An Assessment of Planting Flexibility Options to Reduce the Excessive Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer in the United States of America

1992 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
W-Y Huang ◽  
N D Uri
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
Agricultural Commodity ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate

The analysis in this paper is directed at estimating the marginal value of a base acre, the nitrogen rate of fertilizer use, the corn yield, and the excess nitrogen fertilizer application rate under alternative policy options designed to encourage planting flexibility in response to changing relative agricultural commodity prices. Encouragement of planting flexibility via an option of detaching deficiency payments from the base acreage is an effective way to reduce the excessive application rate and use of nitrogen fertilizer. Encouragement of planting flexibility via an option of reducing the base acreage is effective only if the availability of cropland is a limiting factor. However, movement toward the complete elimination of the notion of base acreage (that is, movement toward a completely free market unencumbered by government programs) would be the most effective option to reduce the value of a base acre thereby encouraging greater planting flexibility. An increase in the price of soybeans and a decrease in the price of corn would also serve to encourage switching from continuous planting of corn to a corn — soybeans rotation. However, as more soybeans and less corn are produced, the price of soybeans would fall while the price of corn would rise. As a consequence, the effectiveness of the policy options considered here in promoting planting flexibility would be reduced.

scholarly journals Quantifying Key Internal and External Yield-limiting Factors for Chinese Pear in Smallholder Dominant Areas

HortScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Haoran Fu ◽  
Qingxu Ma ◽  
Zhengbo Ma ◽  
Yingzhao Hu ◽  
Fan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Magnesium Content ◽  
The United States ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Boundary Line ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Available N ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate

Pear (Pyrus spp.) is the third-largest economic crop in China after apples (Malus pumila Mill.) and citrus (Citrus reticulata Blanco), and it is mainly cultivated by smallholders. Currently, the yield of Chinese pear ranks midlevel globally, with only 17.9 t⋅ha−1⋅year−1, which is lower than that of the United States (36.0 t⋅ha−1⋅year−1). However, the factors limiting pear production dominated by smallholders are unclear. We interviewed 75 smallholders about 18 yield-related indicators for pear-typical planting areas. The boundary line model was used to analyze the contribution of internal factors and dominant external factors affecting yield and to simulate strategies for increasing yield through the scenario analysis. The results showed that the average gap between the average and highest attainable yields for smallholders was 10.5 t⋅ha−1⋅year−1 in Luniao County. Among individual yield-limiting factors, chemical fertilizer nitrogen (N) input (13.3%) was the most significant, followed by the soil-available N content (12.0%) and leaf magnesium content (12.0%). Overall, the contribution of all soil factors (42.7%) was the largest compared with the other factor categories. However, the contribution of internal factors could not be ignored and accounted for 25.3% of the total. A scenario analysis showed that comprehensive strategies considering soil, management, and internal factors achieved the largest yield improvement (14%), as did reducing the fertilizer application rate (66%) compared with only using soil or leaf diagnosis methods. Therefore, integrated methods should be considered when developing pear orchard management measures and include soil, management, and internal factors.

scholarly journals Agricultural Policy: High Commodity and Input Prices

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Schmitz ◽  
Hartley Furtan ◽  
Troy G. Schmitz
Keyword(s):  
Commodity Prices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Commodity Markets ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Agricultural Commodity ◽  
Commodity Trade ◽  
Country Of Origin Labeling ◽  
Input Prices ◽  
Meat Sector

Because of high commodity prices, beginning in 2006, subsidies to farmers in the United States, the European Union, and Canada have been reduced significantly. However, significant losses have been experienced by the red meat sector, along with escalating food prices. Because of rising input costs, the “farm boom” may not be as great as first thought. Ethanol made from corn and country-of-origin labeling cloud the U.S. policy scene. Higher commodity prices have caused some countries to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers, resulting in freer commodity trade worldwide. Policymakers should attempt to make these trade-barrier cuts permanent and should rethink current policy legislation to deal with the possibility of a collapse of world commodity markets. Agricultural commodity prices have dropped significantly since early 2008.

scholarly journals Nitrogen fertilizer application rate impacts eating and cooking quality of rice after storage

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253189
Author(s):  
Hanling Liang ◽  
Dongbing Tao ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Shuang Zhang ◽  
Jiayi Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Cooking Quality ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate ◽  
Eating And Cooking Quality ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Nitrogen Application Rate

