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Multiple equilibria, soil conservation investments, and the resilience of agricultural systems

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  • ANTLE, JOHN M.
  • STOORVOGEL, JETSE J.
  • VALDIVIA, ROBERTO O.

Abstract

This paper provides a new explanation for the persistent land degradation in some parts of the world, despite the availability of seemingly effective soil conservation technologies. We demonstrate that soil conservation technologies may induce agricultural systems to exhibit equilibria characterized by both low and high levels of soil degradation. These two equilibria are separated by a threshold level of soil degradation beyond which a conservation investment will not yield a positive return. Once a parcel of land crosses this productivity threshold, soil degradation becomes economically irreversible (it is not profitable to invest in soil conservation) even though the degradation may be technically reversible. A case study of terracing investments in Peru is used to demonstrate the existence of multiple equilibria under conditions typical of many marginal agricultural areas. These findings help explain why attempts to encourage permanent adoption of soil conservation practices often fail, and how more successful policies could be designed.

Suggested Citation

  • Antle, John M. & Stoorvogel, Jetse J. & Valdivia, Roberto O., 2006. "Multiple equilibria, soil conservation investments, and the resilience of agricultural systems," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(4), pages 477-492, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:endeec:v:11:y:2006:i:04:p:477-492_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Gordon, L. J. & Enfors, E. I., 2008. "Land degradation, ecosystem services and resilience of smallholder farmers in Makanya Catchment, Tanzania," IWMI Books, Reports H041592, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Berazneva, Julia & McBride, Linden & Sheahan, Megan & Güereña, David, 2018. "Empirical assessment of subjective and objective soil fertility metrics in east Africa: Implications for researchers and policy makers," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 367-382.
    3. Carmen Camacho & Alexandre Cornet, 2021. "Diffusion of soil pollution in an agricultural economy. The emergence of regions, frontiers and spatial patterns," Working Papers halshs-02652191, HAL.
    4. Carmen Camacho & Alexandre Cornet, 2021. "Diffusion of soil pollution in an agricultural economy. The emergence of regions, frontiers and spatial patterns," PSE Working Papers halshs-02652191, HAL.
    5. Alexandra Peralta & Scott M. Swinton & Songqing Jin, 2018. "The Secret to Getting Ahead Is Getting Started: Early Impacts of a Rural Development Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, July.
    6. Murphy, David M. A., 2017. "Underground Knowledge: Soil Testing, Farmer Learning, and Input Demand in Kenya," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258372, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Van Asselt, Joanna & Grogan, Kelly A., 2020. "Do Fertilizer Subsidies Improve Soil Quality: Myopic vs. Dynamic Analysis of Smallholder Farmers in Ghana," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304546, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Combes, Jean-Louis & Delacote, Philippe & Combes Motel, Pascale & Yogo, Thierry Urbain, 2018. "Public spending, credit and natural capital: Does access to capital foster deforestation?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 306-316.
    9. Ilukor, John, 2010. "An Economic Assessment of Farmer Adaptation to Climate Change Using Innovation in Sweet Potato Technologies in Uganda," Research Theses 198518, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    10. H. Posthumus & L. Stroosnijder, 2010. "To terrace or not: the short-term impact of bench terraces on soil properties and crop response in the Peruvian Andes," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 263-276, April.
    11. Yong Liu & Jorge Ruiz-Menjivar & Junbiao Zhang, 2023. "Do soil nutrient management practices improve climate resilience? Empirical evidence from rice farmers in central China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10029-10054, September.
    12. Karlberg, L. & Garg, K.K. & Barron, J. & Wani, S.P., 2015. "Impacts of agricultural water interventions on farm income: An example from the Kothapally watershed, India," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 30-38.
    13. Stevens, Andrew W., 2018. "Review: The economics of soil health," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1-9.
    14. Blazy, Jean-Marc & Ozier-Lafontaine, Harry & Doré, Thierry & Thomas, Alban & Wery, Jacques, 2009. "A methodological framework that accounts for farm diversity in the prototyping of crop management systems. Application to banana-based systems in Guadeloupe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 101(1-2), pages 30-41, June.
    15. Bevis, Leah E.M. & Conrad, Jon M. & Barrett, Christopher B. & Gray, Clark, 2017. "State-conditioned soil investment in rural Uganda," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 254-281.
    16. Berazneva, Julia & McBride, Linden & Sheahan, Megan & Guerena, David, 2016. "Perceived, measured, and estimated soil fertility in east Africa: Implications for farmers and researchers," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235466, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Jules R Siedenburg, "undated". "Local Knowledge and Natural Resource Management in a Peasant Farming Community Facing Rapid Change: A Critical Examination," QEH Working Papers qehwps166, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.
    18. Jules R. Siedenburg, 2022. "Local Knowledge and Natural Resource Management in a Peasant Farming Community Facing Rapid Change: A Critical Examination," Papers 2204.04396, arXiv.org.

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