Restoring balance to the nitrogen cycle is one of the challenges facing engineers. Improving the effectiveness and economical use of fertilizer has been identified as an important step in the right direction. Engineers have designed an improved way to transport fertilizer and then to apply it directly at the point where crops are grown. Further development, assessment, and optimization of the necessary equipment is estimated to require $260,000 in year 1 , increasing by a gradient of $60,000 in each of years 2,3 , and 4 . Then, it will begin to decrease by $90,000 in years 5,6,7, and 8 . Interest is 15% per year.