The use of bio-based fertilizers derived from dairy manure can provide a valuable source of fertility, improve soil health and provide an outlet for manure from dairy operations. We conducted a small-scale discrete choice survey of crop farmers and crop consultants in Washington State to determine the attributes that were important to them in the potential use of a bio-based fertilizer product derived from dairy manure. Of the attributes examined, distribution channel was not statistically significant. Respondents preferred air-dried or pelletized forms to wet forms, though there was no statistically significant difference between air-dried and pelletized forms. As expected, uptake increased as price decreased. Our results imply that respondents would be willing to pay 23 and 39% more for an air-dried or pelletized product, respectively, than for a ‘semi-wet’ product. Our results indicate that there are other important attributes beyond the ones in the survey that led respondents to stay with their current fertilizer regime. Qualitative responses in the survey pointed to the need for field trial results and data on nitrogen release from the bio-based fertilizer. Greater understanding of willingness-to-pay and attributes important to potential end users is important for the development of markets for bio-based fertilizers.

中文翻译：

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华盛顿州奶牛粪对生物基肥料的需求：小规模离散选择实验

使用源自奶牛粪便的生物基肥料可以提供宝贵的肥力来源，改善土壤健康，并为奶牛场的粪便提供出口。我们对华盛顿州的农作物种植者和作物顾问进行了一项小规模离散选择调查，以确定对他们可能使用源自奶牛粪的生物基肥料产品的重要属性。在检查的属性中，分销渠道没有统计学意义。受访者更喜欢风干或颗粒形式而不是湿形式，尽管风干形式和颗粒形式之间没有统计学上的显着差异。正如预期的那样，随着价格下降，吸收量增加。我们的结果表明，受访者愿意为风干或颗粒产品分别多付 23% 和 39%，而不是“半湿”产品。我们的结果表明，除了调查中的属性之外，还有其他重要属性导致受访者坚持当前的施肥制度。调查中的定性答复表明需要现场试验结果和生物基肥料氮释放的数据。更好地了解支付意愿和对潜在最终用户很重要的属性对于生物基肥料市场的发展非常重要。