Rethinking the mineral fertilizer subsidy scheme to promote environmental protection in Italy

2021 ◽  
pp. 003072702110312
Author(s):  
Flavio Gazzani

Nitrogen fertilizers are essential inputs into modern agriculture, however the use of large amounts of mineral fertilizers in Italy caused, in the last three decades, severe environmental impacts such as eutrophication of waters and soils, loss of biodiversity, and drinking water pollution including human health risks. To date, regulatory instruments, such as the Nitrate Directive applied to reduce and manage mineral fertilizers showed scarce results in terms of environmental protection. Meanwhile the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidy scheme continues to encourage intensive agriculture and the national fiscal policy includes VAT reduction to 4% for mineral fertilizers. The aim of this paper is to propose a reform of direct and indirect fertilizers’ subsidies considering multiple fiscal options to adjust and eliminate some harmful incentives. The elimination of direct subsides shows the ability to generate a financial effect of €252.54 million per year. As for indirect subsidies for chemical fertilizers, their fiscal remodelling by bringing back the VAT rate from 4% to 22%, has the ability to generate revenues for the state of €597.40 million. The proposed subsides reform has the capacity to generate a significant revenue for the state amounting to €849.94 million every year, which may be used for investments in organic farming and sustainable agriculture practices.

Author(s):  
H.M. Hospodarenko ◽  
◽  
I.V. Prokopchuk ◽  
K. P. Leonova ◽  
V.P. Boyko

The productivity of agricultural crops is the most variable and integral indicator of their vital activity, which accumulates their genetic potential, soil fertility, weather conditions and components of agricultural technology. Soybean under optimal growing conditions (the reaction of the soil is close to neutral, sufficient phosphorus and potassium nutrition, the use of nitraginization) assimilates from the air about 70 % of the total nitrogen requirement. Therefore, it is believed that it is enough to apply only a starting dose of nitrogen fertilizers (20–40 kg/ha a. s.), to get a high yield with good indicators of grain quality. The results of studies of the influence of long-term (8 years) application of different doses and ratios of fertilizers in field crop rotation on podzolized chernozem in the conditions of the Right -Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine on the yield and quality of soybean seeds preceded by spring barley were presented. It was found that crop yields could be increased by 18–77 % owing to different doses, ratios and types of fertilizers. The highest indicators of seed yields for three years of the research (3,02 t/ha) were obtained under the application of mineral fertilizers at a dose of N110P60K80 per 1 ha of crop rotation area, including under soybean – N60P60K60. Exclusion of the nitrogen component from the complete fertilizer (N60P60K60) reduced its yield by 26 %, phosphorus – by 17, and potassium by 11 %. There was no significant decrease in soybean yield in the variant of the experiment with a decrease in the proportion of potassium in the composition of complete mineral fertilizer (N60P60K30) for three years of study. The largest mass of 1000 soybean seeds was formed at doses of N60К60 fertilizers, and their protein content — under the application of complete mineral fertilizer in doses of N60P60K60 and N60P60K30.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olha Shulha ◽  

The state and contradictions of the development of the agricultural sector of the national economy are investigated. Challenges at the micro-, macro- and global levels for the agricultural sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have been identified. It is noted that the main problems for the domestic agricultural sector in a pandemic were: reducing the purchasing power of the population, limiting the functioning of agri-food markets during quarantine, complicating the logistics of agricultural products. It is established that changes in the markets of countries that are major importers of agricultural products from Ukraine (China, India, the EU, Turkey, Egypt) in a pandemic will have the greatest impact on the development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector. It is concluded that among all sectors of the national economy, agriculture is the least affected by quarantine restrictions. It is shown that small and medium-sized farms suffer the greatest losses in a pandemic. The tasks facing agricultural enterprises and the state in the conditions of a pandemic are determined. The strategic directions of agricultural policy in Ukraine are indicated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-362
Author(s):  
O. L. Romanenko ◽  
I. S. Kushch ◽  
A. V. Agafonova ◽  
Yu. O. Tenyukh ◽  
M. M. Solodushko ◽  
...  

