The relative contributions to profit of fixed and applied nitrogen in a crop-livestock farm systems

https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-521X(88)90002-9Get rights and content

Abstract

We describe the difficulties of estimating the values of fixed and applied nitrogen on a dryland crop-livestock farm, and present an approach to the problem using MIDAS, a whole-farm bioeconomic model. The model, which uses mixed integer programming, is described.

The model is applied to the valuation of nitrogen in the eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia. We conclude that the value of fixed nitrogen substituting directly for nitrogen fertilizer is small relative to other benefits of legumes for subsequent cereals. The total benefits of legumes for cereals exceed those from nitrogen fertilization. The total benefits from legume effects and nitrogen fertilization make up more than 80% of annual net operating profit. The majority of legume effects is attributable to lupin crops rather than to pastures. More generally, results show that values of the various factors examined are strongly interdependent; it is important to consider the whole farm and to allow for land-use changes in this type of analysis and that values can differ considerably between soil types.

References (25)

  • D.A. Morrison et al.

    A mathematical programming model of a crop-livestock farm system

    Agricultural Systems

    (1986)
  • D. Pannell et al.

    Estimating the on-farm cost of skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea) in Western Australia using a wholefarm programming model

    Agricultural, Ecosystems and Environment

    (1986)
  • N.F. Brown et al.

    Lupin market prospects

    Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia

    (1982)
  • D.L. Chatel et al.

    Nitrogen fixation and inoculation by lupins

    Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia

    (1982)
  • T. Dawkins et al.

    Cover crop versus nitrogen for cotton: An economic analysis

    Louisiana Agriculture

    (1983)
  • M.A. Ewing

    Medics return to favour

    Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia

    (1983)
  • M.A. Ewing et al.

    Developing regional pasture research priorities

    Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Technote No. 6/86

    (1986)
  • M.A. Ewing et al.

    The profitability of lupin: cereal rotations

  • D.A. Falconer et al.

    An economic comparison of alternative lambing times

  • D.A. Falconer et al.

    Optimum merino flock structure in the eastern wheatbelt

    Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Technote No. 8/86

    (1986)
  • D.J. Gillespie

    Pasture deterioration—Cause and cures

    Journal of Agriculture, Western Australia

    (1983)
  • P.B.R. Hazell

    A linear alternative to quadratic and semi-variance programming for farm planning under uncertainty

    American Journal of Agricultural Economics

    (1971)
  • Cited by (16)

    • Tactical management of pasture fallows in Western Australian cropping systems

      2009, Agricultural Systems
      Citation Excerpt :

      Cereal yields improve following the use of pastures and break crops in land-use sequences, therefore, these enterprises are tactically grown to sustain profitable production. Soil fertility is considered in RIM through depiction of a percentage increase in crop yield when following a legume and the reduction in nitrogenous fertiliser required in this instance (Pannell and Falconer, 1988). The annual ryegrass population begins from an initial seed population, which by default represents a standard weed burden in the wheatbelt (500 seeds per square metre).

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    An earlier version of this paper was presented to a symposium on Nitrogen Cycling in Agricultural Systems of Temperate Australia, Wagga, New South Wales, July 1986.

    View full text