ABSTRACT:
Sediment in irrigation return flows significantly degrades water quality. Many studies in the past have used average cost efficiency to evaluate practices for water quality control. This study proposes and applies a technique for matginal analysis that considers change in cost per unit change in sediment reduction. This technique produces a cost efficiency frontier that evaluates practices for achieving alternative levels of sediment control. Inefficient practices are dominated by cost effective practices on the frontier and are purged from the hierarchy of cost effective practices for water quality control. In the study area, for most control levels, treatment practices that clean up runoff are more cost effective than preventive practices that control erosion.
Footnotes
D. J. Walker and.J.R. Hamilton are professom and B.L. Culkins iv a former research associate in the Department of Agricultural Ecouomics and Rurul Sociology, University of Idaho Moscow
- Copyright 1993 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.