An economic analysis of the pre-sideress nitrogen test for Pennsylvania corn production
1995
Musser, W.N. | Shortle, J.S. | Kreahling, K. | Roach, B. | Huang, W.C. | Beegle, D.B. | Fox, R.H.
The impact of agriculture on water quality is increasing attention to management practices that decrease pollution while increasing farm profits. The pre-sidedress nitrogen test (PSNT) is a new management practice that increases the feasibility of nitrogen tests in humid production regions. This article evaluates the impacts on profits and excess nitrogen of adoption of the PSNT by Pennsylvania corn producers. Three data sources are used in this study. A 1990 survey of Pennsylvania dairy producers provided data on PSNT use, corn yields, and nutrient management practices. A 1989 to 1991 field evaluation provided data on changes in PSNT fertilizer recommendations compared to traditional recommendations. Fertilizer response and nitrogen uptake functions were estimated from fertilizer response experiments. These data were limited to a few years and reflected the behavior of early adopters and agronomy research results. However, the similarity of results from separate analyses validates the procedures. Statistical analysis of the farmer survey data found no changes in yields, but did find an approximately 42 pound per acre decrease in nitrogen fertilizer and total nitrogen from using the PSNT. The average decrease in recommended nitrogen applications in the field test study ranged from 15 to 60 pounds per acre. Profit increases from PSNT use are $3.78 per acre for the farmer survey and $13.65 per acre for the field test. Excess nitrogen decreases are 42.51 and 38.06 pounds per acre from the farmer survey and field evaluation, respectively. The modest increase in profits and large decreases in excess nitrogen indicate that the PSNT is a desirable practice, but that policy incentives may be necessary.
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