4R Nutrient Stewardship provides a framework to achieve cropping system goals, such as increased production, increased farmer profitability, enhanced environmental protection and improved sustainability.
To achieve those goals, the 4R Nutrient Stewardship concept incorporates the:
- Right Source at the
- Right rate, at the
- Right time and in the
- Right place
Properly managed fertilizers support cropping systems that provide economic, social and environmental benefits. On the other hand, poorly managed nutrient applications can decrease profitability and increase nutrient losses, potentially degrading water and air.
4R Nutrient Stewardship requires the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) that optimize the efficiency of fertilizer use. The goal of fertilizer BMPs is to match nutrient supply with crop requirements and to minimize nutrient losses from fields. Selection of BMPs varies by location, and those chosen for a given farm are dependent on local soil and climatic conditions, crop, management conditions and other site specific factors.
Other agronomic and conservation practices, such as no-till farming and the use of cover crops, play a valuable role in supporting 4R Nutrient Stewardship. As a result, fertilizer BMPs are most effective when applied with other agronomic and conservation practices.
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship philosophy is an innovative and science-based approach that offers enhanced environmental protection, increased production, increased farmer profitability, and improved sustainability. The concept is to use the Right Source, at the Right Rate, at the Right Time, in the Right Place. Implications of 4R Nutrient Stewardship system will spread far and wide through agriculture and society as a whole. For fertilizer use to be sustainable, it must support cropping systems that provide economic, social, and environmental benefits. Enhanced understanding, adoption and promotion are the goals of the sponsors of the website behind 4R Nutrient Stewardship.