Economic Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Cropping Systems for Mid-Atlantic States

Lu, Yao‐Chi; Watkins, Bradley; Teasdale, John R.

doi:10.1300/j064v15n02_09

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Despite the lower productivity of this system, Lu et al (1999) showed that lower costs of production inputs resulted in only slightly lower net returns than the cover crop and no-tillage systems (US$238, $233, $217, and $53 ha" 1 for the cover crop, no-tillage, manure, and crownvetch systems, respectively; premiums for organic grains were not included). Despite the lower productivity of this system, Lu et al (1999) showed that lower costs of production inputs resulted in only slightly lower net returns than the cover crop and no-tillage systems (US$238, $233, $217, and $53 ha" 1 for the cover crop, no-tillage, manure, and crownvetch systems, respectively; premiums for organic grains were not included).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

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Performance of reduced-tillage cropping systems for sustainable grain production in Maryland

Teasdale¹,

Rosecrance²,

Coffman

et al. 2000

Am J Alt Ag

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Sustainable production systems are needed to maintain soil resources and reduce environmental contamination on erodible lands that are incompatible with tillageintensive operations. A long-term cropping systems comparison was established at Beltsville, Maryland, on a site with 2 to 15% slope to evaluate the efficacy of sustainable strategies compatible with reduced-tillage systems. All systems followed a 2-year rotation of corn the first year and winter wheat followed by soybean the second year. Treatments included (1) no-tillage system with recommended fertilizer and herbicide inputs, (2) crownvetch living mulch system with similar inputs to the no-tillage system, (3) cover crop system including a hairy vetch cover crop before corn and a wheat cover crop before soybean with reduced fertilizer and herbicide inputs, and (4) manure system including crimson clover green manure plus cow manure for nutrient sources, chisel plow/disk for incorporating manure, and rotary hoe plus cultivation for weed control. Results from the initial 4 years demonstrated the relative productivity of these systems. Corn yields were similar in the no-tillage and cover crop systems in each year; both systems averaged 7.8 Mg ha~l compared to 5.7 Mg ha~x in both the crownvetch and manure systems. Wheat yields were highest in the manure system in the first 2 years and in the crownvetch system in the last 2 years. Soybean yields were highest in the cover crop system in all years. The manure system usually had lower yields than the highest yielding systems, partly because of competition from uncontrolled weeds. Several measures of the efficiency of grain production were evaluated. The no-tillage system produced the most grain per total vegetative biomass throughout the rotation. The cover crop system produced the most grain per unit of external nitrogen input and, along with the no-tillage system, had the highest corn water-use efficiency. The cover crop system also recycled the most vegetative residues and nutrients of all systems. No single system performed best according to all measures of comparison, suggesting that trade-offs will be required when choosing production systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…An economic analysis of these systems has been published elsewhere (Lu et al, 1999). This paper reports on the initial productivity of these systems during the first 4 years and indicates potential trends based on current performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of reduced-tillage cropping systems for sustainable grain production in Maryland

Teasdale¹,

Rosecrance²,

Coffman

et al. 2000

Am J Alt Ag

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“…Given the origins of the concept of sustainability in the environmental movement, it is not surprising that deliberation among proponents tended to emphasize the relationships between agriculture and the environment (Altieri, 1989;Barbier, 1989;Edwards, Grove, Harwood, & Colfer, 1993;Hoag & Skold, 1996;Rosegrant & Livernash, 1996;Rosset & Altieri, 1997;Ruttan, 1996Ruttan, , 2000. Proponents also soon turned their attention to the importance of economic viability for sustainability (Hitzhusen, 1992;Lighthall, 1996;Lu, Watkins & Teasdale, 1999;Lyson & Welsh, 1993;Madden, 1987;Marra & Kaval, 2000;Painter, 1991;Saltiel, Bauder & Palakovich, 1994;Walsh & Lyson, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Principles Guiding Practice: A Case Study Analysis of the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture for Diverse Farms

Moore

Swisher

Rodríguez³

et al. 2016

J. Agric. Food Syst. Community Dev.

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“…PCR is promoted as a sustainable agricultural technology that can increase, sustain, and improve the physical properties of the soil, as well as prevent soil erosion (Lu, et al, 1999;Lazányi, 2000;Yang et al, 2001;Jeffrey et al, 2002;Tang & Ranst, 2005;Benediktas and Genovaite, 2002;Li et al, 2002). In the late 1990s, sustainable alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) crop rotation (3-year crop/3-year alfalfa) was introduced in the Loess Plateau.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Pasture Crop Rotation in the Semiarid Area of China's Loess Plateau

Cao

2008

Journal of Sustainable Agriculture

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Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) pasture crop rotations (PCR) have been promoted in the semiarid region of northern China for many years, with seemingly limited success. Using a logistic regression model, this paper evaluated the determinants of adoption of PCR among smallholder farmers in rain-fed farming systems, based on a survey of 238 farmers in the hilly area of the Loess Plateau in 2004 and 2005. Results indicated that farmers' socio-economic background, farm-related conditions, and institutional factors significantly affect their decision of whether or not to adopt PCR. First, the age of farmers, the size of their family, the number of ruminants owned, and farmers' attitude toward PCR have significant Xue-Feng He is affiliated with the MOE Key JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTUREpositive effects on the adoption of PCR, where the level of the family income is low. Second, the slope of the field and fallow practice variables also play a critical role in the adoption of PCR, suggesting the importance of targeting the promotion of PCR among farmers in areas affected by soil erosion. The analysis also showed that farmers' perception of the problem of soil erosion is positively correlated with adoption of PCR, having the most significant impact with the highest estimated elasticity. The likelihood a farmer who perceived soil erosion as a problem would adopt PCR was 225 greater than that of a farmer who did not have such perceptions. Third, the institutional variables, which are represented by contacts with extension workshops, a participatory approach, the credit and training facilities obtained, and participation in the Grain-for-Green project (PGFG), all had significant positive effects on the adoption of PCR. On the other hand, participation in the rainwater-harvesting project and in the supplementary irrigation project did not show any correlation with the adoption of PCR by farmers. Variables such as education level, the size of farms, farm tenure, off-farm employment, and distance between the farm and the farmers' residence did not significantly influence the adoption of PCR. This information will help prioritize factors that affect decision-making in the adoption of PCR and will provide insights into ways of increasing the adoption of PCR by farmers.

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Economic Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Cropping Systems for Mid-Atlantic States

Cited by 20 publications

References 7 publications

Performance of reduced-tillage cropping systems for sustainable grain production in Maryland

Performance of reduced-tillage cropping systems for sustainable grain production in Maryland

Principles Guiding Practice: A Case Study Analysis of the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture for Diverse Farms

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Pasture Crop Rotation in the Semiarid Area of China's Loess Plateau

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