Conservation tillage methods and the Bay
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Almost three-fourths of the com
planted in Maryland each year
escapes the plow, thanks in large
part to conservation tillage, a
modem farm practice that reduces
erosion and some forms of water
pollution.
But how well does it reduce
agricultural pollution of the
Chesapeake Bay, one of the
world’s most productive
estuaries?
“It depends on the kind of
pollution you’re talking about,”
says Richard Weismilier, an
agronomist of The University of
Maryland.
One of the Bay’s critical
pollution problems is “nutrient
overenrichment” too much of
the same fertilizers that, on land,
make com and other farm crops
grow, according to Weismilier.
Nitrogen and phosphorus, in
particular, set off a pollution ex
plosion of algae which shut off
sunlight to submerged aquatic
vegetation and contribute to a
depletion of the Bay’s oxygen
supply. Both consequences are
blamed for dwindling marine
resources in the Bay, Weismilier
says
Conservation tillage methods
can keep topsoil on the land where
it belongs, he adds.
“But it doesn’t automatically
follow that conservation tillage
keeps all the nitrogen and
phosphorus there, too,” he says.
Conservation tillage including
Eastern Lancaster meeting Tuesday
UNION GROVE - The Eastern
Lancaster County Adult Farmer
Program in cooperation with the
Conestoga Valley Growers
Association will sponsor an
educational meeting on the
Growing of Carrots and Hor
seradish on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at
the Eastern Lancaster County
Alternative School.
The topics that will be discussed
at the meeting will include the
cultural practices in raising
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no-till, reduced tillage and
minimum tillage methods does
its best job keeping phosphorus on
farm lands, Weismilier explains.
Phosphorus binds chemically to
soil particles. “So, if you keep the
soil on the land and it doesn’t wash
away, the phosphorus stays with
it,” says Weismilier.
The only problem with that is
most of the phosphorus entering
the Chesapeake Bay during years
of average rainfall comes from
other sources like municipal
treatment plants and not far
mland, he says.
“During average or dry years,
non-point sources of phosphorus
such as farms, forests and road
ways contribute 31 to 39% of the
total load to the Chesapeake Bay,”
Weismilier says. “Almost two
thirds, the rest of it, comes from
point sources such as factories and
treatment plants.”
carrots and horseradishes and the
contracts that are available
through the Conestoga Valley
Growers Association for the 1984
growing season.
All interested farmers are in
vited to attend. The meeting will be
held at the Eastern Lancaster
County Alternative School, which
is located in Union Grove along
Route 625 two miles north of Rt. 23
east of Blue Bail.
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Nitrogen is still another story,
according to Weismilier.
Although non-point sources
the farms and forests contribute
anywhere from two-thirds to 80%
of the nitrogen load to the Bay,
most of that nitrogen is not lost
from surface runoff or erosion.
“Conservation tillage may cut
down on how much nitrogen is lost
from the surface of farmlands,” he
says. “But almost 90% of the
nitrogen lost from farmlands is
through processes we call
‘leaching’ and ‘nitrification’.”
Explains Weismilier: “Leaching
is the process by which the
chemical moves from the root zone
of the crop down, into the soil
subsurface, where it can enter
groundwater supplies, and move
from there into the Bay.
“Nitrification is a chemical
conversion process in which some
forms of nitrogen fertilizer, such
as ammonia, change to nitrates,
which are highly mobile and easily
lost from the soil, often through the
soil subsurface.”
Phosphorus pollution, therefore,
can be reduced with conservation
tillage methods. Nitrogen
pollution, on the other hand, is best
managed if farmers do not over
fertilize, says Weismilier.
He recommends some of the
following “best management
practices” to reduce both nitrogen
and phosphorus pollution of nearby
bodies of water in the Bay
watershed:
* Use conservation tillage to
reduce soil erosion and phosphorus
pollution.
* Get a soil test to determine how
much fertilizer (especially
nitrogen) your soil needs, then
apply fertilizer only at rates based
on that test.
* Apply fertilizer at the right
time. Split applications are best.
Avoid applications just prior to an
anticipated rainfall.
* Apply fertilizer using the right
method for your farming system.
Dribbling is one method recom
mended for conservation tillage.
Avoid surface broadcast methods
that contribute to runoff and
pollution.
* Plant non-leguminous cover
crops during the off season to use
up residual nutrients from a
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(717) 627-1530
previous planting. Plant legume agriculture and water quality, or
cover crops if you want to reduce to learn more about “best
the nitrogen requirements for the management practices,” call your
next crop. local Extension agent or Soil
For more information about Conservation District.
Mary Buffington presents the Public Service Award of
Chester-Delaware Pomona Grange #3 to Rep. Samuel
Morris, chairman of the House Ag and Rural Affairs Com
mittee.
Grange honors Morris
WAGONTOWN - At its annual
Legislative Dinner on April 28 the
Chester-Delaware Pomona
Grange #3 presented the Grange
Award for Public Service to Rep.
Samuel Morris of the 155th
Legislative District.
In making the presentation,
Mary Buffington of Kennett
Grange cited Morris’ efforts on
behalf of farmers during his six
terms in Harrisburg. Morris is
currently Chairman of the House
Agriculture Committee and a
member of the Conservation
Committee.
The speaker for the evening was
Brenda Burd, State Grange
Legislative Assistant, who works
with many of the legislators m
attendance and their colleagues.
She summarized the most im
portant bills now before the House
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 12,1984-A35
and Senate, thanking the
lawmakers present for their help
in passing needed legislation and
reminding Grangers that giving
our opinions to our representatives
in Harrisburg makes the job easier
for all concerned.
One hundred forty Grangers
attended the annual dinner,
catered by the Ladies Auxiliary of
the Wagontown Fire Co. Guests
were Congressman Robert
Walker, State Sen. Noan Wenger,
State Reps; Arthur Hershey,
Samuel Morris, Elinor Taylor,
Peter Vroom and Joseph Pitts, and
Commissioners Earl Baker,
Robert Thompson and Patricia
Baldwin. Musical entertainment
was provided by the Chester
Valley Grangers of the “Grass
Root Symphony.”
60 y