Reconceptualizing INRM in understanding environmental risks from food production systems

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 615; pp. 1271 - 1281
• Main Authors: Pandey, Chitra, Diwan, Hema
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.02.2018
• Subjects: Economic benefits; Fertilizer use; Motivation; Natural resource management; Soil quality monitoring; Natural resource management; Economic benefits; Motivation; Fertilizer use; Soil quality monitoring
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.178

Sustainable agri-development is composed of soil fertility maintenance, nutrient use efficiency and resource use efficiency. In this regard, the present study aims to address the complex dynamics of farm-soil and the water nexus for integrated natural resource management by understanding the fertilizer use decision of farmers. In addition to the monitoring of soil quality parameters, that is, the total nitrogen and nitrate concentrations, factor analysis was used to explore the drivers of high fertilizer use in the most agriculturally intensive region of India. The results classified economic benefits, intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, resource-related aspects, institutional set-up and passivity towards environmental quality as major entry points for integrated natural resource management. Although the economic benefit in the form of the affordability of nitrogenous fertilizers was found to be the most critical rationale for fertilizer use, passivity towards environmental quality emerged as a factor of interest. Because short-term economic benefits outweigh concerns for environmental quality, our research suggests that outreach educational programs on sustainable farm practices can be instrumental in resource management. Support of the farming community by governmental/non-governmental agricultural agencies to formulate site-specific recommendations can significantly mitigate fertilizer-induced non-point pollution. [Display omitted] •Sustainable interventions in agriculture facilitates the management of natural resource base•Resource management by adopting INRM principles can be instrumental in agrisustainability•Economic incentives is the most critical tangible factor besides intangible ones like motivations for resource management