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The Ex Post Relationship between Growing Conditions and Optimal Fertilizer Levels
Author(s) -
Babcock Bruce A.,
Blackmer Alfred M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
applied economic perspectives and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.4
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 2040-5804
pISSN - 2040-5790
DOI - 10.2307/1349695
Subject(s) - fertilizer , ex ante , economics , agricultural economics , econometrics , agronomy , biology , macroeconomics
This article tests whether ex post optimal nitrogen rates increase with better growing conditions. Results of the tests indicate whether there is statistical support for the rule‐of‐thumb that farmers should increase their ex ante fertilizer rates to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients if the growing season turns out to be favorable. In addition, the test results indicate if yield goals have a role in a system of fertilizer recommendations. Results indicate: (1) there is scant statistical support for the hypothesis that better growing conditions on a given site increase optimal nitrogen rates; and (2) better site‐specific growing conditions seem to increase optimal nitrogen rates.