Earth Sciences Commons^™

Fall Fertilization And Liming For Tobacco Production, J. L. Sims, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

Proper nutrition of tobacco is a prerequisite for achieving high yields of cured leaf possessing desirable marketing characteristics. Together with the variety grown, soils, climate, and curing conditions, a desirable nutrient environment greatly influences yield, quality, and usability of the leaf produced. Late summer and early fall is a good time to select fields for future tobacco crops or to sample this year's tobacco fields which will be used for tobacco next year, and to assess their needs for lime, phosphorus, and potassium. Planning fertilization strategies this fall that lead to increased profit is much more effective than waiting until …

Farm Nutrient Management, William O. Thom

Soil Science News and Views

Nutrient management is becoming a buzz word in today's vocabulary of crop and livestock production. In the past it was applied to efficient management of all nutrient sources used for crop production. More recently it is being used to account for all nutrients used for crop production that are brought onto the farm, removed from the farm in crop and animal products, and reallocated within the farm unit. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the nutrients of concern with nitrogen and phosphorus being most important.

Using Solid, Bulk Blended Mix-Grade Fertilizers, Kenneth L. Wells, Jonathan D. Green

Soil Science News and Views

Most solid, mixed fertilizers used in Kentucky are prepared by physically mixing two or more fertilizer materials to a desired analysis. The ingredient materials most commonly used to prepare mixed fertilizers in Kentucky are diammonium phosphate, urea, ammonium nitrate, muriate of potash, and sulfate of potash. During the period January - June, 1990, these 5 materials made up 60% of the 700,000 tons of fertilizer used in Kentucky. And just three of them ... urea, diammonium phosphate and muriate of potash ... made up 47% of the total used during that period.

Managing Soil Content Of Nitrate Nitrogen, Kenneth L. Wells

Soil Science News and Views

The concerns about leaching of fertilizer nitrogen (N} into groundwater which were raised in the late 1960's were largely silenced during the 1970's as our agricultural economy was massively expanded. But since the early 80's they have been raised again to the point that national legislation (the Clean Water Act) was put into place to bring purity of the nation's water supplies into compliance with EPA-established standards. Beyond the apprehension largely about nitrate (NO₃) levels in groundwater, the groundwater issue today also includes concerns about pesticides. At the current time, the public is apprehensive about drinking water and …

Mineralization And Hydrocarbon Emplacement In The Cambrian-Ordovician Mascot Dolomite Of The Knox Group In South-Central Kentucky, Warren H. Anderson

Report of Investigations--KGS

The Mascot Dolomite, the upper unit of the Cambrian-Ordovician Knox Group, is a major host for Mississippi Valley-type ore deposits and petroleum in south-central Kentucky. The Mascot was deposited on a broad, shallow platform that exhibited unusually uniform conditions of deposition, ranging from supratidal to shallow subtidal environments. The formation has a complex diagenetic history, including several stages of dolomitization, silicification, solution, and brecciation. Diagenesis and, to some extent, deposition were influenced by Early Ordovician tectonic activity. Tectonic activity influenced development of a regional unconformity during Middle Ordovician time. Evidence of this tectonic activity includes up to 300 feet of …

Low-Silica And High-Calcium Stone In The Newman Limestone (Mississippian) On Pine Mountain, Harlan County, Southeastern Kentucky, Garland R. Dever Jr., Jack R. Moody, Thomas L. Robl, Lance S. Barron

Information Circular--KGS

The coal industry of Kentucky is an important market for limestone. Coal producers use limestone as rock dust for explosion abatement in underground coal mines and as a neutralizing agent in surface-mine reclamation and acid-drainage control. Crushed stone is also used for constructing and maintaining haulage roads.

In the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field, the coal-bearing rocks of Pennsylvanian age generally do not contain limestones that are thick enough to quarry or mine economically. But movement on the Pine Mountain overthrust fault has brought the Newman Limestone (Mississippian) to the surface along Pine Mountain in the southeastern part of the coal …

Paleontological Survey Of The Pennsylvanian Rocks Of The Eastern Kentucky Coal Field: Part 1, Invertebrates, Donald R. Chesnut Jr.

Information Circular--KGS

Morse (1931) conducted the last paleontological survey of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field almost 60 years ago. Substantial new information generated by mapping, as well as sedimentological, stratigraphic, and paleontological studies, now justify a new paleontological survey of these rocks. This survey is a compilation of both the new and old information.

