Economic viability of colored cotton cultivars under potassium fertilization

Authors

  • Gisele Lopes dos Santos Department of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1134-4672
  • Valéria Fernandes de Oliveira Sousa Center of Science and Agrifood Technology, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Pombal, PB, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6124-0898
  • Flávio Pereira da Mota Silveira Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6324-1053
  • Ênio Gomes Flôr Souza Instituto Federal de Alagoas, Piranhas, AL, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4355-3388
  • João Paulo de Oliveira Santos Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1826-1746
  • João Everthon da Silva Ribeiro Department of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1937-0066
  • Lindomar Maria da Silveira Department of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9719-7417
  • Aurélio Paes Barros Júnior Department of Agronomic and Forestry Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró, RN, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6983-8245

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252026v3915197rc

Keywords:

Gossypium hirsutum. Potassium chloride. Profitability. Economy.

Abstract

For the expansion and economic viability of colored cotton production, it is essential to understand the potential costs associated with increased fertilization. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the economic viability of colored cotton cultivars under different potassium doses. Two experiments were conducted at the Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm in Mossoró, RN, Brazil, during the 2019 and 2021 growing seasons. The experimental design was a randomized block design with split plots and four replications. Potassium doses (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg ha-1 of K2O) were allocated to the main plots, while colored cotton cultivars (BRS Rubi, BRS Safira, BRS Verde, and BRS Topázio) were assigned to the subplots. Production costs (PC), gross revenue (GR), net revenue (NR), rate of return (RR), and profitability index (PI) were evaluated. Labor and potassium fertilizer accounted for the largest share of production costs. In the second growing season, the dose of 240 kg ha-1 of K2O provided the highest economic return for all cultivars. The cultivar BRS Topázio showed economic viability regardless of the potassium dose applied, while BRS Rubi had the lowest net revenue in both seasons. The cultivar BRS Verde achieved the highest profitability index at potassium doses of 87 and 240 kg ha-1 of K2O, indicating its potential for economically efficient production under adequate potassium fertilization.

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Published

10-04-2026

Issue

Vol. 39 (2026)

Section

Scientific Article

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