Economics of Factor-Adjusted Herbicide Doses: A Simulation Analysis of Best Efficacy-Targeting Strategies (BETS)

Agricultural Systems 76: 863-882. DOI: 10.1016/S0308-521X(02)00036-7

Posted: 25 Sep 2012

See all articles by Thomas L. Nordblom

Thomas L. Nordblom

Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (Charles Sturt University)

R. Jones

affiliation not provided to SSRN

R. Medd

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: 2003

Abstract

This paper explores short and long run economic outcomes of fixed label herbicide doses versus a flexible ‘‘best efficacy targeting strategy’’ (BETS), which is factor adjusted to current weather and density of weeds. A herbicide efficacy model is combined with water balance, wheat yield, yield loss and weed seedbank dynamics models to construct a bioeconomic simulation model. Results with long run weather records from two contrasting rain fed wheat districts and a range of weed densities showed BETS was superior to static maximum label or half maximum dose rates at both locations, in terms of Hamiltonians representing mean net present values of current plus future benefits and costs of weed management. BETS also resulted in lower overall herbicide use, except in the case of the highest weed density where the half max dose was lower. These positive results raise the question whether such benefits from factor adjusting dose can be realised more generally, at other locations and in the cases of other weeds, crops and herbicides.

Keywords: Environment, Weather, Avena spp., Wild oats, Weed density, Seedbank, Weed population control, Hamiltonian, Bioeconomic,

Suggested Citation

Nordblom, Thomas L. and Jones, R. and Medd, R., Economics of Factor-Adjusted Herbicide Doses: A Simulation Analysis of Best Efficacy-Targeting Strategies (BETS) (2003). Agricultural Systems 76: 863-882. DOI: 10.1016/S0308-521X(02)00036-7 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2151101

Thomas L. Nordblom (Contact Author)

Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (Charles Sturt University) ( email )

Albert Pugsley Place
Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650
Australia
+61419290428 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.csu.edu.au/research/grahamcentre/our-people/members2/tom-nordblom

R. Jones

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

R. Medd

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

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