MANURE AS A RESOURCE — ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS IN BALANCE

摘要: Nutrients in manure constitute an ecological and economic liability if managed as a waste for disposal. However, nutrients are the source of benefit when resource. By combining and ecological analyses, benefits conserved, their value is captured, and both goals can be met. We derived simple model to define conditions required manure to recycled effectively transported economically. The basic premise that economic considerations must balance at steady state nutrient management sustainable. combines the cost processing transportation, crop yield response product state capacity land recycle macronutrients. predicts processing, increase macronutrient content or to decrease unit transportation cost, use products on high crops could permit break-even distribution distances some more than 300 km. then used estimates production in Alberta calculate municipal N P balances determine distance distribution manure effectively (municipality here analogous county many parts world). In 1991, municipalities with manure excess harvested grain were adjacent with deficits. conclude that (1) equating aspects feasible may enhance profitability of agriculture, (2) improved effectiveness resources achieved by conservation and harvesting, retention reduce transport costs, application technologies increase crop products.