Levels Of Fertilizer Use Research Articles

Plot size misperceptions and soil health: A New research agenda

Farmer misperceptions of plot size can potentially lead to greater than intended levels of fertilizer use, which can increase the threat of soil fertility decline and non responsiveness of crops to inorganic fertilizer application. In addition, due to diminishing marginal returns of fertilizer use on grain yields, overestimation of plot size can potentially decrease fertilizer profitability. In this study, we use data collected from randomly selected farmers in rural western Kenya that include both the estimated sizes of the agricultural plots as reported by the farmers and their GPS-measured sizes. We find that 65 percent of plots are overestimated by at least 20 percent. We also find that inorganic nitrogen use is strongly increasing in plot size misestimation: a 10% increase in plot misestimation was associated with a 2.6 percent increase in commercial nitrogen application. Next, we build a random forest model to examine the agronomic efficiency of the farmer intended fertilizer use rates vs. actual rates. We find that misestimation of plot sizes is associated with an average decrease in return on investment of 5% (12%) at application rates of 60 kg N/ha (120 kg N/ha). Building on this exercise, we review the literature linking soil health and plot size misperceptions and conclude by proposing a new research agenda to examine how plot size misperceptions affect soil health and farmer well-being, more broadly.

Increasing lettuce productivity through Starter Solution Technology (SST)

Starter Solution Technology (SST), which is a highly concentrated liquid fertilizer, has been researched by AVRDC the World Vegetable Center. SST is a technological innovation to reduce fertilizer input while also increasing the efficiency of fertilizer use and crop productivity. The purpose of this research is to apply starter solution technology which is an efficient way of using fertilizer in order to increase lettuce production. The research was conducted in Tawangargo Village, Karangploso District, Malang Regency from July to September 2022. There were 10 treatments, including P1 = NPK 3 gr/plant, T2 = NPK 2 gr/plant, P3 = 1.5 g/plant, P4 = 1 g /plant, P5 = 0.5 g/plant, P6 = NPK 3 g/plant + SST, P2 = NPK 2 gr/plant + SST, P3 = 1.5 g/plant + SST, P4 = 1 g/plant + SST, P5 = 0.5 g/plant + SST. The results showed that the use of SST technology was able to produce better growth and yield and was able to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers by more than 60% from the current level of fertilizer use without significant reduction in yield. Adding fertilizer to the starter treatment reduced lettuce production.

Choosing Nitrogen Application Rate Recommendation Given Florida’s Regulatory Water Policy

State and federal policies in the United States focus on agricultural best management practices (BMP)—such as improving nutrient management—to address water quality issues. BMP development is a challenging process as a new BMP may also affect farm profitability. This article explores the economic feasibility of nitrogen (N) management programs, including nitrogen application rates (N rates), given alternative scenarios for current nitrogen use and producer risk perceptions of carrot production in Florida. In this study, eight alternative N rates are ranked to find the economically optimal BMP. Carrot profitability is determined based on carrot yields per hectare, input costs, and carrot sale prices, using data from a 2-year carrot production experiment. The analysis applied stochastic simulation to account for the uncertain factors by using Simetar Add-In for Excel. We found that 224 kg·ha−1 N fertilizer rate is the most preferred by the producers among the eight rates considered. According to Florida’s agricultural water policy, BMP recommendations should balance water quality improvements and agricultural productivity. We consider the potential reduction of nitrogen fertilizer rate BMP from 224 kg·ha−1 to 168 kg·ha−1 and show that the effect of such reduction depends on producers’ current fertilizer application rates and their risk aversion levels. For example, reducing the N fertilizer rate from 336 kg·ha−1 to 168 kg·ha−1 decreases mean net returns by only 2% ($49/ha). In contrast, reducing the nitrogen fertilizer rate from 224 kg·ha−1 to 168 kg·ha−1 reduces the mean net returns by $151/ha, with an almost 10% reduction in the certainty equivalent of the net returns (for extremely risk-averse producers). Overall, if most producers in the region are very or extremely risk-averse, and if most of them operate close to the optimal level of fertilizer use, then setting the more restrictive BMP of 168 kg·ha−1 N can be perceived as undermining their economic profitability and require significant cost-share incentives to ensure targeted 100% adoption of BMP recommendations.

