Abstract
Indicators of the condition and sustainability of agricultural lands in five Mid-Atlantic states were measured in 1994. Indicators were selected to reflect crop productivity and land stewardship on annually harvested herbaceous crop (AHHC) land, which covers almost 10% of the land area in this region. Overall, condition of agricultural lands in the region is good. Crops generally yielded more than those grown in the 1980s, with a mean observed/expected yield index greater than 1. The mean soil quality index was slightly better than a "moderate" rating for crop growth. Almost 2/3 of the AHHC land is covered by crop rotation plans, with the remaining land mostly in hay fields. Insecticides were applied to less than 20% of AHHC land, and less than 20% of the land where pesticides were applied has high to moderately high potential for pesticides leaching into groundwater. However, integrated pest management (IPM) is practiced on less than 20% of AHHC land. Hay showed more efficient use of nitrogen than seed crops, and non-tilled sites, which are mostly hay, had more microbial biomass (suggesting more nutrient cycling) than tilled sites. This information could provide a baseline for a long-term monitoring program for agroecosystems in the region.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bullock, D. G. 1992. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 11, 309–326.
Cotter, J. and Nealon, J.: 1987, Area Frame Design for Agricultural Surveys. USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Research and Applications Division, Area Frame Section. Washington, DC.
Horton, T.: 1993, Natl. Geo. 185, 2–35.
Kutz, F. W. and Linthurst, R. A.: 1990, Toxicol. Environ. Chem. 28, 105–114.
McLaughlin, R. A., Weber, J. B. and Warren, R. L.: 1994. Protecting Groundwater in North Carolina — A Pesticide and Soil Ranking System. SoilFacts Series, AG-439-31. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Raleigh, NC. 6 p.
Smith J. L., McNeal, B. L. and Cheng, H. H.: 1985. Soil Biol. Biochem. 17, 11–16.
NRC (Committee on Long-Range Soil and Water Conservation, Board on Agriculture, National Research Council): 1993, Soil and Water Quality: An Agenda for Agriculture. National Academy Press, Washington, DC.
USDA-SCS: 1981, Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 296, Washington, DC.
USDA-SCS: 1992. Soil survey laboratory methods manual. Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 42, Version 2.0. USDA-Soil Conservation Service, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hellkamp, A.S., Shafer, S.R., Campbell, C.L. et al. Assessment of the Condition of Agricultural Lands in Five Mid-Atlantic States. Environ Monit Assess 51, 317–324 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005955807061
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005955807061