Rehabilitation potential and practices of Colorado oil shale lands: progress report for period June 1, 1978 - May 31, 1979

C. Wayne Cook, principal investigator.Prepared for the U.S. Dept. of Energy under contract no. EY-76-S-02-4018.Submitted March 1979.C00-4018-3.Includes bibliographical references.The following document is a third-year progress report to the original contract [Contract No. EY-76-S-02-4018] for the period June 1, 1978 to May 31, 1979. The overall objective of the project is to study the effects of seeding techniques, species mixtures, fertilizer, ecotypes, improved plant materials, mycorrhizal fungi, and soil microorganisms on the initial and final stages of reclamation obtained through seeding and subsequent succession on disturbed oil shale lands. Plant growth medias that are being used in field-established test plots include retorted shale, soil over retorted shale, subsoil materials, and surface disturbed topsoils. Because of the long-term nature of successional and ecologically oriented studies the project is just beginning to generate significant publications. Several of the studies associated with the project have some phases being conducted principally in the laboratories and greenhouses at Colorado State University. The majority of the research, however, is being conducted on a 20 hectare Intensive Study Site located near the focal points of oil shale activity in the Piceance Basin. The site is at an elevation of 2,042 m, receives approximately 30 to 55 cm of precipitation annually, and encompasses the plant communities most typical of the Piceance Basin. Most of the information contained in this report originated from the monitoring and sampling of research plots established in either the fall of 1976 or 1977. Therefore, data that have been obtained from the Intensive Study Site represent only first- or second-year results. However, many trends have been identified in the successional process and the soil microorganisms and mycorrhizal studies continue to contribute significant information to the overall results. The phytosociological study has progressed to a point where field sampling is complete and the application and publication of this material will be forth coming in 1979. The plant selection and ecotype studies have made substantial progress, but because of the nature of the research publishable information is not yet available

Soil quality indices as affected by long-term burning, irrigation, tillage, and fertility management

Understanding the impacts of long-term agricultural practices on soil quality (SQ) is key for sustaining agroecosystem productivity. This study investigated conventional and no-tillage (NT), residue burning and no burning, residue level (high and low), and irrigation (irrigated and dryland) effects on soil properties, SQ, and crop yields following 16 yr of a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] double-crop system via the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). A field experiment was conducted in the Lower Mississippi River Delta region on a silt-loam soil. Bulk density, soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and soil P and K from the 0- to 10-cm soil depth were used as SQ indicators investigated individually and as an overall soil quality index (SQI). Following 16 yr, residue burning reduced SOC (1.1%) compared with no burning (1.24%). Irrigation resulted in greater soil TN than dryland management systems (p \u3c 0.05). Reduced soil pH and extractable soil P and K occurred under NT, high residue, and irrigated treatments. Irrigation increased soybean yields, regardless of the tillage system. Burned, NT–high residue management increased wheat yields (3.45 Mg ha−1). Irrigation reduced SQ because of low EC and K scores. High residue reduced SQ compared with the low residue treatment within NT systems, owing to low pH scores. The SMAF indices identified the impacts of irrigation, NT, and optimal N fertilization on SQ. Monitoring of soil pH, P, and K may be needed to maintain SQ in long-term wheat–soybean systems

Louisiana Urban and Suburban Homeowners’ Fertilizer Management Behavioral Beliefs, Intentions, and Past Behaviors

