Prime Farmland Research Articles

多品目生産適性からみた都市の農業適地の評価とその分布形態の解明

多品目生産適性からみた都市の農業適地の評価とその分布形態の解明

RECLAMATION OF PRIME FARMLAND FOLLOWING MINERAL SANDS MINING IN VIRGINIA

Significant deposits of mineral sands were discovered in Virginia's Upper Coastal Plain in 1989. The Old Hickory deposit is the largest ore body in the state (>2,000 ha) and supports a productive rowcrop agriculture on prime farmlands. field experiments were installed on pilot-scale (25 m x 60 m) mining pits in the late summer of 1995 and replicated on an adjacent undisturbed area. Half of each mining pit was topsoiled (25 cm) while the remaining half was left as either (1) mixed tails/slimes or (2) re-graded subsoil over tails/slimes to simulate various pit closure scenarios. Both non-topsoiled areas received 112 Mg/ha of yard waste compost as a soil building amendment. The entire area was ripped/disked to ameliorate compaction and incorporate lime and fertilizer additions. The experiment was cropped through a wheat/soybeans/corn/cotton rotation over the 1995 to 1998 growing seasons. Taken as a whole, these combined results clearly indicate that mining and reclamation of these prime farmlands will lead to a substantial decrease in rowcrop productivity, at least over the initial years following pit closure and reclamation. For the rotation studied, post-mining productivity was estimated by this experiment to be reduced by 23%, 3%, 27%, and 20% for each crop (wheat/soybeans/corn/cotton)more » in sequence. For a given crop in a given year, response to topsoiling versus compost addition to the surface varied, and neither treatment appeared superior. Corn and cotton yields on the mined land treatments were reduced despite the application of irrigation. Cotton quality was also adversely affected by the mining reclamation treatments. Results of these controlled experiments are somewhat encouraging. However, the implementation of protocols will be complicated in practice if tailings and slimes cannot be re-blended to generate a reasonably uniform final reclaimed surface.« less

Gross nitrogen transformation rates in soil at a surface coal mine site reclaimed for prime farmland use

Organic wastes were used to increase N fertility at a surface mine reclamation site, with the ultimate goal to stimulate microbial activity and improve the reclaimed soil's chemical and physical properties. Gross N transformation rates are indicators of microbial activity but are undocumented in such reconstructed ecosystems. We measured gross nitrification, N mineralization and N immobilization in waste-amended and unamended soil using 15N pool dilution techniques. Measurements were made in June, July and November 1993 at the reclamation site in western Kentucky, and compared to net N transformation rates. The premise that organic waste amendment stimulates microbial activity in reclaimed soils was supported by the data. Gross N mineralization, nitrification and immobilization rates were as much as 4.5 times greater in waste-amended soil than unamended soil. Gross N mineralization and nitrification rates and gross NH 4 + and NO 3 − immobilization rates were significantly greater than net rates in waste-amended and unamended soil. There was net immobilization of NH 4 + and NO 3 − in waste-amended soil, whereas there was net N mineralization in unamended soil. This was consistent with using substrates containing high C-to-N ratios. Reclamation practices created soil environments in which gross N transformation rates were of the same magnitude as those measured for less disturbed soil ecosystems.

Determinants of Farmland Value: The Case of DeKalb County, Illinois

The issue of farmland facing conversion pressures from rapidly expanding suburban areas is increasingly well documented. In this study, the authors consider the case of DeKalb County, Illinois, fringe farmland bordering the Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago Triangle area, where there has been extensive development of some of the best farmland in the world. Data in this study were 34 arms-length sales of farmland parcels in 1995. Correlation and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression techniques were used to analyze the influence of large lot land use zoning, production factors, location, and various other characteristics, such as buyer and seller location, on the dependent variable of sales price per acre. Findings suggest that the most powerful factor in explaining the sales price per acre was whether the parcel was grandfathered as a small parcel (i.e., less than forty acres), presumably allowing for farmettes without an emphasis on production for individuals preferring to consume the benefits of a rural home. The next most powerful factors were: proximity to a highway, a state road, or a town; whether there was a house on the parcel; and whether the seller was from outside the county. The variance explained, adjusting for number of variables, was 63%, a fairly high proportion. Conclusions suggest that while farmland in DeKalb County is under conversion pressures, large lot zoning is an effective way of protecting farmland. T he movement of America's population away from central cities into adjacent rural counties has generated a series of difficult policy challenges for federal, state, and local governments. This great dispersal from the central cities, which has taken place since World War II and has accelerated since the 1970s (Brown, Heaton, and Hoffman), reversed a trend of movement from rural areas to the cities seen earlier in the century (Lockeretz; Vesterby and Heimlich). People leave central cities for many lifestyle and quality of life reasons, including the perceived advantages of country life with its slower pace, healthier environment, lower crime rates, and less expensive lifestyle (Nelson 1986a). However, this demographic trend also hastens the loss of prime farmland as agricultural land is converted to residential and commercial use (AFT 1994; Vesterby and Heimlich).

