Agricultural research to protect water quality : water quality special research grants overview, 1989-93

10 Pages·1994·1.1 MB·English

by  United States. Cooperative State Research Service

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

United States
Department of
Agriculture
National Agricultural Library
39469 ++!
<
United States
Department of
Agriculture
CooperativeState TO PROTECT WATE
Research Service
Water Quality Special Research Grants Overvi
OUR CHARGE
TARGETED PROGRAMS FOR
Borne outofCongressional concerntoconserve, wisely manage, and
protectournatural resources, waterquality was elevatedto anational Management System Evaluation Areas (MSEA)
priority in the 1980’s. • Large-scalestudiestodemonstrateandbetterunderstandtheeffectsofcurrent
Congress actively endorsedcutting-edge research and innovative
farmingsystemsonwaterquality
technologies to improvethe environment andenhance ourquality of • Integrationofcomplexsoil,weather,water,chemical,economic,andmanage-
lifebyenactingThe Special Initiative on WaterQuality.
SeveralFederal agencies share responsibility forimplementation of mentinteractionsaffectingfarmproductionsystemsandgroundwaterquality
the Initiative. The USDA- Cooperative State Research Service • Designandtestingofnewfarmingsystemsthatwillprotectwaterquality
(CSRS), along with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) andother
groups, discussed avariety ofwaterquality concerns affecting environ- Nitrogen Testing Grants
ment andnaturalresource management. Groundwaterquality was • Improvementsincurrentnitrogentestsforcropproduction
identified as themajorconcern andserved as the foundation forUSDA • Newnitrogentestsforcropproductionandfornitrogenleachingpotential
waterqualityresearchgoals:
• todetermine the extentto which agriculture has affected groundwa- • Managementrecommendationsforsustainablefarm-scalesystemswhich
terquality considernitrogenavailablefromsoils,plants,manure,andotherorganic
• to developnew andimproved agricultural systems thatenhance material
groundwaterquality andare cost-effective • Incentivesandbarrierstoadoptionofimprovednitrogentests
THE PLAYERS Water Quality Grants
The CSRS andARS shareresponsibility formeetingthe Initiative’s • Methodstoanalyzeandassesssoil,water,andchemicalrelationshipsand
researchgoals and are involvedin the administration oftheWater interactions
QualityResearchProgram. Scientists andengineers from across the • Fateandtransportofchemicalsinsoilandwater
country submitresearchproposals andcompeteforfederally appropri- • Managementpracticesandremediationmethodstoreducecontaminants
atedfunds. Professionals andresearchers withwaterquality expertise
Sensors,decisionaids,andgeographicinformationsystemstoenhancethe
are selectedto serve asproposalreviewers.
applicationofchemicalsandwater
The benefitderivedfromInitiative appropriations has beenmaxi-
mizedby encouragingresearchers to workjointly withothergroups, • Social,economic,andpolicyconsiderations
utilizeexistingresearch anddemonstration sites forexperimental
purposes, andconductprojects onamultistatebasis, as appropriate.
BEGINNINGS TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)prohibitsdiscriminationinitsprogramsonthebasis
ofrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,religion,age.disability,politicalbeliefsandmaritalorfamilialstatus.
Congressionalfundingforthe Initiativebeganin 1990. In an effortto (Notallprohibitedbasesapplytoallprograms.)Personswithdisabilitieswhorequirealternativemeansfor
jump-starttheWaterQuality Special ResearchGrants Program, CSRS cOfofmimcuenoifcaCtoimomnunoifcpartoigornasmaitn(f2o0r2m)at7i2o0n-(5b8r8ai1ll(ev,oliacreg)eoprri(n2t0,2a)ud7i2o0t-a7p8e0,8et(cT.)DDsh)o.uldcontacttheUSDA
hadobtainedotherfunds in 1989 to initiateresearchefforts. Thus,
someresearchprojects were alreadyunderway whenthe Initiative T20o25fi0l.eaorcocamlplla(i2n0t2,)w7’2r0it-e7t3h2e7S(evcoriectea)ryorof(2A0g2r)ic7u2l0tu-r1e1.27U.(S.TDDDe)p.arUtSmeDnAtiosf"aAngreiqcuualltuerme.plWoaysmheinngttoopnp.orDtCu.-.
officiallybegan. nityemployer.
