Towards a method for the economic evaluation of environmental indicators for UK integrated arable farming systems

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 1999-02, Vol.72 (2), p.145-158
• Main Authors: Bailey, A.P, Rehman, T, Park, J, Keatinge, J.D.H, Tranter, R.B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRICULTURA DE BAJO INSUMO; Agricultural and farming systems; AGRICULTURE FAIBLE NIVEAU INTRANTS; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ANALISIS ECONOMICO; ANALYSE ECONOMIQUE; Biological and medical sciences; Earthworms; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; Economics; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS; Environmental valuation; FACTEUR DU MILIEU; FACTORES AMBIENTALES; Farming systems; FAUNA DEL SUELO; FAUNE DU SOL; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; IAFS; LOW INPUT AGRICULTURE; NITRATE; NITRATES; NITRATOS; OLIGOCHAETA; REINO UNIDO; ROYAUME UNI; SOIL FAUNA; UNITED KINGDOM
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-8809(98)00171-6

Integrated arable farming systems (IAFS), which involve a reduction in the use of off-farm inputs, are attracting considerable research interest in the UK. The objectives of these systems' experiments are to compare their financial performance with that from conventional or current farming practices. To date, this comparison has taken little account of any environmental benefits (or dis-benefits) of the two systems. The objective of this paper is to review the assessment methodologies available for the analysis of environmental impacts. To illustrate the results of this exercise, the methodology and environmental indicators chosen are then applied to data from one of the LINK–Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) experimental sites. Data from the Pathhead site in southern Scotland are used to evaluate the use of invertebrates and nitrate loss as environmental indicators within IAFS. The results suggest that between 1992 and 1995 the biomass of earthworms fell by 278 kg ha −1 on the integrated rotation and rose by 308 kg ha −1 on the conventional system. This led to environmental costs ranging between £22.24 and £133.44 per hectare for the integrated system and gains of between £24.64 and £147.84 for the conventional system. In terms of nitrate, the integrated system had an estimated loss of £72.21 per hectare in comparison to £149.40 per hectare on the conventional system. Conclusions are drawn about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of analytical framework.