During 2000–2018, the results of the application of organic and mineral fertilizers in dynamics and their effect on the content of humus and nutrients in the soils of the Zaporizhzhya region were reviewed. To control the state of soil fertility use the calculation of the balance of humus and nutrients. This makes it possible to determine the extent to which the application of nutrients with fertilizers covers their removal by crop yields. Negative tendencies have been identified, which have led to the deterioration of soil fertility in the Zaporizhia region. Measures are proposed to achieve a deficit-free balance of humus and nutrients. On average, in 2000–2018, the level of mineral fertilizer application in the Zaporizhia region remained low – 38 kg/ha (nitrogen – 28 kg, phosphorus – 7, potassium – 3 kg), and manure – only 0.2 t/ha. According to the results of agrochemical certification of agricultural lands, the dynamics of changes in the content of humus, easily hydrolyzed nitrogen, mobile compounds of phosphorus and potassium over the past 18 years has been determined. The average weighted content of humus in the soils in the VIII round was 3.44 %, IX – 3.52, X – 3.40, XI (2016–2018) – 3.57 %, which indicates the stability of this indicator. The weighted average nitrogen content, which is easily hydrolyzed during all rounds, has close values (83.6–90.3 mg/kg) and corresponds to a low level of its supply. The content of mobile phosphorus compounds during the VIII – IX rounds was quite stable (97.1–101.6 mg/kg), and in the X–XI rounds there was even an increase to 123.3–123.4 mg/kg. The phosphorus regime of soils is stable and corresponds to the increased level of security, except for the ninth round (average). Potassium regime of the soil for eighteen years also remains stable and refers to a high level of security (159.6–176.8 mg/kg). The balance of humus and nutrients in the soils of the region remains negative. There is a tendency of positive changes if we compare the results for the first (2003–2014) and second (2003–2018) periods. Thus, to achieve a positive balance of humus it is necessary to apply 2 t/ha of straw (+400 kg/ha), 20 kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizers and 6.4 t/ha of manure, and in 2003–2018 – respectively 2 t / ha straw (+400 kg/ha), 20 kg/ha of nitrogen, 5.8 t/ha of manure. Key words: soil, balance, dynamics, humus, fertility, organic and mineral fertilizers.


Author(s):  
Dmitry Aleksandrovich Kuznetsov

The article presents the results of field research conducted in 2018-2019 on leached Chernozem of the Volga forest-steppe. The objects of research are varieties of spring wheat-Tulaykovskaya 10, Yoldyz and Tulaykovskaya 108. At different seeding rates of 5.0 and 5.5 million germinating seeds per ha, the effect of mineral fertilizers on 1 ha was studied. They were represented by a complete mineral fertilizer (azofoska) and fertilizing with a mineral nitrogen fertilizer in the tillering phase at doses of 30, 60 and 90 kg of AD/ha against this background. Analysis of the yield of spring wheat varieties indicates that the harvest of grain variety Yoldyz in variants with a seeding rate of 5.5 million germinating seeds per ha against the background of the application of ammonium nitrate at a dose of 60 kg of DA (2.52 t/ha) was superior to other varieties Tulaykovskaya 10 and Tulaykovskaya 108 (2.51 and 2.46 t/ha). The maximum increase in seed productivity when adding ammonium nitrate in the tillage phase of the crop was in Tulaykovskaya 10 variety (0.34 t/ha), the lowest in the Yoldyz variety (0.06 t/ha) compared to the variant with amofoska application in the pre-sowing cultivation. When increasing the doses of nitrogen fertilizers there was an increase in the water content of all the studied varieties by 1-3 PCs. While increasing the seeding rate from 5.0 to 5.5 million germinating seeds per 1 ha the number of grains in the ear changed on average for varieties by 1-2 PCs. Of all the studied varieties, the largest mass of 1,000 grains was in the Yoldyz variety (40.56 g) after azofoska application in the presowing cultivation + N60 during tillering at a seeding rate of 5.0 million germinating seeds per 1 ha, the smallest in the Tulaykovskaya 108 variety (37.87 g) after azofoska application at a dose of 0.15 t/ha at a seeding rate of 5.0 million   germinating seeds per 1 ha.