Lithologic analysis reveals at least 41 marine zones in the coal field. Paleontological analysis shows that a variety of faunal communities existed, and many of the marine zones contain abundant and diverse faunal assembleges. However, the biostratigraphic resolution of invertebrate fossils is apparently very poor compared to the …

Implications Of Thermal Events On Thrust Emplacement Sequence In The Appalachian Fold And Thrust Belt: Some New Vitrinite Reflectance Data, Sharon E. Lewis, James C. Hower

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Interpretation of existing geothermometry data combined with new vitrinite reflectance data, within the framework of a detailed composite tectonic setting, elucidates the evolution of structural sequencing of thrust sheets during the Alleghanian event in the Valley and Ridge Province in Virginia. That the Pulaski thrust sheet preceded the Saltville thrust sheet in the emplacement sequence, and that both reached thermal maxima prior to, or during, respective emplacement may be inferred from vitrinite and other geothermometry data. In contrast, the Narrows and St. Clair thrust sheets probably each attained their thermal maximum after emplacement. New vitrinite reflectance data are consistent with …

Hydrology And Sedimentology Of Dynamic Rill Networks Volume I: Erosion Model For Dynamic Rill Networks, Daniel E. Storm, Billy J. Barfield, Lindell E. Ormsbee

KWRRI Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Metal Speciation And Immobilization Reactions Affecting The True Efficiency Of Artificial Wetlands To Treat Acid Mine Drainage, Anastasios D. Karathanasis, Y. L. Thompson

KWRRI Research Reports

The ability of constructed wetlands to lower total metal concentrations and organically complex metals in acid mine drainage (AMD) was investigated under greenhouse and field conditions. In the greenhouse study, Typha plants grown in six different substrates received simulated acid mine drainage of low metal load for five months. Most effluents, especially those from ground flows, showed significant decreases in acidity and metal concentrations. The pine needle and hay substrates most effectively reduced acidity and total Al levels. Effluents from these substrates contained 80% less total Al than respective influents. Organically complexed Al levels were independent of matrix and varied …

Hydrology And Sedimentology Of Dynamic Rill Networks Volume Ii: Hydrologic Model For Dynamic Rill Networks, Lindell E. Ormsbee, George E. Blandford, John S. Montgomery, Laura B. Terrell, Billy J. Barfield, Daniel E. Storm

KWRRI Research Reports

A comprehensive model has been developed for use in modeling the hydrologic response of rill network systems. The model, which is called HYMODRIN, is composed of both a hydrologic runoff component and a hydraulic channel routing component. The hydrologic component of the model uses a Green Ampt infiltration approach linked with a nonlinear reservoir runoff model. The channel routing component of the model is baaed on a finite element solution of the diffusion wave equations. In order to account for backwater effects the model employs a dual level iteration scheme.

The model may be used in either a stand alone …

Modeling Mass Transport In Aquifers: The Distributed Source Problem, Sergio E. Serrano

KWRRI Research Reports

This report presents a new methodology to model the time and space evolution of groundwater variables in a system of aquifers when certain components of the model, such as the geohydrologic information, the boundary conditions, the magnitude and variability of the sources or physical parameters are uncertain and defined in stochastic terms. This facilitates a more realistic statistical representation of groundwater flow and groundwater pollution forecasting for either the saturated or the unsaturated zone. The method is based on applications of modern mathematics to the solution of the resulting stochastic transport equations. This procedure exhibits considerable advantages over the existing …

Effects Of Aromatic Concentration On Methane Fermentation, Yi-Tin Wang, Pin-Chieh Pai, H. David Gabbard

KWRRI Research Reports

The anaerobic biodegradability and toxicity of fourteen aromatic compounds were evaluated over a wide range of concentrations using a serum bottle technique. Benzene, toluene, and all three isomers of xylene were not significantly degraded to methane in a phenol-enriched culture. Complete degradation of 1000 mg/L phenol, 800 mg/L catechol, 100 mg/L 2-NP, 100 mg/L 3- NP, and 100 mg/L 4-NP was observed within two months while depletion of 100 mg/L resorcinol and 1000 mg/L hydroquinone required more than six and eight months incubation, respectively. None of the three isomers of chlorophenol were degraded in the phenol-enriched culture. Batch toxicity assay …

Kentucky Pride Hay Growers Association — After One Year, Mark Mattingly

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

High quality forages have been the "frontline" for successful horse and cattle operations for years. In Kentucky, we have grown, harvested and stored hay on the farm for as long as we have farmed. It is one of our principal forms of overwinter feed and has been grown primarily as an on-the-farm feed source.

