Quantifying erosion reduction benefits resulting from the adoption of conservation tillage practices

Soil erosion is a continuous agricultural and environmental problem in the inland Pacific Northwest. Factors contributing to the high erosion rates include hilly topography, highly erodible soils, frequent winter freeze-thaw events that weaken the soil, and tillage and fallow practices that leave soil pulverized and bare. This project will develop a prototype framework to measure success (or lack thereof) of conservation programs. The central hypothesis is that targeted implementation of conservation practices leads to significant erosion reduction. To test the hypothesis we will perform erosion simulations for “Baseline”, “Targeted” implementation, and “Best-case” scenarios. The compilation and synthesis of state-of-the-practice True Cost Accounting in crop production will be a valuable product of this project. The project, led by WSU faculty and State Conservation Commission staff, advances the development of sustainable agriculture in Washington State, informs government agencies and conservation programs, and aligns well with the overall goal of BIOAg.