Nutrient runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus from improper lawn and landscape fertilization practices contributes to water quality issues within the Mississippi River drainage basin and the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NRC, 2009a; Robbins & Birkenholtz, 2003). The implementation of fertilizer best management practices has become a critical strategy for reducing nutrient runoff (Carey et al., 2012a; Carey et al., 2013; U.S. EPA, 2005). The purpose of this study was to determine if relationships exist among selected perceptual measures regarding home lawn and landscape fertilizer management practices among Louisiana urban and suburban homeowners. Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was the theoretical framework used to study Louisiana homeowners’ fertilizer management practices. An online semantic differential questionnaire assessed homeowners’ TPB perceptual measures regarding 12 fertilizer management practices identified through pilot research. The homeowners of this study reported seldom past performance of the recommended Soil testing practice. The results further indicated that homeowners’ intention to perform the Soil testing practice was the strongest determinant of past behavior, and perceived norm was the strongest determinant of intention to perform the practice. Homeowners further reported that they may intend to perform the improper Watering in lawn fertilizer, rain event practice, and homeowners’ perceived control was the strongest determinant of intention to perform the practice. Lastly, homeowners reported that they slightly believed that if fertilizer was applied to areas other than the lawn and landscape that it would result in runoff that contributes to environmental issues in water. The researcher concluded that the Soil testing practice was infrequently performed by the participants of this study. The researcher further concluded that homeowners may intend to use a rain event to water in lawn fertilizer as they think it is a beneficial practice that they can control, and that homeowners’ only slightly believed that fertilizer runoff would result from the Runoff from fertilizer spills practice. To change homeowners’ fertilizer management practices the researcher recommended that the strongest determinants of behavior and the underlying behavioral beliefs identified in this study be targeted in behavioral intervention programming designed by the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service

Idaho Dairymen\u27s Ass\u27n v. Gooding County Clerk\u27s Record v. 5 Dckt. 35980

https://digitalcommons.law.uidaho.edu/idaho_supreme_court_record_briefs/3301/thumbnail.jp

Ecological studies of natural and established ecosystems on energy related disturbances in Colorado

Prepared for the U.S. Dept. of Energy under contract no. DE-AS02-76EV04018.Submitted February 1984.DOE/EV/04018-7.Includes bibliographical references.During this research period studies have concentrated on soil, plant, and microbial interactions to gain a better understanding of plant community changes over time on perturbed systems. These studies have shown that disturbance and revegetation practices influence vegetation structure and succession primarily in two ways: (1) by modifying chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil and (2) by influencing the initial floristic composition of the plant community. Both the intensity and the type of disturbance, through their effect on soil chemical and physical properties have been shown to influence aboveground vegetation structure and succession. These studies show that types of disturbances which create highly productive soil conditions result in low plant diversity, while disturbances which create less productive soil conditions result in high diversity. In addition, very intense disturbances which increase the rockiness of the surface soil have been shown to not only alter the rate of succession but also the direction of succession. Similarly, the nature of the disturbance can have major effects on soil biological properties. Disturbed and revegetated soils continue to have markedly higher microbial activity and organic matter contents than undisturbed native soils. Where topsoil has been stockpiled, however, microbial activity is generally reduced. Stockpiling affects various microbial populations differently, depending on the length of the stockpiling period and whether or not the stockpile is vegetated. When the stockpile is vegetated, there is a relative increase in bacteria 1 and fungal populations while when a stockpile is not vegetated actinomycetes show greater relative abundance. When topsoil is stored for a period of four years, significant and predictable declines in Mycorrhiza Inoculum Potential (MIP) of the soil occur. However, the MI P of the upper level s (< 90 cm) of topsoil can be preserved and enhanced by seeding with plant species that host YAM fungi. Certain reclamation practices may temporarily influence soil chemical and physical characteristics and thus affect biological structure and succession in the above- and below ground compartments. Fertilization, for example, continues to have a positive influence on plant production in some studies. Its influence on plant species diversity, however, has been negative. The effect of fertilizer on the belowground compartment is most apparent with fungal populations. In general, fertilization causes reduced fungal hyphal lengths and a reduction in MIP values. When disturbance results in a material such as retorted oil shale being used as a growth medium, the chemical, physical, and biological properties are drastically altered. Few plant species have been shown to perform we 11 on this material and as a result, plant communities established on Paraho retorted shale are low in diversity and canopy cover. In the belowground compartment, retorted shale has a negative effect on phosphatase activity and nitrogen fixation and seems to prevent mycorrhizal formation. Mixing retorted shale with topsoil ameliorates these effects somewhat. Mycorrhizal formation is not inhibited until the amount of added shale exceeds 50%. The negative effects of retorted shale are primarily due to its high salt content and its high pH which results in a high availability of toxic elements and poor nutrient availability. The chemical equilibria involved in producing the high pH in oi 1 shale have been studied. During the processing of oil shale at high temperatures, carbonate minerals are often destroyed and silicate minerals such as CaSiO3 (pseudowallastonite) and MgSiO3 (clinoenstatite) are formed. These minerals buffer the pH of spent shale near 12. When processed Lurgi shale is recarbonated by bubbling CO2 through suspensions of spent shale, the pH is decreased from 11.6 to 7.9. The result is a disappearance of the silicate minerals and formation of CaCO3 (calcite) and MgCO3 (magnesite). In addition to modifying soil properties, these studies show that the second major way that disturbances and revegetation practices affect vegetation structure and succession is by influencing the initial floristic composition of the plant community. By initially seeding grasses and forbs alone, shrubs can be prevented from invading the stand in spite of the fact that shrubs are well adapted to the site and there is a ready seed source. Including adapted shrub species in the initial seed mixture on the same sites, however, can result in greater total biomass without significant reductions in grass and forb biomass. Since results of another study on competition among woody plants offer no support for the hypothesis that intensity of competition between shrubs is correlated with the abiotic environment, planting densities for the shrubs studied may be selected without consideration of shrub competition. Once the initial floristic composition of the community is determined, changes in species composition may occur due to competitive interactions. The competitive interactions among four native grass species occurring on the site have been studied. Competitive relationships among species are discussed in terms of the effect of fertilizer, soil depth, and phenologic stage on biomass and gross energy content of competing pairs. Identification of adapted species for use in revegetation is often difficult since ecotypes of the same species can be quite variable. Therefore, the ecogenic variation within eight native species (five shrubs, one forb, and two grasses) has been studied and adaptive advantages of the genetic differences are discussed

