The impact of soil erosion on corn yields: A spatial regression analysis

Abstract

This study examines the impact of soil erosion on corn (Zea mays L.) yield across counties in the US Midwest. Using a novel county-level panel dataset that includes information on water erosion and corn yield, we analyze the direct and spatial spillover effects of erosion using a spatial regression framework. We find that increases in soil erosion have a statistically significant negative impact on corn yield. In addition, we find evidence of significant spatial spillover effects, indicating that erosion in one county can adversely affect agricultural productivity in surrounding areas. These findings confirm that the negative effects of soil erosion extend beyond the site of origin and are spatially diffused across regions. This study provides new empirical evidence on the broader yield-related consequences of soil erosion and highlights the importance of landscape-level conservation strategies to mitigate its long-term agricultural impacts.