Author(s):  
Valery A. Leventsov ◽  

The production of mineral fertilizers is a priority direction for the development of the chemical industry of the Russian Federation. The importance of studying the state and prospects of mineral fertilizer producers for the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is due to the high dependence of the economy of one of the northernmost regions of our country, the Murmansk Region, on the enterprises of this industry. In particular, the Kirov branch of JSC Apatit (PhosAgro company), Kovdorsky GOK (Eurochem Company) and JSC North-Western Phosphorus Company (a subsidiary of PJSC Akron) operate in the Murmansk Region. These enterprises make significant contributions to the regional budget of the Murmansk region as well as to the budgets of municipal formations, create jobs and make a significant contribution to the development of the towns of presence. Russian manufacturing companies in their activities are mainly focused on the external market, which is due to the excess of supply over demand and the lack of use of mineral fertilizers on 39 % of Russian sown areas. The main Russian producers of mineral fertilizers include PhosAgro, Akron, EuroChem, Uralchem and Uralkali. The only company claiming the priority of the domestic market is PhosAgro. Analysis of the annual reports of the largest Russian producers of mineral fertilizers indicates their desire to expand the geography of supplies. In the domestic market, there is a positive trend in the consumption of mineral fertilizers, which is associated with high prices for agricultural products, as well as the state policy of subsidizing agricultural enterprises, in addition, state regulation of prices in the domestic market leads to an increase in demand for fertilizers. For fertilizer producers, it is possible to use the three-level relational interaction model presented below. The article presents the results of testing the hypothesis of the need for the development of relational relations in the mineral fertilizers market. The assessment is based on the use of a three-level model of relational interaction of industrial market participants. The results of the analysis can be used in the development and implementation of relational cooperation in economic systems of various levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19(34) (1) ◽  
pp. 144-152
Author(s):  
Barbara Wieliczko

The creation of an effective and efficient agricultural policy by the state is an extremely difficult task. It seems that designing proper agricultural policy becomes more difficult the larger the area. The aim of the article is to try to answer the question of what role in the creation and implementation of agricultural policy in the EU should be played by the European Commission, and by individual Member States. The answer to this question is based on the theories of fiscal and environmental federalism. The article is based on a review of literature and analysis of the optimal scope of public administration's competences in the creation and implementation of agricultural policy. The obtained results allow to determine how to optimize the division of tasks related to the agricultural policy between the levels of administration, which enables the implementation of a more effective and more efficient agricultural policy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 835-843
Author(s):  
D. A. Kuznetsov ◽  
G. N. Ibragimova

