Economics of primocane-fruiting raspberry production in lowland conditions

The aim of this study is to evaluate the economic efficiency of the technology for raspberry production in lowland conditions. The study was carried out in the course of eleven years with the 'Lyulin' primocane-fruiting cultivar and spanned the whole life of the plantation. During the main phenological phases - intensive growth, blossom, and fruiting - water was applied in amounts equaling to 100, 75 and 50% of crop evapotranspiration, respectively. Fertilizers were applied through the irrigation system, the fertilization rate being equal for all treatments. A costs and returns balance was calculated for establishing the economic efficiency of the studied variants. The raspberry fruit production is not profitable with a price of 1.50 BGN (Bulgarian Lev) kg^-1. Prices of 2.00 BGN kg^-1 and higher provide very good profitability. With a price of 2.00 BGN kg^-1, the costs are paid back during the fourth vegetation, and with prices of 2.50 and 3.00 BGN kg^-1 during the third vegetation. When growing the 'Lyulin' primocane-fruiting cultivar in lowland conditions the irrigation rates may be decreased by 25% in a particular phenophase without a negative effect on the yield and the economic effectiveness. During the intensive growth phase the reduction may be even by 50%. Under the conditions of a severe water shortage, irrigation may be realized with half of the recommended application rates, on behalf of a quite acceptable decrease in the economical results. When the daily yield drops below 50 kg ha^-1, the profit decreases to values that stultify further harvestings.