Soil compaction and farm sustainability indicators
Abstract
This paper outlines the bio-physical processes and consequences of soil compaction, its
economic significance for farmers, and the possible reasons for mismanagement of soil.
Methodologies for valuing the effects of soil degradation are surveyed. The goal of
developing a sustainability index for on-farm monitoring, leads to a review of economic
modelling of soil use in cropping. Considerable insight has been gained overseas by
modelling of cropping, soil degradation, and farmer choices regarding management of
soil. The impacts of soil compaction, and the slow rate of rejuvenation of soils in the
Manawatu, are sufficiently well understood to conclude that increased inputs of
manufactured capital, energy and fertilizer inputs cannot substitute for lost soil
properties.
But a lack of suitable data and an absence of precise knowledge about the relationships
between cropping and soil degradation, and the rate at which other inputs can
substitute for soil properties, means that farm level indices of sustainability are not
feasible at present. The report concludes by proposing targets for future soil compaction
research.... [Show full abstract]
Date
1997-06Type
Report (Commissioned Report)Collections
Copyright © The Authors.