The article presents the results of field studies conducted in 2018-2020 on the leached chernozem of the Volga foreststeppe. The objects of the research are the varieties of spring wheat Tulaykovskaya 10 (control), Yoldyz and Tulaykovskaya 108. At seeding rates of 5.0 and 5.5 million viable seeds per 1 ha the effect of mineral fertilizers was studied. The fertilizers were represented by a complete NPK mineral fertilizer of 16 kg a.i. and by top-dressing with mineral nitrogen fertilizer in the tillering phase at the doses of 30, 60 and 90 kg a.i./ha against this background. An increase in the seeding rate of seeds from 5.0 to 5.5 million seeds per 1 ha led to a significant increase in the yield of spring wheat in all years of study (by 0.11-0.26 t/ha), the weight of 1000 seeds – by 1.44 g (LSD05 = 1.14), the nature of grain - by 8 g/l (LSD05 = 5). The effect of top-dressing with nitrogen fertilizers has been proved – the increase in yield ranged from 0.15 to 0.28 t/ha over three years on the average, the maximum from a dose of 60 kg a.i. A statistically significant increase in the weight of 1000 seeds was provided by nitrogen fertilization in doses of 60 and 90 kg a.i./ha – by 2.79 and 1.87 g, respectively (LSD05 = 1.47), grain nature increased at doses of 30, 60 and 90 kg a.i./ha by 34, 23 and 16 g/l, respectively (LSD05 = 2). The average yield of spring wheat varieties with the selected combination of factors (5.5 million seeds/ha, N60) was in the range of 2.64-2.70 t/ha with a mass of 1000 grains 44.03-44.56 g, the nature of grain 765-783 g/l. The studied varieties differed in responsiveness to nitrogen fertilization (N60 against the NPK background): Tulaykovskaya 10 (+0.43 t/ha), Tulaykovskaya 108 (+0.39 t/ha), Yoldyz (+0.24 t/ha). Increases in yield from an increase in the seeding rate were 0.20 (Yoldyz), 0.25 (Tulaykovskaya 108) and 0.26 t/ha (Tulaykovskaya 10). In general, according to the experiment relative to the control variety Tulaykovskaya 10, the variety Yoldyz stood out with a stable increase in yield over the years of research (+0.08 t/ha), statistically significant in years with insufficient moisture. The Yoldyz variety was distinguished by an increased profitability of cultivation – up to 59.4 % at a seeding rate of 5.5 million viable seeds/ha against the background of applying mineral fertilizers N16P16K16 for pre-sowing soil cultivation.


Author(s):  
K.S. Nebaba

The article presents the results reached in our study of the influence of mineral fertilizers and growth regulators on symbiotic capacity of field pea in the conditions of Western Forest-Steppe. Experimental part was carried out during 2016-2018 on the field of the TPC Podilya at the SAEUP, the typical black soil, characterized as deep, low-humus, and heavy gravel on forest-like loams. The results indicate that the productivity of field pea largely depended on the effective interaction of the host plant and nodule bacteria. Application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and small doses of nitrogen fertilizers improved the biological fixation of nitrogen. Spray application of growth regulators at the budding-flowering phase continued the functioning of the red pigment of synthesized leghemoglobin in the nodules. The positive effect of mineral fertilizers and growth regulators on the symbiotic potentials of field pea plants was confirmed. The total symbiotic potential characterizes the state of legume-rhizobium symbiosis. The duration of active functioning of nodules on pea roots and their ability to fix biological nitrogen during the growing season define the magnitude of the active symbiotic potential. During the growing season, the total symbiotic potential indicators were the highest for the Chekbek variety and amounted to 13.1 thousand kg*days/ha (after application of N30P30K45 with the Vympel growth regulator). After application of the same combination of mineral fertilizer and growth regulator, the Gotovsky variety demonstrated - 10.6 thousand kg*days/ha, the Fargus variety – 10.0 thousand kg*days/ha.