The effect of nitrogen fertilizer application on the quality of rice post-storage is not well understood. The eating and cooking quality (ECQ) of rice treated with 0 (CK, control), 160 (IN, insufficient nitrogen), 260 (AN, adequate nitrogen), and 420 (EN, excessive nitrogen) kg N/ha was analyzed over 12 months of storage. Results showed that the rate of nitrogen fertilizer application had no significant impact on the changes in taste value during storage. However, EN application significantly increased the hardness (p < 0.05), reduced the gumminess (p < 0.05), and delayed the decline in the viscosity of rice paste by two months after one-year storage, compared with other treatments. In conclusion, although EN application resulted in an inferior texture of rice, it delayed the quality change by two months during storage. It was demonstrated that a rational nitrogen application rate (0–260 kg N/ha) for rice cultivation is particularly important to obtain high ECQ; however, EN may be beneficial for the stability of the ECQ during storage.

scholarly journals Does Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rate to Corn Affect Nitrous Oxide Emissions from the Rotated Soybean Crop?

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javed Iqbal ◽  
David C. Mitchell ◽  
Daniel W. Barker ◽  
Fernando Miguez ◽  
John E. Sawyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Soybean Crop ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate

scholarly journals The Optimization of Bayesian Extreme Value: Empirical Evidence for the Agricultural Commodities in the US

Economies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Jittima Singvejsakul ◽  
Chukiat Chaiboonsri ◽  
Songsak Sriboonchitta
Keyword(s):  
Commodity Prices ◽  
The United States ◽  
Extreme Value ◽  
Extreme Value Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Product ◽  
Agricultural Commodities ◽  
Agricultural Commodity ◽  
Optimal Point ◽  
Value Analysis ◽  
Optimal Interval

Bayesian extreme value analysis was used to forecast the optimal point in agricultural commodity futures prices in the United States for cocoa, coffee, corn, soybeans and wheat. Data were collected daily between 2000 and 2020. The estimation of extreme value can be empirically interpreted as representing crises or unusual time series trends, while the extreme optimal point is useful for investors and agriculturists to make decisions and better understand agricultural commodities future prices warning levels. Results from the Non-stationary Extreme Value Analysis (NEVA) software package using Bayesian inference and the Newton-optimal methods provided optimal interval values. These indicated extreme maximum points of future prices to inform investors and agriculturists to sell the contract and product before the commodity prices dropped to the next local minimum values. Thus, agriculturists can use this information as an advanced warming of alarming points of agricultural commodity prices to predict the efficient quantity of their agricultural product to sell, with better ways to manage this risk.

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer application rate on yield, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.)

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Wile ◽  
David L. Burton ◽  
Mehdi Sharifi ◽  
Derek Lynch ◽  
Michael Main ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Phalaris Arundinacea ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Reed Canarygrass ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate

Wile, A., Burton, D. L., Sharifi, M., Lynch, D., Main, M. and Papadopoulos, Y. A. 2014. Effect of nitrogen fertilizer application rate on yield, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.). Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 129–137. This 2-yr (2008–2009) study conducted in Truro, Nova Scotia, measured plant biomass production (yield and ash content) and greenhouse gas emissions (methane and nitrous oxide), from the bioenergy crops switchgrass (SG; Panicum virgatum L.) and reed canarygrass (RCG; Phalaris arundinacea L.) receiving spring application of nitrogen fertilizer at 0, 40 and 120 kg N ha−1. In both years, crop yields were unresponsive to N fertilizer. In 2008, SG average yields were greater than RCG producing 7.0 vs. 4.6 Mg ha−1, respectively, while ash content was significantly greater for RCG in both years. Cumulative seasonal (May–November) N2O emissions were<1 kg N2O-N ha−1 in 2008 and<0.2 kg N2O-N ha−1 in 2009 with crop (SG>RCG) and N fertilizer (N120>N40=N0) effects found in 2008 only. Nitrate exposure was greater for SG in 2008 only, but responded to N fertilization in both years (N120>N0). These crops were net sinks for methane and the magnitude of the sink was not influenced by crop type, N fertilization or year. Despite lower yields, the greenhouse gas intensity calculated for RCG (−2 to 20 kg CO2e t−1 biomass) was lower than for SG (8 – 60 kg CO2e t−1 biomass) as a result of lower N2O emissions.

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