Released March 20, 2009
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Environmentally conscious, or green practices, go hand-in-hand with agriculture by effectively managing resources while reducing the carbon footprint on the environment, says Mike Daniels, Extension water quality and nutrient management specialist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Among the best examples of being green are the farms and backyard gardens that dot Arkansas' natural landscape. In these places, green is in its element - plots of good earth tilled by human hands to bring forth sun-drenched green life.
Daniels calls sustainable agriculture the original green industry.
"Agriculture has allowed us to harness Mother Nature's resources such as soil, water and sunlight into sustainable food, feedstock, and energy," he says. "What can be greener than that?"
Is modern agriculture as green as it used to be? Daniels believes there is some work to be done.
"Agriculture is certainly still a leader in being green, but it could be greener," he says.
Being green has many definitions, but Daniels cites three essential components: wise use of manufactured resources through recycling and reuse; conservation of natural resources, including soil, water, air, and energy; and minimizing impact on the environment.
Sound environmental practices take root in the soil, and what goes into it.
Diligent observation of soil conditions, fertilizers, and pesticides can reduce environmental headaches and lead toward a greener sustainability. These methods can be economical, environmentally-conscious, and efficient, says Daniels.
There are plenty of low-cost to no-cost green options.
For example, those using commercial fertilizer can utilize soil testing to avoid over-fertilization.
"The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers free soil testing to the public and analyzes over 100,000 samples a year," says Daniels. "Along with testing, it provides nutrient recommendations for over 180 crops and plants."
The much-maligned practice of applying animal manure and poultry litter to pastures in Northwest Arkansas has certain green advantages, says Daniels. Both natural fertilizers provide local, recycled nutrients for forage production compared to commercial fertilizers, which use fossil fuels in manufacturing and transportation.
"It has transformed mountainous pastures into green, lush fields from often-eroded, weed-infested hillsides," says Daniels.
These applications, however, can have adverse effects on the environment if not dispersed properly. Daniels recommends using a nutrient-management plan to guide litter and manure applications, creating a "greener" way to reduce off-farm impacts.
Nitrogen is essential to plant growth, but fertilizer costs have been creeping higher and higher. Alternative, "green" methods can help reduce commercial nitrogen needs. "Consider planting legume crops, which fix atmospheric nitrogen such as clover into grass-based pastures grown on phosphorus-enriched soils," says Daniels.
Think twice about how many fertilizer or pesticide applications a field requires.
"On row crop farms in Arkansas, tremendous energy savings have been realized by utilizing conservation tillage by reducing the number of trips needed across the field by equipment," says Daniels. The "green" benefit, he adds, is reduced soil erosion. This helps maintain soil productivity and lessens unwanted impacts on natural water sources.
Farmers don't need to return to the horse-drawn plow. Going "green" uses common-sense tips and the latest technology to create environmentally-sound methods.
New technology is emerging that utilizes satellites and computer mapping to precisely apply fertilizers and pesticides on areas as small as an acre within the field. "This change-on-the-go variable-rate technology reduces over-application in areas of the field that do not need as much fertilizer or pesticide," says Daniels.
Plastic chemical containers and their contents can also be recycled at special collection events held periodically around Arkansas. These are disposed in an environmentally-friendly manner, rippling the green effect.
Sustainable, green agriculture doesn't mean modifying everything, but rather being more conscious of human impacts on the environment, says Daniels. "It doesn't mean you have to be a tree hugger unless you want to be," he says.
For more information on "green" agriculture, contact your county Extension office or visit http://www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative Extension Service is a part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/march2009/0320green_farming_soil.htm
Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu
