A Watershed-Based Economic Model of Alternative Management Practices in Southern Agricultural Systems

We investigated the environmental impacts of alternative cultural practices within a watershed under different water quality standards. We used experimental data on nutrient runoff to determine the optimal amount of broiler litter application in hay production in Louisiana. To compensate for the lack of experimental data, we used biophysical simulation models to find the optimal combination of agricultural best-management practices in a watershed in Mississippi. The results indicated that stricter environmental standards lower total profit potential and litter utilization.

Download Full-text

Georgia Homeowner Survey of Landscape Management Practices

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.11.2.326 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 326-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. Varlamoff ◽

W.J. Florkowski ◽

J.L. Jordan ◽

J. Latimer ◽

K. Braman

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Landscape Management ◽

Nutrient Runoff ◽

Outreach Programs ◽

Best Management ◽

Frequent Use

A survey of Georgia homeowners provided insights about their use of fertilizers and pesticides. Knowledge of current homeowner practices is needed to develop a best management practices manual to be used by Master Gardeners to train the general public through the existing outreach programs. The objective of the training program is to reduce nutrient runoff and garden chemicals and improve the quality of surface water in urban water-sheds. Results showed three of four homeowners did their own landscaping and, therefore, fully controlled the amount of applied chemicals and the area of application. Fertilizers were primarily applied to lawns, but a high percentage of homeowners also applied them to trees, shrubs, and flowers. Insecticides were applied by a larger percentage of homeowners than herbicides. Control of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) was likely the reason behind the frequent use of insecticides. The desire for a weed free lawn was the plausible motivation behind the use of herbicides, which were used mostly on lawns. Fungicide use was infrequently reported by Georgia homeowners. The pattern of fertilizer and pesticide use suggests that the developed manual should emphasize techniques and cultural practices, which could lower the dependence on chemicals, while ultimately assuring the desired appearance of turf and ornamental plants.

Download Full-text

(127) Effects of Substrate on Nutrient Uptake and Nitrate Leaching in Lilies

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.4.1085e ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 1085E-1086

Author(s):

Donald J. Merhaut ◽

Julie P. Newman

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Ion Exchange Resin ◽

Nitrate Content ◽

Nutrient Runoff ◽

State Regulations ◽

Best Management ◽

The Media

Lilies are produced throughout the year in coastal areas of California. Cultural practices involve daily applications of water and fertilizer, using both controlled release fertilizers (CRF) and liquid fertilizers (LF). However, many production facilities are in proximity to coastal wetlands and are therefore at greater risk of causing nitrogen pollution via runoff and leaching. Due to federal and state regulations, nurseries must present a plan of best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate nutrient runoff and leaching and begin implementing these practices in the next 2 years. In the following studies, we determined the potential for nitrate leaching from four different types of substrates (coir, coir: peat, peat, and native soil). There were four replications of each treatment, with a replication consisting of one crate planted with 25 bulbs. Two cultivars were used in two separate experiments, `Star Fighter' and `Casa Blanca'. Nitrate leaching was determined by placing an ion-exchange resin bag under each crate at the beginning of the study. After plant harvest (14–16 weeks), resin bags were collected and analyzed for nitrate content. Plant tissues were dried and ground and analyzed for nitrogen content. Based on the results of these studies, it appears that the use of coir, peat, and soil may not influence plant growth significantly. Substrate type may mitigate the amount of nitrate leaching through the media. However, the cultivar type may also influence the degree of nitrate mitigation, since leaching results varied between the two cultivars.

Download Full-text

A Survey of Nursery Water Quality Best Management Practices

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.501e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 501e-502

Author(s):

Cody J. White ◽

Michael A. Schnelle ◽

Gerrit W. Cuperus

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Plant Materials ◽

Best Management ◽

Employee Safety ◽

Current Water ◽

Management Approaches ◽

Environmentally Sound

A survey was designed to assess high-risk areas with respect to environmental contamination, specifically how it relates to water quality. Oklahoma growers of all economic levels, retail and/or wholesale, were queried at their place of business for their current state of implementing best management practices (BMPs) and other strategic actions that could potentially affect current and future water quality standards. Specific areas such as the physical environment of the nursery, primary pesticides and fertilizers used, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, and employee safety training were covered as well as other aspects germane to preserving and protecting current water quality and related environmental issues. More than 75 nurseries were surveyed and given the opportunity to participate in future training at Oklahoma State Univ. Results indicated that nurseries have not fully implemented many BMPs, but have adopted fundamental IPM approaches. The stage is set for the implementation of the next phase of expansion and refinement into ecologically based programs such as propagation and sale of low pesticide input plant materials, improved cultural practices, and the integration of environmentally sound management approaches. As an example, many growers are in the process of phasing out calendar-based pesticide application programs in favor of aesthetic and/or economic threshold-driven pesticide spray programs.

