Use of Composts and Reduced Applications of Fertilizer and Herbicides to Conserve Soil and Ground Water Resources in Nurseries

Use of Composts and Reduced Applications of Fertilizer and Herbicides to Conserve Soil and Ground Water Resources in Nurseries

Summary

A sustainable agriculture newsletter, Hort Impact, was established to educate nurserymen in the principles of sustainable agriculture and to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices in the nursery industry. One thousand fifteen copies per month were distributed to industry leaders, extension personnel, and production and landscape nurseries in ten northeastern states. Hort Impact has contained over 50 articles from 25 contributors on topics such as composting, nitrogen management, biocontrol, IPM, low maintenance landscapes, deer-resistant plants, water conservation, soil testing, and use of cover crops.

Nurseries were surveyed to determine sustainable and conventional practices presently in use. Sustainable practices identified through the survey were published in a series of newsletter articles. The survey showed 50% of nurseries had reduced fertilizer input, 52% used some form of insect IPM, 69% had reduced pesticide use, 71% use some form of solid waste recycling and 44% had reduced water use in the past five years. Forty-eight percent would adapt more sustainable practices if they had knowledge of workable practices, 33% needed evidence of the feasibility of practices, and 21% needed reduced labor costs associated with sustainable practices.

When asked what support they needed in implementing sustainable practices, 58% responded they needed information in written form, while 35% needed workshops or seminars, 29% needed individual consultation, and 17% needed help with IPM.

Objectives
Gather and document conventional and sustainable nursery production practices in use in the northeast region.

Establish a newsletter to foster adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by nursery crop producers.

Results
Hort Impact, was established to educate nurserymen in the principles of sustainable agriculture and to encourage the adoption of sustainable practice in the nursery industry, and nurseries were surveyed to determine sustainable practices presently in use. A series of articles describing representative sustainable practices were published based on an interview with the nursery owner or manager. Most agreed to allow us to publish their address and telephone number so that interested readers could contact them directly for additional information. Topics included composting, practical ways to reuse plastic containers, use of recycled newsprint to make biodegradable containers for leaves and lawn clippings, and the use of discarded Christmas trees as habitat for fish.

A Sustainable Practices Survey was distributed in the August 1992 issue of Hort Impact to the 1015 names on the mailing list. A follow-up letter and copy of the survey were sent out October 15 to 67 readers. Every fifteenth name on the mailing list, excluding those who already responded and Cooperative Extension staff members, received the follow-up letter and survey.

According to the survey, 69% of respondents have taken steps to cut down on the amount of pesticides applied and 54% have lowered fertilizer use over the past five years. A smaller number (44%) have decreased water use during the same time period.

The number of people keeping accurate, up-to-date records of pesticide use was high, as well, at 79%. For the control of insects and diseases, minerals and soaps (73%), chemicals (56%) and monitoring and scouting (52%) were cited most frequently. For weeds, 77% said they use mechanical means as a control, 56% employ organic mulches and 50% indicated mowing. Sixty-five percent are satisfied with their pest control.

While advocates of sustainable practices would encourage yearly soil tests, more respondents (23%) said they test soils infrequently (every four years or more) than said they use yearly tests (21%). The highest response (31%) was in the two-to-three year range. The type of business owned by the respondents may cause this low rate of frequency. Although not all of those replying stated the nature and size of their business, 52% indicated that they did some landscape installation. The majority were in this category, while field nurseries, with 42%, were in second place. The most frequently-used nutrients are compost as a media/soil amendment, slow-release fertilizer, and liquid and granular chemicals, all with 69% each.

In the category of solid waste disposal, most people who replied compost their own waste (71%) and/or return or accept used pots (60%).

Irrigation was checked by 54% of the respondents, who most often use the overhead type (31%) and get water from a well (27%). Mulching is a popular way to conserve water (65%).

Cooperative Extension workers (63%) figure prominently as a source of helpful, practical information as do professional organizations (58%). The responding businesses also get help from peers (46%), supply companies (42%), books and publications (19%), and others.

The most compelling reasons to implement more sustainable practices were knowing more how-tos (48%), and being convinced of feasibility (33%). According to the survey results, help is most effective in the form of information/written materials (58%). When asked to state the number one problem in the southern New England nursery/landscape industry, most responses centered on economics (29%), labor (15%), and unethical practices (13%).

Detailed results of this survey are available from the Northeast SARE office.

Reported December 1992