The Profitability and Risk of Long‐Term Cropping Systems Featuring Different Rotations and Nitrogen Rates

Abstract

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. N itrogen has been considered as one of the best crop-input investments that a farmer can make in terms of return on dollars spent (Pikul et al., 2005); however, N is the most expensive nutrient for growing grain crops. Bundy et al. (1999) estimated that in the 12 states of the North Central United States, at least 3.3 million tonnes of N fertilizer was applied annually to corn at a cost of $800 million. Nitrogen fertilizer is universally accepted as a key component to high corn grain yield and optimum economic return. Overapplication is more frequent since producers have an economic incentive to err more frequently in that direction. Th e cost of unneeded N fertilizer in areas of overapplication is less than the cost of lost yield potential in areas of underapplication (Scharf et al., 2005). Crop rotation has been shown to increase corn yield 5 to 30% and soybean yield from 8 to 16% compared to continuous production of either crop (

A whole-farm profitability analysis of organic and conventional cropping systems

“…Distributions of net returns are compared by both first-degree (FSD) and second-degree (SSD) stochastic dominance (Hardaker et al, 1997;Stanger et al, 2008;Delbridge et al, 2011).…”

Spatio-temporal analysis of crop rotations and crop sequence patterns in Northern Germany: potential implications on plant health and crop protection

“…• inclusion of breaking phases to decrease population dynamics of pests and weeds (Cardina et al 2002, Liebman & Dyck 1993, Kirkegaard et al 2008); • providing better nutritional conditions for crop growth due to a suitable pre-crop (Soon & Clayton 2002, Stanger et al 2008); • optimizing farm income and labour allocation (Castellazzi et al 2007, Fraser 2006); • providing a key element of agroecology and biodiversity on farm and landscape level (Altieri 1999, McLaughlin & Mineau 1995.…”

“…Zentner et al 2002), but others also describe monocultures as rotations (e.g. Stanger et al 2008). Kirkegaard et al (2008) therefore distinguish between the more dominant break crop effect and a probably less dominant rotation effect.…”

Corn Yield and Nitrogen- and Water-Use under No-Tillage Rotations

“…During transition to alternative crops under tillage, Archer et al (2007) found no significant differences in net economic returns among rotation alternatives. On a 15-year study Stanger, Lauer, and Chavas (2008) found across N rates and seven different crop rotations that a corn-soybean (CS) rotation provided the greatest economic return. Over a period of 10 years, Al- Kaisi and Yin (2004) found that NT systems generally had equal or greater economic return when compared with six tillage systems in Iowa.…”