Trends
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM EVALUATION AREAS WATER QUALITY SPECIAL GRANTS
In 1990, proposals were receivedfrom 14Midwestern Statestodevel- How much ofthe Congressionalappropriations have been
oplarge-scaleresearchprojects. Five projects were funded:
available for specialgrants?
BuriedAquifer(OH) SandPlain-rainfed(MN)
Claypan(MO) SandPlain-irrigated(NE)
TileDrainage(IA)
CSRS funding forthese fiveprojectshas averaged $1.74 million per
year.
PRIMARY SITES COOPERATING SITES
How manyproposals have been submitted?
319
CoordinatingAgencies
• Cooperative State Research Service
'89 '90 '91 '92 '93
• State Agricultural Experiment Stations
• Agricultural Research Service
• Extension Service Whatproportion ofsubmittedproposals have been
• Soil Conservation Service
funded?
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Geological Survey 19%
NITROGEN TESTING GRANTS
The nitrogen testingresearch grantprogram was initiated in 1992, and
jointly fundedby CSRS, ARS, andEPA, to address specific research
needs in soil testing andfertilizerrecommendations. Projects were
funded in the summerof 1992 forFY 1992 andFY 1993. Preliminary
results fromthe projects are anticipated in 1993.
'89 '90 '91 '92 '93
What has been the generalfunding levelforproposals?
FundsAppropriated: $ 1.4million
Numberofproposalsreceived: 91 FY '89 '90 '91 '92 '93
Numberofproposalsfunded: 25
Sizeofaward $(thousands)/proposal
Average: $57,8)4
Minimum: $51,170 Average 76.3 100.3 130.2 127.3 127.7
Maximum: $60,000 Minimum 46.0 48.4 34.0 37.6 59.0
Maximum 107.6 149.9 198.0 225.0 150.0
Whatproportion of the funds has been distributed to each QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
researchprogram area?
What disciplines have received funds under the CSRS
Socio-economic
Water Quality SpecialResearch Grants Program?
Transferof Sampling&
Results Testing
/ 18% Crop Science RangeScience Forestry
SoilScience Chemistry Economics
Horticulture Microbiology Sociology
AnimalScience Hydrology Geography
WeedScience Engineering Mathematics
Proposals from otherdisciplines and multi-disciplinary researchteams
are also encouraged.
Management Fate&
Remediation Transport
% %
34 35
How many scientists andengineers have servedas
reviewers to selectproposals for competitive funding?
Whatproportion ofcompetitive grant funds have been
awarded to each region of the country? More than 200 scientists and engineers have been involved in the
review and selection processes from 1989 to 1993.
West Northcentral Northeast
24% 31% 25%
Who may submit aproposalunder the Water Quality
SpecialResearch Grants Program?
Individuals, as well as teams ofscientists andengineers, may submit
proposals. Groups often submitting proposals include:
• Federal research laboratories
• Land-Grant Universities (1862 and 1890)
AmericanSamoa PuertoRico • Public and private universities and colleges
Guam VirginIslands
Micronesia
• State Agricultural Experiment Stations
Theoreticalandbasicresearch • State and local governments
helpsustounderstandthe
• Private for-profitand not-for-profitorganizations
scientificprinciplesuponwhich
goodnaturalresourcemanage- • Veterinary schools
mentisbuilt.
Howmuch funding has been requestedby scientists and
engineers forresearch through Water Quality Research
SpecialGrants?
