Table of Contents

Features

• Your SWCD: An agent of change or a millstone?
  By Stephen B. Lovejoy
• Integrating remote sensing technologies into agricultural management systems
  By Chris Johannsen, Gary W. Petersen, Paul G. Carter, and Mark T. Morgan

Research

• A comparison of three visual assessments for riparian and stream health
  T.A. Ward, K.W. Tate, E.R. Atwill, D.F. Lile, D.L. Lancaster, N. McDougald, S. Barry, R.S. Ingram, H.A. George, W. Jensen, W.E. Frost, R. Phillips, G.G. Markegard, and S. Larson
• On-farm evaluation of a phosphorus site index for Delaware
  A.B. Leytem, J.T. Sims, and F.J. Coale
• Evaluation of erosion control products using natural rainfall events
  S.R. Benik, B.N. Wilson, D.D. Biesboer, B. Hansen, and D. Stenlund
• Applications of land evaluation and site assessment (LESA) and a geographic information system in East Park County, Wyoming
  B.M. Hoobler, G.F. Vance, J.D. Hamerlinck, L.C. Munn, and J.A. Hayward
• Economic impact of shelterbelts on groundnut (arachis hypogae L.) production in therilands: A decomposition analysis
  V.N. Veeramani, L.J. Maynard, and C. Murugappan

Departments

• Home Front
• Viewpoint
• Raise Your Voice
• Notebook
• Conservogram

A comparison of three visual assessments for riparian and stream health
(Full text appears in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol.58, No. 2)
T.A. Ward, K.W. Tate, E.R. Atwill, D.F. Lile, D.L. Lancaster, N. McDougald, S. Barry, R.S. Ingram, H.A. George, W. Jensen, W.E. Frost, R. Phillips, G.G. Markegard, and S. Larson

ABSTRACT: Visual assessments are integral components of several widely promoted efforts to assess the health of stream and riparian areas across the Nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheet (HAFDS), U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Stream Visual Assessment (SVA), and U.S. Department of Interior (USDI) Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) assessment were applied to 234 rangeland riparian areas to determine: 1) how well the assessments correlate, and 2) how site-specific stream and riparian characteristics affect the outcome of each assessment and thus the comparison of outcomes across stream types. Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheet and Stream Visual Assessment are habitat driven assessments, which target similar parameters resulting in a strong positive correlation between these methods (r = 0.81). BLM’s Proper Functioning Condition focuses on parameters related to hydrologic function, thus a weaker correlation was found when comparing Proper Functioning Condition to the Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheet and the NRCS’ Stream Visual Assessment methods (r = 0.58 and 0.54, respectively). A combination of one habitat assessment and Proper Functioning Condition should be utilized to conduct a comprehensive assessment of riparian/stream health. Site characteristics, which were significantly associated with assessment outcomes included entrenchment ratio, substrate size, channel width to depth and slope. This presents a problem in that comparison of assessment outcomes across different streams and stream reaches are confounded by factors such as slope and substrate type, which may not always be indicative of riparian/stream health. The Rosgen Stream Morphology Classification system was used to successfully control for the effect of these site-specific effects on assessment outcome, allowing for comparison of riparian/stream health assessments across streams.

Keywords: Ecosystem health, Proper Functioning Condition, rapid bioassessment, Rosgen Stream Classification, Stream Visual Assessment

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On-farm evaluation of a phosphorus site index for Delaware
(Full text appears in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol.58, No. 2)
A.B. Leytem, J.T. Sims, and F.J. Coale

ABSTRACT: The contribution of phosphorus (P) to non-point source (NPS) pollution of surface and groundwaters is a serious environmental problem in Delaware. In 1999, the Delaware Nutrient Management Act was passed limiting application of P on “high” P soils to a “three year crop removal” rate or to the amount recommended by a University of Delaware P site index. The Delaware P site index was developed and evaluated on seven farms in Delaware, through a joint effort between the universities of Delaware and Maryland. Results showed that 78% of fields evaluated were in the “low” risk category, with the remaining 22% falling into the “medium” (6%), “high” (7%), and “very high” (9%) risk categories. The components of the index found to have the greatest influence on P site index ratings were soil erosion, subsurface drainage, leaching potential, distance from field to surface water, soil test P and organic P application rates and methods. P site index ratings were found to vary by year, depending on manure applications, suggesting a need for yearly P site index evaluations or averages over a cropping rotation. The P site index worked well for identifying fields with differing relative potential risks of P loss; however, validation of these P loss assessments is needed to ensure that the risk categories assigned are sufficiently protective of water quality. Continual monitoring, analysis, and improvement of the P site index are needed to ensure that it remains a useful tool for P based nutrient management planning in the future.

