ABSTRACT
This study shows an economic analysis of 10 production systems of blackwattle which were sampled in 23 farms with know-how in cultivating this species. The analyzed systems utilizing regeneration induced by fire were: black-wattle (BW) alone (S1), BW associated with corn (S2), BW associated with beans (S3), BW associated with potatoes (S4). The planting systems analyzed were: BW alone (S5), BW alone in crop succession (S6), BW associated with water-melon (S7), BW with beans (S9), and BW with cattle (S10). For the economic analyses the following parameters were utilized: Discounted Net Worth (DNW), Soil expectation value (SEV), Benefit-cost ratio (B/C) m, Internal rate of return (IRR). The optimum age for rotation of the black-wattle through the maximization of the DNW, was 7 years for interest rates, varying from 6 to 10% per year in all the production systems analyzed. In new areas where the fire regeneration system is not possible, the most profitable and efficient system utilized was the association of blackwattle with water-melon. This was due to the DNW, that in a rate of 6% per year resulted in 1,436.06 US$/ha and B/C, that was 2,13 for sites with average productivity of 227 st/ha wood, and 14 tons/ha of dried bark with 12% humidity at 7 years of age. In areas where it is possible to utilize regeneration inducted by fire, the association with potatoes is the most suitable, knowing that at 7 years, in average sites, the PNW and B/C, in a rate of 6% per year, resulted in 1,063.99 US$/ha and 2.13, respectively.
Key words:
economic analyses; silviagropasturing; agroforestry; Acacia mearnsii