| The OVERSEER®
Nutrient Budgets model combines nutrient budgets
with indices derived from these nutrient budgets,
to provide users with a tool to examine the impact
of nutrient use and flows within a farm (as fertiliser,
effluent, supplements or transfer by animals) on
nutrient use efficiency and possible environmental
impacts. The model also provides a means to investigate
mitigation options to reduce the environmental impact
of nutrients within a land use.
The model is upgraded as new research or farm
practices that may impact on the environmental
impact of nutrients become available.
The model has been constructed in consultation
with end-user groups, and has been specifically
designed to only include parameters that the farmer
knows or can readily obtain.
OVERSEER® Nutrient
Budgets model will benefit farmers, farm consultants
and fertiliser company representatives in evaluating
nutrient management practices on farms. It also
has a role for use by policy bodies in assessing
the environmental impact and sustainability of
agricultural management.
Within the program there are 3 separate models
for producing nutrient budgets for pastoral, cropping
and horticultural systems. Click on the model
contents link to see how each model differs.
Why produce nutrient
budgets?
Fertiliser
best management practices should consider agronomic,
environmental and economic factors which all underpin
sustainable agriculture. To maintain productivity
regular fertiliser and lime applications are required
to ameliorate soil acidification and to replace
the inevitable loss of nutrients through export
in farm produce, transfer of animal excreta and
soil processes. However excessive nutrient inputs
may degrade the environment and is wasteful from
an economic point of view.
Nutrient budgets are increasingly
being recognised as an important tool in assessing
the environmental impact and sustainability of
agricultural management. While Overseer is farmer
friendly to use and interpret, often the best
use would be via a consultant trained to fully
interpret the program output.
This page last updated 2006.
OVERSEER®
is a registered trademark of AgResearch Ltd. |
