In this study, the economic assessment of production of maize for grain cultivated in monoculture was presented, with the use of two ways of pre-sowing tillage system (direct sowing, full ploughing tillage), as compared with cultivation in crop rotation. In the years of the study, large fluctuations in maize cultivation profitability occurred, resulting from the level of yield connected with the course of the weather conditions and grain prices. Prices of means of production in the analysed period were quite stable, whereas the market prices of maize grain fluctuated. The most favourable productive and economic effects in maize cultivation in Grabów (in the central-eastern part of Poland) were obtained in 2009, whereas in Baborówko (in the central-western part of Poland) in 2007. The most favourable economic effectiveness, measured by the value of gross margin, in Grabów in 2009 and in Baborówko in 2007, was provided by cultivation in crop rotation. This cultivation variant also provided the highest profitability of maize cultivation both per 1 ha and per 1 ton of grain, as well as the most favourable economic effectiveness of utilization of basic production factors (0.79 PLN per 1 PLN of direct costs incurred on average for both experimental treatments).

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