EVALUATION OF TWO SYSTEMS OF PRODUCTION FOR MEXICAN LIME (Citrus aurantifolia, Swingle) IN GUERRERO, MEXICO

Abstract

The system of conventional integrated management (MIL-C) and organic production (MIL-O) was evaluated in a commercial Orchard of ‘Mexican’ lime (Citrus aurantifolia, Swingle). Agro-ecological and economic evaluations include: nutritional analysis, vegetative growth, yields, quality of the fruit and financial analysis. In yield per year and accumulated fruit harvested there were no significant statistical differences between systems of production. In change vegetative growth was statistically different, the MIL-C systems increase 52 and 23 % the length and diameter of vegetative shoots respectively, compared to the MIL-O systems. The quality of the fruits had significant statistical difference, the MIL-C increase the rate of color (52 %), firmness (38 %) and the thickness of the flavedo (5.3 %) with respect to the MIL-O; in the internal quality of fruit the MIL-O increased the volume of juice (10 %), °Brix (3 %) and acid citric (8 %) with respect to the MIL-C. The higher benefit/cost ratio was obtained with MIL-C using the rural price. Two years of assessment suggest that the MIL-C system could be applied widely in the State of Guerrero. Also the system of MIL-O showed possibility of success, but it would take an envelope price to compensate for the reduction of profitability, to handle larger amounts of inputs for their adequate nutrition, pest and disease control.