Drying High Moisture Alfalfa Hay, Michael Collins, Blaine Frank Parker, George M. Turner

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

We all recognize the value of alfalfa in horse, dairy and beef rations. That's why we harvest over 17 million acres of this crop in the United States every year. Hay is a good way to harvest alfalfa because it stores well, provides long fiber in rations and we can market the surplus as a cash crop. Higher yields and higher quality mean more profit so we push to be sure we use the best management practices. All too often though, we lose part of all of a crop to rain damage. Some yield and quality is lost due to …

Hay Additive Review: "Where We've Been, Where We're Going", William C. Mahanna, Steve Soderlund

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

The losses from harvest to feed bunk are undoubtedly greater with hay than any other crop grown by the American farmer. The economic implications of reducing losses through improved harvest technologies is staggering when one considers the 75-85 million tons of alfalfa harvested out of the total 140-145 million tons of hay produced annually in the United States.

Alfalfa Producers: Do You Really Know How Good Your Alfalfa Is? Forage Analysis: Importance And Interpretation, Jimmy C. Henning

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Forages make up over 75% of the diet of all cattle and are the basis of cow-calf industry in the midwest. However, a recent survey of over 1000 livestock producers in Missouri revealed that only 5.6 % had ever had their hay tested. They gave several reasons for why they had not tested hay (Table 1). By a large margin, the greatest reason for not testing was that they did not see a need. This fact highlights the purpose of this paper and presentation at the 10th Annual Kentucky Alfalfa Conference. This paper will explain the terms used in …

Alfalfa Cutting Management, Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa "Queen of the Forage Crops" is the most important forage legume grown in the united States. It is grown over a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Alfalfa has the highest yield potential and the highest feeding values of all adapted perennial forage legumes. It is a versatile crop which can be used for pasture, hay, silage, green-chop, soil improvements and human consumption. As a result of this crops many merits; especially yield, quality and versatile use, it can be used successfully in many animal feeding programs.

Developing Alfalfa Varieties For The 21st Century, Jim Moutray

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

As we approach the end of the 20th century, alfalfa improvement is happening at a very rapid pace, New varieties are being released at the rate of more than 30 per year. During the past 30 years, the roles of public and private research have changed significantly. Emphasis in public efforts has changed from variety development to basic research accompanied by an overall reduction in funding. Private industry, which released less than 20% of the new varieties prior to 1960, has released over 95% of the varieties since 1981. Funding of private research has increased dramatically during this period.

Foreword [1990], Garry D. Lacefield

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

This is the front matter of the proceedings.

Constraints On The Emplacement And Uplift History Of The Pine Mountain Thrust Sheet, Eastern Kentucky: Evidence From Coal Rank Trends, Kieran D. O'Hara, James C. Hower, Susan M. Rimmer

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

In this paper coal rank trends on both sides of the Pine Mountain thrust in eastern Kentucky are used to place constraints on thrust evolution. Vitrinite reflectance () measurements on a single Pennsylvanian coal horizon (Fire Clay coal) in eastern Kentucky increase from 0.5% in the north to about 1.0% toward the SE in front of the Pine Mountain thrust. The same horizon in the hangingwall of the thrust displays lower R_max values (0.8-0.85%). The reflectance isograds are subparallel to the thrust within approximately 10 km of the trace of the fault. We attribute thermal maturation to (1) pre-orogenic …

Effectiveness Of Two Lime Sources With Different Relative Neutralizing Values (Rnv), Greg Henson, Lloyd W. Murdock

Soil Science News and Views

Quality of agricultural lime (ground limestone) is an important factor in maintaining proper soil pH. The quality of lime is determined by its purity and fineness of grind. Purity is the amount of calcium and magnesium carbonate present in the limestone. Clay, silt, sand, organic matter, and other materials present in limestone rock dilute its purity. Since limestone is slowly soluble, it must be finely ground to be effective. The more finely ground the lime, the more rapidly it will dissolve in the soil.

Effectiveness Of Surface Application Of Phosphorus And Potassium On Yield Of No-Till Corn Grown On Soils Testing Low Or Medium Below A Depth Of 3 Inches, Grant W. Thomas

Soil Science News and Views

When crops are grown continuously under no-tillage or very minimum tillage, there is a tendency for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to become concentrated at or near the soil surface. This occurs when P and K fertilizers are broadcast on the surface and not mixed with the soil as would occur with plowing. The result is a stratification of P and K such that the surface few inches become very high in those nutrients, but soil test levels remain largely unaffected below that. The question is whether high yields of no-till crops can be obtained under these conditions.

