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The mission of the NuGAPS database is to better quantify the Nutrient use and performance of crop nutrients supplied as fertilizers.



Select the NuGAPS logo to go to the database, or visit https://nugaps.ipni.net

The NuGAPS database collects both country and sub-country level estimates of fertilizer use and crop yield data in order to:

1. Store current and attainable fertilizer use data that correspond to estimates of current and attainable yields.

2. Identify gaps and track trends in fertilizer use and crop yields within and across countries.

3. Add to the discussion on the performance of crop nutrients supplied as fertilizers.

NuGAPS collects fertilizer use by crop data at two geographic scales. First, country-level data provides estimates that integrate our knowledge of fertilizer use at this commonly evaluated scale, and allows for readily accessible cross comparisons of nutrient management between countries. Secondly, estimates are provided for a select number of benchmark cropping domains within a country in order to document nutrient management at a narrower scale and begin to differentiate trends in nutrient use from the national context.
 
Fertilizer use by crop estimates are provided within NuGAPS at two yield levels: 1) current yields based on published statistical sources, and 2) realistically attainable yields based on field research and/or on-farm trials, conducted by IPNI and associates, or other available sources. The collection of these base data allows for the subsequent calculation and linkage of yield gap and fertilizer use gap information. One of the primary goals of NuGAPS is to derive, assess, and monitor a set of recognized indicators of nutrient performance in crop production, namely partial nutrient balance (removal-to-fertilizer use ratio) and partial factor productivity. These two indicators can be combined to help in the assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of applied nutrients.

Information from NuGAPS should be combined with local information on soil fertility trends, and local knowledge on best management practice adoption. For background, we recommend the IPNI publication Nutrient Performance Indicators: The importance of farm scale assessments, linked to soil fertility, productivity, environmental impact and the adoption of grower best management practices. Available to download at http://www.ipni.net/issuereview.