The Contribution of Improving Phosphorous Use Efficiency to Agricultural Economics: A Case Study in Türkiye

Abstract

The contribution of improving phosphorous (P) use efficiency (PUE) in agricultural areas of Türkiye to agricultural economics has been measured regionally for the years of 2007-2011 within this study. For this purpose, the economic benefit gained from use of P mineral fertilizers has been presented when improving PUE from 5% to maximum PUE in agricultural areas. PUE values used in this study were estimated by using hyperbolic regression model, which states the relationship between phosphorous input and output in agricultural areas of Türkiye. The results showed that important economic benefit would be gained by improving PUE, even when PUE was improved to maximum level, this benefit would be almost the half of the expenses for purchasing P mineral fertilizers. Yearly average economic benefits gained from purchasing P mineral fertilizers would be 0.22 ( 0.15 billion) and 0.82 billion TL(0.56 billion) by 5% improving of PUE and reaching maximum PUE, respectively over the five years 2007-2011.