Rainfall shocks and fertilizer use: a district level study of India

AbstractIn the context of climate change and increasing occurrences of extreme events, it is essential to understand farmers' responses to weather shocks and adaptations. This paper uses a panel dataset of 311 selected Indian districts ranging from 1966 to 2009 to investigate how application of chemical fertilizers varies in response to rainfall shocks. Two rainfall shock measures are constructed based on deviation in rainfall from the normal, a categorical measure of rainfall shock; and another, a continuous index of negative rainfall deviation. Based on a panel fixed effect regression, the study finds no apparent reduction in the level of fertilizer use in negative rainfall shock years. However, with a one-year lagged rainfall shock, a reduction in fertilizer application rate is observed for the continuous drought index. Further, exposure to higher intensity droughts in the previous year leads to an increase in the amount of fertilizer application in the current year.

Do Remittances Promote Fertilizer Use? The Case of Ugandan Farmers

A key factor that improves agricultural productivity is land fertility. Even though the benefits from using fertilizers are well documented and widely accepted, a low level of adoption and use is observed among farmers in developing countries. According to the literature, several constraints such as lack of access to credit and insurance can explain the low level of fertilizer use among African farmers. In this paper, I investigate whether remittances have the potential to remove these constraints by promoting higher fertilizer use. In order to address this research question, I use the Ugandan Living Standards Measurement Study‐Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS‐ISA) from the World Bank. The article provides a separate analysis between organic and inorganic fertilizer, as inorganic fertilizer is riskier and more expensive than the organic options. In an instrumental variable empirical framework, I find that remittances promote fertilizer use, in particular the organic fertilizer. To unpack the mechanisms behind, the article further shows that remittances (a) induce farmers to invest in livestock and (b) act as a buffer to rainfall variability in the case of inorganic fertilize use. The results indicate that remittances can, at least partially, remove credit and insurance constraints and promote fertilizer among Ugandan farmers.

The role of active soil carbon in influencing the profitability of fertilizer use: Empirical evidence from smallholder maize plots in Tanzania.

We use recent plot‐level panel data from Tanzanian smallholder farmers to investigate maize yield responses to inorganic fertilizer under variable soil carbon conditions. Unlike many prior studies which consider total carbon measurements, we focus on active soil carbon, which is a component strongly related to key soil functions, such as nutrient cycling and availability. Active soil carbon is found to be a strong predictor of maize yield response to nitrogen fertilizer. These results highlight important sources of variation in the returns to fertilizer investments across plots and smallholder farmers in the region. When farmgate prices for maize and fertilizer are incorporated into calculations of economic returns, we find that the profitability of fertilizer use is strongly dependent upon farmgate price ratio assumptions: under our most optimistic agronomic response estimates, 39% of farmer plots have an average value‐cost ratio greater than 1.5 at a maize‐nitrogen price ratio of 0.15. That share drops to 4% at a price ratio of 0.12 and 0% at a price ratio of 0.09. Our findings provide insights into the intertwined biophysical and economic underpinnings of low levels of fertilizer use in Tanzania and elsewhere in the region. Raising active carbon stocks in smallholder systems may be a strategic priority in many areas for incentivizing greater use of inorganic fertilizer, reversing land degradation, and achieving sustainable agricultural intensification.

The Health Cost of Fertilizer

We present an interdisciplinary view of looking at the optimal level of fertilizer use. We model nutrient level in the soil as renewable and natural resource which can be extracted by the fertilizer use in the form of crop-yield. Our model show that under free access, the use of fertilizer per unit land is greater than private optimal level which is greater than social optimal level. Our theoretical modelling further show that nutrients extinction is possible if fertilizer use is too high. We test the theoretical model in the data, major theoretical results are verified. Our results show that there exists an optimal level of fertilizer use (a function of crop and soil characteristics) beyond which there is a possibility of severe adverse impacts on both soil and human health. Our results are robust to regional and temporal trends.

Evaluating eco-efficiency and optimal levels of fertilizer use based on the social cost and social benefits in tea production.

