Terracing Economics on Iowa Soils
从农民角度评估爱荷华州梯田的经济效益，计算其与免耕、等高耕作等措施相比的盈亏平衡成本，帮助判断梯田是否划算。
In a recent study, Pope, Bhide, and Heady [10] found that conservation tillage, when combined with contour farming, was the most economical means of reducing erosion on most Iowa soils. They continued by indicating that on some of the more erosive soils, less intensive crop rotations, strip cropping, or terracing may be required if soil loss is to be reduced to tolerable levels. However, the soils where terracing may be a viable alternative and a measure of the costs associated with the adoption of this soil-conserving method were not completely analyzed. As a result, a companion study aimed at determining the break-even costs of installing terracing on Iowa's soils has been conducted.\nThe general purpose of this study is to determine, from a farmer's perspective, the economic profitability of terracing in Iowa compared to other means of controlling soil erosion.