Economics analysis of snake tomato production cropped in newly established rubber plantation treated with rubber effluent and NPK

Abstract

The long gestation period of rubber (5 to 7 years) hinders the small holder farmers in investing in rubber plantation. During the long  gestation period, rubber plant cannot be tapped for latex, hence, no revenue will accrue to the owners. This study compared the  influence of different rubber effluents and NPK fertilizer rates and their combinations on the profitability of snake tomato production in  the rubber-snake tomato intercrop at Iyanomo, Edo State, Nigeria in 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The treatments involved sole  rubber and snake tomato and their intercropped combination with NPK and rubber effluent application laid out in a randomized complete block in three replicates. Data were collected on fruit yield. The economic analysis of the trials was carried out by partial farm  budgeting. The results showed that NPK and rubber effluent application had significant effect on the yield of snake tomato (P<0.05). The  highest fruit yield was observed in sole snake tomato treated with 60 kg N ha^-1 of NPK 15:15:15 (STNPK). The variable cost and revenue  increased with soil amendment supplementation. STNPK had the highest gross margin and return per naira invested in the first year of  cropping but in the second year, rubber-snake tomato with 60 kg N ha^-1 of NPK 15:15:15 (RSNPK) and STNPK had comparable gross  margin and return per naira invested. Based on this, RSNPK was suggested for small holder rubber farmers.