Download Full-text

Adoption of Best Management Practices for Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Midsouthern United States Cotton, Rice, and Soybean

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-13-00087.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 788-797 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Dilpreet S. Riar ◽

Jason K. Norsworthy ◽

Lawrence E. Steckel ◽

Daniel O. Stephenson ◽

Thomas W. Eubank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Direct Mail ◽

Rice Seed ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Row Crops ◽

Herbicide Resistant ◽

Best Management

In fall 2011, cotton and soybean consultants from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee were surveyed through direct mail and on-farm visits, and rice consultants from Arkansas and Mississippi were surveyed through direct mail to assess the importance and level of implementation of herbicide resistance best management practices (HR-BMPs) for herbicide-resistant weeds. Proper herbicide timing, clean start with no weeds at planting, application of multiple effective herbicide modes of action, use of full labeled herbicide rates, and prevention of crop weed seed production with importance rating of ≥ 4.6 out of 5.0 were perceived as the most important HR-BMPs in all crops. Purchase of certified rice seed was on 90% of scouted hectares. In contrast, least important HR-BMPs as perceived by consultants with importance ratings of ≤ 4.0 in cotton, ≤ 3.7 in rice, and ≤ 3.8 in soybean were cultural practices such as manual removal of weeds; tillage including disking, cultivation, or deep tillage; narrow (≤ 50 cm)-row crops, cover crops, and altered planting dates. Narrow crop rows and cover crops in cotton; altered planting dates in cotton and soybean; and cleaning of farm equipment and manual weeding in rice and soybean is currently employed on ≤ 20% of scouted hectares. Extra costs, time constraints, adverse weather conditions, lack of labor and equipment, profitability, herbicide-related concerns, and complacency were perceived as key obstacles for adoption of most HR-BMPs. With limited adoption of most cultural practices that reduce risks of herbicide-resistant weeds, there are opportunities to educate growers concerning the proactive need and long-term benefits of adopting HR-BMPs to ensure sustainable weed management and profitable crop production.

Download Full-text

017 Evaluating Best Management Practices for Spring Dead Spot Suppression in Bermudagrass

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.390f ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 390F-391 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

F. Iriarte ◽

J. Fry ◽

N. Tisserat

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Disease Suppression ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽

Spring Dead Spot ◽

Best Management ◽

Turf Quality ◽

Moderate Disease ◽

Plot Design

Bermudagrass turf quality is commonly reduced in the transition zone by Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, a root-infecting fungus that causes spring dead spot (SDS). Fungicides applied in autumn typically result in poor to moderate disease suppression. Earlier research has indicated that some cultural practices, including core aerification or fertilization with soil acidifying nitrogen fertilizers, may suppress SDS. Our objective was to evaluate several treatment combinations for reducing disease severity. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot design, with whole plots being aerification + verticutting, or no cultivation. Subplots within whole plots consisted of a factorial arrangement of azoxystrobin (one September application of at 0.6 kg·ha-1), trinexapac-ethyl (three summer applications at 6.1 kg·ha-1), and ammonium sulfate (three summer applications with N at 49 kg·ha-1). After 1 year of treatment, spring turf quality was improved in all treatments that included trinexapac-ethyl. Diseased area was reduced from 34% to 21% in plots receiving azoxystrobin + trinexapac-ethyl.

Download Full-text

Thailand Performance and Best Management Practices that saved lives against Covid-19: a comparison against ten critical countries

International Journal for Innovation Education and Research ◽

10.31686/ijier.vol8.iss11.2725 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 119-154

Author(s):

Jonas Gomes da Silva

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Public Information ◽

International Travel ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Information Campaigns ◽

