PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Young, Douglas L. AU - Kwon, Tae-Jin AU - Young, Frank L. TI - Profit and risk for integrated conservation farming systems in the palouse DP - 1994 Nov 01 TA - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation PG - 601--606 VI - 49 IP - 6 4099 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/49/6/601.short 4100 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/49/6/601.full AB - This paper evaluates the economic performance of 12 farming systems field tested from 1986 to 1991 in the Palouse region of southeastern Washington. These systems comprised two rotations (monoculture wheat (Triticum aestivum)and wheat-barley (Hordeum vulgare)-peas (Pisum sativum)). The systems also included two tillage intensities (conservation and conventional)and three weed management levels. Based upon prices and program provisions projected for 1991–95, the conservation tillagelwinter wheat-spring barley-spring pea system at maximum weed management dominated all others in high profitability and had low economic risk. Furthermore, this system satisfied soil conservation compliance. It also reduced nitrogen use compared to monoculture wheat. There are at least three potential explanations of the income-stabilizing advantage of the optimal conservation cropping system. The conservation systems yielded relatively better in dry years and withstood cold damage to winter wheat better, especially in the severe 1990–91 winter. The three-crop rotation also fostered disease resistance under the moist, high-residue seedbed of conservation tillage.