Input-Output Analysis for Salt Marsh Bioproductivity

Input-output analysis is applied to a salt marsh system to describe possible bio-economic effects of adding nitrogen fertilizer. A simple model is developed to trace exchanges of nitrogen among five compartments of the marsh model: sediments, Spartina root/rhizome biomass, Spartina aboveground biomass, tidal water and shellfish. The resulting matrix can be used to show relationships in the system among controllable inputs and outputs with potential economic value. Some costs of fertilizing an experimental plot are given, but no direct comparison can yet be made between costs and likely economic benefits.