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Soil Science News and Views

1994

Articles 1 - 9 of 9

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Agricultural Impacts On Fecal Contamination Of Shallow Groundwaters In The Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Mark S. Coyne, J. M. Howell Jan 1994

Agricultural Impacts On Fecal Contamination Of Shallow Groundwaters In The Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Mark S. Coyne, J. M. Howell

Soil Science News and Views

Any farming practices that degrade water quality contribute to agricultural nonpoint source pollution. This is a problem in Kentucky's Bluegrass region where shallow soils and karst geology permit surface contaminants to reach groundwater quickly. Real and perceived threats to public health may make groundwater protection plans a reality if evidence for non-point source pollution in agricultural areas continues to grow.

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Water Quality And Fecal Indicator Bacteria, Mark S. Coyne Jan 1994

Water Quality And Fecal Indicator Bacteria, Mark S. Coyne

Soil Science News and Views

How can you tell if water is fit to drink? Color and taste aren't reliable guides for water safety. Clear water can be contaminated with chemicals or microorganisms the senses can't detect. One of the principle qualities of potable (drinkable) water is its freedom from microbial contaminants. This article will describe some criteria and methods that are used to determine the microbial quality of water.

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The Fecal Coliform/Fecal Streptococci Ratio (Fc/Fs) And Water Quality In The Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Mark S. Coyne, J. M. Howell Jan 1994

The Fecal Coliform/Fecal Streptococci Ratio (Fc/Fs) And Water Quality In The Bluegrass Region Of Kentucky, Mark S. Coyne, J. M. Howell

Soil Science News and Views

In the mid 70' s, someone noticed that the ratio of two indicator bacteria in fecal wastes - fecal coliforms (FC) and fecal streptococci (FS) - was characteristic of particular animal wastes. In human wastes, the fecal coliform/fecal streptococci ratio (FC/FS ratio) was greater than 4. In domesticated animals, like cattle, the ratio was between 0.1 and 4.0. In wild animals, the ratio was less than 0.1. Since that time, many attempts have been made to use the ratio to determine the source of fecal bacteria in contaminated ground water.

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Trapping Fecal Bacteria And Sediment In Surface Runoff From Cropland Treated With Poultry Litter, Mark S. Coyne, R. A. Gilfillen, Robert L. Blevins Jan 1994

Trapping Fecal Bacteria And Sediment In Surface Runoff From Cropland Treated With Poultry Litter, Mark S. Coyne, R. A. Gilfillen, Robert L. Blevins

Soil Science News and Views

Between 1991 and 1994 the broiler population exploded in Kentucky as the poultry industry began to expand. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture predicts that within four years annual broiler production could exceed 275 million birds. This may be good for Kentucky's economy but it carries some important environmental consequences. If expansion continues as anticipated, the estimated waste production from broilers for processing could reach 300,000 tons per year (assuming each broiler house produces 150,000 birds per year and the yearly manure and litter production per house is approximately 160 tons).

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Control Of Rodents In No-Till Corn, Lloyd W. Murdock Jan 1994

Control Of Rodents In No-Till Corn, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

The prairie vole is probably the primary rodent that reduces no-till crop plant stands in Kentucky. Because the vole requires a full canopy cover for protection from predators, established grass or legume sod fields and field borders (including wheat or rye stubble, set-aside and cover crop seedings) provide an ideal habitat.

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Production And Nutrient Content Of Broiler Litter, Monroe Rasnake, Mike Williams Jan 1994

Production And Nutrient Content Of Broiler Litter, Monroe Rasnake, Mike Williams

Soil Science News and Views

How much litter is produced in a broiler house in one year? How much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is present in broiler litter? These are questions that concern broiler producers and others who have an interest in the use and safe disposal of broiler litter. A project was initiated with support of the Tennessee Valley Authority and the cooperation of several broiler producers in Carlisle County to help answer these questions.

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Field Test Of "Farm For Profit®" Burley Tobacco Production Program, Kenneth L. Wells, Mark Reese Jan 1994

Field Test Of "Farm For Profit®" Burley Tobacco Production Program, Kenneth L. Wells, Mark Reese

Soil Science News and Views

Considerable interest exists among local farmers in Scott County, Kentucky, about a "Farm For Profit®" tobacco production program being advocated by the representative of a product supplier as a means of improving burley tobacco production. Because of this interest, we conducted a field test of this program in 1993. The objective was to compare yield results from this "program" with those from two, more conventional practices.

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An Estimate Of The Source And Uptake Of Nitrogen In Continuous No-Till Com Grain Production, Kenneth L. Wells Jan 1994

An Estimate Of The Source And Uptake Of Nitrogen In Continuous No-Till Com Grain Production, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a maximum nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) content of 10 parts per million (ppm) for safe drinking water. Because of this, the effect of commercial nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agricultural production as a contributor of NO3-N to surface and groundwater is now being widely examined. Since corn production in the US is the largest single source of fertilizer N use, averaging perhaps 100-150 lbs N/A on the 70-80 million acres of corn produced annually, an understanding of N utilization and losses in corn production is helpful in determining the role …

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Estimated Nutrient Content And Uptake By Kentucky's Crops, Kenneth L. Wells, William O. Thom Jan 1994

Estimated Nutrient Content And Uptake By Kentucky's Crops, Kenneth L. Wells, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

A commonly asked question by crop producers is, "how many pounds of plant nutrients do my crops take up?" While the absolute answer to this varies by yield and soil fertility, useful estimates can be made from research data to enable a producer to have a "ballpark" value for nutrient up-take by some of the major crops of Kentucky. The following tables contain estimates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),and potassium (K) contained in certain crops and the amount of N, phosphate (P2O5), and potash (K,O) taken up by tobacco, corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa hay, clover grass …

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