultivation of lettuce in the integrated crop management in lower yields, which is even more apparent in continental climate. In order to justify the integrated crop management of lettuce economically, it is essential to achieve a higher sales price in comparison with the lettuce cultivated according to the conventional system. For that reason, the sales price of integrated grown lettuce in the mainland should be higher than in the Mediterranean.

conventional crop management; integrated crop management; lettuce; Lactuca sativa; Croatia

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