Sustainable farm income in the presence of soil erosion: an agricultural Hartwick rule

2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Hediger
Author(s):  
Asma Ali ◽  
Simone Perna

Indicators are being used in many agricultural sustainability assessment methods, but disputes about a common indicator for the definition of sustainability have resulted in so many various indicators and methods of measurement. The objective of this review is to provide a bibliometric analysis of sustainability pillars and indicators that has been widely applied. In addition, this paper evaluates the impact of pillars and indicators on scientific research through the analysis of their citation and trend. Using Scopus database, a total of 30 articles have been selected. The search revealed more than 500 indicators, and the top 3 indicators of each pillar which were considered in 7 articles or more are (soil erosion, crop diversity and pesticides) for environmental pillar, (education and training) for social pillar are and (Profitability, productivity and farm income) for economic pillar. Results showed that the environmental pillar is the most tackled in terms of the number of articles (n=22) and the most cited with a mean citation of about 60. The pesticide is the oldest indicator in terms of its average year of publication in 2011, the most cited indicator of more than 250 in 2005 and has the highest mean citation of about 42. The least cited indicators are farm income and training with less than 10 mean citation. Nowadays, the economic pillar is considered one of the most discussed and widely implemented with a total of 7 published articles in 2020.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josily Samuel ◽  
C A Rama Rao ◽  
B M K Raju ◽  
K V Rao ◽  
R Rejani ◽  
...  

Abstract Soil erosion has adverse economic and environmental impacts. The economic effects are due to loss of farm income with adverse impact on crop production. There is a need to understand the trade-offs between farm income and soil loss faced by the farmers in making decisions at farm level. There are different methodologies that integrate into a bio-economic model wherein the multi objective linear programming models have focus on the economic aspects and biophysical components. In this study, we tried to examine the status of soil erosion and formulated a methodological frame work for optimising the farm level objectives and their trade-offs for sustainable farming systems.


1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Fujisaka

SummaryAfter farmer-to-farmer training, farmers at an upland research site in the Philippines adapted and adopted contour hedgerows over a period of four years. They developed hedgerow establishment methods that required less labour, eliminated grasses that were too competitive with crops, stopped planting trees that were initially intended to produce green manures, and planted species that might provide direct cash returns. The different systems they used controlled soil erosion equally and effectively, although grazing of hedgerows by neighbours’ cattle was a problem. The farmers who learned about the technology but who did not establish contour hedgerows on their farms were those who had a higher proportion of flat land and/or off -farm or non-farm income opportunities.


2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davood Nikkami ◽  
Maria Elektorowicz ◽  
Guy R. Mehuys

Abstract To reduce the environmental and economical impact of soil erosion resulting from improper management of land-use activities, a study was initiated by the Iranian Ministry of Construction on Syahrood, one of the sub-basins of the Damavand watershed in Iran. Land-use optimization is one of the appropriate strategies for soil conservation. It can empower the decision maker or watershed manager to choose from different land-use scenarios to reach the best decision with the different combinations of variables. The output results of the sediment yield model, including the integration of the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) with Spatial Analysis System-Geographic Information System (SPANS-GIS), along with the net income of each land use were used as input in the land-use optimization model for minimizing the sediment yield and maximizing farm production of each land use. The multi-objective linear programming simplex method of Steuer (1995) was used to solve the problem. The optimization process allocated dryland farming areas to rangelands if no changes were made to the current supporting practice system. The expected annual sediment yield from the entire sub-basin was reduced by 2420 tonnes/year (or by 5%) and the annual net farm income was increased by 3.99 billion Iranian Rial/year (or by 134%).


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 3511-3540 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Adugna ◽  
A. Abegaz ◽  
A. Cerdà

Abstract. Soil erosion is the main driver of land degradation in Ethiopia, and in the whole region of East Africa. This study was conducted at the Northeast Wollega in West Ethiopia to estimate the soil losses by means of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The purpose of this paper is to identify erosion spot areas and target locations for appropriate development of soil and water conservation measures. Fieldwork and household survey were conducted to identify major determinants of soil erosion control. Six principal factors were used to calculate soil loss per year, such as rainfallerosivity, soil erodiblity, slope length, slope steepness, crop management and erosion-control practices. The soil losses have shown spatio-temporal variations that range from 4.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in forest to 65.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in cropland. Results from the analysis of stepwise multiple linear regression show that sustainable soil erosion control are determined byknowledge of farmers about soil conservation, land tenure security and off-farm income at community level. Thus, policy aim at keeping land productivity will need to focus on terracing, inter-cropping and improved agro-forestry practices.


Soil Systems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devraj Chalise ◽  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Paul Kristiansen

Land degradation, particularly soil erosion, is currently a major challenge for Nepal. With a high rate of population growth, subsistence-based rural economy, and increasingly intense rainfall events in the monsoon season, Nepal is prone to several forms of land degradation, such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion. To understand the causes, impacts, and possible management options for soil erosion, a review on the causal factors, status, and amelioration measures for land degradation in Nepal was conducted based on recent information available in national and international journals and grey literature. Intense rainfall and conventional tillage practices coupled with poor soil structure and steep slopes are the main drivers of soil erosion. Soil erosion leads to losses in soil and crop productivity, pollution of land and water resources, and a loss of farm income. Strategies to manage erosion include mulching, cover cropping, contour farming, strip cropping, and conservation agriculture practices, along with bioengineering techniques. Land degradation issues are a prime policy focus in Nepal, including national three- and five-year plans. However, these policies have been generally ineffective in reducing soil erosion, landslides, and floods in relation to the set targets. Realistic plans need to be formulated in Nepal focusing more on capacity enhancement and local participation to actively influence land-degradation processes.


2018 ◽  
pp. 261-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Scocco ◽  
Sergio Rivaroli ◽  
Francesca Mercati ◽  
Federico M. Tardella ◽  
Alessandro Malfatti ◽  
...  
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