Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level
United States farmers typically spend over $10 billion annually on commercial fertilizer. Chemical inputs such as nitrogen (N) are essential for maintaining crop yields; however, farmers often apply excessive N inputs as an insurance policy. Nitrogen fertilizer consumption in the U.S. quadrupled fro...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2013-01-01
|
Series: | Air, Soil and Water Research |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4137/ASWR.S11697 |
id |
doaj-6dd1a57b32c344ce9bd1322d8c24cc19 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-6dd1a57b32c344ce9bd1322d8c24cc192020-11-25T03:36:32ZengSAGE PublishingAir, Soil and Water Research1178-62212013-01-01610.4137/ASWR.S11697Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm LevelJames C. Ascough0Eihab M. Fathelrahman1Dana L. Hoag2USDA-ARS, Agricultural Systems Research Unit, Fort Collins, CO, USA.Department of Agribusiness Consumer Science, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, B-330 Clark Bldg., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.United States farmers typically spend over $10 billion annually on commercial fertilizer. Chemical inputs such as nitrogen (N) are essential for maintaining crop yields; however, farmers often apply excessive N inputs as an insurance policy. Nitrogen fertilizer consumption in the U.S. quadrupled from 3 million metric tons in 1961 to over 12 million metric tons in 2004, and per ha N fertilizer use quadrupled. Increase in N use has been associated with the impairment of U.S. streams, lakes, and aquifers. The objective of this research study was to develop an integrated farm-level economic/environmental risk framework for trade-off analysis between farm profitability and environmental externalities (impacts). Results indicated that there was no single point of optimal trade-off between farm profitability and the environment. Additionally, trade-offs between farm profit and environmental impacts varied significantly depending on the choice of cropping or tillage system.https://doi.org/10.4137/ASWR.S11697 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
James C. Ascough Eihab M. Fathelrahman Dana L. Hoag |
spellingShingle |
James C. Ascough Eihab M. Fathelrahman Dana L. Hoag Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level Air, Soil and Water Research |
author_facet |
James C. Ascough Eihab M. Fathelrahman Dana L. Hoag |
author_sort |
James C. Ascough |
title |
Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level |
title_short |
Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level |
title_full |
Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level |
title_fullStr |
Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level |
title_full_unstemmed |
Using Response Surface Methodology for Economic and Environmental Trade-offs at the Farm Level |
title_sort |
using response surface methodology for economic and environmental trade-offs at the farm level |
publisher |
SAGE Publishing |
series |
Air, Soil and Water Research |
issn |
1178-6221 |
publishDate |
2013-01-01 |
description |
United States farmers typically spend over $10 billion annually on commercial fertilizer. Chemical inputs such as nitrogen (N) are essential for maintaining crop yields; however, farmers often apply excessive N inputs as an insurance policy. Nitrogen fertilizer consumption in the U.S. quadrupled from 3 million metric tons in 1961 to over 12 million metric tons in 2004, and per ha N fertilizer use quadrupled. Increase in N use has been associated with the impairment of U.S. streams, lakes, and aquifers. The objective of this research study was to develop an integrated farm-level economic/environmental risk framework for trade-off analysis between farm profitability and environmental externalities (impacts). Results indicated that there was no single point of optimal trade-off between farm profitability and the environment. Additionally, trade-offs between farm profit and environmental impacts varied significantly depending on the choice of cropping or tillage system. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.4137/ASWR.S11697 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT jamescascough usingresponsesurfacemethodologyforeconomicandenvironmentaltradeoffsatthefarmlevel AT eihabmfathelrahman usingresponsesurfacemethodologyforeconomicandenvironmentaltradeoffsatthefarmlevel AT danalhoag usingresponsesurfacemethodologyforeconomicandenvironmentaltradeoffsatthefarmlevel |
_version_ |
1724549500711731200 |