Options for Productive Reconversion in Productive Zones of Beans in Durango, Dgo.

Abstract

The productive conversion, included in the Law of Sustainable Rural Development, considers changes in the productive and technological structure, that contribute to increase the competitiveness of crops and to improve the efficiency in the use of land. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield of grain and dry matter, of different crops produced with different crop management technologies that can be used for the productive conversion of the areas currently used in the production of dry beans under rainfed conditions in Durango. The evaluations were conducted in 2003 and 2005 at the Experiment Station of the INIFAP in Fco. I. Madero, Dgo. Three factors were evaluated: A. Crops: maize, sunflower, chickpea, oats, barley and dry beans, B. Planting systems: simple and double row and C. Crop management technologies: with and without tie-ridging. The combination simple row without tieridging was the check treatment. For all crops, production of grain and dry matter was determined. Additionally, the amount of rainfall during the crop cycle (jul-oct) was recorded. In 2003, with 600 mm of rainfall, the dry beans in the system of double row with tie-ridging had yields statistically higher than the check treatment in 40 percent (1,048 kg ha-1). Among crops, the average yield of grain of maize for all treatments was higher than the average for dry beans; oats had a yield similar to dry beans. The yields of dry matter for maize, sunflower, and chickpea with the system of double row with tie-ridging were statistically higher than the check treatment: maize yield was 57 percent higher (2,958 kg ha-1), sunflower 54 percent (2,474 kg ha-1) and chickpea 36 percent (1 899 kg ha-1). Among crops, oats, maize and chickpea had higher yields of dry matter than dry beans; barley and sunflower had similar yields. In 2005, with 370 mm of rainfall, oats and barley had higher yields of grain with the system of planting in double row that in single row. The yield for oats was 12 percent higher (185 kg ha-1) and for barley 35 percent higher (578 kg ha-1) than check treatment. With the system of the double row and tie-ridging, dry beans had yields 33 percent higher than the control treatment (300 kg ha-1) and 32 percent higher than the sunflower (550 kg ha-1). Among crops, the average yield of grain for oats, barley, maize and sunflower was higher than the yield for dry beans while chickpea had a similar yield. For dry matter, with the system of single row and tie-ridging, dry beans had yields 16 percent higher (627 kg ha-1) and sunflower 3 % higher (276 kg ha-1) than the control treatment. Among crops, the average yield of grain and dry matter for maize and oats in all treatments were higher than the average for dry beans, therefore this two crops can be considered as an alternative of production for the productive conversion in those areas where dry beans are currently cultivated.