Reducing Environmental Risks From Pesticides in Urban Landscapes: Metro-Atlanta as a Case Study

Proceedings of the 1997 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 20-22, 1997, Athens, Georgia.Little definitive data is available on pesticide use in metropolitan areas. Questionnaires on pesticide use and pest management practices were mailed to landscape maintenance lawn care firms in the metro Atlanta area; 350 firms responded. Of these firms 159 provide pest management services for turf grass or ornamentals or both. Responding professionals purchased 13,210 kg AI of insecticides, 93,447 kg AI herbicide, and 3,867 kg AI of fungicides during 1993. Total area serviced by these firms was 14,770 ha. Insecticides were most frequently applied to ornamentals (65%), while herbicides were primarily used on turf (93% pre emergence, 790/0 post emergence). Fungicides were more evenly distributed. Prescheduled applications determined timing of application for 32% of respondents. While 46% report that monitoring of pest populations influences treatment decisions. Only 8% of respondents incorporate monitoring of beneficial arthropods into this decision-making process. Although practices reported by the industry include many principles of integrated pest management, more education of maintenance professionals and consumers to include greater incorporation of pest resistant plant materials and biological control agents is warranted.Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyThis book was published by the Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 with partial funding provided by the U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey, through the Georgia Water Research Institutes Authorization Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-397). The views and statements advanced in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of the University of Georgia or the U.S. Geological Survey or the conference sponsors

Homeowners and Their Choice of Information Sources About Gardening

The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service increases its involvement in educating homeowners in fertilizer and pesticide use to reduce nonpoint source pollution from residential landscapes. A survey of homeowners revealed their current and preferred sources of gardening information. By dividing information sources according to the degree of their accessibility and cost, we determined the differences in the use of various sources according to homeowner gender, age, and education. Females, young homeowners, and those with a high level of education used and preferred more information sources. The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service will use a combination of sources to effectively disseminate best management practices to homeowners

Research and Education Garden: Disseminating Pollution Prevention Information for Urban Landscapes

Proceedings of the 1999 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 30 and 31, Athens, Georgia.The Georgia Station Research & Education Garden serves as a vehicle to transfer research results to the general public through hands-on programs. Research focuses primarily on improving the economic viability of the ornamental horticulture industry while reducing the environmental effects of fertilizers and pesticides in the landscape through the use of pollution prevention strategies. The Georgia Station Research & Education Garden connects scientists with industry professionals and the general public, allowing for the rapid transfer of research information to improve the quality of Georgia urban landscapes while preventing the pollution of groundwater and surface water.Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyThis book was published by the Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2202 with partial funding provided by the U.S. Department of Interior, geological Survey, through the Georgia Water Research Insttitute as authorized by the Water Research Institutes Authorization Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-397). The views and statements advanced in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of the University of Georgia or the U.S. Geological Survey or the conference sponsors

Reducing the Pollution Potential of Pesticides and Fertilizers in the Environmental Horticulture Industry

Proceedings of the 1997 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 20-22, 1997, Athens, Georgia.Optimizing growing conditions and thereby, plant growth, through the development and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) reduces the susceptibility of plants to many disease and insect problems. Educating growers, consumers, and landscape professionals about BMPs, the potential environmental hazards of improperly applied pesticides and fertilizers, and the potential alternatives to their use would reduce the pollution potential of these products in environmental horticultureSponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of TechnologyThis book was published by the Institute of Ecology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 with partial funding provided by the U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey, through the Georgia Water Research Institutes Authorization Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-397). The views and statements advanced in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of the University of Georgia or the U.S. Geological Survey or the conference sponsors