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Effect of Nitrate and Sediment Constraints on Economically Optimal Crop Production
Author(s) -
Onishi H.,
Swanson E. R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1974.00472425000300030010x
Subject(s) - environmental science , leachate , watershed , sediment , nitrate , erosion , water quality , hydrology (agriculture) , dns root zone , sedimentation , environmental engineering , acre , crop , soil science , agronomy , soil water , geology , chemistry , agroforestry , ecology , environmental chemistry , geotechnical engineering , paleontology , biology , organic chemistry , machine learning , computer science
Crop systems and practices which are economically optimal in a 485.6‐ha (1,200‐acre) watershed with a planned recreational reservoir were determined under conditions of varying constraints on water quality in the reservoir. The technique of linear programming was used. Two requirements related to sedimentation and three requirements related to NO 3 − ‐N concentration in the leachate below the root zone were considered. Thus, six combinations of restrictions on the choice of optimal crop systems were imposed. A system of charges for all sediment introduced into the reservoir substantially reduced erosion, irrespective of the limit placed on NO 3 − ‐N concentration in the leachate below the root zone. Relaxation of the NO 3 − ‐N limit from 10 mg/liter to no limit approximately doubled the net income above nonland costs.