An operational research study of the possibilities for reducing inputs on arable farms

✍ Scribed by R.A. England

• Book ID: 104140234
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 827 KB
• Volume: 37
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8634
• DOI: 10.1016/s0021-8634(87)80018-5

✦ Synopsis

Scope for reducing two inputs, nitrogen fertilizer and fungicide sprays, while maintaining farm profits is considered. Nitrogen taxes have been proposed as a means to reduce nitrate pollution and so the effect of such a policy was examined using nitrogen response curves obtained from trials data. Optimum application rates derived from the curves for various price levels were supplied to the IER Arable Farm Model which indicated farm scale effects. Doubling the price of N reduced the amount used by 10 to 249/o depending on the availability of low-N break-crops. The tax required to significantly reduce N use was found to be far in excess of that required to pay for water treatment.

The potential for more efficient use of fungicide sprays was considered with a computer model which simulates the growth of a cereal crop and the progress of a mildew epidemic within it. Four commonly used spray timing rules were tested and found to attain 65 to 75~ of the potential profit from fungicide use. It is found that an alternative strategy making full use of our knowledge of the crop and disease can attain over 90~ of potential profit and require fewer sprays.