Applicability of management tools in a family dairy farm: a case study / Aplicabilidade de ferramenta de gestão em propriedade leiteira familiar: estudo de caso

This study aimed to describe the application of the management tool GUT matrix in a family dairy farm in the state of Acre to identify the main weaknesses and propose adequate tools to allow better management of the causes of the three biggest identified problems. This is a case study carried out on a single property located in the municipality of Rio Branco - Acre in May 2022. Information was collected by applying a semi-structured form with 267 questions. The GUT matrix allo-wed ranking the three main weaknesses of the property, namely: "lack of zootechnical bookkeeping," "long calving interval," and "failure in feeding management." The management tools proposed to the producer, seeking to guide and organize the activities of the property, consisted of 5W2H and Ishikawa diagram.(AU)

Objetivou-se descrever a aplicação da ferramenta de gestão, "matriz GUT", em uma propriedade leiteira familiar no estado do Acre para identificar os principais pontos fracos e propor ferramentas adequadas para permitir melhor gerenciamento das causas dos 3 maiores problemas identificados. Trata-se de um estudo de caso realizado em propriedade única localizada no município de Rio Branco - AC em maio de 2022, as informações foram coletadas por meio de formulário semiestruturado contendo 267 questões. A matriz GUT permitiu ranquear os 3 principais pontos fracos da propriedade, sendo: "falta de escrituração zootécnica", "intervalo entre partos longo" e "Falha no manejo alimentar". As ferramentas de gestão propostas ao produtor, buscando orientar e organizar as atividades da propriedade consistiram no 5W2H e Diagrama de Ishikawa.(AU)

Supplemental irrigation using brackish water on maize in tropical semi-arid regions of Brazil: yield and economic analysis

ABSTRACT: Supplemental irrigation during dry spells could reduce maize yield losses in tropical semi-arid regions, notably in small farms. However, good quality water reserves are not sufficient to meet the demands of farming communities. Consequently, our objective was to evaluate the productivity and profitability of maize under different simulated rainfall scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water. The field experiments were carried out during the cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Ultisol. The experiment followed a randomized block design in the split-plot scheme with four replicates. The plots were formed by simulating the water supply in the soil corresponding to four water scenarios (rainy, normal, drought and severe drought), and the sub-plots with or without SI with brackish water (Electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m1). Mean yields of green maize ears were 13,083, 11,532, 10,358 and 9,609 kg ha1 for rainy, normal, drought and severe drought scenarios, as supplemented with brackish water. For the same treatments without SI the values were 11,394, 7,896, 3,913 and 1,374 kg ha1, respectively. Data on farmer's income showed that under normal, drought and severe drought supplementation with brackish water becomes economically advantageous from 0.9, 1.0 and 2.4 ha, respectively, while maize cultivation without SI is not advantageous under the last two scenarios. For severe drought conditions, however, SI using brackish water reduced commercial yield by 27 % with negative effects on the farmers profitability. In this case, it is necessary to use water with either lower salinity or select salt tolerant crops.

Supplemental irrigation using brackish water on maize in tropical semi-arid regions of Brazil: yield and economic analysis

Supplemental irrigation during dry spells could reduce maize yield losses in tropical semi-arid regions, notably in small farms. However, good quality water reserves are not sufficient to meet the demands of farming communities. Consequently, our objective was to evaluate the productivity and profitability of maize under different simulated rainfall scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water. The field experiments were carried out during the cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Ultisol. The experiment followed a randomized block design in the split-plot scheme with four replicates. The plots were formed by simulating the water supply in the soil corresponding to four water scenarios (rainy, normal, drought and severe drought), and the sub-plots with or without SI with brackish water (Electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m−1). Mean yields of green maize ears were 13,083, 11,532, 10,358 and 9,609 kg ha−1 for rainy, normal, drought and severe drought scenarios, as supplemented with brackish water. For the same treatments without SI the values were 11,394, 7,896, 3,913 and 1,374 kg ha−1, respectively. Data on farmer's income showed that under normal, drought and severe drought supplementation with brackish water becomes economically advantageous from 0.9, 1.0 and 2.4 ha, respectively, while maize cultivation without SI is not advantageous under the last two scenarios. For severe drought conditions, however, SI using brackish water reduced commercial yield by 27 % with negative effects on the farmers’ profitability. In this case, it is necessary to use water with either lower salinity or select salt tolerant crops.

Supplemental irrigation using brackish water on maize in tropical semi-arid regions of Brazil: yield and economic analysis

Supplemental irrigation during dry spells could reduce maize yield losses in tropical semi-arid regions, notably in small farms. However, good quality water reserves are not sufficient to meet the demands of farming communities. Consequently, our objective was to evaluate the productivity and profitability of maize under different simulated rainfall scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water. The field experiments were carried out during the cropping seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Ultisol. The experiment followed a randomized block design in the split-plot scheme with four replicates. The plots were formed by simulating the water supply in the soil corresponding to four water scenarios (rainy, normal, drought and severe drought), and the sub-plots with or without SI with brackish water (Electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m−1). Mean yields of green maize ears were 13,083, 11,532, 10,358 and 9,609 kg ha−1 for rainy, normal, drought and severe drought scenarios, as supplemented with brackish water. For the same treatments without SI the values were 11,394, 7,896, 3,913 and 1,374 kg ha−1, respectively. Data on farmer's income showed that under normal, drought and severe drought supplementation with brackish water becomes economically advantageous from 0.9, 1.0 and 2.4 ha, respectively, while maize cultivation without SI is not advantageous under the last two scenarios. For severe drought conditions, however, SI using brackish water reduced commercial yield by 27 % with negative effects on the farmers profitability. In this case, it is necessary to use water with either lower salinity or select salt tolerant crops.(AU)