FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – EFFECT ON ACTUAL YIELD DEVELOPMENT TRENDS IN 1986-2005 YEARS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND POLAND

Abstract

This study outlines the long-term trends of fertilizers consumption in the Czech Republic and Poland and their impact on actual yield development of main crops for the period 1986-2005. In both countries dynamics of N, P, K fertilizers use showed analogical trends. Based on amounts and nutrient ratio of consumed fertilizer, as expressed as P2O5:N and K2O:N ratios, there were distinguished three phases of fertilizers use: i) high ii) collapse and iii) restoration/stagnation. The stagnation phase was attributed for P and K in the Czech Republic. The observed yield depressions since the 1990s reflect changes in farmer’s long-term fertilization and has been termed a temporary yield gap (TYG). However, its long-term existence negatively affects crop production stability. The development of new, country specific strategies in the management of P and K, i.e. adopted to natural soil fertility conditions, is a main goal of present agriculture of both countries, compared in the presented study.