Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Molybdenum Nutrition Of Crops In Kentucky, J. L. Sims

Soil Science News and Views

Molybdenum (Mo) is one of eight micronutrient elements required for the growth of plants. Research conducted in California nearly 40 years ago established its need for plant growth. Mo deficiencies have been reported throughout the world, especially on acid soils in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Generally, the Mo requirement of leguminous crops is greater than for non~legumes, but many non-leguminous field and vegetable crops have responded to additions of fertilizer Mo under severe deficiency conditions. Of all the nutrient elements required by plants for growth, Mo is needed in smallest amounts.

Use Of Magnesium (Mg) For Crop Production In Kentucky, John H. Grove

Soil Science News and Views

Magnesium (Mg) is an important element in the nutrition of plants and animals, although it has long been considered a "secondary" nutrient for plants. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are "primary'' nutrients and are usually given the greatest consideration in crop fertility programs. However, as yield levels have risen, more attention has been directed towards Mg and other nutrient elements. Concern about hypomagnesemia (grass tetany) in ruminants (cattle, sheep) has led to particular concern about soil and plant Mg levels.

Nitrification Inhibitors, Wilbur Frye

Soil Science News and Views

Nitrogen often limits the production of nonlegume crops because of inefficiency of N fertilizers. In some cases, more than half the fertilizer N may be lost from the soil. Therefore, it is important to use it as efficiently as possible. One way in which N fertilizer efficiency may be improved is by slowing the nitrification process in the soil.

Cover Crops And Crop Residues, Robert L. Blevins

Soil Science News and Views

In Kentucky, erosion hazard is by far the major limitation for use of cropland. It has been estimated that about 11.4 million acres are subject to erosion hazards. This means that approximately 75% of the soils potentially suited for cropland is sloping enough that risk of erosion is the greatest limitation in its use for crop production. Probably the greatest risk of erosion results from leaving row-cropped fields unprotected over winter. The use of cover crops and proper management of crop residues to stablize these soils during the winter months are relatively inexpensive agronomic practices that are very effective in …

Low Pressure Membrane Separation Process To Remove Heavy Metal Complexes, Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Chin-Shun Cheng

KWRRI Research Reports

The overall objective of this investigation is to establish the rejection behavior of heavy metals in the presence of complexing agents, utilizing negatively charged ultrafiltration membranes. An extensive experimental investigation is conducted with Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Cu¹⁺ in the presence of cyanide, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, and oxalates, under insignificant concentration polarization condition. The rejection dependence of the heavy metals is found to be a function of feed metal concentration, metal types, complexing agent to metal feed molar ratio, pH and ionic strength. The dependence of rejection behavior of heavy metals and complexing …

Soil Surveys In Kentucky, Harry Hudson Bailey

Soil Science News and Views

Fifty-four Kentucky counties have modern soil surveys (published 1959, or later) using the mapping and soil classification procedures of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The cooperators in the program include the USDA-SCS, USDA-FS, Kentucky Department for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.

The Status Of Sulfur Fertilization Of Crops In Kentucky, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

Sulfur has long been recognized as being essential for the growth of plants and animals due to it being necessary for production of several amino acids. Although regarded as a "secondary" element, it is required by plants in fairly high amounts, very similar to that of phosphorus. Sulfur deficiency symptoms in plants are somewhat similar to those of nitrogen since an overall uniform pale-green leaf color develops. Sulfur deficiencies are often found in crops growing on sandy soils with low organic matter content.

Use Of Plant Analysis, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Plant analysis is the laboratory determination of several nutrient elements on a single sample of plant material. In recent years this technique has been more frequently used to diagnose soil fertility problems 0r to monitor soil fertility recommendations on growing crops. Current instrumentation makes it possible to rapidly determine several elements on an extract from a plant sample.

Influence Of Soil Type On Nitrogen Fertilization Of Corn, Grant W. Thomas

Soil Science News and Views

In Kentucky, response of corn to nitrogen fertilizer is influenced strongly by soil characteristics. These soil properties are of both a permanent and temporary nature.

Fertilizing Soybeans, Monroe Rasnake

Soil Science News and Views

Soybeans need a fertile soil with a pH of about 6.4 for maximum production. This condition is best attained through a regular soil testing and fertilization program. A fertility program based on fertilizer and lime. use as determined by soil testing is more economical and more effective than applying large amounts of fertilizer at planting. Soil testing is the key.

Modeling Soil Water Contents And Their Effects On Stream Flow In Kentucky, Grant W. Thomas, Ronald E. Phillips, David E. Radcliffe, Scott Shepard

KWRRI Research Reports

Soil water contents of eight important soil series in Kentucky were measured periodically during the summer growing season for four years, 1977 through 1980. The soils divided into three groups according to their behavior. The first group (Maury and Crider) is well-drained and never showed excess water above field capacity at any time during the four seasons. The second group (Zanesville, Lowell, Calloway, Grenada and Shelbyville) showed perched water tables at times, especially during the early part of the growing season. The third group was represented by the Huntington soil which has a permanent water table.

