Managing nitrogen for sustainable crop production

Abstract

This paper discusses the influence of N resources (fertilizer, legume, soil) on sustainable agriculture in temperate/boreal ecosystems (exemplified by the Canadian prairies), and in the humid, subhumid and semi-arid tropic (exemplified by southeast Asia and central and south America). A sustainable agricultural system is one that is economically viable, provides safe, nutritious food, and. conserves or enhances the environment. Consequently, we discuss the impact of N on crop yields, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), food quality, environmental quality and on socioeconomic factors. Considerably more long-term research has been conducted in the temperate regions, consequently this was where most information was available. However, the principles governing the behaviour of N are very similar in all ecosystems. It is mainly the rates of nutrient cycling and the socioeconomic constraints that differ. Legumes and N fertilizers, used in a responsible manner, will increase crop production, provide quality food, increase net returns, reduce risk of monetary loss, improve soil quality, and reduce N loss via leaching and gaseous means. The key to sustainable management of N is to synchronize N supply with N use by the crop. Because societies in most temperate ecosystems are more affluent they are better positioned to encourage adoption of management techniques that promote sustainability. In contrast, most producers in the tropics are, subsistence farmers; consequently, their immediate goal is economic survival, not preservation of the environment.