SOILEC Simulating the economics of soil conservation

Abstract

SOILEC is a computerized, long-run, physical and economic simulation model designed to serve two purposes (2). First, the model provides a guide for policymakers wishing to set subsidy levels in contracts with farmers to achieve given conservation targets. Second, the model analyzes for farmers the physical and economic trade-offs involved in management decisions to accomplish soil erosion control. SOILEC ( soil conservation economics is an outgrowth and extension of research in the University of Illinois Department of Agricultural Economics ( 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ), particularly that by K. E. Bost ( 1 ), who developed a model of soil erosion's impacts on soil productivity and farm production costs for 16 representative soils in the state. Much of the research, particularly that of late, has been done under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service (SCS). The primary thrust of the research has been to develop a tool that SCS field staff can use to help farmers in their conservation planning. How SOILEC works SOILEC estimates sheet and rill erosion using the universal soil loss equation (12). The relationship of soil loss to productivity reduction is based on estimates of soil productivity for four erosion phases: uneroded—no topsoil loss; moderately eroded four inches of A horizon remaining; severely eroded—no A horizon remaining; and very severely erodedtopsoil eroded to undesirable underlying material (3). …