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Optimal site-specific fertilization and harvesting strategies with respect to crop yield and quality response to nitrogen

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  • Meyer-Aurich, Andreas
  • Weersink, Alfons
  • Gandorfer, Markus
  • Wagner, Peter

Abstract

Incorrect fertilizer decisions can be costly if quality of the output, in addition to yield, is influenced by the application rate, which contrasts the flat payoff function estimated for fertilizer by previous studies focusing only on quantity. This study aims at modelling economic potentials of the combination of site-specific fertilization and quality specific harvesting at the example of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), in Germany. Crop yield and protein response data to different nitrogen fertilizer applications were used from 15 locations to simulate site-specific wheat management. Four different management strategies were compared using a step wise price function for wheat qualities: uniform management, completely separate management, site-specific fertilization with uniform harvest, uniform fertilization with quality-specific harvest. It was found that opportunity costs (>50Â [euro]/ha) may apply, if threshold values for crop qualities are missed. Separation of different qualities can reduce this risk and create incentives for producing higher qualities on heterogeneous fields. Completely separate management had an economic advantage of up to 30Â [euro]/ha for the gross revenue, while site-specific fertilization alone had only marginal economic effects. However, these advantages have to cover costs for the use of technologies used, to be economically preferable.

Suggested Citation

  • Meyer-Aurich, Andreas & Weersink, Alfons & Gandorfer, Markus & Wagner, Peter, 2010. "Optimal site-specific fertilization and harvesting strategies with respect to crop yield and quality response to nitrogen," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(7), pages 478-485, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:103:y:2010:i:7:p:478-485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gandorfer, Markus & Rajsic, Predrag, 2008. "Modeling Economic Optimum Nitrogen Rates for Winter Wheat When Inputs Affect Yield and Output-Price," Agricultural Economics Review, Greek Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 9(2).
    2. David J. Pannell, 2006. "Flat Earth Economics: The Far-reaching Consequences of Flat Payoff Functions in Economic Decision Making," Review of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 28(4), pages 553-566.
    3. Rajsic, Predrag & Weersink, Alfons, 2008. "Do farmers waste fertilizer? A comparison of ex post optimal nitrogen rates and ex ante recommendations by model, site and year," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 97(1-2), pages 56-67, April.
    4. Neil R. Miller, 2006. "Is Site-Specific Yield Response Consistent over Time? Does It Pay?," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 88(2), pages 471-483.
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    2. Andreas Meyer-Aurich & Jørgen Olesen & Annette Prochnow & Reiner Brunsch, 2013. "Greenhouse gas mitigation with scarce land: The potential contribution of increased nitrogen input," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(7), pages 921-932, October.
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    4. Hyytiäinen, Kari & Niemi, Jarkko K. & Koikkalainen, Kauko & Palosuo, Taru & Salo, Tapio, 2011. "Adaptive optimization of crop production and nitrogen leaching abatement under yield uncertainty," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(8), pages 634-644, October.
    5. Späti, Karin & Huber, Robert & Finger, Robert, 2021. "Benefits of Increasing Information Accuracy in Variable Rate Technologies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
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    7. Remble, Amber & Britz, Wolfgang & Keeney, Roman, 2013. "Farm Level Tradeoffs in the Regulation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions," 2013 Annual Meeting, August 4-6, 2013, Washington, D.C. 150442, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Saikai, Yuji & Patel, Vivak & Mitchell, Paul, 2020. "Machine learning for optimizing complex site-specific management," 2020 Conference (64th), February 12-14, 2020, Perth, Western Australia 305238, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    9. Argento, F. & Liebisch, F. & Anken, T. & Walter, A. & El Benni, N., 2022. "Investigating two solutions to balance revenues and N surplus in Swiss winter wheat," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    10. Ellßel, Raphaela & Wüstemann, Friedrich & Offermann, Frank & de Witte, Thomas, 2022. "Impact of the War in Ukraine on Farm Profitability and the Attractiveness of Environmental Measures in Germany," German Journal of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Department for Agricultural Economics, vol. 71(03), January.
    11. Meyer-Aurich, Andreas & Karatay, Yusuf Nadi, 2019. "Effects of uncertainty and farmers' risk aversion on optimal N fertilizer supply in wheat production in Germany," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 130-139.
    12. Pedersen, Michael Friis & Gyldengren, Jacob Glerup & Pedersen, Søren Marcus & Diamantopoulos, Efstathios & Gislum, René & Styczen, Merete Elisabeth, 2021. "A simulation of variable rate nitrogen application in winter wheat with soil and sensor information - An economic feasibility study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    13. Jin Zhang & Günther Manske & Pi Qi Zhou & Bernhard Tischbein & Mathias Becker & Zhao Hua Li, 2017. "Factors influencing farmers’ decisions on nitrogen fertilizer application in the Liangzihu Lake basin, Central China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 791-805, June.

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