This study was to verify the technical and economical viability for experimental data of sunflower growth obtained in the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), during period from March to June of 2004, in two different situations: irrigated and non-irrigated field. The used data came from several experiments carried out with three treatments of irrigation water depth replacement of 75, 100 and 130% of the evapotranspiration, estimated for the crop in an interval of two days (fixed irrigation interval) and a control plot, that was not irrigated. The corresponding irrigation water depths were: 350.84 , 428.70 , 522.14 and 117.20 mm. The productivity of the sunflower crop and the costs of the fieldwork were evaluated in both mentioned conditions. It was considered, for the case of the irrigated crop, the central pivot irrigation system and the estimated cost of the fieldwork was based on the theory of "Cost of Production". The results showed technical efficiency, since the average productivity for the non-irrigated situation (117,2 mm of rain) was of 1924.27 kg ha-1, while for the irrigated condition the productivity was 2293.15, 2564.26 and 2863.12 kg ha-1, respectively, for the irrigation water depth of 350,84 , 428,70 and 522,14 mm. In the analyzed economical situation, with the considered price, for sunflower, of R$31,80 per bag of 60 kg (June/2004), it is recommended application of 522,14 mm of irrigation water depth along the cycle. In the case of persisting such circumstance, the farmer may undergo into a descapitalization process, not replacing part of the fixed capital, having to decide for another market alternative.
Sunflower; irrigation; economic analysis
