Economic Analysis of Tillage and Nutrient Best Management Practices in the Ouachita River Basin, Louisiana
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The Ouachita River Basin (ORB) in northeastern Louisiana accounts for almost 50 percent of the
state’s agricultural production. In the Cabin-Teele Sub-watershed, within the ORB, the alkaline
soils are naturally low in organic matter and deficient in nitrogen so that producers occasionally
over apply nitrogen fertilizer. Moreover, because the soils are poorly drained there are drainage
ditches throughout the fields and along field borders. The abundance of ditches enhances the
outflow of nutrients and sediments into adjacent waterbodies. This study evaluated and
compared the cost effectiveness of tillage and nutrient management practices at addressing
specific sediment and nutrient criteria reductions; nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions
individually, and concurrently (reducing all three simultaneously) in Cabin-Teele Sub-watershed.
Simulated results showed that reduced tillage, nitrogen management, and somewhat conservation
tillage, were cost-effective in helping reduce nutrient and sediment losses in Cabin-Teele subwatershed
despite the prevalence of poorly drained soils.