4R Nutrient Stewardship
The 4Rs: Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place
An innovative approach to best management practices (BMPs) for fertilizer is the Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place concept, also known as 4R Nutrient Stewardship.
4R Nutrient Stewardship can be applied to managing either crop nutrients in general, including organic sources, or fertilizers in specific. This concept can help farmers and the public understand how the right management practices for fertilizer can contribute to sustainability goals for agriculture.
The 4R nutrient stewardship concept involves crop producers and their advisers selecting the right source-rate-time-place combination from practices validated by research conducted by agronomic scientists. Goals for economic, environmental and social progress are set by and reflected in performance indicators chosen by the stakeholders in crop production systems.