The farmland conversion process in a polynucleated metropolis

The conversion of farmland to urban land uses is analyzed for a study area on the fringe of Chicago (USA) for the period between 1975 and 1990. Several geographic information system databases are developed to examine the amount and quality of farmland being lost to urban development. The results show that “edge cities” are redefining the landscapes of the urban fringe where low-density residential uses are replacing prime farmland at a rapid rate. A national-level database is used to compare the Chicago area results with other large urban areas of the USA's Midwest. Most large cities of the Midwest reveal a similar pattern of development replacing prime farmland on the urban fringe.

Crop and Soil Responses to Sewage Sludge Applied to Reclaimed Prime Farmland

Improvements in reclamation of surface mined prime farmland may be obtained by adding sewage sludge to topsoil and subsoil. This prime farmland reclamation study was done in western Kentucky. The experiment was conducted to investigate effects of the sludge amendment to topsoil and subsoil on soil and crop responses. The experiment showed, in most cases at highest application rates, that the sludge addition significantly increased the soil organic matter, total N content, and available P levels. However, water holding capacity, CEC, and exchangeable cations were not significantly affected. Higher microbial populations and activates were also obtained. The wheat biomass, tiller number, tissue N, grain N, grain yield, and N removal in grain were well correlated with application rates of sewage sludge. Corn also responded positively to additions of sewage sludge. The corn ear-leaf N concentration, grain yield, and grain N removal increased with application rates of sewage sludge. Experiments indicated that topsoil and subsoil sewage sludge addition was beneficial practices in terms of increasing crop yield and improving some soil properties.

A RECLAMATION APPROACH FOR MINED PRIME FARMLAND BY ADDING ORGANIC WASTES AND LIME TO THE SUBSOIL

Surface mined prime farmland may be reclaimed by adding organic wastes and lime to subsoil thus improving conditions in root zone. In this study, sewage sludge, poultry manure, horse bedding, and lime were applied to subsoil (15-30 cm) during reclamation. Soil properties and plant growth were measured over two years. All organic amendments tended to lower the subsoil bulk density and increase organic matter and total nitrogen. Liming raised exchangeable calcium, slightly increased pH, but decreased exchangeable magnesium and potassium. Corn ear-leaf and forage tissue nitrogen, yields, and nitrogen removal increased in treatments amended with sewage sludge and poultry manure, but not horse bedding. Subsoil application of sewage sludge or poultry manure seems like a promising method in the reclamation of surface mined prime farmland based on the improvements observed in the root zone environment.

Cultural landscapes and landscape ecology in contemporary greenway planning, design and management: a case study

The Appalachian Trail traverses 3300 km (2050 miles) of the Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Georgia in the eastern USA. Except for the Cumberland Valley (the Great Valley of the Ridge and Valley region of the Appalachian Mountains) in Pennsylvania, and a few other valley crossings, the Trail passes primarily along forested ridges. The Cumberland Valley is the longest valley crossing of the Trail—26 km (16 miles) of intensively cultivated prime farmland undergoing residential and commercial development. To secure public ownership of the Trail through this urbanizing landscape, the US Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, acquired a 600 ha (1500 acre) corridor through the Cumberland Valley to be managed and maintained by the volunteers of the Appalachian Trail Conference. This study was developed by a project team from the Department of Landscape Architecture of The Pennsylvania State University, for the Appalachian Trail Conference, as a set of planning, design, and management recommendations for the newly acquired trail corridor. The method of study involves developing (1) an understanding of the Trail, its history, and its users; (2) a general understanding of the natural and cultural conditions of the region; (3) a more specific inventory, analysis, and assessment of the natural and cultural elements of the trail corridor. This process reveals a corridor landscape containing the interpretable evidence of 250 years of agrarian landscape history and a diverse set of physical environments and biotic communities that have been fragmented by that land use. The two central ideas explored in this paper that underlie the planning and design of the Trail greenway across the Cumberland Valley are, first, the conservation and interpretation of the cultural landscape, and, second, the reduction of habitat fragmentation and enhancement of biological diversity. The product of the planning and design of the corridor land is a set of recommendations intended to direct future actions within the valley corridor. The cultural landscape recommendations focus on maintaining the fabric and interrelationships of the cultural landscape by including a complete representation of both the structural and biotic cultural resources. The ecological recommendations focus on protection of existing natural resources, establishment of forest habitat linkages, and restoration of native plant communities. Finally, two examples of the corridor planning, design, and management study are presented as a case study in greenway planning and design in response to cultural landscape conservation and landscape ecology.

