Nutrient and Pesticide Management
Overview
Pesticide
and fertilizer use is almost everywhere across the Pacific Northwest’s
developed and agricultural landscapes. In order to provide larger
harvests of affordable foods, farmers often supply crops with proper
nutrients (fertilizers) and protect them from pests (weeds, insects,
fungi, etc.) by applying pesticides. In maintaining their landscapes,
homeowners tend to use proportionately more fertilizers and pesticides
than do farmers and frequently have less training in proper application
methods. Human and animal health problems can occur through excessive
exposure to landscape and farm chemicals. Environmental pollution
can occur when these chemicals enter waterways and groundwater systems.
Nutrients and pesticides can enter surface and ground waters through
misapplication, movement of treated soils, irrigation return flows,
runoff from urban and agricultural land, stormwater runoff and leaching
through soils. Groundwater contamination from pesticides and nutrients
is a difficult long-term issue due to the impracticality of cleansing
groundwater aquifers. Responsible agricultural producers and homeowners
employ methods to assure proper application of chemicals to minimize
potential exposure to people, animals and the environment. The land
grant universities of the Pacific Northwest region engage in a broad
range of research activities, outreach and training programs to
assist agriculturists, pesticide applicators and homeowners in properly
managing nutrients and pesticides, for optimal production and environmental
stewardship. The universities provide research-based educational
materials on soils, plant choices, irrigation management techniques,
fertilizer and pesticide use and a range of other related topics.
Desired Outcomes
- Home gardeners and producers are more aware of dangers from improper
- Groundwater is protected from contamination
- Landowners and agricultural producers better manage chemicals used to enhance landscapes and to grow crops
ALASKA Contact
Fred Sorensen, Water Quality Coordinator, Anchorage, (907)
786-6311, dffes@uaa.alaska.edu
Bob Gorman, Extension Pesticide Coordinator, Anchorage, (907)
786-6323, ffrfg@uaf.edu
ALASKA Publications
FGV-00149A Forage Crops: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations
for Alaska
FGV-00142 Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations for Alaska
FGV-00242A Soil Fertility Basics
FGV-00348 Nutrient /sources and Lime: Field Crop Fertilizer
Recommendations for Alaska
FGV-00349 Organic Fertilizers
FGV-00442 Cereal Grains: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations
for Alaska
FGV-00643 Vegetables: Field Crop Fertilizer Recommendations
for Alaska
HGA-00131 Make Your Own Complete Fertilizer
HGA-00436 Tree Maintenance and Pesticides
HGA-00236 Lawn Maintenance and Pesticides
GWQ-00547 Protect Water Resources – Understand Pesticide
Movement
GWQ-00946 Protecting Groundwater
GWQ-00947 How Alaska’s Groundwater is Contaminated
GWQ-00949 Potential Effects of Waste on Groundwater
LPM-00340 Animal Manure as Fertilizer
PMC-00541 Choosing a Pest Control Operator
PMC-00543 Factors Affecting Pesticide and Nutrient Movement
in Alaska Soils
PNW 552 Taking Care of Streams in Western Washington, Western
Oregon, and Coastal Alaska: A Homeowner’s Guide
PNW 558 Taking Care of Streams in Western Washington, Western
Oregon, and Coastal Alaska: A Landowner’s Guide to Riparian
Areas
PNW 560 Taking Care of Streams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
and Alaska: A Guide to Riparian Areas in Rangelands
PNW 562 Taking Care of Streams in Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
and Alaska: A Developer’s Guide to Riparian Areas