Technical and economic efficiency indicators of corn grown in no-tillage system in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the technical and economic efficiency indicators of the production of corn in three management variations in no-tillage system (tillage, with mineral fertilization - PDM; tillage, with organic fertilizing - PDO; and integrated crop-livestock - PDI) and their relationship with physical and chemical attributes of the soil. The study was conducted in corn crops located in seven cities in the state of Santa Catarina, determining the cost of production and the technical and economic indicators of culture. In each selected crop, composite samples were collected, in three equidistant points, for the evaluation of chemical and physical attributes of the soil at a depth of 0-10 cm. The data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. The results indicate that the PDM system presents the highest production costs, while the PDO offers the best economic results and productive efficiency. No significant effects were observed in the different managements in no-tillage systems on soil chemical and physical attributes. However, multivariate analysis made possible to show, more broadly, relations among the variables studied and different management in no-tillage systems.