College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

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Subject: search.filters.subject.economic analysis

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    Developing a Decision Support System for Economic Analysis of Irrigation Applications in Temperate Zones
    (MDPI, 2021-07-27) Hanna, Kalim; Paul, Manashi; Negahban-Azar, Masoud; Shirmohammadi, Adel
    Climate variability and farmers’ desire to improve the crop yield have resulted in an increase in irrigated agriculture in the mid-Atlantic region. However, the huge initial capital cost associated with the installation and operation of irrigation systems is generally prohibitive, with most farmers finding difficulty in justifying the expenditure, and uncertainty of the overall return on their investment. The objective of this study was to develop a decision tool for farmers in temperate regions to evaluate the cost-benefit of irrigation installations. The developed irrigation economic model involved the development of an economic component that balances the expected economic return, based on anticipated crop yield increases due to supplemental irrigation, versus the water, maintenance, and capital costs associated with the irrigation system. Model development included the input of relevant data and required local calibration. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) output files were used as the basis for data input into the irrigation economic model. An irrigation-scheduling component was incorporated into the model to prescribe irrigation volumes for each agricultural field defined within the area of interest. The economic component of the model identifies and prioritizes those fields in which supplemental irrigation will result in the greatest economic return in terms of increased agricultural production and revenue. The study is conducted on the Pocomoke river basin in the Coastal Plain of Maryland’s eastern shore. Results showed that irrigation system selection was mainly influenced by cost of water and irrigation installation costs, and to a lesser extent by physical characteristics of the terrain and the associated properties.
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    Economic analysis of alternative applications of an algal production system
    (2013) Weber, Michelle Marie; Kangas, Patrick C; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    A variety of different best management practices are being studied to reduce nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. The algal turf scrubberTM (ATS) effectively removes nutrients from Bay waters in experimental trials but there is no large-scale applications in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The purpose of this project was to conduct an economic analysis of the ATS technology to determine the feasibility for nutrient removal across the Bay landscape. Baseline data for the analysis were extrapolated from several small-scale experimental trials of the ATS. The analysis included scaled costs along with benefits from nutrient trading credits, bio-product values of biofuel production, oxygen from photosynthesis and fertilizer value of nutrients taken up in algal growth. Six operating scenarios were analyzed through various cost analyses. The results indicate that the ATS technology can be economically viable under certain conditions and can be complementary to other best management practices for restoration of water quality in the Bay.
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    DESIGN AND ECONOMICS OF PLUG-FLOW, SMALL-SCALE ANAEROBIC DIGESTERS FOR TEMPERATE CLIMATES
    (2011) Klavon, Katherine Heléne; Lansing, Stephanie; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Anaerobic digestion is a manure treatment option that is gaining popularity throughout the world as a result of its multiple environmental and economic benefits. There exists a need for further research to make anaerobic digestion and methane recovery more readily available, cost effective, and manageable to small dairy facilities in the United States. This research analyzes the design and economics of plug flow digesters, modeled after low-cost digesters utilized in the developing world and modified to operate on small to medium-scale farms located in the temperate United States. The objectives of this research are to: 1) Describe the modified design and construction of the research plug flow digesters and analyze the barriers and design challenges to implementing this technology in the United States and 2) Conduct an economic analysis to determine the feasibility of installation and operation of these types of systems in the temperate United States.