The extensive use of synthetic fertilizers is increasing continuously to meet the growing demand of food worldwide. This excessive use of fertilizer not only pose a threat to the sustainability but also cause negative externalities in form of hidden social cost to the society The present study estimated social costs and benefits associated with excessive use of chemical fertilizers at tea farms and also evaluated eco-efficiency of tea growers in Rize Province of Turkey. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used in this study. Tea growers are 68% eco-efficient in the locality. They can reduce their average fertilizer use from 115.45 to 66.45 kg and labor from 9.88 to 8 days per decare. The overuse of fertilizers at tea farms emits 289.3 kg/hectare of greenhouse gases. Therefore, by applying the eco-efficient fertilizer target level, 1574.48 tons of gas emissions only in Rize Province and 23,997.57 tons in whole Turkey can be reduced. The cost of 1 kg gas emissions was calculated as 0.3316 TL. The optimal level of fertilizers (social costs = social benefits) was also similar to the target level. The fertilizer use efficiency analysis showed that the tea growers cannot only reduce their fertilizer quantity by 49.03 kg/decare without compromising the crop yield, but can also contribute to the healthy environment with a low level of greenhouse gas emissions. Tea growers should replace their older tea orchards with new ones in order to achieve social and eco-efficient levels as well as to maintain viable yield level.

THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY ON THE BALANCE OF NUTRITIONAL SUBSTANCES IN SOILS OF ZHYTOMIR REGION

It is known that in Ukraine agriculture is much more developed than industry. This is due to the presence in our country of high-yielding lands, in particular, the black earth, which is a national wealth and protected by the constitution of Ukraine. This is what determines Ukraine’s belonging to the agrarian states of the world. As a result, the level of land plowing in our country is quite high, and the acreage occupies a considerable share of agricultural land. On the other hand, intensive involvement of land in the production of agricultural products leads to a deterioration of the soil condition, reducing their natural fertility. The lack of tight control by the state on the use of land by producers only exacerbates the effects of anthropogenic impact on soil quality. The Zhytomyr region is located in the Polissya and Forest-Steppe zones. The predominant soil type in its territory is sod-podzolic (more than 60.0%), with humus content up to 1.5%. Such soils are typical of northern part of the region. The forest-steppe part of Zhytomyr region is characterized by more fertile soils with humus content of more than 2.5%. The acreage of Zhytomyr region is 648,1 thousand hectares. Agricultural enterprises mainly have a grain direction, since in the structure of acreage the major part is occupied by grain and legumes, corn for grain, sunflower, soybean and rapeseed. The areas with the highest share of arable land are Andrushivskiy, Berdychivskiy, Ruzhinskiy, Popilnyanskiy, Chudnivskiy, Chernyakhivskiy and Brusylivskiy, with an area of arable land 38.2–53.6% of the total area of the district. Minerals and organic fertilizers are not sufficiently used in the agricultural system of the region. This is evidenced by the negative nutrient balance, which amounts to 35.5 tonnes from the entire acreage. With regard to mineral fertilizers, it is used more intensively by producers than organic fertilizers cultures. Fertilized areas in the sections of Zhytomyr region are shown on the corresponding map diagrams. According to our research, Chudnivskiy (2.54%), Andrushivskiy (2.62%), Zhytomyrskiy (2.63%) and Ruzhynskiy (2.9%) regions have the highest weighted average humus. It is in this area that land use can be considered environmentally sound. In total, 838888 tones of humus were formed in the area under crops at an area of 607.1 thousand hectares. However, the main share in the process of humification is plant residues, not organic fertilizers. Therefore, the low level of fertilizer use by agricultural enterprises causes a shortage of nutrients in the soil of the acreage and indicates the irrational use of land in agricultural production.

Modeling the Impacts of Nitrogen Dynamics on Regional Terrestrial Carbon and Water Cycles over China with Noah-MP-CN

