Economic and environmental impacts of pasture nutrient management
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Authors: E. Osei, P. W. Gassman, L. M. Hauck, S. Neitsch, R. D. Jones, J. McNitt, and H. Jones
Date: 2003
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 56
Number: 3
Pages: 218-226
Summary of Methods: Nitrogen and phosphorous losses from manure and fertilizers were modeled for dairy farms (very small, small, medium, and large dairies) with varied stocking densities (6.4, 7.7, 3.5, 2.2 cows/ha) and fertilizer rates (baseline, nitrogen, high and low phosphorus) to identify the combination of management practices that could reduce water pollution, on a northeastern Texas watershed. Two environmental models and one economic model were interfaced together to examine results on a whole-farm scale. Total revenue, total cost, net returns, livestock rations, sales, and cost of individual production components were determined.
Article Summary / Main Points: Moderate to considerable reductions in nutrient losses are attainable under all herd sizes relative to the baseline. Nitrogen loss predictions ranged from a 7% decline to a 1% increase. Dairy profits increased by almost 3% in response to the N-based stocking density scenario at the watershed-level. Converse to the N-based scenario, the P-based pasture nutrient management alternatives are costly. The high and low P alternatives would cost producers 6 and 18% of current profits in aggregate, respectively. Soluble and organic P losses were predicted to decline with low P and high P scenarios relative to baseline. Generally, higher income scenarios do not decrease watershed pollution as much as scenarios with lower income levels. Pollution in this Texas watershed can be reduced with better management of fertilizer and stocking rates, however, the reduction in pollution will depend on the farmers' financial and environmental objectives.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 86A Texas Blackland Prairie, Northern Part 86B Texas Blackland Prairie, Southern Part
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Water quality Stocking density
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: stocking density, manure, nutrient losses, nitrogen, phosphorous, economics
Annotation: The specific results of this study are applicable to watersheds in northeastern Texas though the models could be modified to be applied to other locations. The principals and processes that explain changes in stocking densities and fertilizer use on grazed pasture and how water quality and non-point source solution were affected are applicable to all rangelands. These types of models do not require replication of treatments or sites, but require larger data across space and data surveyed at different time intervals.
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