Adoption of nitrogen-efficient technologies by u.s. Corn farmers

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Agronomy

Background:

• Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs impact environmental quality but are crucial for crop production, especially corn.
• Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is vital for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the factors influencing the adoption of eco-innovations for enhanced nitrogen use efficiency in corn production.
• To identify key drivers and barriers for adopting N soil testing, plant tissue testing, and N transformation inhibitors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2010 USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey of 1840 corn producers.
• Employed multivariate probit regression to analyze factors affecting the adoption of three N management practices.

Main Results:

• Adoption rates were 21% for N soil testing, 3% for plant tissue testing, and 10% for N inhibitors.
• External information sources, particularly crop consultants, positively influenced adoption, while fertilizer dealers had mixed effects.
• Geographic region and conservation practices (tillage, payments) were significant predictors of adoption.

Conclusions:

• Information access and farmer-specific characteristics are critical for promoting the adoption of advanced nitrogen management techniques.
• Tailored research and educational programs are needed to enhance nitrogen use efficiency and mitigate environmental impacts from nitrogen pollution.