Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Costs and benefits of erosion control measures in the UK. / Posthumus, H.; Deeks, L. K.; Rickson, R. J. et al.
In: Soil Use and Management, Vol. 31, No. Suppl. S1, 10.2015, p. 16-33.Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Costs and benefits of erosion control measures in the UK
AU - Posthumus, H.
AU - Deeks, L. K.
AU - Rickson, R. J.
AU - Quinton, J. N.
PY - 2015/10
Y1 - 2015/10
N2 - Soil erosion is a key threat to ecosystem services. This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of erosion control measures based on an ecosystem services approach. The economic appraisal consists of an assessment (i.e. quantification and valuation) of the on-site and off-site impacts of soil erosion, and its mitigation, on ecosystem services. Many erosion control measures result in negative financial and economic returns. This explains why farmers are generally reluctant to implement erosion control measures without compensation. Based on the assessment described in this study, tramline management, mulching, buffer strips, high-density planting and sediment traps are the most cost-effective erosion control measures for agriculture in the UK. Contour ploughing also appears to be cost-effective, but this measure is not appropriate in all circumstances and therefore cannot be widely promoted. However, actual cost-effectiveness of erosion control measures will differ for local circumstances, and it is therefore advised that individual assessments are made at farm level or field level before recommendations are made to farmers.
AB - Soil erosion is a key threat to ecosystem services. This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of erosion control measures based on an ecosystem services approach. The economic appraisal consists of an assessment (i.e. quantification and valuation) of the on-site and off-site impacts of soil erosion, and its mitigation, on ecosystem services. Many erosion control measures result in negative financial and economic returns. This explains why farmers are generally reluctant to implement erosion control measures without compensation. Based on the assessment described in this study, tramline management, mulching, buffer strips, high-density planting and sediment traps are the most cost-effective erosion control measures for agriculture in the UK. Contour ploughing also appears to be cost-effective, but this measure is not appropriate in all circumstances and therefore cannot be widely promoted. However, actual cost-effectiveness of erosion control measures will differ for local circumstances, and it is therefore advised that individual assessments are made at farm level or field level before recommendations are made to farmers.
KW - Agriculture
KW - environmental impact
KW - soil erosion
KW - soil conservation
KW - soil policy
U2 - 10.1111/sum.12057
DO - 10.1111/sum.12057
M3 - Journal article
VL - 31
SP - 16
EP - 33
JO - Soil Use and Management
JF - Soil Use and Management
SN - 0266-0032
IS - Suppl. S1
ER -