Estimating nutrient surplus and nutrient use efficiency from farm characteristics

Abstract

Research on nutrient losses from agricultural systems should try to relate these losses to farm characteristics. This was done for private farms in two districts in Poland. Using data from a farm survey, nutrient surpluses and Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE, defined as the ratio of outgoing and incoming nutrients) were calculated for nitrogen and phosphorus. Both nutrient surplus and NUE are relatively high. A model was developed to estimate surpluses and NUE from farm characteristics like location, farm size, fertilizer application level, animal density, grass production and sugar beet or potato area. The results of the model are satisfying for nutrient surplus (R2=0.9) and nitrogen NUE (R2=0.4). Estimation of phosphorus NUE was not satisfactory. High surpluses are associated with high fertilizer applications, high animal density and high grass production while an increasing share of sugar beets leads to lower surpluses. A high nitrogen NUE is associated with low fertilizer applications, low animal density and little grass production, and with a high sugar beet area share. Results suggest that, with exception of sugar beet, fertilizer recovery in Poland is very low. Sugar beet, however, combines high fertilizer applications with low surpluses and high NUE. The outcome of the model can be used in the design of environmental policies. The paper ends with some remarks on the type of measures that can be taken, and the effects these will have on private farms in Poland.