Site-specific nutrient management: implementation guidance for policymakers and investors.

Abstract

This brief discusses site-specific nutrient management (SSNM), which provides guidance relevant to the context of farmers' fields. SSNM maintains or enhances crop yields, while providing savings for farmers through more efficient fertilizer use. By minimizing fertilizer overuse, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, in some cases up to 50%. In particular, SSNM (i) optimizes the supply of soil nutrients over space and time to match crop requirements; (ii) increases crop productivity and improves efficiency of fertilizer use; (iii) mitigates greenhouse gases from agriculture in areas with high nitrogen fertilizer use; and (iv) incentives for adoption of SSNM depend strongly on fertilizer prices.

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