Keywords: Delmarva, phosphorus, phosphorus site index

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Evaluation of erosion control products using natural rainfall events
(Full text appears in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol.58, No. 2)
S.R. Benik, B.N. Wilson, D.D. Biesboer, B. Hansen, and D. Stenlund

ABSTRACT: Five different erosion control products were tested on the slopes of a newly constructed highway sedimentation basin to determine their impact on vegetative growth, runoff and soil erosion. The five tested treatments were a wood fiber blanket, a straw/coconut blanket, a straw blanket, a bonded-fiber matrix (hydraulically applied) and disk-anchored straw mulch. Three replicates of each treatment were used. The site was seeded with native prairie seeds and the establishment of vegetation was monitored over time. Early in the study, a large runoff event from the area above the plots overtopped them and caused a failure of the bonded-fiber matrix product. These plots were reclassified as a bare treatment. For the season of plant growth, the straw mulch plots had the greatest biomass, and the bare treatment had the least. There was little difference among treatments after the second growing season. Runoff and sediment yield were analyzed for five storm events. The largest runoff and sediment yields were observed from the bare treatment. The soil erosion was approximately ten times greater than that from the straw-mulch plots. The blanket treatments had less erosion than straw-mulch plots. There was, however, little difference between blanket types.

Keywords: Biomass, blankets, erosion, runoff, vegetation

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Applications of land evaluation and site assessment (LESA) and a geographic information system in East Park County, Wyoming
(Full text appears in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol.58, No. 2)
B.M. Hoobler, G.F. Vance, J.D. Hamerlinck, L.C. Munn, and J.A. Hayward

ABSTRACT: Conversion of agricultural lands, particularly prime farmland and lands of statewide and local importance, to non-agricultural use is increasing. In Wyoming, where prime farmland is limited, this is of particular concern because loss of relatively small tracts of this high-valued agricultural land may have a significant impact upon the region’s economy. Historically, land-use planning was done on an ad hoc or even on a reactionary basis, which did not always result in the optimal allocation of resources. Geographic information systems (GIS) combined with land evaluation and site assessment (LESA) enhances land-use planning by delivering a versatile and dynamic model to assist state policy and decision makers, county and local officials, landowners and interested citizens in making wise land management decisions. Objectives of this study were to integrate LESA methods and GIS to assess their use for land use planning in east Park County, Wyoming. Factors used in our study for calculating land evaluation scores included land capability classification, prime farmland determination and irrigated sugar beet yield. Site assessment factors consisted of distance from city limits, major roads and sewer lines. Maps were developed that displayed lands most suitable for agriculture within the study area. Study results were fairly consistent with a Park County Land Use Plan, suggesting the combination of LESA and GIS is a rapid, versatile and up-to-date approach to assist in land management decisions.

Keywords: Agriculture, farmland preservation, land use planning, modeling, protection areas

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Economic impact of shelterbelts on groundnut (arachis hypogae L.) production in therilands: A decomposition analysis
(Full text appears in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol.58, No. 2)
V.N. Veeramani, L.J. Maynard, and C. Murugappan

ABSTRACT: The study’s objective was to assess impact of shelterbelts on input productivity, economic input use efficiency, and net input savings on southern Indian commercial farms threatened by sand dunes. Groundnut production functions were estimated from farm survey data in areas with and without shelterbelts. After accounting for land removed from production, groundnut yields increased by 15 percent (12 percent attributed to shelterbelts, three percent attributed to input use changes) in areas with mature shelterbelts. Mature shelterbelts induced estimated annual input savings of 1,074 rupees/ha (435 rupees/acre). High establishment costs and delayed benefits discourage private shelterbelt investments, suggesting a role for public investment.

Keywords: Groundnut, India, shelterbelt, and wind erosion