Overview

This project used the SM-CRSP developed Tradeoff Model software, a decision support system for policy makers, as a framework in which the Soil Management CRSP project constraints were assessed. This software integrates field-scale GIS-based soils and climate data with the DSSAT suite of crop growth simulation models, econometric-based economic simulation models of land use and management decisions, and environmental process models (leaching, runoff and erosion). The software provides the basis to draw a statistically representative sample of fields in a region such as a watershed, conduct integrated analysis, and statistically aggregate the results to a scale relevant to policy decision making. The software displays tradeoffs between competing or complementary policy objectives in simple two-dimensional graphs, and shows how these tradeoffs change under alternative policy and technology scenarios.