As an important part of biogeochemical cycling, the nitrogen cycle modulates terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage, water consumption, and environmental quality. Modeling the complex interactions between nitrogen, carbon and water at a regional scale remains challenging. Using China as a testbed, this study presents the first application of the nitrogen-augmented community Noah land surface model with multi-parameterization options (Noah-MP-CN) at the regional scale. Noah-MP-CN parameterizes the constraints of nitrogen availability on photosynthesis based on the Fixation and Uptake of Nitrogen plant nitrogen model and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool soil nitrogen model. The impacts of nitrogen dynamics on the terrestrial carbon and water cycles are investigated by comparing the simulations with those from the original Noah-MP. The results show that incorporating nitrogen dynamics improves the carbon cycle simulations. Noah-MP-CN outperforms Noah-MP in reproducing leaf area index (LAI) and gross primary productivity (GPP) for most of China, especially in the southern warm and humid regions, while the hydrological simulations only exhibit slight improvements in soil moisture and evapotranspiration. The impacts of fertilizer application over cropland on carbon fixation, water consumption and nitrogen leaching are investigated through a trade-off analysis. Compared to halved fertilizer use, the actual quantity of application increases GPP and water consumption by only 1.97% and 0.43%, respectively; however, the nitrogen leaching is increased by 5.35%. This indicates that the current level of fertilizer use is a potential concern for degrading the environment.

A Quantitative Analysis of Socio-Economic Determinants Influencing Crop Drought Vulnerability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Drought events have significant impacts on agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as agricultural production in most of the countries relies on precipitation. Socio-economic factors have a tremendous influence on whether a farmer or a nation can adapt to these climate stressors. This study aims to examine the extent to which these factors affect maize vulnerability to drought in SSA. To differentiate sensitive regions from resilient ones, we defined a crop drought vulnerability index (CDVI) calculated by comparing recorded yield with expected yield simulated by the Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model during 1990–2012. We then assessed the relationship between CDVI and potential socio-economic variables using regression techniques and identified the influencing variables. The results show that the level of fertilizer use is a highly influential factor on vulnerability. Additionally, countries with higher food production index and better infrastructure are more resilient to drought. The role of the government effectiveness variable was less apparent across the SSA countries due to being generally stationary. Improving adaptations to drought through investing in infrastructure, improving fertilizer distribution, and fostering economic development would contribute to drought resilience.

Explaining bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield differences by soil properties and fertilizer rates in the highlands of Ethiopia

Ethiopia faces major food security challenges. In spite of a modest level of fertilizer use, the percentage of wheat that is imported is substantial. The Ethiopian government has invested in the fertilizer sector, thereby also moving away from di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) to multi-nutrient blends (NPSZnB). Wheat fertilizer experiments were established in seven locations (three replications) in the highlands that represented the wide range of soils found in this area. The crop was exposed to DAP, NPS and to five levels of NPSZnB (50–300 kg/ha). All treatments included 100 kg/ha urea. The average wheat grain yield at the experimental sites, when all fertilizer treatments were averaged, ranged from <2 to >7 tons/ha. Soil sampling revealed that organic carbon (28%), total nitrogen and pH, and on the negative side, Fe and Mn concentrations, were significant drivers of yield differences. Fertilizers alone (when averaged for all experimental sites) could only explain 8% of yield differences, proving the ineffectiveness of blanket fertilizer recommendations. Blend fertilizers including micronutrients (NPSZnB) performed slightly but not significantly better than NPS alone or DAP alone. However, since the NP contents in the blend are slightly below those in NPS and DAP (particularly for P), a slight positive effect of Zn or B can be observed. On the other hand, Zn concentration in soils did not correlate significantly to wheat yields. Hence, determining the added effects of Zn and B remains subject for further research. Maximum yield gains to fertilizer application can only be achieved when fertilizers and soil property differences are analyzed jointly. In that case, 79% of yield differences were explained. Grouping soils into ‘recommendation windows’ then helps to come up with relevant and cost-effective fertilizer strategies. A simple calculation comparing the cost of wheat import with the cost of fertilizers needed to reach the current wheat consumption level in Ethiopia shows that the latter is by far the most cheaper option, but in need of smooth functioning of the entire value chain.

Determinants of participation in fertilizer subsidy programme among rice farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Nigerian farmers, including rice farmers, still record very low levels of fertilizer use thereby limiting productivity. Subsidies have been known to encourage fertilizer use among farmers. This paper examined the factors influencing rice farmer participation in the government’s fertilizer subsidy programme. Data was collected through the aid of a well-structured questionnaire from 263 rice farmers. Descriptive and Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Statistical mean differences were found in age, household size, years of farming experience, farm size, output and total annual income between participants and non-participants. Also, participation was significantly and positively influenced by marital status, household headship, membership of farmer association/groups, motorcycle ownership, mobile phone ownership, access to credit and total farm size. The paper concludes that efforts should be geared towards encouraging membership of farmer groups, availability and timely distribution of subsidized fertilizer and the establishment of more redemption centres. Key words: Fertilizer, growth enhancement scheme (GES), participation, rice, subsidy.

