Using Less Chemicals on Cropland

Technocrat

Using Less Chemicals on Cropland

zogger

Sat May 17 19:52:07 -0700 2008

The+Gentleman+Farmer

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New research is showing that altering crop rotational cycles to include more species can reduce the demand for chemical herbicides and fertilizers. They can still get good yield and also improve water quality by not having as much runoff waste.

.."The experiment included a two-year, corn-soybean rotation, a three-year corn-soybean-small grain-red clover rotation, and a four-year corn-soybean-small grain-alfalfa-alfalfa rotation. Conventional rates of synthetic fertilizers were applied in the two-year rotation, whereas composted cattle manure and reduced rates of synthetic fertilizers were applied in the three- and four-year rotations. Weed management in the two-year rotation was based on conventional rates of herbicides, whereas in the three- and four-year systems, herbicides were applied in bands in corn and soybean, greater reliance was placed on cultivation, and no herbicides were applied in small grain and forage legume crops."

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Optimizing for a single variable

mcrbids

Sun May 18 00:04:29 -0700 2008
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It"s quite easy to optimize for a single variable. What's difficult is optimizing for several a once.

For decades, we've been optimizing our agricultural systems for harvest per acre/labor. We haven't paid attention to fertilizer, fuel expenditures, or sustainability. And with this, harvest per acre, in present time, we've made tremendous progress.

But this progress has come at a price. We've increased the amount of fertilizer used per acre almost exponentially. We have ignored the erosion resulting from our modern agricultural methods. We have ignored the fuel expended. We have ignored the cost (and damage) of using heavy fertilizers.

In effect, we have been bleaching our soil because we can obtain a short-term benefit. Erosion is at an all time high, fertilizer leakage has been so high as to kill life in the gulf in a huge "dead zone".

Finally, we're realizing that there are other variables. Our grandkids will need to eat, too.

Hooray!

Using Less Chemicals on Cropland

Mansing

Sun May 18 14:38:36 -0700 2008
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Crop rotation has been in use since the middle ages. Both George Washington and George Washington Carver studied rotation of crops to maintain the crop land. Most methods use natural fertilizer (compost, manure) or none at all.

What's old is new again ...