Assessment of economic and environmental performance in citrus-based intercropping systems

Abstract The economic and environmental performances of agriculture intercropping depend on the complementarities between crops that make up system. objective this work was to analyze citrus-based systems in Coastal Tablelands region Northeastern Brazil, aiming identify associations with better performances. study started construction a set integrated indicators, which field information recorded performance indices calculated, based three principles: Profitability, Productive Efficiency, Biological Regulation. Citrus orchards monoculture resulted lower indices. yielded best citrus were: cassava; cassava, corn beans; pumpkin. indicators associated these economic-environmental were profit, seasonality, productive diversity, profit evenness, plant health control impact level, efficiency use water, nitrogen, phosphate.