Reduced tillage systems as economical dust mitigation strategies

Ana M. Kennedy, Paul N. Wilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Arizona is one of the first states in the nation to regulate agricultural practices in order to reduce dust emissions near urban areas. This best management practice program requires dust mitigation actions in some combination of tillage and harvest, cropland, and noncropland activities. Single pass multiple operation equipment represents a viable best management practice to reduce dust emissions fiom agricultural tillage operations. Partial budgeting and contingent valuation methods were used to estimate the potential profitability and willingness-to-adopt reduced tillage equipment, respectively. At $39 to $64 ha-1 ($16 to $26 ac -1) in long-term net benefits associated with single pass multiple operation equipment, we estimate that adoption will occur on approximately 10% to 35% of the cotton hectares. However, uncertainty over operating costs and yield variability associated with single pass multiple operation equipment may reduce this rate of adoption. As a result, most dust mitigation may occur through the reduction of the number of conventional tillage operations due to global competitive pressures and the urbanization of agricultural lands.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)61-69
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Soil and Water Conservation
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009

Keywords

  • Best management practices
  • Dust mitigation
  • Dust pollution
  • Economic feasibility
  • Tillage systems
  • Willingness to adopt

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Soil Science
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation

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