Author(s):  
Н. В. Новицька ◽  
О. М. Мартинов ◽  
Н. М. Доктор

У статті висвітлено результати досліджень тривалості веґетаційного періоду квасолі та окремих його фаз для середньостиглих сортів Мавка, Перлина, Надія залежно від рівня удобрення та інокулювання насіння «Ризобофітом Р» в умовах Закарпаття України. Польовий дослід закладали на колекційно-демонстративному полі у ВП НУБіП України «Мукачівський аграрний коледж» у Закарпатській області на дерново-підзолистих важкосуглинкових ґрунтах. Встановлено, що в умовах Закарпаття веґетація середньостиглих сортів квасолі залежно від сортових особливостей, удобрення та інокуляції насіння варіює від 93 до 113 діб. Збільшення норми внесення мінеральних добрив до N60P20K25 подовжує веґетаційний період сортів квасолі звичайної на 8–13 діб. За передпосівної обробки насіння «Ризобофітом Р» тривалість веґетації та настання фенофаз квасолі звичайної також подовжувалась від 2 до 5 діб. Сорт Надія достигає раніше на 8–10 діб. The article is devoted to the results of the study of the duration of the vegetation period of the beans and its individual phases for mid-late varieties of Mavka, Pearl, Nadiya depending on the level of fertilization and inoculation of seeds by «Risobofit P» in the conditions of Transcarpathia of Ukraine. Field experiments were laid on the collector-demonstration field at the NUPiP of Ukraine «Mukachevo Agrarian College» in the Transcarpathian region on turf-podzolic heavy-soil soils. Mineral fertilizers were introduced in the form of ammonium nitrate (34.4 % N), phosphorous flour (30 % P), kalimagnesia (26–28 % K, 11–18 % Mg); additionally carried out liming of soils at the rate of 3 t/ha. The inoculation of seed beans was carried out on the day of sowing by «Risobofit» (mark P), which contains the symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Rhizobium phaseoli from the Institute of Agroecology and Nature Management of NAAS. It has been established that in the conditions of Transcarpathia, the vegetation of mid-season varieties of beans varies from 93 to 113 days depending on variety characteristics, fertilization and inoculation of seeds. Hope grade reached earlier than others and the period of vegetation it was 8–10 days shorter. Application of seed inoculation prolonged the period of vegetation of beans varieties compared to variants without seed inoculation on a different background of fertilizer for 3–5 days. The increase in nitrogen fertilizers up to 60 kg/ha prolonged the vegetation of the studied bean varieties for 8–13 days. For the application of nitrogen fertilizers in the normal range from 45 to 60 kg/ha against the background of PK, the vegetation period was the same, both in the variants with and without inoculation. The introduction of nitrogen fertilizers in the normal range from 45 to 60 kg/ha on the background of PK resulted in inhibition of the nitrogenase activity of the tubers on the roots of the studied soybean varieties and the plant nutrition was carried out solely at the expense of mineral fertilizer forms.


Author(s):  
I. V. Vyhovsky

At present, the need for crops in fertilizers is determined by an amount of mineral nutrients carried out by the planned crop and by the results of field experiment, taking into account the effective fertility of the soil. Experimental studies were conducted on the eroded slope of steepness 6–7° on the basis of the Rivne Institute of Agricultural Production of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The soil of the experimental site is dark gray, light-sand, medium-grained, extracted. In order to create cereal-leguminous grass, haymaking, the grass-blend was planted in a non-obtrusive manner, the following grasses were added to the composition: alfalfa sowed (4.4 million pounds per hectare) + long beetroot horned (4.4 million pounds per hectare) + bromus inermis (3.4 million pounds per hectare) + Lolium perenne (3.4 million pounds per hectare). The experiment used double and triple combinations of mineral fertilizers in accordance with the scheme and used growth stimulants (emistom C and fumar). Nitrogen fertilizers were administered in the dose N30 in the spring and after the second slump. Phosphoric and potassium – in the spring. Results of our analysis show that the removal of nutrients and their content in the root remains more depend on the harvest of dry overground mass and accumulation of root residues, than from the chemical composition of cereals and legumes grass mix. In variants where mineral nitrogen was not introduced, the accumulation of this element in the crop occurs at the expense of growth stimulator (fumar) and the symbiotic fixation of nitrogen by bean grasses. We have established that the removal of nitrogen with the harvest was 162.4–240.0 kg/ha, phosphorus 46.5–66.7 kg/ha, potassium – 184.8–240.0 kg/ha. The highest yield was from nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in variants with full mineral fertilizer in the norm N60P60K90 + growth stimulator fumar and was 240.0 kg/ha, 66.7 kg/ha, 240.0 kg/ha respectively. The results are presented, which confirm that at a low level of mineral nutrition a significant amount of nutrients is removed by the harvest. According to our calculations, a positive balance between nitrogen and phosphorus and negative for potassium was noted on variants of cereal-leguminous grasses of hayfield use (Medicago sativa alfalfa crop, Lotus corniculatus lyadvenets Horned, Promus rump beardless inermis, and Lolium multiflorum) with full mineral fertilizers in a dose of N60P60K90 + fumar. It was established that cereal grasses use nitrogen in the ear staining phase, and fertilizer and root residues are not sufficient to cover its removal with a biological harvest.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document