The economics of nitrogen fixation

Issue		Agron. Sustain. Dev. Volume 21, Number 6-7, September-November 2001 Symbiotic nitrogen fixation for Mediterranean areas


Page(s)		527 - 537
DOI		10.1051/agro:2001142

DOI: 10.1051/agro:2001142

Agronomie 21 (2001) 527-537

Steven Schilizzi and David J. Pannell

Agriculture & Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, Crawley (Perth) WA 6009, Australia

(Received 27 January 2001; revised 24 July 2001; accepted 28 August 2001)

Abstract
This paper investigates the economic value of nitrogen fixation in a Mediterranean-type farming system in Western Australia, as well as a general approach to such an investigation. The method uses linear programming and is exemplified by the MIDAS model developed in Western Australia. MIDAS is an optimisation model that describes key bioeconomic interactions at the paddock and whole-farm levels. The value of nitrogen thus depends on its capacity to generate farm profits. The value of fixed nitrogen then depends on the economic value of the fixation agent (typically a legume) and its place in the farming system, on the proportion of fixed and applied nitrogen in the system, and on the bioeconomic interactions between the two forms of nitrogen. Of course, soil type and climate also affect the value of nitrogen, but so do fertiliser and crop and animal prices, as well as their seasonal variability.

Résumé
L'économie de la fixation d'azote. Cet article examine la valeur économique de la fixation d'azote dans un système de production de type méditerranéen, l'agriculture de l'Australie Occidentale, ainsi qu'une méthode générale pour une telle étude. La méthode utilise la programmation linéaire et est représentée par le modèle MIDAS développé en Australie Occidentale. MIDAS est un modèle d'optimisation qui décrit les principales interactions bioéconomiques à l'échelle de la parcelle et de l'exploitation agricole. La valeur de l'azote dépend de sa capacité à générer pour l'exploitant des bénéfices économiques. La valeur de l'azote fixé dépend alors de l'agent fixateur (typiquement des légumineuses) et de sa place dans le système de production, de la proportion d'azote fixé et épandu, et des interactions entre les deux formes d'azote. Bien entendu, le type de sol et le climat affectent aussi la valeur de l'azote, mais également le prix des engrais et des produits tant végétaux qu'animaux, ainsi que leur variabilité saisonnière.

Key words: nitrogen fixation / economics / legumes / farming systems

Mots clés : fixation d'azote / économie / légumineuses / système de production

Correspondence and reprints: Steven Schilizzi
e-mail: Steven.Schilizzi@uwa.edu.au

Communicated by Jean-Jacques Drevon (Montpellier, France)

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