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Agronomy QUESTION #2044
Question 1
In the context of integrated nutrient management (INM), the concept of 'nutrient budget' refers to:
  • The financial cost of purchasing fertilizers per cropping season
  • Quantitative accounting of all nutrient inputs (fertilizers, manures, BNF, irrigation water, atmospheric deposition) versus nutrient outputs (crop removal, leaching, volatilization, runoff) to determine the net soil nutrient balance✔️
  • The ratio of organic to inorganic fertilizer inputs on a farm
  • The recommended fertilizer dose published in government guidelines
Correct Answer Explanation
A nutrient budget is a mass balance: Inputs (fertilizers + manures + BNF + deposition + irrigation) − Outputs (grain + straw removal + leaching + volatilization + runoff) = Net balance. A negative balance indicates soil nutrient mining; a positive balance may indicate over-application risk. INM aims to achieve a balanced or slightly positive budget.