Abstract

The excessive use of inorganic fertilizers causes serious environmental degradation, resulting in lower crop yields in Bangladesh. Seventy percent of Bangladesh farmers practice traditional fertilizer broadcasting. In the 1960s, the Bangladesh state authority launched a ‘Grow More Food’ campaign to feed the country’s increasing population. Farmers were supplied with chemical fertilizers and pesticides at a subsidized price. Farmers increased the frequency of fertilizer applications to enhance yields. These practices are still used and have caused significant environmental degradation. In this study, we examined the effects of fertilizer broadcasting on excessive use of fertilizer and environmental risks. We collected data from 211 Bangladesh infield farmers in 2016. Respondents were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed by applying a binary logistic regression model to test the degree of effects between the testable variables. The study found that the effect of broadcasting on the excessive use of fertilizers is strongly significant, at 1%. It also found that younger farmers have a significant effect at 10% on the excessive use of fertilizers. Bangladesh policymakers can formulate policy on sustainable fertilizer management, introducing different placement methods on the basis of this finding. After that, the Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE) can carry out the policy at the field level.

Highlights

  • The proportion of the world’s population that is hungry has dramatically decreased due to the marked growth in food production in the last 50 years [1,2]

  • We found that traditional fertilizer broadcasting has a statistically significant effect on the excessive use of fertilizers

  • Prior studies show that younger farmers apply the large amounts of organic manure and middle-aged male farmers contribute the reduction in inorganic fertilizer use intensity

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Summary

Introduction

The proportion of the world’s population that is hungry has dramatically decreased due to the marked growth in food production in the last 50 years [1,2]. To feed the world population, the intensity of agricultural production has to be significantly increased [3,5]. Advanced agricultural technologies, such as efficient fertilization methods, are required to meet the global demand, as the inefficient and excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can cause environmental risks. In China, more than half of increased crop production was based on a rapid increase in the consumption of fertilizers [7,10]

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