Crop and Soil Sciences
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With growing demands for potable (suitable for drinking) water (due to population increase) and expanding irrigated acreage, there is an increased pressure on irrigated farms to consider using nonpotable alternatives. However, low quality irrigation water can adversely affect soil physical conditions and crop production.
This publication provides in-depth information on the following aspects of agricultural irrigation water quality:
-Importance of irrigation water quality
-Major attributes of irrigation water quality
-Common units used
-Salts content
-Toxicity and their sources
-Bacteria in water sources|
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This publication summarizes the latest and most relevant information regarding the management of the bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM), including biological, cultural, physical and chemical mitigation strategies. In addition to information about how to control the pest, this bulletin provides detailed information about the history, identification, and biology of the bermudagrass stem maggot.
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Mechanical filtration removes suspended solids and dirt to greatly improve the clarity of water. Various kinds of mechanical filtration methods and devices are available for home water treatments. Primarily, the size of the suspended solids will determine the appropriate type of mechanical filtration device suitable for your unique situation. Consumers interested in filtration devices should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various available options with a water treatment professional. This publication discusses the various aspects of mechanical filtration.
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Freeze protection efforts should be based on the type of freeze, temperature, and wind speed that is impacting your crop. To apply frost protection, consider your crop value, the freeze protection capacity of your system, and the crop’s susceptibility to injury at each growth stage.
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Measuring, monitoring, and managing forage requires producers to regularly measure how much forage mass is present and how quickly that forage is growing. By using a rising plate meter, producers can assess the forage mass across several pastures quickly and with reasonable accuracy. Then, by comparing available forage in individual paddocks from one week to another, producers can determine the growth rate of the forage. In periods of poor growing conditions, management can be deployed to increase growth rates. In periods of rapid growth rate, decisions can be made to alter grazing sequences or plans can be made to harvest excess forage for hay or baleage. In short, the rising plate meter helps producers to assess the current status of each pasture and then make better decisions to increase the efficient use of that forage.
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C 858-9
Corrosive or Scaling Water
Corrosiveness or scaling is an inherent property of some groundwater and is related to the type of rocks or sediments in contact with the groundwater. Corrosion is caused when water reacts with and dissolves metal plumbing. This can add toxic levels of metals like copper and lead to your water. Other problems associated with corrosive water include:
• Deterioration and damage to the plumbing
• Water damage caused by leaks
• Staining of laundry
• Bitter taste
• Staining of plumbing fixtures
Scaling occurs when water has high levels of minerals like calcium carbonate, which can build-up on surfaces. Slight scaling can be considered beneficial because the inside surfaces of metal pipes become coated with harmless minerals that act as a barrier to corrosion. Increased levels of scaling, however, can be harmful. Hot-water heaters are the most common place for scale formation in a home water system. Problems caused by scaling include:
• Reduced efficiency of the hot-water heater
• Reduced or blocked flow to fixtures or appliances
• Leaky valves
The degree of either corrosiveness or scaling can be predicted using a Saturation Index (SI). The following information contains a description of the SI, non-treatment strategies for reducing problems, and treatment methods to reduce the corrosion or scale caused by your water.|
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C 858-10
Lead and Copper
Private wells are exclusively supplied by groundwater. The source waters for most public water systems in south Georgia (and some in north Georgia) are also supplied by groundwater. Generally, lead and copper concentrations in the major underground aquifers in Georgia are far below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action levels. They enter the household drinking water system and exceed the action levels almost exclusively via corrosion of plumbing materials. Many homes built prior to the 1988 still have lead solder connecting copper pipes, unless later on replaced by PVC pipes. Also, indoor plumbing fixtures are often made of lead and copper or their alloys, such as brass. Corrosive water can dissolve small amounts of these metals from plumbing which, upon drinking, may be harmful to your health. In 1992, the lead and copper rule, published by the EPA, became effective and required that municipal water suppliers must treat water to reduce concentrations below action levels of 0.015 milligrams (mg) lead per liter or 15 parts per billion (ppb) and 1.3 mg copper per liter or 1.3 parts per million (ppm). Keep in mind, however, that the EPA does not regulate private water supplies (such as well water), nor can the EPA control the lead and copper contamination that may result from your household pipes.
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The main objective of this fact sheet is to provide a checklist of what is needed to properly prepare a center pivot or lateral irrigation system for the production season. All of the topics covered apply to both pivot and lateral irrigation systems, but for brevity, only center pivots will be referenced. By using the items in this fact sheet as a guideline for preventative maintenance, most breakdowns during the growing season should be avoided.
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The lack of proper planter setup and maintenance results in common planting mistakes that affects crop stand and yield every year. Growers can easily avoid these mistakes by following a few simple steps at the beginning of the planting season to ensure proper planter setup for maximized field performance. This simple and easy-to-follow checklist provides tips on how to properly set up different planter components to achieve a high and uniform stand establishment across the field. The checklist also includes a visual to identify the components available on a typical row-crop planter.
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