Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Management
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"Soil Management Systems For The Responsible Use Of Natural Resources." Project leaders: W. J. Busscher; Novak J M; Bauer P J; Hunt P G; Kasperbauer M J; Sadler E J. Agricultural Research Service, Florence, South Carolina 29503
Summary: Goals are to develop innovative, sustainable soil and crop conservation management systems for variable, compacted, low-fertility, and low-organic-matter sandy coastal plain soils; advance the knowledge of soil strength, soil variability, photobiological processes and nutrient/chemical transport to improve water and nutrient use efficiency and crop yield and quality; develop new conservation systems for coastal plain soils that sustain farming enterprises and environmental quality. Laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies will be conducted to gain fundamental knowledge of soils that can be used to develop methods that alleviate compaction, increase plant available soil water, and increase soil organic content. New concepts will be identified to improve site-specific management of fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs for these soils. Basic studies on plant rooting and on the manipulation of the phytochrome system in plants will be conducted to lay the foundation for the development of higher yielding cropping systems that provide higher quality harvested products. Results from these basic studies will be integrated into system studies where profitability, productivity, and environmental compatibility can be simultaneously evaluated. From these, cost-effective soil management systems that protect soil and water resources, increase soil carbon sequestration, and support rural economies will be delivered to producers through technology transfer and action agencies.
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"Riparian Buffer Systems (RiMS)." RiMS is a management approach for environmental enhancement of intensively modified agricultural landscapes. The Agroecology Issue Team in Iowa is an interdisciplinary team of farmer/landowner cooperators, scientists from the Leopold Center and six Iowa State University Departments, USDA, ARS, NSTL, natural resource professionals from state and federal land management agencies and NGO's. The Team is developing a RiMS Model for application in the Midwestern United States. Components include: Riparian buffers, stream and bank stabilization, constructed & restored wetlands, and riparian grazing management. http://www.buffer.forestry.iastate.edu/.
See also, "Phosphorus in Agricultural Watersheds - A Literature Review," by G. N. Zaimes & R. C. Schultz, Department of Forestry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, January 2002. http://www.buffer.forestry.iastate.edu/Assets/Phosphorus_review.pdf.
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Elwell Agroecology Farm Water Quality Research:
This study has evaluated tillage systems (chisel plowing vs. ridge tillage) and nutrient sources (urea vs. solid beef manure) effects on water quantity and quality leaving the landscape via surface tile inlets and subsurface tile drains. Four-year results show that except for nitrate-N losses in tile drainage there was no effect of tillage on non-point source pollutant (sediment, total and soluble P) losses from these relatively flat lands (3% slope). Over the four-year period, average grain yield was about 6 bushel/acre less with the chisel plow system. However, this decrease in corn yield will be compensated for with less fuel use in chisel plowing compared to moldboard plowing.
The beneficial effect of manure as opposed to urea application was a decrease in NO3+NH4-N losses via surface runoff in at least in one year. This suggests slow but continuous release of manure organic N that is taken up by the crop more efficiently. Another beneficial effect of manure application was increased corn grain yield even though it occurred only for one year. Research on tile lines and nutrient losses is ongoing. http://swroc.coafes.umn.edu/organic/research/continuing/waterquality.htm.
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Table of Contents
This online document is organized in three groupings:
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