Factors affecting farmers' decisions on fertilizer use: A case study for the Chaobai watershed in Northern China

The Chaobai watershed in northern China is the most important source of drinking water for Beijing. The level of fertilizer use, especially overuse, as well as farming practices in the region have a great impact on the water quality downstream and affect an enormous number of people. This study analyzes the factors influencing the farmers’ decisions on fertilizer use and the implications for water quality. The analysis is based on a survey of 349 farm households. It takes into consideration both farm and farmer specific characteristics and farmers’ subjective evaluations of factors shaping their decisions. Regression models are used to examine the determinants of fertilizer use intensity across farm households and to investigate the factors influencing the overuse of nitrogen. The results suggest that many of these subjective factors have great significance in determining famers’ decisions. The results also show that irrigation, gains in crop yield and higher earning goals are positively correlated with fertilizer use intensity, while farm size, manure application, soil fertility and the distance to fertilizer markets are negatively correlated. Investigation of the overuse problem shows that higher education level significantly reduces the probability of over-fertilization. Based on these findings a few policy relevant implications are discussed.

Life cycle assessment of phosphorus use efficiency in crop production system of three crops in Chaohu Watershed, China

This study presented a life cycle assessment of the environmental impacts of the production of three crops (rice, wheat, and maize) in the Chaohu Watershed of China. The crop production system involved phosphate rock mining, P fertilizer manufacturing, crop cultivating, and crop processing. Resource depletion, climate change, and eutrophication were examined. The functional unit chosen was 1 ha of cultivated land. The results showed that phosphate rock mining and P fertilizer manufacturing had been the main contributors to P resource depletion, representing shares of 57.40% and 25.86%, respectively. Large quantities of extracted phosphate raw rock and manufactured fertilizer for heavy fertilizer application were identified as the main causes of these effects. Rice crop had depleted the largest share of P resources, as it required the highest level of fertilizer use. Crop cultivation and processing were found to be particularly influential in terms of climate change effects, representing shares of 45.37% and 41.70%, respectively. This had mainly result from high fertilizer and electricity use for crop cultivation and processing, respectively. When processing maize for flour production, higher levels of electricity-producing greenhouse gases were consumed than those consumed for the other two crops. Moreover, crop cultivation accounted for 71.22% of eutrophication processes due to high degrees of fertilizer application even though all three crops exhibit nearly identical eutrophication potentials. In turn, means of mitigating such impacts to increase the phosphorus use efficiency of this system were presented. The limitations of this study must also be examined and studied in the future.

Urbanization and the Change of Fertilizer Use Intensity for Agricultural Production in Henan Province

China’s urbanization has resulted in significant changes in agricultural land use. However, understanding of the linkages between urbanization and fertilizer use intensity is limited. Using county-level panel data for Henan Province, 1995–2008 and panel econometric models, we investigate the impact of urbanization and other socioeconomic factors on fertilizer use intensity, with a focus on the two key processes related to urbanization—shrinking agricultural land area and increasing urban wages. Our results show that declining agricultural land per capita is associated with greater fertilizer use intensity. Urban wages is positively correlated with fertilizer use intensity. We also find that GDP per capita and per capita expenditure of government for agriculture both positively contribute to the increase of fertilizer use intensity, which is consistent with expectations. Our results imply that other than land conversion, urbanization contains some positive influences on land use sustainability. However, on the other hand, urbanization contributes to agriculture-based environmental pollution by increasing the level of fertilizer use in agricultural production.

