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Title: ECONOMIC-ENVIRONMENTAL TRADEOFFS AMONG ALTERNATIVE CROPPING ROTATIONS

Author
item KELLY, TERRY - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Lu, Yao
item Teasdale, John

Submitted to: Journal of Production Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This paper evaluates long-term economic and environmental impacts of different cropping systems and analyzes the tradeoffs among net farm income, soil erosion, and environmental hazard. The cropping systems are modeled after the BARC Demonstration Farm. Since long-term experimental results are not yet available, simulations were used to obtain data on crop yields, soil erosion, and the environmental fate of nitrogen, phosphorous, and herbicides for economic analyses. The results indicate that the no-till rotation provides the greatest net farm income, followed by the conventional rotation. The net income for the two cover crop rotations is the lowest. No-till rotation also dominates all other rotations in soil erosion and nitrogen loss. However, because herbicides are used to control weeds, the pesticide hazard index is very high. Thus, there is a tradeoff between pesticide hazard, net returns, and nitrogen losses. To provide decision makers with better information, an environmental hazard index was constructed to analyze the tradeoffs between potential chemical contamination and net returns. Depending on the individual's (or society's) preferences, any one of three rotations could be preferred: not till, manure at medium rates, and cover crop without fertilizer. The results of this study may provide guidance for future experimental plans and benefit farmers and extension workers in selecting profitable cropping systems that meet environmental goals.

Technical Abstract: This paper evaluates the simulated long-term impacts of different cropping systems modeled after the BARC Demonstration Farm on net returns, soil erosion, and environmental hazard; and analyzes the tradeoffs among net returns, soil erosion, and environmental quality. The Erosion- Productivity Impart Calculator was used to obtain crop yields, soil erosion, and the environmental fate of nitrogen, phosphorous, and herbicides in response to weather and management practices over a simulated 30-year period to provide data for economic analyses. This procedure provides a way to estimate the environmental impact of cropping rotations, and to analyze the tradeoffs between competing objectives, whether they are farm income, environmental protection, or the reduction of multiple hazards. The results indicate that the no-till rotation provides the greatest net returns, followed by the conventional rotation. The net returns on the two cover crop rotations are the lowest. In terms of environmental impacts, no-till rotation again dominates all other rotations in soil erosion and nitrogen loss. However, because herbicides are used to control weeds, the pesticide hazard index is very high. Thus, there is a tradeoff between pesticide hazard and net returns or nitrogen loss. To provide decision makers with better information, an environmental hazard index was constructed to analyze the tradeoffs between potential chemical contamination and net returns. Depending on the individual's (or society's) preferences, any one of three rotations could be preferred: not till, manure at medium rates, and cover crop without fertilizer. The results of this study may provide guidance for future experimental plans.