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Using CREAMS and Economic Modeling to Evaluate Conservation Practices: An Application¹

ABSTRACT

Economic modeling of the impacts of soil loss from agricultural activities traditionally has been based on the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Most studies have not considered the effects of agricultural production on N, P, and pesticides in runoff. This study, involving a representative Pennsylvania dairy farm, uses the CREAMS model (Chemicals, Runoff, and Erosion from Agricultural Management Systems) to estimate surface runoff losses of soil, plant nutrients, and pesticides. The CREAMS is a continuous simulation model that allows the user to compare the effectiveness of management practices for reducing these losses in a consistent and comprehensive tices for reducing these losses in a consistent and comprehensive manner. The usefulness of the CREAMS simulation model is demonstrated for analysis of agricultural cropping activities and their impacts on losses of chemicals and soil in runoff. Linear programming was used to simulate the impacts of farm-level water pollution restrictions on farm income. The findings suggest that nonpoint source pollution can be reduced without necessarily reducing farm income. Farm income levels could be maintained by adopting conservation tillage practices or by changing crop rotation. Conservation tillage was found to be the most effective method for maintaining income when water pollution restrictions were imposed. Two years of corn (Zea mays) followed by 3 yr of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was a profitable and effective rotation for controlling runoff losses. Continuous corn, at the other extreme, caused substantial losses of income when restrictions were imposed.

Key Words: nonpoint source pollution • erosion • conservation tillage • linear programming • simulation

¹ This research was funded by Pennsylvania Agricultural Exp. Stn. funds, Project no. 2587, The Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA 16802.

² Crowder and Young are agricultural economists with USDA-ERS-NRED, University Park, PA. Pionke is a research leader with USDA-ARS, Northeast Watershed Research Center, University Park, PA. Epp is a professor of agricultural economics, The Pennsylvania State Univ. The views expressed in this paper are the authors' and do not reflect official policy of the USDA or The Pennsylvania State Univ.

Received for publication October 2, 1984.