Fertilizer Use Efficiency: The North American Experience

B y D . W. D i b b , P. E . F i x e n , a n d M . D . S t a u f f e r

n May 2003, the first formal meeting of the problematic because highest efficiency International Nitrogen Initiative was held occurs when inadequate amounts are applied in The Hague, Netherlands. This is a glob- at low soil test levels associated with reduced al effort with a primary focus on improving profitability, water use efficiency, N use effinitrogen (N) efficiency in order to opti- ciency, and land use efficiency. The concept mize Ns beneficial role and minimize nega- of sustainable efficiency is more useful for tive effects. The Natural nutrients where significant Resources Conservation reserves can accumulate in Fertilizer use efficiency is Service (NRCS) in the U.S. is the soil, as is the case for P receiving increased attendeveloping an incentive proand K. tion today because of growgram to subsidize farmer Sustainable efficiency ing pressure for agriculture practices that improve nutriis the nutrient input needto minimize negative envient use efficiency. It is timeed to sustain the system ronmental impacts. ly to summarize the North at optimum productivity. American experience with fertilizer use effi- Removal to use data show that in some major ciency and contrast application of the term for production regions of North America, sustainN vs. phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). able efficiency will translate into increased P Properly defining efficiency in light and K demand while in areas with significant of the properties of the nutrient in ques- livestock concentration it will mean reduced tion is critical to understanding sustain- fertilizer demand. The thermodynamic need able approaches to efficient nutrient to replace P and K removal at some soil level management. With N, both recovery effi- sets a lower limit for sustainable P and K use. ciency (increase in uptake per unit nutrient As food needs increase, the fundamentals of added) and agronomic efficiency (crop yield natural systems indicate a permanent and increase per unit nutrient added) are useful expanding role for fertilizers in food producterms. In the last 25 years, the agronomic tion. efficiency of fertilizer N use on corn in the U.S. (bu grain/lb N or kg grain/kg N) has Dr. Dibb is President, PPI; Dr. Fixen is Senior Vice increased 39%. However, research on farm President, North American Program Coordinator, fields in the U.S. and Asia shows that appar- and Director of Research, PPI; Dr. Stauffer is ent single-year recovery efficiency for fertiliz- Senior Vice President, PPI International Programs, er N is usually below 50% and frequently and President, PPIC. E-mail: ppi@ppi-far.org. Summary of a presentation at the Fertilizer below 40%, illustrating significant opportunity for improvement. Increased adoption of Demand Meeting of the International Fertilizer existing and new technologies will likely Industry Association (IFA) Agriculture Committee. allow yields to continue to increase faster May 26, 2003. Philadelphia, PA U.S. The complete presentation and references are than N use for the foreseeable future. Applying the concept of agronomic available at the website: >www.ppi-ppic.org<. efficiency, as presented above, to P and K is
Better Crops/Vol. 87 (2003, No. 3) 3