Application of Gibberellic Acid, Humic Acid on Yield of Essential Oil Menthapiperita

The research for pot cultivation under greenhouse conditions in Central Province, Arak and Arak Islamic Azad University in crop year 1393 was conducted. The effects of humic acid and gibberellic acid on growth and production of Menthapiperita essential oil in order to reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers were used. According to the analysis of variance and simple effects and interactions of humic acid treatments and gibberellic acid in Menthapiperita, Was determined using the above treatments increase the growth and biomass and oil yields compared to the control H1 G1 has a Menthapiperita plant And it can be concluded that the best treatments G4 G3 but with regard to performance and Near the results of treatments H3 G3 H4 G2 and the results of the above treatments H4 G3 can be used as a complement to chemical fertilizers in the cultivation of this plant. The results of this testing demonstrate the use of humic acid and gibberellic acid on key attributes such as biomass and Menthapiperita essential oil yield good effects and Were reasonable. In comparison with other projects that have different levels of fertilizer use, is almost identical functionality. Which indicates that the cultivation of Menthapiperita can be reduced by 30 to 50 percent of the fertilizer from humic acid used gibberellic.

Ex Ante Welfare Analysis of Technological Change: The Case of Nitrogen Efficient Maize for African Soils

This study evaluates the potential impacts of the Improved Maize for African Soils (IMAS) project in two countries of Africa: Kenya and South Africa. The IMAS varieties offer significant yield advantages for regions where low or no fertilizer is used. The analysis uses spatial production data and household data to account for the level of fertilizer use in different agroecological zones of the country as well as different types of maize producing households. Results suggest that IMAS will deliver a total of US$586 million in gross benefits with US$136 million and US$100 million of benefits to producers in Kenya and South Africa, respectively, and an additional US$112 million to consumers in Kenya and US$238 million to consumers in South Africa. These benefits could help more than 1 million people escape poverty in the two countries by 2025. Household level results suggest that small households in areas with relatively low levels of fertilizer use stand to gain significant benefits.

Vulnerability of African maize yield to climate change and variability during 1961–2010

Because of the necessity of feeding growing populations, there is a critical need to assess the variation and vulnerability of crop yields to potential climate change. Databases of maize yields and climate variables in the maize growing seasons were used to assess the vulnerability of African maize yields to climate change and variability with different levels of management at country scale between 1961 and 2010. The ratios of time-series trends or standard deviations of detrended yield deviation and climate variables including temperature (Tmean), precipitation (P) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were used to analyze the vulnerability of maize yields to climate change and variability for each country in Africa. Most countries, where soil fertility had been declining owing to low levels of fertilizer use over many years and limited water resources, had decreasing maize yields. The negative impacts of increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation and SPEI on maize yields progressively increased at the whole continent scale over the time period studied. During the maize growing seasons 1961–2010, each 1°C of Tmean increase resulted in yield losses of over 10% in eight countries and 5-10% in 10 countries, but yields increased by more than 5% in four relatively cool countries. Decreases of 10% average P resulted in more than 5% decreases in yields in 20 countries and each decrease of 0.5 SPEI resulted in over 30% losses of maize yields in 32 countries. Greater Tmean or P or SPEI variability in Africa may also bring about greater fluctuations in yield. In addition, countries with better management, which would be expected to have better yields, may be more vulnerable to yield losses due to adverse physical conditions. Better irrigation and fertilizer application will be important to sustain higher yields in the future, as will the development of maize varieties with greater heat and drought tolerance.

Policy Instruments for Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Based Emission: Under Policy Conflict of Self Sufficiency of Food versus Sustainable Management of Agriculture

The paper discusses an alternative policy instrument to reduce nitrogen fertilizer based emission in agriculture compared to existing fertilizer subsidy for food self-sufficiency policy. The relative efficiency of fertilizer subsidy policy assessed in terms of budgeting resources and sustainable management of agriculture. It concern of nitrogen leaching and other related atmospheric emission control as climate change adaptation. An analytical framework of ex-post evaluation is developed to access the alternative incentive policies instead of fertilizer subsidy in Bangladesh, which may control emission. It observes the preliminary phase fertilizer subsidy policy efficiently contribute to increase food production. Using partial equilibrium analysis marginal productivity of fertilizer found zero or even negative. Although distributional implication of inputs subsidy is quite high but over dozes of cheap fertilization seriously emit the air as well as hampers water quality and soil. Finally, the implication of results suggests that for any kind of reduction or control in nitrogen fertilizer based emission from agriculture, this policy planner could explore the direct incentives programme instead of subsidized fertilizer any more. The existing subsidy policies contribute to use more than optimum level of fertilizer use especially nitrogen-based fertilizer.