Production Of No-Tillage Burley Tobacco, Jack M. Zeleznik, R. E. Phillips

Soil Science News and Views

In the early 1970's, researchers at the University of Kentucky produced burley tobacco by using no-tillage methods. These studies were abandoned a few years later due to poor growth, poor plant survival, and the lack of adequate weed control as the contributing factors. In 1984, the experimental production of no-tillage burley tobacco was reinitiated with the hopes that the newer herbicides would perform more effectively for no-tillage tobacco production. Burley producers could realize several potential advantages to no-tillage tobacco production if the yields produced by no-tillage were equal to or near those of conventional tillage. These potential advantages would include: …

Statistical Prediction Of Satellite Magnetic Anomalies, H. K. Goyal, R. R. B. Von Frese, W. J. Hinze, D. N. Ravat

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

The geological utility of satellite magnetic observations is limited by orbital altitude variations which may be as large as a few hundred kilometres. This study investigates the use of fast and elegant statistical procedures for altitude normalization and gridding of magnetic anomaly data as an alternative to more commonly used equivalent source inversion procedures involving computationally extensive and complex least‐squares matrix methods. A standard statistical approach for gridding satellite magnetic anomalies is to recompute numerically averaged values from three‐dimensionally distributed observations which are within two standard deviations of an initially determined averaged anomaly estimate. the errors of this procedure for …

Urease Inhibitor Reduces Ammonia Loss From Surface-Applied Urea, Wilbur Frye, Lloyd W. Murdock, Robert L. Blevins

Soil Science News and Views

Urea is the world's leading N fertilizer, and its use continues to grow. In the USA, for example, the use of urea increased 50 fold from 1955 to 1986. During that same time, its use in Kentucky increased from 214 to more than 112,000 tons per year, which was 28% of the N used in Kentucky in 1986. The increasing popularity of urea is due to advantages over other N fertilizers in its manufacture and to its use in making most N solutions, another rapidly growing form of N fertilizer. Desirable qualities of urea include the highest N content of …

Sulfur And Magnesium Trials With Wheat In West Kentucky, Monroe Rasnake

Soil Science News and Views

Interest in fertilizing wheat with sulfur and magnesium has increased recently in West Kentucky. This has been due primarily to positive test results in adjoining states and recommendations being made by some commercial people. Previous-testing in Kentucky has shown no response by wheat to sulfur, or to magnesium. However, in order to have current data on which to base recommendations, research plots were established in the fall of 1987 in Todd and Hopkins counties. They were repeated on different farms in 1988, making a total of 4 different sites studied.

Has The Nitrate-Nitrogen In Streams Draining Agricultural Watersheds In Kentucky Changed In The Last 18 Years?, Grant W. Thomas, Gerald R. Haszler, James D. Crutchfield

Soil Science News and Views

In 1971 and 1972, we sampled streams across Kentucky for nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) during the high-water flow months of January through June. The results were variable and showed a dominant effect of geology and lesser effects of both time and land use on the results. Since that time, use of fertilizer nitrogen (N) has nearly doubled in Kentucky and, further, there is a high degree of concern among the public that NO₃-N from fertilizer use may be contaminating streams. The US Environmental Protection Agency has set a maximum of 10 ppm NO₃-N in water as …

The Effect Of Fall And Spring Tillage Of A Compacted Soil On Corn And Tobacco Yields, Kenneth L. Wells, Roy V. Catlett

Soil Science News and Views

Soil compaction is being diagnosed in increasing instances as the cause of poor crop performance in Kentucky. While the basic causes of compaction can usually be identified, it is much more difficult to prescribe techniques to solve the problem. Following identification of compacted soil as being the cause of poor corn growth in a field in Shelby County, Kentucky, a study was conducted to compare three tillage tools on production of corn and tobacco. The compacted zone was within the top 6-inch layer of soil.

Movement Of Triazine Herbicides In Conventional, Reduced Tillage, And No-Tillage Corn Production, William W. Witt, K. W. Sander

Soil Science News and Views

Herbicides are applied to over 90 percent of the corn acreage in Kentucky and triazine herbicides are used the most. Conservation tillage methods are often used to prevent soil erosion and to conserve soil water. However, as tillage is decreased the dependence on herbicides for weed control often increases. Minimizing herbicide movement from the application sites to non-target areas, such as ground and surface waters, is necessary to maintain optimum water quality.