Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-m8s7h Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T19:24:56.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An agronomic and economic comparison of a conventional and a low-input cropping system in the Palouse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Walter A. Goldstein  and
Douglas L. Young
Walter A. Goldstein
Affiliation:
Research Agronomist at Michael Fields Agricultural Research Institute, East Troy, WI 53120.
Douglas L. Young
Affiliation:
Professor of Agricultural Economics at Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164.
Get access

Abstract

The variable costs and net returns for a conventionally managed rotation and for a low-input, legume-based rotation were compared under 1986 economic conditions in the Palouse region of Washington. The conventional system was a four-year wheat/barley/wheat/pea rotation with fertilizers and pesticide inputs each year. The low-input system was a three-year pea-medic/medic/wheat rotation with pesticide inputs used only on peas. As the biennial medic was allowed to set and drop seed and revolunteer in subsequent stands of spring peas, the system was called the “perpetuating-alternativelegume-system” or “PALS”. Identical wheat yields were assumed between the two systems as field trials showed that wheat which followed medic without fertilizer produced similar yields to wheat after cereals with fertilizer. Pea yields were assumed to be lower under PALS due to competition from the medic. Medic was neither harvested nor grazed. For PALS, herbicides on wheat were replaced by harrowing because trials showed that wheat after medic competed better with weeds than wheat after cereals. Variable costs for PALS were only 44 percent of those for the conventional system ($56.82 versus $129.40/acre/year). Fertilizers, pesticides, and application accounted for 56 percent of the costs for the conventional system, but only 26 percent for PALS. The conventional system generated higher gross returns because a crop was harvested every year. Because of its lower production costs, PALS generated higher net returns when crops were sold for market prices. The conventional system was more profitable than PALS only when wheat and barley were valued at current government target prices. Under high and low yielding conditions PALS was more profitable than the conventional system when wheat prices were lower than $3.50 and $5.36/bushel, respectively. Government target and local market wheat prices in 1986 were $4.38 and $2.40/bushel, respectively. If world market competition and domestic policy pressures reduce crop price supports and grain prices in the future, low-input systems would become more profitable than conventional practices. PALS is promising but requires further agronomic evaluation before recommendations can be made.

Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , Spring 1987 , pp. 51 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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

1.Bezdicek, D. F., Root, C. S., Kirby, E., Granatstein, D., Elliot, L. F., and Papendick, R. I.. 1986. Tillage and cropping system alternatives for high rainfall areas. Progress report in Michalson, E. L. (ed.) 1986 Annual Report No. 12. STEEP (Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems), Erosion Research for the Pacific Northwest. University of Idaho, Oregon State University, and Washington State University.Google Scholar
2.Caplan, A. J. 1986. Costs, returns, and relative soil loss comparisons of alternative tillage systems in the three precipitation zones of the Palouse River Basin, Washington. M.S. Thesis, Dept. of Ag. Econ., Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. 334 pp.Google Scholar
3.Caplan, A., Hinman, H., Hoffman, T., and McCool, D.. 1987. 1987 crop enterprise budgets, selected tillage systems, eastern Whitman County, Washington. EB, Coop. Ext. Serv., Washington State University.Google Scholar
4.Goldstein, W. A. 1986. Alternative crops, rotations, and management systems for the Palouse. Ph.D. Dissertation, Dept. of Agronomy and Soils, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. 332 pp.Google Scholar
5.Kreizinger, E. J., and Law, A. G.. 1949. Alfalfa in eastern Washington. Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 462, Washington State University.Google Scholar
6.Law, A. G., Schwendiman, J. L., and Ensminger, M. E.. 1945. Sweetclover-grass pasture in eastern Washington. Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 509, Washington State University.Google Scholar
7.Pawson, W. W., Brough, O. L., Swanson, J. P., and Horner, G. M.. 1961. Economics of cropping systems and soil conservation in the Palouse. Coop. Pub. Idaho and Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. and the USDA/ARS, Bull. 2.Google Scholar
8.Puckridge, D. W., and French, R. J.. 1983. The annual legume pasture in cereal-ley farming systems of southern Australia: a review. Agr., Ecosystem, and Environ. 9:229–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar