Limiting mineral fertilizer inputs
Limiting mineral fertilizer inputs to avoid negative impact on soil microorganisms.
Original authors of this article:
| Estelle Meslin | INRA | estelle.meslin@rennes.inra.fr | Rennes (35) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rémy Ballot | INRA | remy.ballot@grignon.inra.fr | Grignon (78) |
Presentation
Description of the technique
Limiting mineral fertilizer inputs by rationing fertilization of crops or by favoring inputs in organic form to avoid negative impact on soil microorganisms.
Implementation period On established crop.
Spatial scale of implementation Plot.
Application of the technique to...
All crops: Generalization sometimes delicate. The impact on yield of rationing nitrogen fertilization is variable depending on the crops and not all crops utilize organic inputs equally well.
All soil types: Easily generalizable.
All climatic contexts: Easily generalizable.
Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on air quality: Variable. Limiting the use of nitrogen mineral fertilizers can lead to a decrease in ammonia emissions by volatilization if fertilization is rationed. However, emission risks are the same or higher if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers.
Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to their manufacture. If reduced mineral fertilizer use involves rationing nitrogen fertilization, emissions of nitrous oxide nitrogen by denitrification are also reduced.
Effect on water quality: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers can lead to a decrease in risks of phosphorus or nitrogen transfers to water if fertilization is rationed. However, if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers, the risk of transfer to water can be the same or higher.
Effect on fossil resource consumption: Decreasing. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers by rationing fertilization reduces fuel consumption related to spreading. However, if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers, spreading-related consumption is then higher. Limiting mineral fertilizer use helps reduce fossil energy consumption related to their manufacture.
Effect on soil quality: Decreasing. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers, especially phosphate fertilizers, helps limit the input fluxes of trace elements (ETM) into plots.
"Agronomic" criteria
Productivity: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers can have a negative impact on yield if it involves rationing fertilization, especially nitrogen fertilization. The impact then varies depending on the rationing applied and the crop yield response curve to nitrogen dose.
Soil fertility: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers by rationing crop fertilization can lead to lower availability of mineral elements in the soil. If organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers, the impact is neutral.
Water stress: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers by rationing crop fertilization has no effect on water availability. However, if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers, water availability can be improved by increasing soil organic matter content.
Functional Biodiversity: Increasing. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers reduces pressure on soil microorganisms. They are even favored if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers.
Other agronomic criteria: Variable
Disease pressure: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers can impact the pressure of certain pathogens if fertilization is rationed. Generally, rationing nitrogen fertilization tends to reduce foliar disease pressure mainly. Conversely, rationing potassium fertilization can increase pressure from certain pathogens. At the extreme, under-fertilization can cause stress making the crop more susceptible to bio-aggressors.
"Economic" criteria
Operating costs: Decreasing. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers always leads to a reduction in fertilization costs.
Mechanization costs: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers by rationing fertilization reduces mechanization costs related to spreading. However, if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers, spreading costs are then higher.
Margin: Variable. The impact of limiting mineral fertilizer use on profitability is very variable depending on the impact on yield (neutral to negative) and on fertilization costs (positive).
"Social" criteria
Working time: Variable. Limiting the use of mineral fertilizers by rationing fertilization reduces workload related to spreading. However, if organic effluents replace mineral fertilizers, workload related to spreading is then higher.
Observation time: No effect (neutral).
For further information
- Balanced nutrition and biotic stress, Krauss, A. IFA Agricultural Conference on Managing Plant Nutrition, Conference proceedings, 1999.
- Mineral nutrition and plant disease. Datnoff, L. E., W. H. Elmer, et al., Book, 2007.
- Soil, biodiversity and cultural practices - Impact of tillage, rotation and inputs, Steinbe C., Alabouvette C. (University of Burgundy), Phytoma no. 635, p8-11, Press article, 2010.
Evaluation of this practice according to the ESR analysis grid
Redesign. Integrated protection requires a combination of all available means which forces a redesign of systems to make them less dependent on phytosanitary products. This involves an approach favoring prevention and prophylaxis to place crops in the best conditions while disadvantaging bio-aggressors.
Annexes
Est complémentaire des leviers
