Optimising nitrogen fertiliser in high yielding irrigated cotton: A benefit-cost analysis and the feasibility of participation in the ERF

Jon Welsh, Janine Powell and Fiona Scott

AFBM Journal, 2015, vol. 12

Abstract: Maximising nutrient use efficiency and minimising emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide, could enable Australian producers of high yielding irrigated cotton to participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund. This paper reviews nitrogen (N) use in the cotton industry in Australia to date and the challenges of achieving optimal N use in commercial growing practices. The study quantifies both the social and economic parameters in a benefit-cost analysis using two scenarios: an optimal use of N fertiliser and an overuse of N fertiliser in irrigated cotton production. Results of sensitivity analysis for social and economic costs have implications for policy makers focusing on improved N management and an industry supplying an increasingly environmentally aware global market. The study also contains preliminary modelling using industry research of a cotton-N emissions abatement project under the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Demand and Price Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/284944/files/A ... lsh_et_al-pywywz.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:afbmau:284944

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.284944

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in AFBM Journal from Australasian Farm Business Management Network Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search (aesearch@umn.edu).