Best Management ◽

Innovative Products ◽

Start Ups

After 265 days, since the first reported case of Covid-19, the world has reported the lost of almost one million (969.018) precious lives (WORLDOMETERS, 2020). The pandemic is a challenge for all countries, most of them eager to learn from nations that are successful against the virus. In addition, an international survey, published on April/20, by Silva (2020, p. 600), concluded that although no country is prepared to face epidemics and pandemics (NTI, JHU, and EIU, 2019), among the 16 countries investigated, Thailand, Finland, Australia, South Korea, Denmark, and Sweden are cases that Brazil could study so as not to repeat the scenarios of China, USA, Italy, and Spain. Thus, this study investigates the performance and the best management practices adopted in Thailand to save lives against Covid-19, during the first 180 days facing the pandemic. The research is useful for academy, government policymakers and authorities. It is descriptive, with the application of an online questionnaire, bibliographic and documentary research, involving the study of official sites, articles, reports, manuals, and other technical documents. A new indicator was developed (Fatality Total Index), which allowed to identify that among 20 nations with the highest number of fatal cases, the ten most critical are 1st) Mexico; 2nd) Peru; 3rd) Italy; 4th) Ecuador; 5th) Iran; 6th) Chile; 7th) UK; 8th) Belgium; 9th) Colombia; and 10th) Brazil. Some conclusions are: first) Thailand`s FTI180 is the very low, indicating that this country has learned from the lessons of the past, reason by which is the best at saving lives against the Covid-19; Third) for 86 respondents living in Thailand, wear mask, not shake hands, not hug in public, wash hands, and not wearing shoes in the house, were the five most decisive cultural practices that saved lives; Fourth) For 96 respondents living in Thailand, the ten main policy measures adopted by Thailand Government that saved lives against the Covid-19 are: first) international travel control; 2nd) public event cancellations; 3rd) schools closures; 4th) restriction on internal movement; 5th) workplaces closures; 6th) public information campaigns; 7th) effective public-private collaboration; 8th) increase the medical and personal equipment capacity; 9th) support the expansion of testing system, and 10th) wage subsidies for workers; Fifth) to save lives against Covid-19, 28 innovative products or services were identified in Thailand, with majority led by Corporations, Universities, followed by Public Sector, Start Ups, and Others.

Download Full-text

Best Management Practices to Reduce Pesticide and Nutrient Runoff from Turf

ACS Symposium Series - Fate and Management of Turfgrass Chemicals ◽

10.1021/bk-2000-0743.ch016 ◽

1999 ◽

pp. 268-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. H. Baird ◽

N. T. Basta ◽

R. L. Huhnke ◽

G. V. Johnson ◽

M. E. Payton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Runoff ◽

Best Management

Download Full-text

A Public-Private Partnership to Locate Fields for Implementation and Monitoring of Best Management Practices to Treat Legacy Phosphorus

Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems ◽

10.3389/fsufs.2021.742817 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Michael R. Brooker ◽

Jessica D'Ambrosio ◽

Mackenzie M. L. Jones ◽

Margaret Kalcic ◽

Kevin W. King ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Asymmetric Information ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Public Private Partnership ◽

Preliminary Evaluation ◽

Nutrient Runoff ◽

Private Partnership ◽

Best Management ◽

Western Lake

Legacy nutrients stored in agricultural soils are a substantial component of riverine nutrient discharge contributing to the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. These nutrient loads can persist and delay water quality initiatives, for example, those of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement which seek to reduce phosphorus (P) loads entering the Western Lake Erie Basin. In this watershed, approximately 5% of fields have P concentrations 2.5-fold greater than the maximum agronomic recommendations for corn and soybeans. Fields with these elevated-P concentrations (>100 mg P kg−1 soil) act as a source of legacy-P and discharge greater P loads. Implementing best management practices to treat runoff from these fields is desirable but finding them has been a challenge as soil test data are proprietary information creating an asymmetric information barrier. To overcome this barrier, we formed a public-private partnership that included agricultural retailers who conduct soil testing for farmers. Agricultural retailers who partnered with this project provided their soil P data and contacted farmers to gauge their interest, maintaining privacy for farmers until they expressed interest. Only 3.8% of soil samples in the provided data had elevated-P concentrations. In many cases, these elevated-P soils were confined to zones within fields, and 13% of fields had at least one elevated-P zone. We pursued these elevated-P fields as research sites for the implementation and monitoring of management practices. The agricultural retailers contacted 77 farmers with surveys, and 25 responded with interest in meeting the research team to discuss the project. Following a preliminary evaluation with the spatial data of fields operated by interested farmers, visits were arranged so that 12 research sites could be located. As indicated through the surveys, discussions with farmers, and soil data, many of the fields had accumulated elevated-P due to historic land-use (livestock, manure, or biosolid application) creating legacy sources. We conclude that public-private partnerships featuring agricultural retailers are a promising tool that may help overcome asymmetric information barriers to finding and managing agricultural fields with legacy-P that that disproportionately contribute to nutrient runoff.

