Skip to main content
Log in

The Use of Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizer with a Mineral Losses Tax: The Case of Dutch Arable Farmers

  • Published:
Environmental and Resource Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper focuses on farm-level nitrogen fertilization strategies of Dutch arable farmers for analyzing the substitution of organic fertilizers (manure) with chemical fertilizers. The model developed investigates the impact of the major parameters affecting the inferiority of manure compared with chemical fertilizers, including the low availability and non-uniformity of the nitrogen in manure, and the low level and high non-uniformity of plant-available nitrogen supplied via manure. The sensitivity of the optimal fertilization decisions and its associated environmental impact to product price, manure cost, and environmental tax is also examined. The theoretical analysis is applied to a representative Dutch grower of ware potatoes in the northern part of the Netherlands. The results suggest that in the absence of a subsidy the representative farmer will prefer to apply nitrogen only via chemical fertilizers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • H.F.M. ten Berge J.C.M. Withagen F.J. Ruijter Particlede M.J.W. Jansen H.G. Meer Particlevan der (2000) Nitrogen responses in grass and selected field crops Report 24 Plant Research International Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Bontems A. Thomas (2000) ArticleTitle‘Information value and risk premium in agricultural production: The case of split nitrogen application for corn’ American Journal of Agricultural Economics 82 59–70 Occurrence Handle10.1111/0002-9092.00006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Bos (2002) Comparing specialised and mixed farming systems in the clay areas of the Netherlands under future policy scenarios: an optimisation approach Wageningen University Wageningen

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Feinerman M.S. Falkovitz (1997) ArticleTitle‘Optimal scheduling of nitrogen fertilization and irrigation’ Water Resources Management 11 101–117 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1007994232658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E. Feinerman H. Voet (1995) ArticleTitle‘Dynamic optimisation of nitrogen fertilisation of citrus and the value of information from leaf tissue analysis’ European Review of Agricultural Economics 22 103–118

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Feinerman D.J. Bosch J. Pease (2004) ArticleTitle‘Manure Applications and Nutrient Standards’ American Journal of Agricultural Economics 86 14–25 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.0092-5853.2004.00559.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E. Feinerman E.K. Choi S.R. Johnson (1990) ArticleTitle‘Uncertainty and the Split of Nitrogen Application in Corn Production’ American Journal of Agricultural Economics 72 975–984

    Google Scholar 

  • P.F. Fontein G.J. Thijssen J.R. Magnus J. Dijk Particlevan (1994) ArticleTitle‘On levies to reduce the nitrogen surplus: The case of Dutch pig farms’ Environmental and Resource Economics 4 455–478 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00691923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Innes (2000) ArticleTitle‘The economics of livestock waste and its regulation’ American Journal of Agricultural Economics 82 97–117 Occurrence Handle10.1111/0002-9092.00009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F.H. Johnson (1993) ArticleTitle‘Economic analyses of measures to control phosphorus run-off from non-point agricultural sources’ European Review of Agricultural Economics 20 IssueID3 399–418

    Google Scholar 

  • M.H.C. Komen J.H.M. Peerlings (1998) ArticleTitle‘Restricting intensive livestock production: economic effects of mineral policy in The Netherlands’ European Review of Agricultural Economics 25 IssueID1 110–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Luesink, H.H., C.H.G. Daatselaar, G.J. Doornewaard, H. Prins and D.W. de Hoop (2004), Sociaal-economische effecten en nationaal mestoverschot bij varianten van gebruiksnormen, LEI, Report nr. 3.04.08, The Hague

  • A.G.J.M. Oude Lansink J.H.M. Peerlings (1997) ArticleTitle‘Effects of N-surplus taxes: combining technical and historical information’ European Review of Agricultural Economics 24 IssueID2 231–247

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNamePAV (1999) Adviesbasis voor de bemesting van akkerbouw- en vollegrondsgroentegewassen Praktijkonderzoek voor de akkerbouw en de vollegrondsgroenteteelt Lelystad

    Google Scholar 

  • PDLT (2003), Mestanalyses blijven een noodzaak met het oog op een goede landbouwpraktijk, Mededeling nr. 103. Provinciale Dienst voor Land- en Tuinbouw, Antwerpen

  • L.C. Staalduinen Particlevan M.W. Hoogeveen H.H. Luesink G. Gotteleer H. Zeijts Particlevan P.H.M. Dekker C.J.A.M. de Bont (2002) Actualisering landelijk mestoverschot 2003 LEI The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Vermersch F. Bonnieux P. Rainelli (1993) ArticleTitle‘Abatement of agricultural pollution and economic incentives: the case of intensive livestock farming in France’ Environmental and Resource Economics 3 285–296 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00313163

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eli Feinerman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Feinerman, E., Komen, M.H.C. The Use of Organic vs. Chemical Fertilizer with a Mineral Losses Tax: The Case of Dutch Arable Farmers. Environ Resource Econ 32, 367–388 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-005-6647-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-005-6647-5

Keywords

JEL classifications

Navigation