Effect of Integrated Fertilization on the Profitability, Agronomic, and Economic Efficiency of Purple Passion Fruit Cultivation (Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis)

The purple passion fruit is part of the export basket of fresh fruits from Colombia to markets such as the European Union, due to its quality and availability throughout the year. This study is set out to evaluate the profitability, agronomic, and economic efficiency of integrated fertilization in a crop of purple passion fruits (Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis) over two consecutive productive cycles, in an andisol of the Amazon foothills of Colombia. Six replications and three treatments were used in a randomized complete block design for the experiment. First treatment (T1) included chemical synthesis fertilizers (CSF); the second, liquid fertilizer with humic substances combined with CSF (T2); and the third vermicompost with CSF (T3). A record of the climate variables linked to the plant’s phenological phases including temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and solar radiation was maintained. Soil and foliar analyzes were also carried out during the evaluated production cycles. In addition, the yields obtained per plant (weight and number of fruits), the costs, and income of each treatment were recorded. The results showed that the most significant differences occurred between production cycles. This was due to climatic variables, which were favorable during the third cycle, but detrimental during the second. Nonetheless, it was possible to distinguish the positive effects of integrated fertilization on the plant and the soil. Vermicompost treatment (T3) had the best performance during the study, with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.28.