Identificación de las fuentes de pérdidas de cosecha en cultivo establecido de cebada maltera (Hordeum vulgare L.) mediante el uso de maquinaria combinada en Chimborazo.

Abstract

This research aimed to identify the sources of harvest losses in established malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivation using combined machinery in Chimborazo. Fourteen producers participating in the "Siembra por Contrato" programme of Cervecería Nacional in the year 2022, located in different cantons of the province helped in this research. The study was carried out in three stages: survey application, data collection in the field and sample processing in the laboratory. Descriptive statistics and the elaboration of the PCA model with a 14 x 42 matrix were used for data analysis and processing to define the socio-economic sources that influence yield losses, whereas the PLS model was used to identify the relative weight and sources influencing in post-harvest losses through a 308 x 33 matrix. From the results of the spearman method, a model was made for each variable, because they present a positive linear independence between each pair of variables. The results showed that for yield and natural losses with a determination coefficient of 100% variance, provides a viable model, for losses by the use of combined machinery the model was generated with 99% variance, being a perfect model, with the application of VIP>1, considering that the weight of grains (m2) is the source that influences the losses, which presents a coefficient of 10. In addition, through the Benefit/cost analysis an average of 0.81 p. of profit was generated with a profitability of 80.62%. In conclusion, yield, natural losses, and machinery losses are determined by grain weight in conjunction with various socio-economic sources irrespective of the barley variety harvested.