PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF FARM PRODUCTION CORN ((Zea mays)) IN GUANARE MUNICIPALITY, PORTUGUESA STATE, VENEZUELA
Abstract
Author(s): Danny Villegas, Yary Pérez, Salli Villegas, César Acosta
In this paper presents a characterizations of farms and plots corn (Zea mays) , in order to interpret and grading this production systems in Guanare municipality of Portuguesa state in the winter cyc le 2008, by Principal component analysis, for the which was selected a sample of 41 farms or plots, using information technical, socioeconomic, agroecological and institutional from of the records of producers the ASOGUANARE, SA association. In this regard, were considered twenty six (26) variables, of which were discarded sixteen (16) since show small variability. Over data matrix for ten variables was applied a principal components analysis (PCA) and statistical description. In this way, the PCA identified five (5) factors affecting corn production: size of farm or plot, cultivated area, limitations by equipment and machinery, limitations by labor and planting date. Similarly was observed a negative effect of the planting date (rainfall distribution) and limitations by equipment and machinery on yield. Finally, were identified and classified the 41 farms or plots into three groups discriminated mainly by the dimension or size of corn farm. Key words: Principal components, characterization, farms and corn.
