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The economic value of the phytoremediation function – Assessed by the example of cadmium remediation by willow (Salix ssp)

2005; Elsevier BV; Volume: 89; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.agsy.2005.08.004

1873-2267

Iris Lewandowski, Ulrich Schmidt, Marc Londo, A.P.C. Faaij,

Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy

The combination of biomass production with other land use functions in multiple land use systems can reduce biomass production costs if these land use functions generate an economic benefit. Aim of this study is to find and apply methods for the quantification of the economic value of the phytoremediation function (cleaning of the soil by plants). For the purpose the combination of biomass production from willow and the phytoremediation function in a cadmium-contaminated case study area in the Rhine valley (near Freiburg, Germany) was analyzed. Farmers in this area will either have to set the land aside or switch from the high value vegetable production to the production of cereals that generate a lower gross margin. An alternative is the production of heavy metal accumulating willow varieties, which would clean the soil to the cadmium threshold value at which the area can be taken into vegetable production again within a period of six years. Three methods were chosen and applied to quantify the economic value of the phytoremediation function to the farmers: willingness-to-pay, substitution costs, and hedonic pricing. The economic value of the phytoremediation function to farmers as assessed by the substitution cost and hedonic price analysis delivers similar results and is about 14,600 and 14,850 € ha−1, respectively, over a period of 20 years. Farmers, however, are only willing to pay 0–1500 € ha−1, mainly because they consider remediation as the government's duty. The study shows that the phytoremediation function generates an economic benefit for the farmers, but the amount considered strongly depends on the potential income from the cleaned area, the period of crop production after cleaning the soil and the time needed for cleaning the soil. The application of different methods to assess the economic benefit generates different results; here the use of hedonic price analysis is recommended.