IX $million
1989 17.8
1990 26.2
1991 30.7
1992 44.9
1993 30.7
Total 150.3
Research Results and Impacts
derived from alternativepolicy options intendedtoprotectground-
Some waterquality research resultsarealreadybeing usedby waterquality will nowbepossible. (MA)
resourcemanagerj.-_However, otherresearch-basedtechnology • Ground-penetrating radarhasthe potential todetect soil layers most
andinformation neededtosolve real-worldwaterqualityprob- likely toconduct waterandchemicals togroundwater. Ifsuccess-
lemsmaytakeseveralyears todevelop. ful, this technique couldhelpidentify locations where solute sam-
ples and monitoring wells shouldbe established. (NY, PA)
Belowareafewhighlightsfrom USDA-CSRSfundedprojects: • Orchards are intensively managed. Options such ascultivation,
herbicide application, andkilledsodarebeing studiedtodetermine
• Mostpesticides in runoffwaterand tiledrainageoccurduringpeak which alternatives minimizenematicidecontaminationofground-
flow. Managementpractices which reduce erosion andrunoffwill water. (WV)
reducepesticide loading in surface waters. (IA, IN) • Tohelp policymakers andproducers make more informeddeci-
• Nitrates ingroundwaterare often associated with pasture and sions, decision aids were improved and usedto assess the applica-
croppedareasreceiving manure (MO), but liquid manure storage tion ofchemicals andpredictthemovementofwater,
alsocontributes (PA). Adoption ofimproved manure andpasture agri-chemicals, salts, andheavy metals. (CA, CO, GA, HI, IN, UT)
managementpractices will help lowernitrate levels in wells. • Alfalfafixes nitrogen fromthe atmosphere, butalso scavenges for
• A new chlorophyll metersenses acrop’s need fornitrogen, which nitrates in soil. Identification ofexisting and new alfalfavarieties
canbe applied in irrigation wateron an “as needed” basis, thus thatextractgreatquantities ofsoil nitrate will increase ouropportu-
reducing fertilizerapplications by40- 80%. (NE) nitiestoprovideremediation alternatives oncontaminated sites.
• Chemicals (CT, WI, AR, VA), UV light (CT), and microorganisms (MN)
(MD, PA, ID) can be usedtodecompose pesticides intoharmless • Tree transplanting equipment isbeingusedas an innovative way to
compounds. Contamination from rinseate waste andchemical spills easily andrapidly install instrumentation tocollect andmonitor
may be minimizedby applying these new technologies. waterandchemical movementin soil. (MN)
• Geographic information systems are being usedto identify interre- • X-ray computed tomography (CAT-scan) is apromisingtool to
lationships amongcrop and soil characteristics, residential intensity, identify pores in the soil (MO) which control preferential flow (IN,
taxation, and land use. Comparison ofthe costs andbenefits IL, WI) and may be responsible forpesticide and nitratemovement
tothe groundwater. (MN)
• Nutrientrunoff, volatilization, plantuse, and leaching arethebases
ofnew guidelines formanure and poultry litteruse on soil. (AR)
• A new “high tech” method wasdevelopedtodetectbacterial
pathogens (Salmonellaand Shigella) andviral pathogens
(poliovirus) in groundwatersupplies. (AZ)
• Encapsulating herbicides with starch makes theherbicide less
mobileundermany tillage systems, butallows ittoeffectively
control weeds. (IN, IL)
• Delaying irrigation until afterthe application ofherbicides allowed
forgreaterchemical dissipation atthe soil surface andminimized
movementthrough the rootzone. (MT)
• Production costincentives were found topromotethe rapidadop-
tion ofenvironmentally sensitivetechnologies, ifeducation and
technical assistance were also provided. (CA)
Guidelinesforagriculturalmanagementaredevelopedfromappliedresearch. • Grass andothervegetative filterstrips canbeusedto improve sur-
face waterqualityby intercepting nitrates, atrazine, andphosphorus
in runoffwater. (KY, NC, VA)
• Socio-economic analysis and geographic information systems were
used singly and in combinationtobetterunderstandhow farmers
from differentregions makedecisions thataffectwaterquality.
(AR, LA)
USDA-Cooperative State Research Service
329 Aerospace Bldg., Wash. DC 20250-2200
Program Managers:
Dr. Berlie Schmidt Tele. [phone]
Dr. Maurice Horton FAX [phone]
Dr. Alice Jones
Teamsoffarmers,ranchers,scientists,andengineersworktogethertoensurethatnew Issued: February 1994
managementpracticesareenvironmentallysafeandeconomicallyfeasible.