A laboratory examination of organic matter degradation in a B horizon soil from post-mining reconstructed prime farmland soil : G. K. Felton & J. L. Taraba, International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation & Environment, 8(4), 1994, pp 153–157

A laboratory examination of organic matter degradation in a B horizon soil from post-mining reconstructed prime farmland soil : G. K. Felton & J. L. Taraba, International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation & Environment, 8(4), 1994, pp 153–157

Deep Tillage Effects on Compacted Surface‐Mined Land

AbstractFederal law requires that surface‐mined prime farmland be reclaimed and restored to premining productivity for row crops (Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, Public Law 95–87). In Illinois, reclamation must include soil horizon replacement (topsoil and subsoil) to a depth of 120 cm. Poor physical condition is the most limiting factor in reclarmation in Illinois. The effects of five deep tillage implements (80–120‐cm tillage depth) and two standard agricultural chisel plows (20–35‐cm tillage depth) were evaluated for 6 yr. The seven tillage treatments were applied to a scraper‐placed minesoil that had a high soil strength (2.5–3.5 MPa) throughout the reconstructed profile. A nearby tract of undisturbed Cisne silt loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Mollic Albaqualf) was used as a prime farmland comparison. Crop yields for both corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] significantly increased with tillage depth. Average soil strength decreased and net water extraction increased with increasing depth of tillage. The 1.2‐m‐deep tillage treatments significantly reduced average 23‐ to 114‐cm soil strength from 2.8 to 0.93 MPa. Significant correlation occurred between 23‐ to 114‐cm average soil strength and 6‐yr mean corn (−0.97** [significant at P = 0.01]) and 4‐yr mean soybean (−0.92**) yields. Deep tillage successfully restored productivity; however, the depth of tillage necessary was influenced by initial levels of soil strength.

Morphological Characteristics of Reconstructed Prime Farmland Soils in Western Pennsylvania

AbstractThe major soil horizons of prime farmlands disturbed by surface mining in the USA must be reconstructed during reclamation in accordance with current federal legislation. Consequently, the topsoil (Ap horizon) and subsoil (B and C horizons) are removed and stockpiled separately during overburden removal activities and are replaced over spoil during reclamation in an attempt to reconstruct the original soil profile and to help maintain soil productivity. This study was conducted to investigate the morphological, physical, and chemical properties of reconstructed mine soils and to identify characteristics of these soils that could limit crop growth. We described and sampled a total of 72, 1‐ to 2‐year‐old, reconstructed soil profiles at eight reclaimed surface mines throughout western Pennsylvania. Soil depth over spoil was generally >75 cm with an observed range of 5 cm to >2 m. Well‐expressed Ap horizons were observed in nearly all profiles. The structure of the reconstructed subsoils was drastically altered by mining to a structureless and massive condition. Excessively compacted shallow soil layers restricted downward penetration of plant roots within 47% of the soil profiles described. Reconstructed soil horizons that are likely to restrict plant growth included horizons composed of spoil, horizons with >50% rock fragments and excessively compacted soil layers. These restrictive soil horizons were found within 1 m of the surface for 57 of the 72 soil profiles described and within 50 cm for 51% of the soil profiles. Morphological investigations of reconstructed soils could be useful for evaluating reclamation success and soil productivity potential.

A laboratory examination of organic matter degradation in a B horizon soil from post-mining reconstructed prime farmland soil

ABSTRACT A laboratory study was conducted to assess the effect of reclamation treatment on the aerobic degradation rate of organic matter composed of horse feces, urine, and straw bedding. It was hypothesized that different physical treatments of soil removed during the mining process would alter the rate of organic matter decomposition. The soils were from the B horizon of reclaimed prime farmland. The B horizon was reconstructed using one of two treatments: soil direct hauled from the mining site to the reconstruction site; soil hauled from a 6-month-old stockpile. The soil that was immediately replaced exhibited organic matter degradation rates similar to a control whereas the stockpiled soil organic matter degradation rates were depressed. This implies that stockpiling adversely affects the microbial population. Prescription liming, typically done during reclamation, did have the desired effect on pH and did not interfere with organic matter degradation.

