Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T13:59:51.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assessing Changes in Soil Erosion Rates: A Markov Chain Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

Rhonda Skaggs  and
Soumen Ghosh
Rhonda Skaggs
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business
Soumen Ghosh
Affiliation:
Department of Economics and International Business, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Markov chain analysis (one-step and long-run) is applied to the National Resources Inventory (NRI) database to evaluate changes in wind-based soil erosion rates over time. The research compares changes in soil erosion rates between NRI sample sites with and without applied conservation practices for a random sample of Great Plains counties. No significant differences between sites are found for half of the counties evaluated. The effectiveness and efficiency of conservation policies are thus questioned in light of these research results.

Keywords

conservationMarkovNational Resources Inventorypolicysoil erosion
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 31 , Issue 3 , December 1999 , pp. 611 - 622
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aandahl, A.R.Soils of the Great Plains. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1982.Google Scholar
Anderson, T.W. and Goodman, L.A.. “Statistical Inference About Markov Chains,” Annals of Mathematical Statistics 28(1957):89–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Argabright, M.S. “Evolution in Use and Development of the Wind Erosion Equation,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 46,2(1991): 104–105.Google Scholar
Bunn, J.A. “Negative Pollution Taxes for Controlling Wind Erosion.” Paper presented to the Western Social Science Association—Arid Lands Section, annual meeting, Denver, CO, 16 April 1998.Google Scholar
Dicks, M.R. and Coombs, J.E.. CRP In the Future. Research Report P-938, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Oklahoma State University, no date.Google Scholar
Donahue, R.L., Miller, R.W., and Shickluna, J.C.. Soils: An Introduction to Plant Growth, 4th Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1977.Google Scholar
Fryrear, D.W. and L. Lyles, . “Wind Erosion Research Accomplishments and Needs,” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 20,5(1977):916–918.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herren, R.V. and Donahue, R.L.. The Agriculture Dictionary. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers, Inc., 1991.Google Scholar
Kellogg, R.L., TeSelle, G.W., and Goebel, J.J.. “Highlights from the 1992 National Resources Inventory,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (49,6(1994):521–527.Google Scholar
Lindstrom, M.J., Schumacher, T.E., and Blecha, M.L.. “Management Considerations for Returning CRP Lands to Crop Production,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 49,5(1994): 420–425.Google Scholar
Magleby, R., Sandretto, C., Crosswhite, W., Osborn, C.T.. Soil Erosion and Conservation in the United States: An Overview. United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Agriculture Information Bulletin #718, October 1995.Google Scholar
Osborn, T. and R. Heimlich, . “Changes Ahead For Conservation Reserve Program,” Agricultural Outlook, July 1994, pp.26–30.Google Scholar
Ribaudo, M.O., Colacicco, D., Langner, L.L., Piper, S., Schaible, G.D.. Natural Resources and Users Benefit from the Conservation Reserve Program. United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Agricultural Economic Report #627, January 1990.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture—Natural Resources Conservation Service. Documentation for National Resources Inventory database included on CD-ROM, July 1994.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture—Natural Resources Conservation Service. National Resources Inventory: Graphic Highlights of Natural Resource Trends in the United States Between 1982 and 1992, April 1995.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture—Natural Resources Conservation Service. Internet site: http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/env/soil4.ht. Accessed April 21, 1998a.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture—Natural Resources Conservation Service. Internet site: http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/NRI/intro.ht. Accessed April 28, 1998b.Google Scholar
U.S. General Accounting Office. Conservation Reserve Program: Cost-Effectiveness Is Uncertain. Publication No. GAO/RCED-93-132, US-GAO, Washington DC, March 1993Google Scholar
U.S. General Accounting Office. Agricultural Conservation: Status of Programs That Provide Financial Incentives. Publication No. GAO/RCED-95-169, USGAO, Washington DC, April 1995.Google Scholar
Vandeveer, L.R. and Drummond, H.E.. The Use of Markov Processes in Estimating Land Use Change. Oklahoma State University, Agriculture Experiment Station Technical Bulletin T-148, January 1978.Google Scholar
Young, C.E., and Osborn, C.T.. The Conservation Reserve Program: An Economic Assessment. United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Agricultural Economic Report # 626, February 1990.Google Scholar
Young, D.L., Walker, D.J., and Kanjo, P.L.. “Cost Effectiveness and Equity Aspects of Soil Conservation Programs in a Highly Erodible Region,” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 73,4(November 1991): 1053–1062.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wind Erosion Research Unit—Kansas State University. Internet site: http://www.weru.ksu.edu/weps.html. Accessed April 21, 1998.Google Scholar
Woodruff, N.P. and Siddoway, F.H.. “A Wind Erosion Equation,” Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 29,5(1965):602–608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar