AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightResults indicated that nitrogen had a limited standalone impact but showed synergistic benefits when combined with phosphorus in moderate-to-good condition rangelands.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
This study aimed to identify economically optimal nitrogen and phosphorus rates along with examining their synergistic effects and climate variables in Eastern Anatolia’s natural rangelands. Using data from a prior fertilisation trial, pooled regression models, descriptive statistics, and partial budget analysis were employed. Results indicated that nitrogen had a limited standalone impact but showed synergistic benefits when combined with phosphorus in moderate-to-good condition rangelands. While moderate-condition rangeland exhibited notable improvements, these were not statistically significant compared to poor-condition rangeland. Good-condition rangelands responded weakly to fertilisation, suggesting inherent productivity limits marginal gains. Economic analysis confirmed diminishing returns at higher input levels, supporting lower fertiliser rates in moderate rangeland. Optimal doses were determined as 90 kg·ha⁻¹ nitrogen and 40 kg·ha⁻¹ phosphorus for poor-condition rangelands, and 30 kg·ha⁻¹ nitrogen with 40 kg·ha⁻¹ phosphorus for moderate and good rangeland sites. Results also revealed that seasonal humidity, although only marginally significant, had a more pronounced effect than temperature or precipitation, highlighting its potential role as a moderating climatic variable in fertilisation outcomes. The study concludes that rangeland fertilisation strategies should be site-specific, balancing ecological context with economic feasibility. Prioritising poor-condition degraded rangelands may offer long-term restoration benefits, not necessarily for immediate economic returns, but for their potential in enhancing productivity recovery and ecological restoration towards historical benchmarks. Achieving resilient agricultural landscapes and sustainable outcomes requires adaptive fertilisation practices and continuous monitoring.