Soil and water quality : an agenda for agriculture / Committee on Long-Range Soil and Water Conservation, Board on Agriculture, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Long-Range Soil and Water Conservation.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Soil management--United States.

Soil management.

Soils--United States--Quality.

Soils.

Water quality management--United States.

Water quality management.

Sediment control--United States.

Sediment control.

Agricultural ecology--United States.

Agricultural ecology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (540 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1993.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The report of a committee convened by the Board of Agriculture of the National Research Council to assess the science, technical tools, and policies needed to protect soil and water quality while maintaining US agricultural productivity and competitiveness. Advocating a systems approach, the committee recommends specific farm practices and new approaches to prevention of soil degradation and water pollution for environmental agencies. The volume details methods of evaluating soil management systems and offers information on improved management of nitrogen, phosphorus, manure, pesticides, sediments, salt, and trace elements. Landscape analysis of nonpoint source pollution is also detailed. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Contents:

SOIL AND WATER QUALITY

Copyright

PREFACE

Acknowledgments

Contents

Executive Summary

BASIC CONCEPTS

Soil Quality

Pollution Prevention

Profitability and Productivity

THE AGENDA

Enhancing Soil Quality

Efficient Use of Inputs

Resisting Erosion and Runoff

Field and Landscape Buffer Zones

IMPLEMENTING THE AGENDA

Problem Areas, Problem Farms

Problem Areas

Problem Farms

Farming Systems

Better Tools and Information

Better Management Tools

Better Information

New Cropping Systems

Criteria and Standards

INFLUENCING PRODUCERS' DECISIONS

Barriers Imposed by Price and Supply Control

Soil and Water Quality as Policy Objectives

Policy Instruments

Research Applications

Technical Assistance

Long-Term Easements

Nonvoluntary Change

Rights and Responsibilities

PART ONE

1 Soil and Water Quality: New Problems, New Solutions

SOIL AND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS

Water Quality

Surface Water Quality

Groundwater Quality

Environmental Risks

SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS

Factors Influencing Solutions

State and Local Government Policies

Characteristics of the Agricultural Sector

TIME TO MOVE AHEAD

2 Opportunities to Improve Soil and Water Quality

CONSERVING AND ENHANCING SOIL QUALITY

Defining Soil Quality

Importance of Soil Quality

Agricultural Productivity

Global Climate

Soil Policy Goals

Erosion Control Alone is Not Sufficient

Soil Degradation as an Environmental Problem

Measurement of Soil Quality

National-Level Assessments of Soil Quality

Assess Currently Available Data

Soil Management at the Farm Level

Soil Quality Thresholds

Soil-Specific Management

Promise of New Technology

Better Use of Available Information

INCREASING INPUT USE EFFICIENCIES.

Mass Balance between Inputs and Outputs

Increased Input Efficiency

Improving Nitrogen Management

Reduction of Residual Nitrogen in the Farming System

Nitrogen Mass Balances

Refining Fertilizer Recommendations

Realistic Yield Goals

Accounting for All Sources of Nitrogen

Synchronizing Fertilizer Applications with Crop Needs

New and Improved Tools

Improving Phosphorus Management

Phosphorus Cycle

Transport Processes

Phosphorus Mass Balance

Control Phosphorus Buildup in Soil

Thresholds for Phosphorus Levels in Soil

Improving Manure Management

Nutrient Value of Manures

Manure Is an Important Source of Water Pollution

Obstacles to Improving Manure Management

Livestock Concentration

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Buildup after Repeated Applications

High Capital Costs

Special Emphasis on Manure Management

Improving Pesticide Management

Constraints to Making General Recommendations

Reducing the Total Mass of Pesticides Used

Pesticide Mass Balance

Improved Pesticide Use Efficiency

Integrated Pest Management

Design Better Pesticides

Improve Pesticide Application Practices

Match the Pesticide to Site Conditions

Alternative Pest Control Technologies

Improving Irrigation Management

Disposal of Drainage Water

Reduction of the Volume of Drainage Water

Technical Constraints to Input Management

Economic Constraints to Input Management

Managing Cropping Systems

INCREASING RESISTANCE TO EROSION AND RUNOFF

Time Lag of Sediment Load Reductions

Protecting Stream Channels

Resistance to Episodic Damage

Conservation Tillage and Residue Management

Develop New Cropping Systems

Probability Analysis

CREATING FIELD AND LANDSCAPE BUFFER ZONES

Creating Managed Buffer Zones

Protection of Existing Natural Vegetation.

