ABSTRACT

Due to characteristics of the erosion problem and potential alternative solutions, data needs for economic analysis and evaluation are interdisciplinary in nature. Data inputs for economic evaluation can be categorized as follows: soils, soil erosion factors for the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), land use, such as crops and/or rotations, tillage methods, conservation practices and costs, production inputs and costs, yields and product prices. The type of data required for economic analysis and evaluation are somewhat similar to those required for the short run. Emphasis in soil depletion studies have generally concentrated on long run estimates of changes in several major factors: productivity (yields), fertilizer use and energy (fuel) use. Estimates of yields are an important data input for physical and economic evaluations, both short and long term. Because of the nature of the problem, data requirements, methods of analyses and close cooperation are needed among Federal, State and local agencies and groups, universities, and so on.