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Estimating the impact of cover crop adoption on ambient nitrogen concentration in the upper Mississippi River drainage

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  • Hsin‐Chieh Hsieh
  • Benjamin M. Gramig

Abstract

We examine cover crop (CC) adoption to determine how this soil health practice has influenced agricultural non‐point source pollution. We use remotely sensed data on practice adoption, and control for hydrological flow direction, weather, and land use to estimate the ex post impact of CC on total Nitrogen concentrations in surface water while controlling for pollutant spillovers from upstream. At the mean treatment level in the study area (3.2%), a 1% increase in CC adoption results in a 0.06 mg/L (2%) reduction in concentration in the study area. Results provide novel estimates based on observed data that can be compared to biophysical simulations of CC effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Hsin‐Chieh Hsieh & Benjamin M. Gramig, 2024. "Estimating the impact of cover crop adoption on ambient nitrogen concentration in the upper Mississippi River drainage," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(2), pages 609-626, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:46:y:2024:i:2:p:609-626
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Cooray, Ayesha & Rejesus, Roderick, 2025. "Cover Crop Adoption and the Incidence of Harmful Algal Blooms," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 361087, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Yu, Shuo, 2025. "Social Returns to Conservation: EQIP, Cover Crops, and Water Quality in the Midwest," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360735, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Metaxoglou, Konstantinos & Smith, Aaron, 2025. "Agriculture’s nitrogen legacy," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    4. Cooray, Ayesha & Wu, JunJie & Dorfman, Jeffrey, 2025. "Surface Water Impairment from Storms and Swine in North Carolina," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360734, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    5. James C. Davis & Krishna P. Paudel & Anil Rupasingha, 2024. "Role of income and policy in reducing water pollution: Evidence from the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(2), pages 627-647, June.

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