Management of Tennessee soils

Soil management involves the use of proven practices which aid in the maintenance and improvement of soil fertility and crop yields. There is a distinction between soil management and farm management. Farm management includes the handling, manipulation and integration of all the farm enterprises. Thus crop management, pasture management, and livestock management as well as soil management are a part of the problems involved in managing a farm. Certain practices such as tillage and fertilization may be considered as both crop management practices and soil management practices

Soil Science Research Report - 1982

Corn Experiments Improving Nitrogen Fertilizer Recommendations for Corn .......... Section 1 The Influence of 7-21-7 Plus Ammonium Thiosulfate Knifed-in With Anhydrous Ammonia on Yield of Irrigated Corn Grown on Calcareous Soil .......... Section 2 Interseeded Rye and Alfalfa in Irrigated Corn Production .......... Section 3 Maximizing Fertilizer N and Water Use Efficiency on Irrigated and Rainfed Corn .......... Section 4 Nitrogen Balance for Continuous Corn .......... Section 5 High Yield Corn-Soybeans-Wheat Rotation Study .......... Section 6 Wheat Experiments Dual Placement of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Winter Wheat .......... Section 7 Effect of Depth of P Application on the Yield of Winter Wheat .......... Section 8 Influence of Rate and Placement of Phosphorus Fertilizer on the Grain Yield of Winter Wheat in Southeast Nebraska .......... Section 9 Results of 1982 Fertilizer Experiments on Wheat .......... Section 10 Soybean Experiments Influence of Agroplus on Irrigated Soybean Yield .......... Section 11 Time of Irrigation and N Application for Optimum Soybean Production .......... Section 12 Lime-Induced Chlorosis in Soybeans .......... Section 13 Sorghum Experiments Efficient Nitrogen Use Following Soybeans in Rotation .......... Section 14 Other Experiments Availability of Nitrogen Fertilizer as Affected by Tillage .......... Section 15 The Effects of Time and Tillage on Soil Nitrogen in a Wheat Fallow Rotation .......... Section 16 Deep Soil Sampling to Improve Fertilizer Recommendations .......... Section 17 Crop and Soil Response to Applied P and K in a Long-term Buildup/Depletion Study .......... Section 18 Availability of Three Different Phosphatic Fertilizer Sources on Four Soils .......... Section 19 Plant Response to Added Topsoil and Fertilizer on an Eroded Loess Soil ..... Section 20 Potassium Release From Mica, Feldspar, and Mixed Mineralogy Systems ..... Section 21 Physics of Water in Soils and Porous Media .......... Section 22 Soil Test Comparison Results in 1982 .......... Section 2