Weeds are responsible for significant losses in cotton production in the world and, its control is difficult and expensive. This work has the main objective to estimate production costs and analyse economically the efficiency of plasticulture and different methods of weeds control in irrigated and dry land herbaceous cotton, using data obtained in Barbalha and Missão Velha areas, in the state of Ceará, Brazil, evaluating production costs, net revenues, profitability index and economic viability indicators: Liquid Present Value (LPV), Ratio of Internal Return (RIT) and Benefit-Cost Ratio (B/C). It was verified that in irrigated as well as in rainfed crop, the more efficient and economically viable weed control method was the mechanical method with conventional preparation of the soil, being more lucrative in rainfed crop, with higher LPV and RIT. The high production per hectare was verified in irrigated crop, using as integrated system control in land preparation with moldboard plough. The plasticulture used a method of weed control is economically viable only for rainfed cotton.
Cyperus rotundus; plasticulture; production cost and profitability
