A framework for prioritising nutrient management research in vegetable production in the southern Philippines

This paper describes an approach which has been used to identify and prioritise nutrient management research activities in a project currently being undertaken in the southern Philippines. It has highlighted the potential to improve the productivity and profitability of these systems by reallocating limited capital (fertiliser) resources from phosphorus and potassium to nitrogen based on an application of soil test information and the principles of nutrient budgeting. This approach also has applications for developing broader agricultural research programs in that it can be used as a tool for identifying and prioritising the activities which are likely to be the most successful and establish likely timeframes for impact.