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Economic assessment of nitrogene fertilization strategies in open field vegetable production

Project

Production processes

This project contributes to the research aim 'Production processes'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Production processes


Project code: TI-BW-08-PID1757
Contract period: 01.04.2016 - 31.12.2019
Purpose of research: Applied research

Which new fertilization strategies in vegetable production can be applied in the context of the new fertilizer ordinance to achieve profitable and sustainable production and to minimize leaching of nitrate to ground water? Using innovative fertilization strategies can lead to an increased efficiency of nutrients and reduce the risk of nitrate leaching. Therefore these strategies are highly relevant in the ecological and economic sustainability of vegetable production. The project aims to assess innovative fertilization strategies with regards to their economic feasibility and compliance with the new fertilizer ordinance. In a period of three years, project partners implement and test innovative fertilization strategies on vegetable farms in three major producing regions: Niederrhein, Pfalz and Knoblauchsland. Direct and indirect costs of the new fertilization strategies are assessed by the Thünen-Institute of farm economics in order to identify efficient strategies. Specific characteristics such as farm structures, regional characteristics and crop requirements are taken into account. Also the risks of changes in yield level and product quality are considered. Project results will be presented in workshops where growers and advisors will have the opportunity to comment and discuss. The economic assessment of new fertilization strategies is based on selected production systems of different crops in the study regions, based on the typical farm approach. Therefore, models of production systems are established with technical and economic parameters each representing a specific crop crop, region and type of farms. These typical production systems serve as base scenario. The data from on-farm testing of the new strategies are then used to derive technology adoption scenarios to assess costs and benefits. Rather than calculating costs for individual farms, the results from the typical production system analysis allow more general conclusions that refer to the different crops and farm types. Three main sources of data are used to establish the typical production systems: literature/statistics, technical advisors and farmers. The typical production system models are discussed with expert panels of farmers and advisors, and adjusted according to expert opinion as necessary.

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Subjects

Framework programme

BMEL Frameworkprogramme 2008

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