The objective of the present study was to evaluate on the basis of profitability indicators, the economic viability of the reclamation processes of a sodic soil located at the Irrigated Perimeter Curu-Pentecoste, CE, relating the reclamation cost with the gross revenue obtained from the cowpea. The experimental design was a completely randomized block with five treatments and five replications. The reclamation treatments were T0: control, T1: 40 t ha-1 of organic matter (OM), T2: 20 t gypsum ha-1, T3: 20 t ha-1 gypsum + 40 t ha-1 MO, T4: 10 t ha-1 gypsum + 20 t ha-1 MO. The profitability indicators were analysed through an "ex-ante" and an "ex-post" evaluation forms, considering the costs and/or investments on the sodic soil reclamation and the installation of an underground drainage system. The cowpea yield contributed only with 12% of the reclamation costs of the sodic soil. From a strictly financial point of view, and considering the alternative of applying only one soil amendment, the gypsum appeared as the most attractive alternative. The reclamation process showed a good economic viability with an interest rate of 12% per year and high economic viability with a rate of 6% per year, demonstrating the necessity of a creation of a policy of subsidized credit as a way to incorporate the extensive areas of degraded sodic soil to productive process.
salinity; cowpea; cost benefit ratio
