A GROSS MARGIN COMPARISON OF RETURNS TO NEMATICIDE TREATMENT IN CONTINUOUS AND ROTATION TRITICALE-SOYBEAN PRODUCTION

A study of irrigated strip-till soybean production compared gross margins over nematicide expense for a continuous triticale-soybean system versus a two-year rotation system alternating triticale-soybean with triticale-cotton. Half of the replicated plots under each system received nematicide treatment. Gross margins were calculated using recorded yields and Georgia average market prices by marketing years. Mean gross margins for untreated plots were not significantly different between crop-sequence systems. Within each system, however, mean gross margins were significantly higher for plots not receiving nematicide treatment versus treated plots, even when treated plots produced greater yields.