Economic Viability and Profitability of Lettuce in Hydroponic System Using Different Effluents

Abstract

The hydroponic cultivation Lactuca sativa L. can offer producers greater economic profitability, fast financial return due to sanitary and nutritional quality. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic feasibility and profitability indicators of three cultivars of curly lettuce in a hydroponic system using different effluents and well water. The experiment was conducted in a protected environment of the State University of Paraíba-UEPB, Campus-II, in the municipality of Lagoa Seca-Paraíba. Experimental design was in a randomized blocks with plots subdivided in a 7 × 3 factorial scheme, with three replications whose factors were 7 hydroponic solutions and three lettuce cultivars. Variables analyzed included gross revenue; gross margin effective and total operating cost; gross margin total cost of production; leveling point effective operating Cost, total production; operating profit and profitability index. The cultivars: Verônica, Vanda and Thais presented the highest gross revenue and profitability index when irrigated with the Furlani solution (S₁).