Soil Quality Attribute Time Paths: Optimal Levels and Values

Soil Quality Attribute Time Paths: Optimal Levels and Values

We develop a dynamic soil quality model to evaluate optimal cropping systems in the northern Great Plains. Modeling soil quality attributes is feasible, and attribute model results apply to a wide range of soils. A crop production system with continuous spring wheat and direct planting is the most p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elwin G. Smith, Mel L. Lerohl, Teklay Messele, H. Henry Janzen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Western Agricultural Economics Association 2000-07-01
Series:Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Subjects:
cropping systems
marginal user benefit
nonlinear programming
organic carbon
soil quality
tillage
Online Access:https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/30827
Description
Summary:We develop a dynamic soil quality model to evaluate optimal cropping systems in the northern Great Plains. Modeling soil quality attributes is feasible, and attribute model results apply to a wide range of soils. A crop production system with continuous spring wheat and direct planting is the most profitable system. This system has low soil erosion and high quality attributes, indicating the benefits of increased soil quality exceed the higher maintenance costs. On-site value of additional soil organic carbon (OC) ranges from $1 to $4/ton OC/hectare/year. These values for soil OC impact the optimum tillage practice, but not the crop rotation.
ISSN:1068-5502
2327-8285

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