Abstract. In the context of climate change, demographic pressure, and the need to improve resource efficiency, sustainable agriculture represents a strategic area of interest at both national and European levels. The choice of this study topic was motivated by the need to increase profitability in small and medium-sized farms by identifying viable solutions for farmers operating under conditions similar to those in the Însurăței area. The main objective of this study was to analyze the technology applied to autumn white cabbage cultivation under irrigated conditions in the pedoclimatic environment of Însurăței, Brăila County. The experiment was conducted on a 0.5 ha area, where two irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler) were compared on equal plots (0.25 ha each), under similar soil and technological conditions. The analysis included agronomic observations, yield measurements, and economic indicators to evaluate the technical and economic efficiency of each system. From a productivity perspective, the drip irrigation system consistently proved superior to the conventional sprinkler system, regardless of simulated losses. Drip irrigation achieved a yield of 124.34 t/ha, while sprinkler irrigation reached 101.76 t/ha under difficult conditions with 10% losses. To assess the profitability of cabbage cultivation depending on the irrigation method and technological losses, key economic indicators were calculated (gross profit, cost-benefit ratio, and economic return). The results showed that, on 0.25 ha plots, drip irrigation generated a gross profit of 38,590 lei (with 10% losses) and a B:C ratio of 5.80, compared to sprinkler irrigation, which recorded a gross profit of 30,121.78 lei under the same loss scenario and a B:C ratio of 4.75. These findings demonstrate that drip irrigation is more efficient. Crop efficiency increases significantly when fertilization, plant protection treatments, maintenance practices, and irrigation are carefully managed according to crop growth stages. Additionally, strict cost control remains essential for maintaining the profitability of cabbage cultivation.

water use efficiency; yield performance; cost–benefit analysis; pedoclimatic conditions; farm profitability.

agronomy

Presentation: poster