An evaluation of alternative vegetative filter strip models for use on agricultural lands of the upper Wabash River Basin
Abstract
The upper Wabash River Basin is typical of agricultural watersheds in the Corn Belt Region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio). An important management technique for reducing NPS pollution from agricultural land is the use of vegetative filter strips (VFS) between ditches and streams and adjacent crop land. By definition, VFS are bands of planted or indigenous vegetation situated between pollutant source areas and receiving waters. A geographic information system is used to identify the upper Wabash River Basin and determine ditches, streams, and rivers from digital elevation maps. Reduction values for sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus were calculated for various levels of VFS application. Economic costs for establishing and maintaining various VFS application levels were estimated as were economic benefits associated with reductions of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus reductions for various levels of VFS application. Both this research and the literature show that VFS are effective in reducing sediment, nitrogen, and sediment from row crop lands. This research also shows first order streams to be more effective in reducing sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus than higher order streams. The total cost of 100% VFS application to the study area is estimated to be $270,498,401.40. The lower bound benefit estimates associated with 100% VFS application are estimated at $404 million (30-year present value) with other benefits such as increased water quality and improved fish and wildlife habitat excluded from this analysis. The optimum level of VFS application is estimated to be slightly over 75% for the streams of the upper Wabash River Basin row crop lands. Alternative policy tool mixtures consisting of public education, technical assistance, and research and one of five selected market intervention tools were evaluated. Each policy tool mixture differed only by the market intervention tool. The policy tool mixture comprised of public education, technical assistance, research and cost-share is the preferred policy tool mixture.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
LeMaster, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Forestry|Agricultural economics|Agricultural engineering|Environmental science
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.