Download Full-text

Water Quality Regulations in the Chesapeake Bay: Working to More Precisely Estimate Nutrient Loading Rates and Incentivize Best Management Practices in the Nursery and Greenhouse Industry

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.48.9.1097 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (9) ◽

pp. 1097-1102 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

John C. Majsztrik ◽

John D. Lea-Cox

Keyword(s):

Chesapeake Bay ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Loading ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Point Sources ◽

Sediment Runoff ◽

Nutrient Runoff ◽

Best Management ◽

Nutrient Trading

Restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay recently intensified with the 2010 introduction of federal total maximum daily load (TMDL) limits for all 92 bay watershed segments. These regulations have specific, binding consequences if any of the six states or the District of Columbia fail to meet interim goals, including loss of federal dollars for various programs and increasing regulation of point sources, if non-point source (agricultural and urban) nutrient reduction goals are not met in the watershed. As part of the effort to better understand and account for non-point sources of pollution in the watershed, a team of agricultural experts from across the bay region was recently assembled, including the nursery industry. The goal of this panel was to inform stakeholders and policymakers about the inputs and management practices used across all Bay states. To increase both the precision and accuracy of loading rate estimates, more precise information should guide future iterations of the Chesapeake Bay model. A more accurate accounting of land area by operation type (e.g., greenhouse, container, and field) is a primary issue for the nursery and greenhouse industry, because the current Chesapeake Bay model relies on USDA agricultural census data, which does not separate container and field production, which have very different nutrient and irrigation practices. Field operations also typically account for a higher percentage of production area in each state, which may skew model results. This is very important because the type of operation (field, container-nursery, or greenhouse operation) has a significant impact on plant density, types of fertilizer used, and application rates, which combine with irrigation and water management practices to affect potential nutrient runoff. It is also important to represent a variety of implemented best management practices (BMPs) in the Chesapeake Bay model such as vegetated buffer strips, sediment ponds, controlled-release fertilizer, and accurately assess how these mitigate both nutrient and sediment runoff from individual operations. There may also be opportunities for growers who have implemented BMPs such as low-phosphorus slow-release fertilizers (SRF), precision irrigation, etc., to gain additional revenue through nutrient trading. Although there are currently some questions about how nutrient trading will work, this could provide additional incentives for further implementation of BMPs by both ornamental and other agricultural growers. It is possible that the TMDL process currently being implemented throughout the Chesapeake Bay will be used as a remediation process for other impaired estuarine water bodies, which have similar water-use regulations and issues. The lessons learned about the Chesapeake Bay model in general, and for the nursery and greenhouse industry in particular, will likely provide guidance for how we can be proactive in reducing environmental impacts and protect the economic viability of ornamental growers in the future.

Download Full-text

Preventing Death and Taxus: Review and Recommendations for Managing Taxus in the Landscape with Overview on Phytophthora cinnamomi, Soil, and Nutrition Status

Arboriculture & Urban Forestry ◽

10.48044/jauf.2014.032 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 40 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Taylor

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Root Pathogen ◽

Best Management ◽

The Usa ◽

Longterm Survival

At least three major gardens or arboreta in the USA have experienced periods of significant decline and death of mature Taxus (yews) in the landscape. The symptoms displayed on declining plants are described as chlorosis of the needles, partial defoliation, and death of some of the branches. Eventually, the entire plant may die, but they are typically removed before reaching this stage. Information on managing mature Taxus in the landscape is limited. The objective of this article is to review the literature on Taxus cultural practices and use the information to develop best management practices for Taxus in the landscape. Soil moisture is the most critical factor for health of plants in the landscape. Saturated soils create anaerobic conditions for roots and create an environment ideal for root infection by Phytophthora cinnamomi, the major root pathogen affecting Taxus. During planting, proper site selection and well-drained soil are crucial for the longterm survival of plants. After planting, irrigation should be managed to avoid saturated soil. Management from a nutritional standpoint is poorly understood. Maintaining an appropriate pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and fertilizing plants based on soil and tissue testing is recommended. More research needs to be done to determine optimal fertilization rates and appropriate nutrient concentration in tissue and in soil. When plants become symptomatic, soil should be tested for P. cinnamomi. If the fungus is present, appropriate chemical controls should be used.

Download Full-text