The in-situ field capacity …

Fluid Fertilizers, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

Fluid fertilizers are available in a wide range of products to Kentucky farmers. Although the term "liquid fertilizer" is commonly used to describe all fluid fertilizers, in reality the two terms do not imply the exact same meaning. Technically, all fertilizers of fluid consistency which can be transferred by pump are called "fluid f ertilizers11. This is the proper term to use in the broadest sense to describe such materials. There are two general types of fluid fertilizers. One group is called "suspensions" or "slurries", and the other group is referred to as "clear liquids".

Algorithms For Pipe Network Analysis And Their Reliability, Don J. Wood

KWRRI Research Reports

Algorithms for analyzing steady state flow conditions in pipe networks are developed for general applications. The algorithms are based on both loop equations expressed in terms of unknown flowrates and node equations expressed in terms of unknown grades. Five methods, which represent those in significant use today, are presented. An example pipe network is analyzed to illustrate the application of the various algorithms. The various assumptions required for the different methods are presented and the methods are compared within a common framework.

The reliabilities of these commonly employed algorithms for pipe network analysis are investigated by analyzing a large number …

Mathematical Model For Water Quality In Streams Impacted By Point And Nonpoint Source Pollution, Michael E. Meadows

KWRRI Research Reports

Modeling the impacts of stormwater runoff on small streams, requires that the prediction model has the capability of simulating the behavior of the hydrologic and water quality components of the stream system. Development of such a model involves coupling the equations for pollutant transport during unsteady flow with the appropriate flood routing equations. The decision on which equations to choose requires a full understanding of the pollutant transport and hydrograph dispersion processes.

This research was undertaken to develop a rigorous theoretical evaluation of the pollutant transport and hydrograph dispersion processes during unsteady flow, and to recommend a suitable model for …

Water Relationships Of Kentucky Soils, Ronald E. Phillips, Grant W. Thomas

Soil Science News and Views

Plant water stress is the most limiting single factor in crop production in Kentucky. It almost always occurs sometime during July and/or August even though it's variability makes it hard to predict. Even though the 1979 growing season was an exception to this generalization the 1980 growing season was a vivid reminder of this fact especially in Western Kentucky.

Field Preparation For Pasture Renovation, Harold B. Rice

Soil Science News and Views

Grassland renovation is the improvement of pasture and hay fields by partial destruction of the sod, plus liming, fertilizing, and seeding as may be required to establish or re-establish desirable forage plants without an intervening crop. In Kentucky, this improvement has been primarily through the seeding of legumes such as clovers and alfalfa into grass sods.

Since liming and fertilizing are essential steps in pasture renovation the FIRST step is to have your soil tested to determine how much lime and plant nutrients to apply. Seedbed preparation will range from none to complete disturbance of the existing sod depending on …

Quality Of Surface Water In Bell County, Kentucky, Robert B. Cook Jr., Reese E. Mallette

Information Circular--KGS

Reconnaissance data for surface waters in Bell County, Kentucky, have been gathered in response to the anticipated need for baseline information related to Federal and State surface-mining regulations. Bell County is particularly well suited for such a study due to past and current coal mining, the widespread distribution of mining and diversity of stratigraphic units affected, the diverse array of both disturbed and undisturbed drainage basins, and the relative ease of access within the county.

Estimated flow rate, temperature, pH, conductivity, and concentration of iron, manganese, and suspended solids were determined for flowing waters collected at 71 scattered sites. Sample …

A Simulation Model For Assessing Alternate Strategies For Beef Production With Land, Energy And Economic Constraints, Otto J. Loewer, E. M. Smith, G. Benock, Thomas C. Bridges, Larry G. Wells, Nelson Gay, S. Burgess, L. Springate, David L. Debertin

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A computer model has been developed to analyze alternate management strategies and energy and economic constraints. Daily production of beef animals and growing crops is simulated in response to prevailing conditions and system interactions using the GASP IV simulation language. Complete inventories of plant dry matter, animal status, production resources and economic net worth are maintained over the simulation period.

Simulating The Water Requirements And Economic Feasibility Of Corn In The Midwest, Wendi L. Palmer, B. J. Barfield, M. E. Bitzer, C. T. Haan

KWRRI Research Reports

An evaluation of the economics of supplemental irrigation when using a surface water supply must be site specific in order to account for variations in soil moisture holding capacity, watershed area supplying the runoff, climatic conditions, and proposed irrigation management procedures.

With the use of farm specific simulation models to determine grain yields, availability of irrigation water, and economic expenditures involved in irrigation, an economic evaluation of supplemental irrigation can be performed, In the model presented in this report, the Duncan SIMAIZ model is used to predict grain yields using long-term daily weather information. SIMAIZ also determines irrigation water demand …