Estimates of Nitrogen Availability of Poultry Manure and Sewage Sludge Amended in Mined Prime Farmlands

Estimates of Nitrogen Availability of Poultry Manure and Sewage Sludge Amended in Mined Prime Farmlands

Use of Cone Penetrometer Data to Evaluate Prime Farmland Rooting Media

Use of Cone Penetrometer Data to Evaluate Prime Farmland Rooting Media

The Use of Productivity Index to Predict Corn Yields on Restored Prime Farmland

The Use of Productivity Index to Predict Corn Yields on Restored Prime Farmland

Land use change in California, USA: Nonpoint source water quality impacts

California’s population increased 25% between 1980 and 1990, resulting in rapid and extensive urbanization. Of a total 123,000 ha urbanized in 42 of the state’s 58 counties between 1984 and 1990, an estimated 13% occurred on irrigated prime farmland, and 48% on wildlands or fallow marginal farmlands. Sixty-six percent of all new irrigated farmland put into production between 1984 and 1990 was of lesser quality than the prime farmland taken out of production by urbanization. Factors dictating the agricultural development of marginal farmlands include the availability and price of water and land, agricultural commodity prices, and technical innovations such as drip irrigation systems that impact the feasibility and costs of production. The increasing amount of marginal farmland being put into production could have significant water quality consequences because marginal lands are generally steeper, have more erodible soils, poorer drainage, and require more fertilizer than prime farmlands. Although no data exist to test our hypothesis, and numerous variables preclude definitive predictions, the evidence suggests that new irrigated marginal lands can increase nonpoint source (NPS) pollution for a given size area by an order of magnitude in some cases.

Preserving Prime Farmland in the Face of Urbanization: Lessons from Oregon

Abstract This article combines theory and a literature review with empirical and descriptive findings to demonstrate that Oregon's mix of policies is effective in preserving prime farmland in the face of urbanization. Exclusive farm use zones preserve farmland for farming; urban growth boundaries limit urban sprawl; exurban districts accommodate the demand for rural residential development without harming commercial farm operations; farm tax deferral and right-to-farm laws create incentives for farmers to keep farming; and comprehensive plans legitimize the entire package. This article proposes a comprehensive scheme for farmland preservation that expands on the experience of Oregon, including its mistakes.

Soil Hydraulic Properties of Reclaimed Prime Farmland

Four 6-year-old, prime farmland, surface mine reclamation plots were sampled to determine hydraulic parameters and quantify the effects of hauling method (truck or scraper pan) and the effects of stockpiling. Four depths (10-70 mm, 200-260 mm, 510-570 mm, and 810-870 mm) were sampled with four replications. The hydraulic parameters were soil water retention curve, sorptivity, and water holding capacity. Handling and stockpiling had no effect on any parameter. The profile was characterized with depth. The soil water retention parameters were not related to depth. The bulk density was 1.371 Mg/m3 in the plow layer and 1.729 Mg/m3 in the remainder of the profile. Sorptivity decreased from 1.81 mm/min0.5 in the plow layer to 0.68 mm/min0.5 at 510-870 mm deep. The water holding capacity was a minimum at 510-570 mm deep and increased both in the 810-870 mm layer and the shallower layers to a maximum of 0.309 in the 10-70 mm plow layer.

The analytic basis for an effective prime farmland landscape preservation scheme in the U.S.A.

In general, the scheme I devise and advocate is based on the best available econometric analysis of the interaction between urban, hobby farm and prime agricultural land-use activities under conditions of regional urban containment. Daniels claims that I am naïve about the efficacy of the hobby farm ring around urban areas buffering prime agricultural districts from urban development. Yet, this is the very scheme used successfully in many places pursuing prime farmland preservation with success (Nelson, 1988a). My conceptual scheme has been, or is soon to be, used either unintentionally or as a matter of policy in Oregon, Florida, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, and (perhaps) Georgia. Ironically, Daniels' own work and the regulatory scheme he is devising for Lancaster County includes features that are founded mostly on the techniques I have demonstrated to be effective through the analysis I synthesized in this Journal. I suspect that even he will find the need to have hobby farm land-use designations buffering prime farmland from urban development. I am mostly sympathetic with all the points made by Daniels, although he has more faith than I in things like right-to-farm laws, property tax breaks for commercial farmers and minimum lot size agricultural districting. On the other hand, he is apparently crafting a regulatory scheme that achieves the central objectives of prime farmland preservation by using the techniques that I offer as successful, namely exclusive farm use designation, urban growth boundaries and special rural residential districts on lower-quality soils for hobby farmers (with no tax breaks). To this he is adding some carefully exercised purchase of development rights (where, I hope, the tax payer does not pay twice). I am sure he will be successful. I thank Tom Daniels for his many important contributions.

Managing Restored Prime Farmland for Corn Production

Managing Restored Prime Farmland for Corn Production