Balance Needed

3 A Systems Approach to Soil and Water Quality Management

LINKAGES AMONG OBJECTIVES

LINKAGES AMONG PROGRAMS

ADVANTAGES OF FARMING SYSTEMS APPROACH

Variability

Targeting

Integration

Win-Win Opportunities

Adaptability

FARMING SYSTEM AS UNIT OF ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Integrated Farming System Plans

Rigorous Planning Standards

Input Use Efficiency

Resistance to Erosion and Runoff

Buffer Zones

Need for Performance Standards

Use of Models

Purposes, Advantages, and Limitations of Modeling

Models of Nonpoint Source Pollution

On-Farm Record Keeping

Developing Capacity at the Local Level

Public-Sector

Private-Sector

TARGETING PROBLEM AREAS AND FARMS

Soil and Water Quality Monitoring

Monitoring Production Practices

Monitoring Progress

Refine Strategies to Change Producer Behavior

Regional and National Data Collection

IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEMS APPROACH

Limited Funding

New Sources of Funds

4 Policies to Protect Soil and Water Quality

ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY

A Brief History

Incremental Redesigning of Agricultural Policy

Incentives are Perverse

Incremental Reform

Increasing Planting Flexibility

Nonincremental Reform of Agricultural Policy

Limitations of Commodity Program Reform

Effects of Program Elimination

Environmental Policies for Environmental Goals

FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCERS' DECISIONS

CONTINUUM OF POLICIES

Research and Development

Understanding Producers

Technical Innovation

Technical and Financial Assistance

New Approaches

Potential for Change

Market-Based Incentives

Facilitating Changes in Land Use

Long-Term Easement Program

Advantages of Easements

Implementing an Easement Program.

Need for Nonvoluntary Approaches

State and Local Legislation

Evaluating the Role for Regulation

Implications of the Structure of Agriculture for Regulation

Clarifying Landowner Responsibilities and Rights

Advantages of Defining Rights and Responsibilities

Implementation

PART TWO

INTRODUCTION Soil, Water, and Farming Systems

5 Monitoring and Managing Soil Quality

DEFINING SOIL QUALITY

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL QUALITY

Soil Quality and Agricultural Productivity

Effect of Soil Degradation on Productivity

Effect of Soil Degradation on Costs of Production

Sustaining Soil Quality Is Essential to Improving Agricultural Productivity

Soil Management

Soil Quality and Water Quality

Direct Effects

Indirect Effects

Soil Quality and Water Quality Are Linked

Soil Quality and the Global Climate

Soil Quality as a Long-Term Goal of Soil Management

National Assessments of Soil Resources

Soil Quality and Soil Conservation

Soil Quality and Sustainability

IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING CHANGES IN SOIL QUALITY

Indicators of Soil Quality

Minimum Data Set

Nutrient Availability

Organic Carbon

Labile Carbon

Texture

Water-Holding Capacity

Structure

Rooting Depth

Acidity and Alkalinity

Pedotransfer Functions

Quantifying Soil Quality

Indicators of Productivity

Indicators of Water Regulation

Indicators of Buffering Capacity

Temporal and Spatial Variabilities

Temporal Variability

Spatial Variability

EXTENT OF DEGRADATION OF U.S. SOILS

Physical Degradation

Erosion

Erosion Estimates

Effect of Erosion on Soil Quality

Compaction

Surface Soil Compaction

Subsoil Compaction

Alleviation of Subsoil Compaction

Corn Yield Response to Subsoil Compaction

Chemical Degradation

Salinization

Acidification

Biological Degradation.

Organic Matter Content

Carbon from Biomass

Soil Fauna Activity and Diversity

Effects of Biological Degradation

6 Nitrogen in the Soil-Crop System

THE NITROGEN CYCLE

Mineralization

Nitrification

Immobilization

Denitrification

Interactive Processes

NITROGEN MASS BALANCE

Nitrogen Inputs

Nitrogen in Fertilizers

Nitrogen Fixed by Legumes

Nitrogen in Animal Manure

Nitrogen in Crop Residue

Other Nitrogen Inputs

Nitrogen in Rainfall

Nitrogen in Irrigation Water

Soil Nitrogen and Mineralization

Nitrogen Outputs

Nitrogen in Crops and Residues

Nitrogen Balance

Losses to the Environment

Losses to the Atmosphere

Losses to Surface Water and Groundwater

OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE NITROGEN LOSSES

Accounting for Nitrogen from All Sources

Regional Nutrient Balances

Farm Nitrogen Balances

Soil Testing

Improving Estimates of Crop Nitrogen Needs

Economically Optimum Rate of Nitrogen Application

More Refined Models Needed

Determining Realistic Yield Goals

Synchronizing Applications with Crop Needs

New Tools for Nitrogen Management

Obstacles to Better Nitrogen Management

Economic Obstacles

Seasonal Obstacles

Cropping Systems as a Nitrogen Management Tool

7 Phosphorus in the Soil-Crop System

THE PROBLEM OF PHOSPHORUS DELIVERY TO SURFACE WATERS

SOURCES OF PHOSPHORUS

Point Sources

Agricultural Sources of Phosphorus

Forms and Bioavailability of Phosphorus

Soluble Phosphorus

Particulate Phosphorus

Total Phosphorus

PHOSPHORUS IN THE SOIL-CROP SYSTEM

The Phosphorus Cycle

Mass Balance

Phosphorus Inputs

Phosphorus Outputs

Phosphorus Buildup in Soils

TRANSPORT PROCESSES

Leaching and Subsurface Flow

Surface Flow

Soluble Phosphorus Losses.

Sediment and Sediment-Bound Phosphorus Losses.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 449-487) and index.

ISBN:

9786610196111

9781280196119

1280196114

9780309585712

0309585716

9780585037806

0585037809

OCLC:

42636422