Nutrient Applications Reported by Farmers Compared with Performance‐Based Nutrient Management Plans

Bravo-Ureta, B (Bravo-Ureta, Boris)2,3;2. Univ Connecticut, Dep Agr & Resource Econ, Storrs, CT 06269 USA 3. Univ Talca, Dep Agr Econ, Talca, ChileThis study had two main objectives: (i) to evaluate how well farmers implemented nutrient management plans (NMPs) by comparing the farmers' reported practices with the recommended management for manure and fertilizer; and (ii) to evaluate whether the management of manure and fertilizer had significant effects on the nutrient status of soil and corn tissue tests. The analysis relied on data from four dairy farms that had 5 to 7 yr of records at the field level. The farmers chose to apply the recommended amount of fertilizer P from 50 to 100% of the fields. The amount applied was often only 10 to 20 kg P2O5 ha(-1) different from the recommended amount. The farmers applied the recommended amount of fertilizer N from 40 to 71% of the fields when the pre-sidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) was used for the recommendation, but only 1 to 21% of the fields received the recommended amount when the yield goal method was used. These data suggest that the farmers trusted a fertilizer recommendation developed from a soil test more than they trusted a nonsoil test recommendation. Only a small percentage of fields (3-37%) received the recommended amount of manure N and P. Variability in the amount of residual N available from previous manure applications caused great variation in the PSNT and corn stalk nitrate values (CSNT). This variation in N availability in fields indicates that a number of years of data are needed before the PSNT and the CSNT can be used to objectively evaluate the performance of an NMP

Productive Safety Net Program and Children's Time Use Between Work and Schooling in Ethiopia

Government, non-government, and donor organizations have developed a social assistance program known as Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) which has two sub-programs namely public work program (PWP) and Direct Support Program (DSP). PSNP is designed to reduce the vulnerability of poor people to drought and it targets household and in most cases without considering ex ante the issue of intra-household resource distribution. This paper assesses, using Young Lives Survey data, the impacts of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and the Agricultural Extension Program (AEP) on time use between work and schooling as well as highest grade completed by 12-year-old children in rural and urban Ethiopia. Empirically the study used propensity score matching techniques to estimate the impact of PSNP and AEP on child welfare measured by time use in various types of work, schooling, and studying. We found that PWP in rural areas increases child work for pay, reduces children’s time spent on child care and household chores and total hours of time children spent on work all kind of work combined, and increases girls spending on study. The DSP in rural and urban areas reduces time children spent on paid and unpaid work, and increases the highest grade completed by boys in urban areas. On the other hand, AEP in rural areas was effective in reducing child work for pay and total work, increasing time girls spent on schooling and highest grade completed by girls