Author
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Watkins, Kenton - Brad |
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Lu, Yao |
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Submitted to: Agricultural Economics Review
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: In many areas of the United States, potatoes must be rotated with other crops to reduce the harmful impacts of soil-born organisms and insect pests on potato yields. Soil deterioration is also reduced in some instances when potatoes are rotated rather than grown continuously. However, potato rotations are sometimes economically unattractive because crops that are rotated with potatoes are often lower in economic value. Farm operators today must also consider the impacts of their management decisions on the environment. This study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of using two, three, and four-year seed potato rotations in Southeastern Idaho. Seed potatoes are rotated with spring wheat, feed barley, oats, and canola. The EPIC simulation model is used to simulate crop yields, nitrogen loss, and soil erosion for each rotation over a 30 year period. Economic returns are calculated for each rotation, and comparisons are made between economic returns and nitrogen loss, economic returns and soil erosion, and nitrogen loss and soil erosion to identify rotations that are both profitable and beneficial to the environment. Three rotations were found to be preferred depending upon the decision maker's preference: 1) a two-year potato-wheat rotation (largest economic returns); 2) a three-year potato-wheat-barley rotation (smallest nitrogen loss); and 3) a four-year potato-wheat-barley-oats rotation (the smallest soil erosion). The three objectives were found to be in conflict with one another among the three efficient seed potato rotations. Therefore, the preferred rotation will depend on the objective deemed most important by the decision maker. Technical Abstract: Potatoes are grown in rotation with other crops primarily for pest management and agronomic reasons. However, potato rotations are sometimes economically unattractive because potatoes are generally rotated with lower value crops. Public concerns about soil erosion and the impacts of agricultural chemical losses on surface and ground water have also made farm operators more mindful of the environmental consequences of their management decisions. This study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of using two, three, and four-year seed potato rotations in Southeastern Idaho under current U.S. commodity program provisions. Seed potatoes are rotated with spring wheat, feed barley, oats, and canola. The EPIC biological process simulation model is used to simulate crop yields, nitrogen loss, and soil erosion for each rotation and crop over a 30 year period. Economic returns to land, overhead, and management are calculated by crop and rotation. A tradeoff frontier approach is used to evaluate tradeoffs among higher economic returns, lower nitrogen loss, and lower soil erosion and to screen out inferior rotations. Depending upon the decision maker's preference, three rotations were identified as the most preferred rotations: 1) a two-year potato-wheat rotation (largest economic returns); 2) a three-year potato-wheat-barley rotation (the smallest nitrogen loss); and 3) a four-year potato-wheat-barley-oats rotation (the smallest soil erosion). Tradeoffs existed between economic returns, nitrogen loss, and soil erosion among the three efficient rotations. Therefore, the preferred rotation will depend on the objective considered most important by the decision maker. |
