Toward a More Sustainable Agriculture PDF
Preview Toward a More Sustainable Agriculture
Toward a More Sustainable Agriculture Toward a More Sustainable Agriculture Raymond P. Poincelot Biology Department Fairfield University Fairfield, Connecticut • a\ll AVI Publishing Company, Inc. Westport, Connecticut Copyright © 1986 by Raymond P. Poincelot Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1986 All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems-without written permission of the copyright holder. Published by AVI Publishing Company, Inc. 250 Post Road East P.O. Box 831 Westport, Connecticut 06881 Ubrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Poincelot, Raymond P., 1944- Toward a more sustainable agriculture. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Agricultural conservation-United States. 2. Agriculture-United States-Energy conservation. 3. Agriculture-United States. 4. Organic farming United States. I. Title. S604.6.P65 1986 630 85-26786 ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-1508-7 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-1506-3 001: 10.1007/978-1-4684-1506-3 ABCDE 5432109876 To my loving and supportive family: My wife Marian and our children, Raymond, Daniel, and Wendy May the food and fiber system endure for their children and subsequent generations Contents Preface xiii 1 Our Threatened Agricultural Resources 1 Agricultural Problems 2 Energy 3 Water 7 Soil 8 Transitional Agriculture 8 Meeting the Challenge 9 References 13 2 Organic Farming 14 Prevalence, Size, Common Practices 16 Energy Usage 17 Crop Productivity 18 Economics 20 Labor 23 Conservation and Environmental Quality 25 Soil 25 Water 26 Environment 27 Future Prospects 28 Research Needs 29 References 31 3 Crop Energy Conservation 33 Energetics of Crop Production 35 Fertilization 38 Reduction of Fertilizer Usage 39 Use of Organic Wastes 42 Use of Legumes 43 Field Operations: Farm Machinery 46 Field Operations: Tillage 48 vii Contents ( continued) Irrigation 50 Reduction of Pumping Frequency 51 Pump Efficiency 51 Improved Management 52 System Alterations 52 Pesticides 53 Crop Drying 54 Frost and Cold Protection 55 Transportation 57 Future Directions 58 References 59 4 Greenhouse Energy Conservation 63 Fuel and Furnaces 64 Microclimate Heating 68 Temperature Control 70 Split-Night Regime 70 Temperature Averaging 72 Insulation 73 Polyethylene Over Glass 73 Bubble Pack 75 Thermal Sheets 75 Sausage Tubes 78 Lapseal 79 Miscellaneous Insulation 79 Roofing Materials 80 Acrylic Panels 80 Polycarbonate Panels 80 Double-Glass Panels 82 Future 83 Cost Payback Period 83 Experimental Greenhouses 84 References 84 5 Animal Husbandry Energy Conservation 86 Environmental Maintenance 87 Insulation 88 viii Waste Heat Recovery 89 Ventilation 90 Evaporative Cooling 91 Lighting 91 Brooding and Farrowing Areas 91 Feed 93 Cattle Feed 93 Feed for Other Livestock 94 Feed Processing and Handling 95 Transportation 95 Waste Disposal 96 References 97 6 Postproduction Energy Conservation 99 Food Processing 100 Energy Accounting Techniques 103 Equipment 103 Miscellaneous Energy Conservation Measures 104 Food Waste Recovery 106 On-Site Food Processing 109 In- and Out-of-Home Food Preparation 110 Marketing and Distribution 111 Transportation 112 Fiber 113 References 113 7 Sustaining Resources: Soil 116 Organic Matter 117 OrganiC Amendments 119 Animal Manures 119 Crop Residues 123 Sewage Sludge and Septage 125 Other Organic Wastes 130 Soil Erosion 132 Erosion and Crop Yields 136 ix Contents ( continued) Status of Research on Erosion and Soil Productivity 138 Economics of Erosion Control 138 Practices to Control Erosion of Croplands 140 Soil Compaction 151 Cropping Systems to Sustain Productivity 153 Multiple Cropping 153 Rotations, Nitrogen Fixation, and Forages 155 Organic Agriculture and Soil Maintenance 157 Maintenance of Range Productivity 157 References 158 8 Sustaining Resources: Water 162 Usage and Availability 162 Groundwater Depletion 163 Future Demand 164 Additional Problems 165 Subsidence 166 Saltwater Contamination 166 Reduced Surface Water Flow 167 Groundwater Contamination 168 Salinization 172 Drainage 174 Conservation of Water 175 Control of Runoff Losses 175 Control of Evaporation Losses 176 Reduction of Losses from Deep Percolation 177 Conservation Irrigation 177 Salt-Tolerant Crops 180 Dryland Farming 180 References 182 x 9 Sustaining the Environment 185 Agriculture's Impact on the Environment 185 Water Quality 185 Air Quality 186 Soil Quality 187 Reducing Agricultural Pollutants 189 Integrated Pest Management 189 Practices 192 Economic Benefits 197 Current Research 198 Research Directions 198 Future Directions 200 Genetic Resources 202 References 203 10 Future Technology 207 Solar Technology 208 Crop Drying 209 Space and Water Heating 211 Future Uses for Solar Energy 212 Windpower 213 Hydroelectric and Geothermal Power 215 Biotechnology 215 Genetic Engineering 216 Embryo Transfer 218 Biomass 219 Alcohol Production 220 Biogas Production 221 Oils from Seeds 221 Assessment of Alternate Energy 222 Mechanization 224 Management 227 Computer-Assisted Management 228 Computer Constraints 229 References 231 Index 235 xi
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